All Stars Fall (Seaside Pictures #3.5)(31)

“Yay! Dad, can I?”

“Yeah.” He kissed the top of his head “Off you go.”

Malcom ran full speed toward my bedroom, and part of me felt sad that I couldn’t stay home and cuddle with him while watching Sesame Street.

His little hands and feet would be under the covers, limbs taking over the entire bed. Malcom slept like he was trying to use as much space as possible.

My heart ached.

Trevor shook his head in what looked like frustration. “I need to do something about their sleeping arrangements. Kid’s not sleeping. He keeps trying to sneak into Eric’s room.”

“So let him,” I piped up in a strong voice. “They’re twins, and Malcom needs comfort. Honestly, putting them together might help Eric just as much as Malcolm. He’s hurting too. He just lashes out, whereas Malcom…”

“Malcom has a tender heart.” Trevor took the words right out of my mouth.

“Tender but still strong, just like his dad,” I said softly.

Trevor reached for me.

I stumbled back. “Okay, so I’ll just be heading to the garage now.”

“Running away?” he taunted, looking deliciously sexy in no shirt and a low pair of track pants that hugged his hips.

I dangled the keys in the air. “I’ll try not to get a ticket.”

“If you get a ticket in Seaside, I’ll be more impressed than pissed.”

I flashed him a wide smile. “Thanks for this.”

“Thanks for…” He stopped and then whispered, “…everything.”

My throat clogged up a bit as I nodded, not trusting myself to speak without confessing how much I was falling for him and his family, and I quickly made my way to the garage and the waiting Jeep.

He had brought three cars with him.

I was taking one.

And I was going to pretend it was normal.

This was normal.

Employer.

Employee.

I clicked the key fob to unlock the doors and let out a little gasp when I saw the caramel colored lush leather seats.

It was normal to moan when getting into your employer’s car, um…right?

I sighed and gripped the steering wheel just as the garage door went up. Trevor stood next to the door, waving me off.

His friggin’ eight pack flexed for the world to see.

Yup. Normal.

I turned on the SUV and drove out of his million dollar beach house toward my job, with fresh tracks of his voice playing in the background. And his abs in my rearview mirror.

So normal it was almost scary, right?





Chapter Sixteen



Trevor




“Daaaaaaad,” Eric yelled as he bounded down the stairs. “Can I play some video games?”

I was well on my fourth cup of coffee.

It was about an hour until Penny was supposed to show up.

And I felt like shit.

Worse than shit.

And as much as I wanted to blame it on the fact that I’d confused Penny and was mentally exhausted—I knew it was worse than that.

I was getting sick.

I never got sick.

My hands were clammy as I lifted the mug to my lips and sipped, then I grimaced and nodded. “Yeah, buddy.”

The next hour went by painfully slow, partially because I missed her even though I shouldn’t, and partially because the more seconds that passed the sicker I got, to the point that I finally lay on the couch next to Eric and told Malcom to keep an eye on Bella.

My throat burned, and my body ached. I turned on my side, and the next thing I knew tiny hands were shaking me awake. “Is he dead?”

“Let’s hope not,” Penny said with amusement in her voice. “Why don’t you guys go upstairs and wash your hands, and I’ll take you all out for lunch. How does that sound?”

“Hooray!” They all let out little screams of excitement as if they’d been prisoners in their own home. I would have rolled my eyes had I had the energy.

Cold fingertips pressed against my forehead. “Trevor?”

“Penny.” I rasped her name. Damn she was pretty and I wasn’t even staring at her. I could feel her though, feel her beauty through her skin. Wait, was that even possible? “Penny?”

“I’m here.” Something cold and wet hit my forehead. “I think you have a fever. I’m going to get you some Tylenol to bring it down, okay?”

“So hot,” I grumbled and then gripped her wrist. “You feel cold.”

“Because you’re sick,” she said softly. “I’m sorry I’m late. It was busy at the coffee shop, something about Adrenaline doing a free concert.”

I snorted out a laugh. “We need music to do that.”

“Well, you could use your old stuff, though I’m not sure how the rumor got started.”

“You and Drew.” I might be delirious, but even I knew how easy it was to assume things, like the fact that she was out with Drew the night before and worked at a coffee shop that often had free mic night. “People like to draw conclusions. People are stupid, like his ego could even fit in that shit hole.”

“Excuse me?”

My eyes surged open, temples pounding, “Penny, no, not—that’s not what I—”