So, I had spent the majority of the afternoon making a few phone calls to some people Xander had referred me to. While I didn’t have any definitive leads, I wasn’t willing to stop pursuing potential clients when it was the only thing that could keep me afloat.
When I wasn’t doing that, I was trying to get used to having Zeke under foot while clearing out my house so I could move into Mercedes’s condo and get my place on the market. Today alone, I had managed to pack six more boxes, storing them in the garage until I could move them over to the storage unit I had rented. I was just about to go through my email when my cell phone rang.
I expected it to be Xander because he had called me twice since I’d spoken to Mercedes last. It appeared my friends were now greatly concerned for my well-being, and the ornery Dom was trying to come up with a plan to solve all my financial problems, despite my insistence that he couldn’t. Since I had shared some of the details of the Chicago trip with Mercedes, I knew they were curious.
My heart erratically kicked into high gear as I grabbed my phone and glanced at the screen. Not Xander.
Trent.
“Hello,” I greeted, keeping my voice firm yet pleasant. I purposely ignored my inner urge to call him Sir.
“Good evening, sunshine.”
I was taken a little off guard by the pet name—which he had used at least once already—but I pushed through.
“Good evening.” I felt my cheeks pulling back in a wide grin and I was grateful he couldn’t see me.
“You don’t realize how much I wanted to hear your voice.”
The rough grind of Trent’s voice did nothing to take away from the sincerity I heard in his tone. There was a slight quiver in my belly, and try as I might, I couldn’t ignore it. On the other hand, I had no idea what to say to that. Did I say, Thank you? Or, maybe, You, too? Neither seemed appropriate.
Fortunately, he spoke again before I had to come up with something.
“I’m sending Troy over to pick you up for dinner.”
“Umm…” That was a shocker. Why would he send Troy if Zeke was already here?
“He should be there in about ten minutes. Unfortunately, I couldn’t come for you myself because I’ve got a call I have to make. But I look forward to seeing you at dinner. And just so you know, Troy will also be joining us.”
Turn him down. Tell him you can’t make it. That you have something else to do.
“Okay.” I sounded like an idiot, but what did one say to Trent Ramsey when he called to tell you he was inviting you to have dinner with him and his assistant?
“Is everything going okay with Zeke?”
I looked up at the big man still sitting at my kitchen table. “It is.”
“Good. I’ll see you in a little while, sunshine.”
“Sure.”
The phone disconnected, and I sat on my couch dumbfounded.
“Who was that?” Zeke asked.
“Trent.”
Zeke simply stared as though waiting for the rest.
“He … uh… I’m having dinner with him tonight.” Did I seriously just accept a dinner date? Without so much as Trent asking me if I could make it?
Yes. It appeared I had.
Before I could explain more, Zeke’s cell phone buzzed and he glanced at the screen. My gaze dropped to the floor as I replayed the last few minutes in my head. I gave in to Trent so easily. Too easily.
I wasn’t sure what that said about me.
Not that I could call Trent back and tell him I wasn’t able to make it. I didn’t have any plans, which he could’ve easily figured out by simply talking to my new bodyguard. While I did have a good excuse—packing to move and all—I had absolutely no plans for the foreseeable future.
I knew I should’ve gotten up, probably needed to spend what few minutes I had taking a shower, making myself presentable. I didn’t even know what we were having for dinner. Were we going somewhere? Staying in? Was it formal? Casual? Would there be other people besides Troy and Zeke? How did I know what to wear?
Before I could get my legs to listen to reason, there was a knock on my door.
Crap.
I launched to my feet and skipped to the door, but I halted mid-skip when Zeke cleared his throat. I slowly pivoted to see the intimidating man walking to the door.
He gently guided me out of the way before peering through the peephole. He then stood up tall and opened the door.
I watched as a handsome, dark-haired man stepped inside. Definitely Troy. I’d seen his picture in the tabloids a time or two since he was what most people referred to as Trent’s errand boy. He looked just as young as he did in pictures.
