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So much for finally having something in common. “Not as much as some people, but yes. I’ve always enjoyed spending time outside, especially the older I get. Maybe it’s because I spend so much of my time in either my office or at the courthouse.”
He gave a little chuckle. “It does seem once we become adults all our time is spent in an office. Whenever I need a break or need to release some stress, I like to run. Most of the time I’ll either use the indoor track on campus or the treadmill in my basement, since it’s so convenient. During the nicer months, I’ll run outside if it’s not raining, but not in the winter. I’ve never enjoyed running outside in cold weather or when there’s snow and ice.”
Now that he’d mentioned it, Trevor did look like a runner, or at least he had the body of a runner. Although on the shorter side—she suspected he was only about five foot eight—he was lean with a trim waist, and judging by the way his dress shirt fit him, it didn’t appear as though he spent much time lifting any heavy weights.
“You’ll never see me running unless there is a madman chasing me with a butcher’s knife. Swimming is my thing. I could spend all day at the beach or in the pool.”
“I guess they both accomplish the same goal,” Trevor said. “Perhaps this summer you can join us when we go hiking.”
There he went again. Brooklyn struggled to keep from frowning. Didn’t it make more sense for them to get to know each other much better before they added his daughter to the mix?
“Or maybe not.”
The optimistic tone in his voice disappeared, and she suspected she’d revealed her feelings despite her best efforts.
Trevor placed his fork by his plate and folded his hands. “You’re not interested in meeting Katelyn?” he asked, sounding a cross between disappointed and offended. She hadn’t intended for him to feel either.
“It’s not that at all, Trevor. I just thought we should spend more time getting to know each other first. See where things go before you introduce me to your daughter.”
Across the table, he remained silent for a moment or two, then he nodded. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to rush you into anything. Katelyn and I do so many things together. Sometimes I forget she doesn’t need to be included in every aspect of my life.”
Brooklyn breathed a mental sigh of relief. “You two are close?”
Trevor nodded. “Very. She’s close to her mother too, but we’ve always had a special bond. Perhaps it’s because our personalities are so similar. I’m not sure, but she’s always been Dad’s little girl.”
She envied his daughter. Neither of her parents would ever admit it, but Paris had always been their mom’s favorite. No matter what she did or said when they were younger, she never got in trouble with Mom. Instead, it was always her or Milan who found themselves sent to their bedrooms or grounded. At the same time, Milan claimed the role as Daddy’s little girl. That meant Dad overturned any punishments their mom subjected Milan to, even when it was a well-deserved punishment like the time she added Brooklyn’s favorite stuffed bear to the pile of dog toys, knowing Wrigley, their border collie, would tear the thing apart because he did it to all his toys.
“Do you have any pictures of her?”
He smiled and reached into his jacket pocket. “This one is from our trip to Florida.” He passed the phone across the table. “Snow White has always been her favorite princess.”
“She’s not a typical choice,” Brooklyn said.
“I think it’s because my parents and I always tell her she looks like her.”
Accepting the phone, she glanced down at the picture of Trevor’s smiling daughter standing between him and Snow White. She understood why they’d tell Katelyn she resembled the fairy-tale princess. The girl had dark hair; from the picture it was difficult to tell if it was black or dark brown. Since Trevor’s hair was black except for the gray streaks going through it, she suspected his daughter’s was as well. Like her dad, she had a pale complexion and the same brown eyes as Trevor, and either she had on lipstick or her lips were an unnaturally rosy shade of red. Unlike her dad though, she was tall, or at least tall for a ten-year-old. She already reached Trevor’s shoulder.
“She’s beautiful.” She handed the phone back to Trevor. “And tall.”
Trevor looked at the picture before returning the phone to his pocket. “She gets that from her mom’s side. Laurie’s five foot eight and considered the shortest one in her family. One of Katelyn’s uncles is almost seven feet tall.”
“Wow. Being so tall must come in handy. I’m always in need of a step stool.”
Trevor cracked a smile. “Yeah, but try finding a suit to fit.”
“Good point. I guess shopping would be difficult for someone so tall.”
A member of the waitstaff appeared and removed their dishes and then silently left again.
“The show starts at seven thirty. I thought perhaps afterward we could stop at Ambrosia for dessert,” Trevor said.
Brooklyn spotted their waiter heading toward their table. “Sounds like a wonderful plan.”
***
When he left the office late Friday night, he’d had no particular destination in mind, but Derek knew he didn’t want to go home either. He’d been on edge all week anyway, and then he’d spent the majority of the day cooped up in his office working on a brief for a case. Even when Brooklyn popped in and asked if he wanted to join her for lunch, he’d declined. He’d insisted he had too much to finish, although in truth he could have taken a short break and enjoyed lunch with her. After all, thirty minutes or so wouldn’t make much of a difference.
Instead, he’d had a sandwich delivered to the office, because if he’d gone with her, they would’ve once again disagreed about her evening plans. Already twice this week they’d clashed over her decision to have dinner with Trevor Jones tonight. So rather than risk having her angry at him—it didn’t happen often, but he hated when she was mad at him—he ate the less-than-satisfying sandwich from the deli down the street and kept his office door closed.
