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Trent pulled himself up with a hand on the edge of the windshield and the other braced on the passenger seat headrest. He swung his jeans-clad legs up and over the passenger door and landed on the sidewalk only a few feet away from her bench.
“Hi.”
My God, even with just one word, he sounded as good as he looked. Halli rose on wobbly knees, clutching her purse in front of her. Her own “hi” stuck in her throat when the sunglasses were tossed back in the driver’s seat and she met his gold-flecked, green-hued eyes. Conversely, her “What are you doing here?” came out just fine.
“Showing my confidence who’s boss, dammit.”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Halli heard the lobby door whoosh behind her and Trent’s gaze shifted. He smiled then, looking uncharacteristically nervous, and still better than she’d ever seen him. A second later, Jennae stepped up beside her.
The downward sweep of her gaze and slow upward lift of her lips was pure invitation. “You’re not Halliwell’s brother.”
“Not even close,” Trent agreed. His gaze locke
d on Halli’s, one corner of his mouth quirking in that half grin she loved so much. “How about a quick spin around the lake?”
“Ooh, I’d love a ride,” Jennae purred.
Possessive jealousy devoured Halli’s usual control. Didn’t help that Jennae was just the type who usually draped Trent’s arm. And he’d smiled at her. Halli turned and lifted her chin, somehow managing to look down her nose at the six inch taller woman.
“You are not invited.”
Surprise lit Jennae’s eyes. A second later she laughed. “Cute claws, Halliwell, but I don’t see how it’s your call.”
“It will always be her call,” Trent stated.
Jennae’s prowling bravado faltered as her gaze shifted between them. “You two actually know each other?”
“Intimately,” Trent replied.
Heat exploded in Halli’s cheeks, but she didn’t say a word. What the heck was he doing? Jennae’s gaze narrowed on Halli a second before her jaw went slack.
“You?” she asked with disdainful disbelief. “You’re the mystery woman in Italy?”
Realizing Halli hadn’t told anyone about them, Trent enjoyed putting the over-confident, insulting blond in her place with a dismissive glance. “If you’ll excuse us, this is a private conversation.”
He took Halli’s arm and gently pulled her with him. At the convertible, he reached past Halli for the passenger side door. Silky brown hair tickled his lips when he leaned in and whispered in her ear, “I’m not usually a fan of jealousy, but damn, that was hot.”
She spun around, knocking his arm away before he could grasp the handle. “She annoys me, that’s all.”
Trent studied Halli’s unreadable expression. For the hundredth time, he beat back his nerves. He’d been an idiot in Italy. Her fears had fed his and convinced him to walk away. But not this time. This time he played for keeps.
He braced his left hand against the side of the car. She backed up, but had nowhere to go as he leaned in and braced his right hand on the other side, trapping her.
“If I hadn’t stepped in, Barbie would’ve lost her eyes to your cute claws.”
She stared at his chest and he dipped his chin to try catch her eye and coax a smile. “Admit it. You want me all to yourself.”
He got the smile and a laugh.
“I haven’t missed your ego one bit.”
“And the rest of me?”
When she still wouldn’t look him in the eye, he closed the distance between them and removed her purse from her death grip to toss it into the car.
