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Trenton looked down at the scarred wood in front of him. “I’m sorry.”
Blake slapped the man on the back. “You were just trying to be helpful as usual, Trent.” His head lifted, a grin spreading across his face. “That’s it! You should just move in with Trent, Celia. You’ve got that guest room still, don’t you? I remember crashing there once.”
Celia’s head rose in surprise. A glance over at Trenton showed a wide-eyed, green gaze.
“Do you ever think anything through?” Trenton asked his friend.
Blake shrugged. “What? Would it be a problem?”
“It’s actually not a bad idea,” Malcolm said.
Celia stared at him. “Really?”
Malcolm’s eyes softened. “I trust Trent. Like I told you before, he’s practically a monk. You don’t have to worry about him in that way.”
“Yeah, Trent is innocent as a babe,” Blake chimed in, nudging the shoulder of the man under discussion. “You’ll seem like just another sister to him.”
Celia vaguely remembered the younger girls. He’d had quite a few sisters if she recalled correctly. Possibly four.
Trenton straightened on his stool. “Hey, guys, it’s not only about that. Celia probably barely remembers me. It’d be hard to stay with a stranger, I’m sure.”
Actually, he was wrong there. For him to have brought up her father earlier, he didn’t know much about her past. That would tamp down any awkward conversations, and she was used to keeping things to herself. She fidgeted with the edges of the jacket he had lent her and looked up at Malcolm.
Malcolm was already gazing back at her, and he gave a slight nod.
Celia leaned forward, peering around Blake to study Trenton himself. “Would it be an inconvenience for you?” she asked him.
Trenton shifted his gaze to her, and the surprise there turned to gentleness as he shook his head. “No, I’d be fine with it. I’ll help in any way I can. But are you sure you’d be okay with it?” His eyes studied hers. “If you’re not, I can help pay for a hotel or something else suitable.”
“No, I won’t take any money,” Celia said, the words snapping out in a rush.
Trenton’s eyes widened, but he nodded. “Okay then. If you’d like to use my spare room, it’s yours.”
One more glance at Malcolm, and the calmness there convinced her. “I guess we’ll be roommates.”
It wasn’t like she had a ton of options.
Chapter 6
BlakepulledTrentonawayfrom the bar while Malcolm leaned forward to tell Celia something. He was probably trying to convince her again that Trenton wasn’t a lecher. Celia glanced his way, that crease still there between her brows. She was obviously still not too sure about this.
Trenton wasn’t certain it was a good idea either. He might be out of the dating game, but he wasn’t dead. He winced at the word and added a scowl when he turned to Blake for good measure. “Why do I think I don’t want to hear anything you want to tell me?”
Blake grabbed his shoulders, leaning in close. “This is your chance, man. Celia is a darling. She’s got some hang-ups because of her family crap, which Malcolm has never fully explained, but that just means she’ll let you take it slow. This could be your way to get back in the game.”
“You’re trying to convince me to do what you told her I wouldn’t do.” Trenton jerked free of his friend. He glanced over at the woman who was still huddled in his coat. Her fingers were white where she gripped the front. “She’s obviously just broken up with someone.”
“Exactly. She’ll be on the rebound. That makes it even more perfect. You don’t want a permanent thing, right?”
“You’re a jackass,” Trenton snapped. At times like this, he had no idea how he’d become friends with Blake.
“Oh, come on. It’ll be good for her too.” Blake’s cheer faded as he stared him in the eye. “You’ll be super sweet to her. I mean, how could you not be? You’re you.” Blake studied Malcolm’s cousin. “I get the impression she could use some of your brand of sweet.”
Trenton didn’t have to look back at Celia to remember her brown, wounded eyes, just as bottomless as in his limited memories. “And I will be kind to her. Without any pressure for sex on the table.”
He left Blake standing there as he moved over to the bar, reaching out to lift Celia’s duffel bag. “You ready to go?”
Her hand slapped down on top of it. “I can carry my bag.”
