“Yeah.” Monica looked under the bed and snagged a bra, shoving it into the outer pocket of the bag. She rose and slung it over her shoulder. “Thanks for letting me stay. Let me know if you change your mind about the lawyer.” She moved past them and walked out of the room.

Allie watched her go and sat on the bed. Monica had zero self-awareness. How did you save someone from themselves?

“If she ever says anything to hurt you again, she will never be welcome in my house.” Trevor sat down next to her. “But you did well with her. I was about to rip her to shreds, but you kept your cool.”

Allie opened her mouth to speak when Arnold suddenly popped up in the doorway. The poor man looked frazzled. Well, frazzled for him—his tie was slightly askew.

“Miss Monica is having a rather loud discussion with a young man at the gate and Carl wants to know if he should call the authorities.”

Trevor sighed. “Thank you, Arnold. We’ll deal with it.” Trevor rested his forehead against hers. “Am I ever going to get you alone?”

Allie patted his knee. “It’s not looking good, English.”

Mags and Nigel strolled into the room.

“Trev, who is this yob at the gate?” Nigel asked.

“I’m going to go straighten it out.” Trevor stood and walked past his parents.

“Not without me,” Nigel said.

Allie followed the two men out of the room. “I guess I should make sure Trevor doesn’t kill Brad.”

Placing a hand on Allie’s arm, Mags stopped her. “What happened? Did the two of you argue?”

“We’re fine,” Allie said.

“Is this Brad Monica’s young man?”

“Yep.” Allie sped down the stairs and out the front door. Raised voices floated on the night air. Without hesitating, she ran to the gate.

When she reached them, Nigel stood with his finger in Brad’s face. Carl stood to one side, ready to intervene. The embedded lights in the yard as well as the security lights by the guard house illuminated them.

“Watch your mouth, boy,” Nigel said. Allie had never heard him use such a forceful tone.

“I’m just here to pick up Monica, and I wanted to meet Trev. What’s your deal, old man?”

Trevor stepped forward, his chest almost touching Brad’s. “That old man is my father. And you will speak to him with respect. Understood?” Ice dripped from Trevor’s words.

Brad stepped back and held up his hands. “No prob. Don’t get all bent.”

“Monica, you may stay, but this wanker needs to go.”

“You’d do well to be rid of him, love,” Nigel said.

“Shut the fuck up.” Brad puffed out his chest and held his hands out to his sides. “You want to go, old timer?”

“Anytime, you bloody git.” Nigel leaped forward, but Carl stepped between them.

Allie placed her hand on Nigel’s back. “Calm down. Mags would kill us if you mess up that pretty face.” She turned to Monica. “Take your boyfriend and go, before I call the police.”

Monica placed her hand on Brad’s arm. “Let’s just go. Please?”

Brad pulled out of her grasp. “Shut up, Monica, and get your ass in the car. I’m trying to have a conversation with Trev.”

“Call me Trev one more time and I’ll kick your sorry ass all the way back to North Las Vegas. Now, get the fuck out of here.” He turned to Monica. “Are you sure you want to go with him?”

“Let’s just go, Brad.” Monica refused to look at anyone as she slunk off toward the truck.

Brad walked backward, the security lights gleaming off the chain around his neck. “See you later, old man.”

Nigel, who had calmed down, moved forward. But Trevor held him back this time. “Let him go. The little twat isn’t worth it.”

“Did he give you the money?” Brad’s voice drifted back as he climbed into his truck.

She didn’t hear Monica’s answer over the roar of the engine.

“What a very unpleasant asshole,” Nigel said. “Imagine, calling me an old man. I’m in my prime. Just ask your mother.”

“I’d rather not,” Trevor said.

“Should I report this, sir?” Carl asked.

Trevor waved him off. “Only if he comes back.”

Nigel walked back to the house and Carl resumed his post by the gate.

Allie looked up at Trevor. “Sorry about that.”

He reached out and stroked her hair. “Not your fault, darling.”

“Sure about wanting me to stay? My family is a pain, but they’re mine. You shouldn’t have to put up with them too.”

Trevor sighed. “Yes, they are a bit much. But somehow I’ll suffer through.”

“At least you and your dad were on the same side for a change.”

“Oh yes, he’s in his prime, you know.” He slid his arm around her waist and walked toward the house.

This night had been a roller coaster. When Trevor had said she was free to leave, Allie should have felt relief. The debt was cleared, she could return to her family. But she hadn’t wanted to go. She knew this man would break her heart. He didn’t love her, he said he liked fucking her. That wasn’t the same thing at all.

Chapter 18

Trevor grabbed Allie’s wrist. Their earlier argument had been unpleasant, but they’d cleared the air and he was relieved she’d decided to stay. He wasn’t ready to let her go. He liked smelling her perfume when he entered a room, liked having her poke her head into his office at odd times during the day. And he enjoyed sleeping next to her at night. She frowned on that with the sisters in residence. He couldn’t blame her, really. So while he didn’t mind them being here, for his cock’s sake, he was glad they were gone.

When he reached the second-floor landing, he glanced back at Allie. She bore the same worried expression as she had the first time they met. It bothered him now. He wanted to ease her burdens.

“Come on, darling.” He took her hand and pulled her down the hall and around the corner to his room. He let go of her wrist, opened the door, and allowed her to precede him.

Allie hadn’t been in this room before. What a colossal mistake on his part. Suddenly, he had a burning desire to see her in his bed, her pale hair spread across his pillow.

“I can’t believe Monica’s going back to him. And she’ll probably wind up pregnant or worse, with no education, no money.” She walked over to the bed, her hand drifting across the carved bed post. She paused a moment and looked at it. “This bed is something else.” She jumped up on the mattress and leaned back. “She’s smart, she’s pretty, and she’s throwing her future away on this loser. Why?”

“Because he gives her the attention she craves.” He lay down next to her, and she moved over a bit to give him room. “It’s much easier to get this Brad fellow’s attention than have to work at something, like school.”

They lay in silence for a few moments. “You don’t like the bed?” he finally asked.

“No, I do. It’s just so over-the-top. I mean, you have four practically life-sized naked angels for posts.” She reached out and traced the vines carved into the headboard. “How old is this bed?”

Trevor reached out and traced Allie’s breast. “A few hundred years, I imagine.” Her nipples budded under his fingers.

“Was this bed your grandfather’s too, along with the collectibles?”

By now, Trevor had abandoned her breast, lifted the hem of her dress, and was moving his hand upward, over her hip. He slid his thumb under the strap of her knickers, rubbed her hip bone. “Yes, it was his life’s work, collecting bits and pieces. He’d become obsessed with a subject.” He moved his hand up to her stomach, brushed across her belly button. Her dress was hiked up, and he admired the rose-colored knickers. “Then he’d start collecting.” He moved over her, pressed his hips into hers while he grasped her wrists and held them above her head. “This was my bed as a boy. My grandfather’s old Georgian house was the only home I ever had.” He leaned forward and took her earlobe between his teeth. Allie arched toward him and moaned.

She wrapped both of those long, smooth legs around his hips. “What about this house? Isn’t it home?”