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Chapter 27
Trent stared out the large library window. He hadn’t slept a wink, but he was wide awake and alert. The demands of his job had trained him to work for days without rest. Truthfully, he’d just never needed that much sleep.
As he watched people coming out to enjoy the beach, he checked his watch. Almost ten. Late in the morning for him, but he didn’t want to wake Liberty. She was lying halfway on her side, her arm propping up her head, blond hair falling around her face. The woman looked like an angel as she slept. It was physically difficult for him not to go over and kiss her or play with her hair. So many feelings warred within him. He wanted this woman.
Yes, he wanted her for the rest of his life.
“Hey,” a voice said.
Trent yanked his gaze to the library door and found Shane standing there, his bag in his hand. Quietly, Trent walked over to him. “Shh, Lib’s asleep.”
Shane nodded and backed out of the room.
Trent shut the door quietly behind them. “You good? Need breakfast?” In all the excitement, he’d kind of forgotten about Shane.
“No, thank you. I have an Uber coming, but I wanted to know if I could Venmo you or something for letting me stay.”
Trent headed with him down the hallway, feeling guilty for last night. “No, man. Look, I’m sorry about … everything.” He wouldn’t say he was sorry about the fact that Liberty didn’t love him, but it had to be rough. The dude seemed like an okay guy, clearly just going through his own emotional stuff.
At the front door, Shane hesitated, then put his hand out. “I guess if I can’t have her, then a guy like you would be the next best thing.”
Trent shook his hand. “Thanks.” He slapped him lightly on the back. “Things are working out. They are.”
Shane’s face fell. “I guess that’s all we can choose to believe, right? And, uh, sorry about the whole kissing thing. Would you mind telling Liberty I’m sorry, too?”
“Yeah, no worries.” The whole crazy incident felt childish in retrospect.
The Uber car pulled up. Shane got in and waved. Trent waved back, watching from the porch as the car disappeared from view.
The door creaked behind him, and he turned back. Liberty stood there, her eyes hazy and her hair all mussed. Dang, she was gorgeous. “I woke up and you weren’t there.” She pouted like a little kid.
He put his arm around her and drew her against him. “Shane just left, and things were … I’d say amicable.”
“No fistfights?” she asked, teasing him.
“Not this morning.”
Playfully, she squeezed his bicep. “You didn’t have to use the guns?”
“Nope.” Attraction pulsed through him, spurring him into kissing her. “Are you ready for my family to come today?”
She looped her arms around his neck and scrunched up her nose. “Ready or not.”
He laughed.
