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“It won’t bite you.”
“Funny. What is it?”
“Something to demonstrate my gratitude in a more concrete fashion.”
She shook her head. “That’s not necessary. I’ve told you that.”
He removed the wine from her hand, placed the golden box in her palm and closed her fingers around it. The gift felt warm against her skin.
“Please at least open it,” he said softly.
She bit her bottom lip. Whatever was inside this box—and it had to be expensive jewelry—she couldn’t accept. Not only because of department rules, but her own ethics wouldn’t allow it. She tried to tell herself she didn’t want to see what was inside, but frankly, yeah, she did. What was the harm in peeking?
Before she could do anything, Trey took the package from her hand and unwrapped it, revealing a black leather case. He removed a gold watch with glittering diamonds circling the face. The thin, supple band gleamed in his hands as he showed it to her, and she sucked in a breath at the sight. She’d never seen such an exquisite piece of jewelry.
She remained silent while he fastened the stunning timepiece around her left wrist, his fingers warm and steady. She stared at the jewels, transfixed. But where would she ever wear this, even if she could keep it? She raised her arm to read the name of the watchmaker, something Swiss and famous, and knew this gift had cost more than her car.
“This token is nothing compared to the life of my son,” Trey said. “I hope you’ll accept it.”
“It’s beautiful,” she breathed.
“So you like it?”
“Of course.” She shook her head. “But I can’t keep this, Trey.”
“Why not?”
Kelly removed the watch and placed it back in the box. She closed the lid with a snap, removing temptation from her greedy eyes.
“Even if I thought it was right, that I deserved a reward for doing my job, cops can’t accept gifts. Even the clothing you gave me was a stretch.”
“No one has to know,” he said, placing his hand on the box, moving it toward her.
“I would know,” she told him, raising her gaze from the box to meet his. “And you would know.”
He stared at her for a long moment, then nodded. “Okay. I understand.”
“Thank you for the thought, though.”
“So I didn’t insult you again?” he asked.
“No. This time I believe you meant well.”
“I want to find a way to thank you. I know how much staying here has disrupted your life.”
“It has, yes.” No point in lying. “I’m used to a routine, but you made it hard to say no. And Jason is such a sweet little dude.”
“But a spoiled one?”
She shrugged, sorry she’d made that observation, glad they’d moved on from the watch. “Hey, what do I know about raising a kid?”
Trey shifted his gaze to his wineglass. “Probably as much as I do.”
“I’ve learned that kids need boundaries,” she said. “Maybe he thinks he can just pick a new mother out of thin air.”
Trey met her gaze again. “You believe he’s making this up? Seriously?”
Kelly sighed. No, the kid didn’t appear to be faking, and she was a good judge of liars. “I believe Jason is seriously confused.”
Trey nodded. “When he got out of the hospital after the wreck, I admit I let him do or have whatever he wanted.”
And that would be one hell of a lot of everything, considering how deep the Wentworth pockets were. “I’m surprised he doesn’t have his own pony.” Kelly shook her head.
Trey added wine to their glasses. “He has two in upstate New York.”
Yeah, so little Jason was a little prince.
“You need to learn the word ‘no.’”
“He’d lost his mother,” Trey said. “He missed her, was hurt by the belief that she’d abandoned him, that his father was somehow responsible. I would have done anything in my power to make him feel better.”
“There’s nothing you can do to make up for that loss,” Kelly said softly. “That I can tell you from personal experience.”
Trey met her gaze. “How old were you when you lost your mother?”
