Page 39 of Tangled With You

“You look like someone just ripped your guts out, and Ibumped into Trevor on my way here, and he looks like he just ran over hisfavorite dog. So, I ask again. What’s going on here?”

“What did Trevor say when you asked him that?”

She grinned. “Fair enough. He said you were down hereworrying about Courtney.”

“That about sums it up. She must be terrified. I can’t evenimagine. Part of me hopes they have her drugged and asleep, but that’sdangerous too. I just wish there was some way to know that she was actuallyunharmed and alive.”

“Yeah. I get that. You loved her, and you’re worried abouther.”

“I did, and I am.” Ollie frowned. “Wait a sec. He actuallytold you I was worrying about Courtney?”

“Yeah.”

“I didn’t tell him that. I mean, I suppose it’s obvious,after all that’s why we’re all here. But...” He trailed off with a shrug,remembering.

“What?”

Ollie frowned. “It’s just that before he got here, I waslooking at an old picture of her. One I took a few weeks before she broke itoff completely. And rightfully so,” he added. “The idea of the two of ustogether was good in theory, but not in practice. I love her, but I don’t thinkI was ever in love with her, you know?”

“I do know,” Leah said. “I’m not sure Trevor does.”

“What are you talkingabout?”

“If he told me that you were worrying about Courtney, thenhe must have seen you looking at that picture, right?”

Ollie nodded slowly, his stomach feeling a little queasy.“Yeah. He was behind me. He could have easily seen over my shoulder before Ishut down the tablet.” He grimaced, mentally slapping his head. “Why didn’t hesay something?”

“Oh come on, Ollie. You know why.”

“Yeah. I guess I do.” He sighed. “I need to go talk to him.”

He started toward the door.

“Wait.”

He turned back to face Leah. “What?”

“You know he’s in love with you, right?”

The words shot through Ollie like warm sugar, and he nodded.That blunt statement not terrifying him at all. “He hasn’t said so. But, yeah.I know.”

“I think you love him too, but I don’t know you well enoughyet to be certain. If you do, you need to let him know. And if you don’t, youneed to let him know.”

She tilted her head, looking him up and down as if sizinghim up. “For what it’s worth, I think you two are good together. But I swear toGod if you hurt him, I will rip your throat out myself.”

Ollie grinned. “Noted.”

He started to walk away again, then stopped and looked backat her, his smile even broader. “I believe you, by the way. And I think Irespect you now just a little bit more.”

* * * *

It was a testament to their professionalism that they bothgot through the meeting. Trevor directed the briefing with a firm hand, cuttingthrough the long reports to get to the core information, re-assigning tasks,and leading the brainstorming for where to go next with the ease of an expert.

Despite the fact that Trevor never held eye contact,watching him was one hell of a turn-on. There was little Ollie appreciated morethan competence, and Trevor had it in spades. Not only that, but by the timethe briefing ended, even though they’d made slow progress—and still had no firmleads on the perp or Courtney’s location—Ollie actually felt hopeful. This wasan organization and a leader with the skill and the people to find her andrescue her. She was in good hands.

And, knowing that, he justified his plan to pull Trevor awayfrom work long enough to clear the air.

“How are you holding up?” Brax asked after the briefing,intercepting Ollie on his way to Trevor’s side.