Allie hovered near the arbor for a minute. When Mags didn’t acknowledge her, she moved toward the house. “I’ll leave you alone.”

“No, I’m sorry, dearest. Do come sit.” She patted the bench. “But I warn you, I’m not very good company today.”

Allie settled in next to Mags. The garden was so peaceful. She could see why Trevor kept it, despite the cost. “It’s beautiful here. Almost doesn’t seem real.”

“Yes, quite.”

Allie closed her eyes, listened to the birds chirp, the splash of the fountain. Inhaling deeply, she sighed. She could almost relax—if only she could forget her problems.

“He hates me, you know.”

Opening her eyes, Allie turned to Mags. “What?”

“Trevor. He hates me, well, really, both of us. I can’t blame him. We’ve been quite useless as parents.”

Allie reached out and touched Mags’s hand. “He doesn’t hate you.”

“We probably deserve it. I am worried for him though, that he’ll wind up bitter and alone. But you’re good for him, Allie. You’re the light to his darkness.” Mags squeezed Allie’s hand and looked at her with a sad smile. “Please don’t hurt him. His heart is very fragile, you see.”

Fragile? Trevor? He was sarcastic and uncaring. He was a hardened businessman who got what he wanted.

Then why had he let Brynn stay? Why did he offer to find Brad?

Because he wasn’t totally hardened. That didn’t make him fragile, though. Just made him…Trevor.

Withdrawing her hand, Allie shook her head. “Trevor and I aren’t like that.” She contemplated the fountain, some kind of sea serpent with a twisted body and water shooting out of its mouth. “I mean, we don’t have that kind of a relationship.”

“Don’t let him fool you, dearest. He cares for you. I can tell.”

“Well, I think he cares for you too, Mags.”

“All right,” Mags sniffed, “that’s enough. Self-pity is dreary and I’m tired of it. I think we should go cake tasting. I want something spectacular, with so much fondant, my teeth will ache.” She stood and looked around. “You’re right, it is beautiful. My son has very good taste.”

Allie stood as well and smoothed down her skirt. “Do I have time to stop in and see Trevor first?”

“Yes. I’ll get ready and meet you in the foyer in an hour.”

They parted once they entered the house, and Allie made her way to Trevor’s office, but for once he wasn’t there. She found Frances in the Asian room.

“Is Trevor home?”

The maid adjusted a sword on the wall, then shifted a porcelain bowl to the left. “He’s at the indoor pool.”

“I didn’t know there was an indoor pool.”

“In the very back of the garden, toward the bougainvillea and to the left. It’s a glassed-in structure.”

Allie really needed to take time and explore the garden—the rest of the house too. There were probably a dozen rooms she had never seen. Trevor’s room in particular. But surely she would have seen a bloody glassed-in pool. Uh-oh. She was picking up Englishisms.

She walked outside, took a left at the red bougainvillea, which climbed up the brick wall. She picked her way through the narrow flagstone pathway and finally saw it—a glass rectangle, completely surrounded by shading palm trees, like an oasis.

When she stepped inside, the warm, moist air hit her and the smell of chlorine was strong. She watched Trevor cut through the bright blue water with powerful strokes. A pair of lounge chairs and a table stood off to the side, and Allie made herself comfortable until he was finished.

He must have seen her out of the corner of his eye because as soon as he touched the end of the pool closest to her, he dipped his hair back in the water, then leaned his forearms on the concrete. “Take your clothes off and come for a swim.”

Rivulets of water slid down his broad shoulders and she was more than tempted. “I can’t,” she said, forcing her gaze from his chest to his face. “I have a date with Mags.”

He rolled his eyes and sank beneath the surface. He reemerged a few seconds later and hoisted himself out of the pool.

Allie followed his movements as he toweled his chest. He rubbed circles around his pecs, his nipples were hard, and she remembered flicking her tongue over them the other night. He had groaned when she did it and demanded she do it again. Her eyes dipped lower. The navy swim trunks rode low over his hips, showing off the hard ridges of his abdomen. Her fingers itched to touch him again.

Trevor walked forward and, reaching out, palmed her cheek. “If you keep that up, I’ll bloody well fuck you right here and now.”

Shivering at his touch, she peered up at him, wanted to lick every inch of his body. But that would take longer than an hour—well, if she did it right. Letting her eyes roam over him, she noticed his hard cock was good to go. “We’re in a glass pool house. Anyone could see us.”

“I’m willing to take that risk. With Brynn staying here, I can’t sleep with you at night. My mother’s commandeering most of your day. Are you trying to kill me?”

“It’s killing me too, but I have to meet your mother in an hour.” That refusal should have sounded firmer. But looking at Trevor practically naked…and wet—it melted her resolve.

Although she and Trevor had been together only a few times, she missed him. Missed those hot lips on her skin. Missed his wandering fingers and his talent for finding new erogenous spots. The man had skills.

And while she should be self-conscious about the transparent walls, instead, she was completely turned on. She doubted anyone would come looking for them, but the possibility made it a little naughtier.

Trevor tossed the towel back on the table and leaned down. Cupping the back of her head, he whispered against her lips, “I can do a lot in an hour.” He kissed her then. Not the demanding kisses from the other night. Tender and coaxing, this kiss seduced her. She leaned back against the lounger and he followed her, placing his knee between hers. His leg and swim trunks left her skirt wet, but she hardly noticed. Though his skin was cool, his touch heated her as his free hand caressed her neck, tracing over her collarbone and skimming the tops of her breasts. Craning her neck, she kissed him back and clutched his shoulders.

She wanted this, needed it. It was the only thing that felt right lately, being in Trevor’s arms. That didn’t make sense, but it was true. She felt like herself with him. Her old self, before she had so many responsibilities. Free and alive and young. She liked feeling this way. Even if it was only temporary.

He gradually pulled away, releasing her. She slid her hands down his shoulders, still slick with water, over his arms to his wrists. “Forty-five minutes. I’ll have to shower and change.”

“Deal,” he said. Allie stood and quickly shed her clothes while Trevor peeled the wet trunks from his hips.

Feeling like a seductress, she sprawled on the lounger and raised her arms above her head, drawing his gaze to her breasts. She knew he liked watching her, so she lowered one hand and placed her index finger in her mouth. Allie almost grinned as she watched his cock lengthen in response. Trevor grasped it in his hand and gave a tug. She liked watching him as well.

Pulling her finger from her mouth, she drew it down her chest and around her areola. Then she cupped her breast and pinched the nipple. Hard.

Trevor groaned and gave his cock another slow stroke. “You know I love it when you do that.”

“I know,” she said. “Come here, English.” His eyes darkened and his breath became labored. She loved that she had that effect on him. Made her feel like a goddess.

In a hot second, he lowered his body onto hers, thrust his hands into her hair, and kissed her. Reaching down, Allie grasped his cock, rubbed her thumb over the head. His hips were still chilly and damp. It felt good against the muggy air.