Page 24 of Tangled With You

Trevor took a sip of the black coffee he’d just poured, thensighed with pleasure. The day had been whipping by, and he needed the buzz.

Leah reached around him to grab the pot from the Mr. Coffeethey’d set up in the work area. It wasn’t as high-tech as the machine on thethird floor, but it brewed coffee, and as far as Trevor was concerned, that wasgood enough.

She poured a cup, then took a sip, her eyes on his face.

“What?”

She lifted a shoulder, then let it fall. “Just wondering howyou’re doing.”

He was tempted to respond with a terse fine, butthis was Leah, and she knew him better than anybody. “Honestly, it’s rough.” Heleaned against the wall, suddenly feeling completely exhausted. “Ollie’s brokenup. And at the same time he seems to be avoiding me. I mean, I want to comforthim. Help him. But there’s this gap.”

“A gap?”

He shook his head as if trying to organize his thoughts. “Wewere in bed. I mean we’d finally leapt over the giant elephant in the room, butthere’s absolutely no indication that ever happened. We haven’t even brushedfingers this morning.”

“I get that. But under the circumstances...” She trailed offwith a shrug.

“I know. But I want to be there for him. Hold his hand. Putmy arm around him. He hasn’t touched me once since we left the condo. As far asanyone else is concerned we’re nothing more than friends and co-workers.”

He could hear himself talking and felt like a total jerk. Ofcourse there were bigger things to worry about. More than that, it shouldn’tbother him. But it did. Especially since after so many years, the kidnapper haddrawn Ollie in, as if he and Courtney were still intertwined.

“I guess the crux of it is I’m jealous. I’m jealous of awoman who’s been kidnapped, and I hate myself for it.”

“Would it help if I said that sounded pretty natural? And solong as it’s not screwing with your head enough to keep you from leading thisoperation, I say cut yourself some slack.”

“You’re right. I know you are. And yet my mind keepsspinning.” He set his coffee cup down and ran his palms over the stubble on hisjaw and chin.

“You should tell me. Maybe letting some of it out will shutdown the noise.”

He hesitated, then shrugged. “Fine. I heard him talking toDamien. Basically the conversation boiled down to the fact that Ollie lovesher.”

Leah took a step closer, then took both his hands in hers. “Heprobably does,” she said gently. “They were close for a long time. And love hasa lot of permutations. Hell, I love you, even when you are being dense andemotionally overwraught.”

Trevor smiled. He needed that.

“Seriously, I get what you’re saying. But Ollie basicallycame out five minutes ago. So what were you expecting? For him to cry on yourshoulder in front of everyone at the SSA? Did you think he’d hold your handwhile we work?”

“No. Of course not.” He frowned. “Honestly I don’t know thatI was expecting anything. I just...” He trailed off, then sighed. “I’m justafraid that this was an experimentation for him. And now he’s got cold feet.”

“Would that be the end of the world?”

He wanted to say no. There were other men out there. Butinstead he told her the truth. “I think it might. It broke me when Greg left,but he wasn’t the one.”

“And you think Ollie is.”

“Yeah, I do. But that doesn’t mean he sees it, too.Ultimately, it has to be up to him. And maybe he’s already made that choice.”

She squeezed his fingers. “Then let’s hope he chose to beall in, but right now you have to focus, my friend. Whatever theirrelationship, whatever your relationship, he cares about her and you care abouthim.” She squeezed his hand tighter. “Do your job, Barone. The rest will sortitself out.”

“I guess it will.” He managed a grin, then pulled her in fora sideways hug. “I knew there was a reason I kept you around.”

“For the record, I think you two are a match. And we bothknow I’m rarely wrong.”

“No,” Trevor said, “you’ve got good instincts. Let’s hopeyou’re right on this one.”

* * * *

Ollie stood on the third floor, looking down at theoperations center on the first, his eyes on Trevor. The man was competent.Sexy. And damned if Ollie didn’t want him. The realization had been a shock—butonly in the sense that it hadn’t been a shock at all. It had simply seemed right.