Page 50 of Loving Trent (Love in the Bootheel #5)

Thirty

SHAWN

I don’t want to break the bubble that we are in or the high that I’m riding right now after having my ass filled by Trent.

But I really need to come to a decision about what to do.

This decision affects us all. I meant it when I said I wasn’t going anywhere, but I still have a decision to make.

My life is here with Trent and Harley. In the two weeks that we’ve been together, everything inside me has shifted.

The workaholic has disappeared, and I’ve found myself loving the mundane things in life.

Don’t get me wrong, I still want to work, but I look forward to doing all the things my exes wanted me to do with them.

Going grocery shopping, cooking dinner together, watching movies late into the night, and multiple nights of hanging out with friends and families.

With Trent, I’m the one craving these things, and he is more than happy to give them to me.

Trent finally pushes off me, and I hate how empty I feel when he slips out of my ass. His eyes rake over me but settle on my face. “Did I hurt?—”

God, I love this man. Sitting up, I cup his face and say for what I hope is the last time, “No, Baby. You didn’t hurt me. You could never hurt me, emotionally, physically, or sexually.”

His cheeks start turning red, and he looks over my shoulder. “And it was good…” He swallows, grimaces, and continues. “It was good for you?”

Oh, my fucking heart hurts for this man.

I rest my forehead against his and wrap my arms around his neck.

“It was fucking perfect.” I’ve been with a handful of men before, but sex has never felt like that before.

I wanted him to go deeper. I wanted him to infuse himself with me and never let go.

It was more than an act brought on by the need for a release.

“I love you so much, Trent, and any time with you is going to blow my fucking mind.”

“I love you, too.” His breath skates over my lips as the feeling of being complete settles deep inside me. His love is like a living entity as it eats up all worry and self-doubt left behind by the men who hurt me. I never want to live without it… I’m not sure I can.

Hating that I have to do this, I cage the butterflies in my stomach and say, “But we do still need to have that talk.”

After a quick shower that felt like fucking torture we get dressed and settle at the kitchen table. Trent takes a breath, reaches across the table to grab my hand, and says, “Okay, lay it on me.”

“I’ve decided to keep the apartment building, but I’ve put an ad in the paper and online for the third-floor apartment. I’m also looking for a building manager to oversee the day-to-day problems that might come up.”

Trent’s eyes brighten, and a small smile forms on his handsome face. “Okay.”

“I’ve spoken to one of the managers at the gym, Garrett.

He has made an offer to buy it. It will be a rent-to-own type of deal.

He has been with me since I opened it and has told me on multiple occasions that it was his dream to own a gym.

I would love for you to look over the contract and make sure that I didn’t miss anything.

” All of this was easy to decide. Choosing Trent and Harley was always going to win in the end.

Trent’s smile grows, his shoulders lower, and my heart skips a beat at the sight. “I can do that.”

I laugh softly and get to the hard decision. “I’ve also got an offer for the restaurant, but I’m not sure if I should take it.”

“Why not?” Trent asks instantly and leans forward.

“I didn’t tell you last night, but Maria went over last month’s accounts, and someone took another two grand.

” Bracing myself for his reply, I squeeze his hands, hoping that he doesn’t lose his cool.

Even though I told Trent that we are putting my issues on the back burner, he hasn’t fully let it go.

He’s worried about me losing everything, but none of that matters to me.

Not with Tom and Sandy still out there somewhere, breathing.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

With clear determination, I say, “Because I knew you would insist on pushing it to the top of our list of things to handle, and I think it shouldn’t be there.”

He lets out a low growl, and I can’t help but smile.

It might be sick of me, but it turns me on every time he does that.

“That’s because what is happening at your business is happening right now.

As far as we can tell, Tom and Sandy haven’t opened a new camp, so yes, it can be worked on in the background while we focus on this. ”

“We don’t know that for sure. Maybe they have learned from their mistakes and are keeping the kids even more isolated,” I say, giving voice to the worries eating away at me.

Something isn’t sitting right with me, and I’m scared that wherever those evil people are, there is hell being rained down on innocent children.

“Baby Boy, what is happening to you is just as impo?—”

My eyes narrow, and whatever Trent sees in them has him losing some of his fight.

