A Mess of a Man (Cruel & Beautiful #2)(8)

Lauren and Berkeley both hit my ears at the same time. “Give him a chance,” Lauren advises.

Berkeley says, “The word is, he hasn’t been with anyone at all since that night.”

“How nice. I’ve heard this from both of you before. I’m not deaf, you know.”

“Hey, Sam. Ladies.” Trevor flashes his super charming smile.

“Hi Trevor. What’s up?” Berkeley asks.

“Same old, you know. Can I get you all a drink?”

“Sure. Vodka soda double lime, for me, please,” I say. He gets us all drinks, and we stand smushed up together in the crowded space and chat.

At some point, Lauren gives me the thumbs up. So do the others. Then they fade away into the background. Now my nerves hit. Trevor lifts his drink and we toast. I don’t want to be alone with him. I’m not ready for this, because I’m sure he’s going to ask me out.

“To a great rest of the weekend,” he says.

“I’ll drink to that.”

“So what’ve you been doing, Sam? I haven’t seen you around the last couple of weeks.”

“Yeah, I’ve been a little busy. A lot of events.” I feel like fidgeting, but I manage to keep my cool.

“So, business is good then?”

“Yes, it is. And you?”

“You know, summer is my time so I’ve been loving it.”

“That’s great,” I say.

“You look really awesome tonight.” He smiles. His sun-bleached hair and hazel eyes make a perfect match for his megawatt grin. He certainly is gorgeous. But the trust factor weighs heavily on my mind. I still have that image of him twisted up in that other woman’s arms, practically swallowing her tongue. The thought almost makes me gag.

“Thanks,” I say, forcing the image out of my head.

I look up to see him staring at me. His eyes zero in on my mouth, like they always do, and it’s a little unsettling, so I divert his attention by asking him, “Did you come alone?”

“No, do you know my new roommate, Robert?”

“Don’t think so.”

“Oh, well, he’s here somewhere in this crowd.”

Our conversation is a bit stilted, but it could be that it’s so jammed in here.

“Hey, can I take you out to dinner Friday?”

He hasn’t hidden the fact he wants to get back together, but I haven’t hidden the fact that I don’t trust him.

“Um, I don’t know, Trevor.”

“Come on, Sam. It’s been almost a year and it’s just dinner. You have to eat, right? And people change.”

He nudges my shoulder with his own. The teasing tone of his voice and his playful smile has my resolve crumbling. Not to mention I’m such a pushover. Damn it!

“Yeah, I guess. But before I can say it’s a for sure thing, I need to check my work calendar at home because sometimes Friday evenings are booked with events. And don’t take this any other way than just a meal between friends, okay?”

“Yes, just a meal.” He seems sincere.

“Can I text you tomorrow?” I ask.

“Most definitely.”

Oddly, as I watch him, a picture of a messy-haired gray-eyed god standing next to a display of honeydews pops into my head. Where the hell did that come from? I give my head a firm shake.

“Sam?” Trevor is clicking his fingers in front of my face. “You with me here?”

“Oh, sorry. I had a momentary brain lapse. It was a really crazy week and I was in the sun all day. You know how that goes.”

“Sure. And alcohol isn’t helping either, no doubt. Hey, you aren’t driving tonight, are you?”

“Oh, heck no. I’m a passenger in the Mitchell’s golf cart.” I laugh.

“Huh?”

I explain this one. “I’m staying with Lauren at her parents’ house here on Sullivan’s and we brought their golf cart.”

“Oh, right. But still, be careful. They can ticket you even in that thing.”

“Yeah, I know. But Mr. Mitchell said they would come and get us if we needed a pick up.”

“Lucky you. Oh, to be spoiled by parents like that.” He grins.

I make a face and squeak, “I know. And we seriously do not take it for granted.”

“That’s good.”

“So, another round?”

“Sure, and do you mind if we hunt down my friends?”

“Not at all.” Trevor buys me another drink but not one for himself. I notice and mention it to him.

“Yeah, I’ve cut back on the stuff. After what happened when, well, you know, I decided that this,” and he holds up his bottle, “had taken the best from me and I wasn’t going to let that happen again.”

“Oh, well, that’s good.” But then I have to wonder if he’s doing it for show. Again, there’s the trust thing.

Berkeley is easy to locate. She’s standing right in front of the band, dancing and singing like a groupie. She’s throwing off all kinds of signals to the drummer that she’d be a willing partner if he’d give the go ahead. The way he keeps checking her out, I’d say he’s interested. I hope she doesn’t end up hooking up with him tonight. That could be a little awkward in the morning, trying to explain it to Lauren’s mother.