Well, she could. She had. But she lost that hand, and it was best to put Trevor behind her and move on. Every time she thought about him, she’d flick the rubber band on her wrist. She’d done it so often, she had a bruise.

He hadn’t called her, hadn’t come to see her. She absently pulled at the band and let it snap back, felt the sharp sting, and took a deep breath. No more morose thoughts. She was moving on.

After work today, she even had an appointment to look at an apartment. It was time. Time to start living her own life. Serious boundary lines had been crossed with her family, and she needed to step back and put herself first for once. She’d always wanted to go back to school and finish her degree. Now was the perfect opportunity.

And she wanted Trevor. Snap. Damn, that was starting to hurt.

***

Trevor sat in the garden and stared at the pond. That was all he’d done lately. He didn’t have an appetite, didn’t have the concentration to work. He didn’t even give a damn if he lost every dime. He’d ignored his lawyer’s calls so often, the man had started showing up in person. Trevor just sent him away.

Nigel and Mags had moved out, but they insisted on coming over. Each and every goddamned day.

Trevor heard footsteps behind him but didn’t bother turning around. Nigel. Like clockwork, his father would seek him out at the same time every afternoon.

“How’s tricks, Son?”

“Same as yesterday. And the day before that,” Trevor said, his gaze remaining fixed on the water.

“Swallow your pride. Go to her. She’s miserable. You’re miserable. Well, to be honest, you’ve always been a little stroppy.”

“Allison called it pissy. And I can’t just go to her. The ball’s in her court, and it’s obvious she wants nothing to do with me.” But God, how he missed her. No, he didn’t just miss her. He fucking loved her. He hadn’t believed in the emotion. But somehow, Allison Campbell had fallen into his life and altered it completely. He wasn’t sure when he finally realized how he felt. Probably when he walked out of that disgusting motel room where Monica had been staying. He’d never felt so much pain in his life, walking away from the one person who brought him joy. Yes. Fucking joy. Trevor had experienced it with Allie, but he’d been too much of a git to realize it at the time.

“So call her anyway. Send her something. Women like jewelry.”

Not Allie. She wouldn’t give a damn about a diamond necklace. He’d deposited millions in her bank account. He thought that would get a rise out of her, but she hadn’t contacted him. Not once. He thought for sure she would reach out to him. But it was well and truly over. How was he supposed to carry on with this kind of ache in his gut? God, he even sounded like a mopey wanker. And for once, he didn’t even care.

Nigel tapped Trevor’s leg. “You know I’m sorry about marrying Anna.”

“She never mattered, not really. Your betrayal, that’s what stung.”

“I know. I was a ghastly father. A worse husband, if you can believe that. To all of them. You’d think after five marriages, I’d have got it right at least once. But you, Trev, somehow you turned out better than Mags and I combined. Allison’s a treasure. And if she loves you, that’s saying something.”

If Allie loved him so goddamned much, why didn’t she call? He knew he was being irrational. He’d told her he didn’t love her, taunted her when she declared her love for him. He all but packed her bags. Still, he’d made the last overture. And she simply didn’t care.

He closed his eyes and laughed bitterly. What a joke. Allie realized he was a fuckwad just as Trevor finally realized he loved her.

He didn’t deserve Allison Campbell. He never had.

***

“Here’s your laundry room.” The apartment manager, Doreen, opened the tiny closet door. The small space was big enough for a stackable washer and dryer. If she could afford one.

“One bedroom, galley kitchen, one bath.”

“How much?” Allie looked around at the white walls, white ceiling, and off-white carpet with a sigh. Still, it would be her own place. It was a start.

“Nine-fifty.”

Allie shrugged. “I’ll take it.” Why didn’t she feel excited? This was a step in the right direction—new job, new apartment, new life. Without Trevor.

She worked up a smile for Doreen and followed her out of the apartment to the front office where she signed off on the credit check and sat back in the chair to wait.

After several minutes, Doreen smiled broadly. “Are you sure you don’t want to look at condos?”

“I told you, I can’t afford it.”

“Well, according to your bank statement you can.” She placed a paper in front of Allie.

Allie hadn’t had any real expenses in the last few months, so she knew she had a small balance in her account. She pulled the paper closer and peered at the number. Blinking, she looked up from the paper to Doreen. “I’m going to kill him.”

She barely remembered the drive from the apartment complex to Trevor’s house. She was fueled by rage. How dare he? He still thought she was a whore. He still thought he could control her. She was going to have the final word on this once and for all. British ass.

When she pulled up to the gate, Carl smiled and waved.

“Glad to see you again, Miss C—”

She didn’t let him finish but accelerated up the drive before screeching to a halt in front of the house. She threw herself out of the car and charged to the door. Tapping her foot, she waited for Arnold to answer, and when he did, an unfamiliar smile stretched across his mouth.

“Thank God you’re here.”

Frances stood behind him. “He’s in the garden. Hurry now.”

“The garden?” Allie echoed.

“Oh yes. Spends most of his time there,” Frances said.

Allie walked through the house and flung open the French doors. Dusk fell over the fragrant garden, streaking the sky with pink and lavender. The fairy lights came on, illuminating the blooming flowers as she followed the flagstone pathway.

She found him on the bench beneath the arbor, elbows resting on his knees, staring into the water. Once she saw him, most of the anger fizzled and deep sadness took its place. She stood back and watched him, her eyes roaming over him, drinking him in. He seemed leaner, but just as beautiful. He wore cargo shorts and a wrinkled T-shirt. She didn’t know he owned anything other than suits.

Allie slowly walked to the bench and sat down. “Hey.”

He didn’t move. Didn’t look at her, respond to her.

“You put five million dollars in my bank account.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

His body was tense, yet he didn’t move a muscle. “Because I wanted to. I always do what I want, you know that.”

She clenched her hands into fists. Why wouldn’t he look at her? She couldn’t argue with him when he just sat there. “I don’t want your fuck money.”

He turned his head then, and by the dim glow of the fading sun, she saw the despair in his eyes. “You’re not fucking me.”

“Well, that’s what it was for, right? Services rendered? Paying off your whore? Is that what you do when you get tired of a mistress? Give her an obscene amount of money to make her go away?”

“You’re the only mistress I’ve had, and I didn’t want you to go away.”

If he didn’t want her to go away, why hadn’t he asked her to stay? Why hadn’t he called? “Keep your money.”

He shrugged. “No. Give it away if you like. Start a home for wayward mistresses.”

“I’m giving it back to you.”

“I’ll just give it back to you.”

“God, you are so infuriating.” She jumped up from the bench.

“You think I gave you that money as some kind of payoff?”

“I have no idea,” she said. “I have no idea why you do anything, Trevor. You never tell me anything, you just dictate. And then you deposit money into my account, like I’m still your little fuck toy.”

He stood too, his face cold and blank. “That’s not why I gave it to you. I want you to have a life. I want you to be free to follow your dreams. You’ve sacrificed everything for your family, you deserve to have whatever you want.”