“Goddamn it, no, it isn’t. I have this feeling,” I grip my shirt over my stomach and continue.

“Right here. Whatever is happening with Tom and Sandy isn’t good, and if we don’t find them, someone will be hurt in the worst way ever. ”

He is up and out of his chair, wrapping me in his arms. “Okay, Baby boy. Shhh, it’s all going to be okay.”

I wish I could believe him, but I can’t.

All night last night, I had nightmares of kids screaming out for help and not being able to find them.

Sometimes it was Shawn’s voice, and then it would morph into Harley’s.

I woke up screaming with tears streaming down my face.

The sound of the front door opening pulls us out of our little bubble.

“I’m telling you. Your dad doesn’t like me. ”

Trent’s hold on me tightens, and he growls low in my ear. It’s just what I needed to push the thoughts of those nightmares away. “Fucking Andie Wright.”

“Andie, I’m telling you… Shawn!” Harley screams.

Trent lets me go, and I turn around as Harley comes around the corner and rushes to me. “Hi, Firecracker,” I say, pulling her into a hug. “I missed you so much.”

“I missed you, too,” she says, rubbing her cheek against my chest. “I’m so glad you're home. Now, maybe Dad will stop growling at Andie. Please tell him that Dad doesn’t hate him.”

I look over her shoulder and find the gangly, pimpled-faced boy who is a thorn in Trent’s side standing in the archway, looking at Harley with a dopey grin on his face. “Hi Andie, how are you?”

Another growl comes from Trent, and I laugh as Andie’s eyes widen, and a blush rushes up his neck.

After Trent reviewed the gym contract, I signed it and closed that chapter of my life.

Dad thought it would be best if it looked like I was actually thinking about selling the restaurant, even though we decided that I wouldn’t until we could figure out what was happening.

So, my partner, who happens to be the day manager, Tory, started spreading the rumor that she was weeks away from closing the deal between us.

The hope is that whoever is behind the theft will make a mistake and we can catch them.

We narrowed it down to two employees. A dishwasher named Carl and my night manager, Nathan.

Uncle Joey and Ryan say they are close to figuring it out, and I believe them.

But I’ve pushed everything that causes me stress out of my mind because this time of year is my favorite.

We’ve spent most of November with our family doing everything fall-related, and now tomorrow is Thanksgiving.

But what’s more important is that Boe and Trent are finally meeting today.

Since I’ve moved here, Boe has been busy working with Adam and Levi at the company our grandpa started, going to therapy, and studying for school.

We've discussed Trent, and he knows how much he means to me, but they have never met.

There is a part of me that is worried about how Boe will take seeing me in a healthy relationship while he is mourning the loss of his.

Bec’s dad hasn’t said a peep about where she is, and we are all pretty sure that Nana knows as well, but she is staying tight-lipped about it.

Boe knows that he fucked up and is putting in the work to change the way he views what a man is supposed to be.

Still, without having the opportunity to show Bec, he’s stuck.

“You’re sure Mr. Boe will be okay with me tagging along?” Harley asks for the third time in the last ten minutes. Turning around in my seat, I take in her worried face and fight a smile because even with her brows drawn low and a worried line cutting across her forehead, she is adorable.

“Yes, Firecracker. He knows all about you and is excited to meet you.” Okay, excited might be a stretch, but I’m going with it. Last night, Boe admitted that he was nervous to meet not only Trent but Harley as well.

“And I look okay?” She runs her hands over the front of her favorite sweater, which is black with purple ravens on it.

She has paired it with a leather skirt and her favorite black riding boots.

We don’t police what she wears, but when Trent saw her in that skirt, I thought he was going to have a heart attack.

His face got red, sweat pooled on his upper lip, and his breathing picked up.

The way he has taken to the father role is heart-stoppingly sweet and sexy at the same time.

“You look beautiful,” I say, reaching for her hand. “Why are you so worried about meeting my friend?” She bites her bottom lip and breaks eye contact with me.

“Harley Jean Wisco, what’s going through that pretty head of yours?” Trent asks, slowing the truck down to turn into Boe’s driveway.

She sighs and rolls her eyes at being full named but says, “It’s just that…

” She finally looks at me, and I hate the tears shining bright in her eyes.

