Page 229 of Only Be Mine

Trevor’s jaw flexed, barely.

“Leave a message,” he said calmly.

I put it on speaker.

The beep echoed through the kitchen.

I swallowed. “Detective Marshal,” I said, keeping my voice measured, slightly fragile. “This is Cate Reeder. I…”

Trevor’s eyes sharpened at the name.

I continued. “I think yesterday was… overwhelming. I misunderstood the situation. I’m safe. I just needed time to process everything.”

Silence hummed on the line.

Trevor didn’t blink.

“I’d like to reschedule our meeting,” I added. “Somewhere neutral. I’ll call back later.”

Click, I ended the call.

The kitchen felt suspended as Trevor studied me.

Then he smiled.

Slow and approving.

“Good,” he said softly.

His shoulders loosened.

The pressure in the room eased by a fraction.

Not gone.

Just redirected.

He stood and walked around the island, coming up behind me.

His hands settled on my shoulders, warm and possessive. “I don’t want to fight you,” he murmured near my ear. “I want us aligned.”

I nodded once.

“I know.”

He pressed a kiss into my hair.

And for a second, just a second, grief nearly broke me.

Because this was the man who held me while I cried myself empty.

The man who rebuilt my life when I couldn’t see past the wreckage.

The man who created that wreckage.

His hands slid down my arms.

“You’re not my enemy,” he said quietly.