Page 237 of Only Be Mine

Trevor straightened, his posture shifting into something I’d seen a hundred times at charity events, business dinners, courtroom fundraisers.

Public mode.

Controlled.

Respectable.

“You’re overreacting,” he said to Seth mildly. “Again.”

Seth stepped closer to me without making it obvious. “I don’t think I am.”

Trevor’s jaw flexed once, then he looked at me. This time there was no warmth in his eyes, just assessment. “You could have told me,” he said quietly. “Instead of embarrassing me.”

My stomach twisted.

The siren cut off abruptly, and silence crashed in after it.

A car door slammed.

Trevor inhaled once, steady and stepped backward toward the door. “Come inside,” he said to me.

It wasn’t a shout; it was an expectation.

I hesitated.

A second siren wailed somewhere down the block.

That was enough. I stepped past him into the house and Seth followed.

The knock came moments later.

Firm.

Authoritative.

Trevor turned, smoothed his jacket, and opened the door before a second knock could land.

Detective Marshal stood on the porch and he wasn’t alone. Another officer lingered behind him.

“Mr. Reeder,” Marshal said evenly. “Good Evening.”

Trevor smiled like this was a surprise dinner guest. “Detective,” he replied. “This is unnecessary.”

Marshal’s gaze slid past him to me. “Ms. Larkin.”

Trevor stiffened at the name.

Marshal didn’t correct it.

“Are you safe?” he asked plainly.

Trevor laughed softly. “She’s fine. You’ve created drama out of thin air.”

Marshal didn’t look at him; he looked at me and the weight of the moment settled into my bones.

This was it, the pivot point.

If I said yes, everything stayed contained.