“I’m nervous about meeting new people. Especially people who mean so much to either of you because…

” A tear slips out and down her face. That tear is like an arrow to my heart, and I guess Trent’s too because he slams on the brakes.

“Because?” Trent’s voice has taken on the tone that it always does when something someone does or says is hitting too close to home for him. Something that reminds him of his past. The pieces of the puzzle start sliding together.

“You’re worried that they won’t like you?

That if they don’t, it will somehow change what the three of us have going on?

” I ask, forcing the words out around the lump that has taken up residence in my throat.

The entity inside that was born after hearing Trent’s story wakes and claws at my insides to hurt the people responsible for making Harley believe this could be a reality she has to face.

“Just the first one,” Harley shakes her head before bowing it. “Is it stupid that I still worry about people liking me? Seriously, all of the Hills love me, but I still can’t seem to let go of the idea that?—”

“I’m twenty-five and still worry that the next person I meet might not like me because of who I am,” Trent says, reaching over and tipping her chin up. “I don’t think there is an age where that worry goes away. Not fully, anyway. I think that we learn to tame it into something we can live with.”

“He’s right, Firecracker, I’m twenty-eight and the same way.

Everyone is worried about people liking them, but for us and others like us, it’s overwhelming.

The world is changing, but it’s still a scary place for people who aren’t seen as normal,” I say, and then add.

“Whatever that is.” In hopes that it would make her smile.

It does, and I feel like I’ve won the lottery.

“I promise you that no one in mine or Dad’s life will ever not like you.

” That promise is easy to make and one that I will make sure never gets broken.

“Damn straight. We will never take you around anyone we think would say or do anything to harm you. We love you, Harley. You know that, right?” Trent says, and the way Harley’s eyes brighten and her whole being seems to inflate in front of us means that she wasn’t sure.

“We love you so fucking much,” I say, voice thick and eyes misty.

“I… I love you. Both of you…” She looks straight at me and says, “Daddio.”

It’s the first time she has called me that, and I don’t know what to do with myself.

I want to jump for joy and shout at the top of my lungs, but I also want to fall on my knees and tell her I’m not worthy.

Learning how to parent hasn’t been difficult because Harley is terrific.

Still, I have worried that I wasn’t making that connection with her that Trent has, but it looks like I’m wrong.

My other hand that isn’t holding Harley’s finds Trent’s, and I squeeze until I’m sure I’m going to break it. Holy shit.

“You feeling better?” Trent asks, his voice as thick as mine.

“Yeah, I’m ready to learn how to make a pumpkin pie from scratch,” Harley says.

Trent and I turn around. He looks at me, and I mouth “Daddio” and point to myself. He mouths, “I love you. You’re amazing.”

When we park outside Boe’s house, he and his mom are waiting on the porch for us. “Holy nuggets,” Harley says in a whisper.

Trent turns his head in her direction and lets out a low growl.

“Shawn.” I turn to see what has his hackles rising, and I almost piss myself with how hard I’m laughing.

Harley’s mouth is hanging open, her gray eyes are wide, and there is a red hue on her cheeks.

She is staring straight out the window at Boe.

“Stop laughing. This isn’t funny,” Trent hisses in a whisper.

“Welcome to raising a teenager, where they are ruled by their hormones,” I whisper, leaning over and pressing my lips against his neck. “Come on, Harley. I’ll introduce you.”

We leave Trent in the truck to cool down, but he doesn’t waste too much time before joining us.

Mrs. Aldridge instantly falls in love with Harley and pulls her into the kitchen to start making pies for tomorrow.

Boe invites Trent outside to fire up the grill, and when I try to follow, he looks over his shoulder and says, “Nope, you sir, are staying here while I talk to Trent.”

I throw up my hands and growl. “That’s not fair.”

Boe smiles at me, and I let go of the act of being angry because I haven’t seen him smile in so fucking long. Trent steps forward, cupping my face, and says, “Don’t worry, Baby Boy, unlike our daughter, I don’t find him attractive.”

“Dad!” Harley screeches from the kitchen.

“Sorry,” Trent yells, but the look in his eyes says he isn’t sorry one bit.