“That was a fun evening,” she said, smiling.

  “I’m glad you enjoyed it,” Garrett said to her while holding her hand in his. “Did you have a nice time, Gypsi?” Garrett asked.

  “Yes, thank you. For everything. The hair, makeup, dress, all of it.”

  He nodded with a pleased smile on his face.

  “You were a charming gentleman tonight, Trev,” my mom said to him.

  She was feeling him out. I could see it in her eyes.

  He shrugged. “I can be when I have the proper motivation.”

  She laughed softly, but her gaze flicked to mine for a moment. “We all need a little motivation sometimes. But tell me, was that motivation my daughter?”

  I tensed. She was doing this here. Going for the jugular.

  Thanks, Mom.

  Not what I wanted to happen in the limo with her and Garrett.

  “Yes, as a matter of fact. It seems Gypsi and I had a misunderstanding. It was my fault, and once it was cleared up, I had some making up to do.”

  Mom raised her eyebrows in surprise. “I see. And this misunderstanding was about what exactly?”

  “Mom,” I said, begging her with my eyes to shut up.

  She tilted her head and gave me a knowing smile. “Honey, I am your mother. I want to know if Trev and you are having a thing or whatever. Is this friends, or is there more to it?”

  “I’ve already spoken to Trev about it, Fawn. He knows not to cross that line,” Garrett assured her.

  She looked up at Garrett. “Is that a line you drew or that Gypsi drew?” she asked, turning back to me.

  He frowned. “I drew it for you,” he said.

  Mom shook her head. “It’s not my line to draw. Gypsi is an adult. I don’t draw lines for her.”

  Garrett cleared his throat. “I see. I just … well, I realize they’re adults, but we will be family. We are family, and that can get messy. Trev isn’t one for relationships. I don’t want to make things awkward for everyone in the future.”

  Mom swung her gaze to me, and we looked at each other for several moments, having a silent conversation only a mom and daughter who had grown up together could have.

  “I think that Gypsi is able to make those decisions. She’s not dramatic. She forgives easily. If everything is out on the table, there are no hidden agendas, then telling them what they can and can’t do will only make it all the more tempting.”

  “Not sure that’s possible,” Trev said, and my widened as I gaped at him.

  Mom’s musical laughter filled the limo, and Trev shrugged when his eyes met mine.

  Garrett shifted in his seat. “Very well, Fawn. I just want you happy. This is in your hands. I will stay out of it.”

  She leaned into Garrett and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “No, love, it’s in their hands. Not mine.”

  We arrived at the house and all exited the limo. Mom whispered things to Garrett, and his chuckle followed them up the stairs to the house.

  Trev held my elbow, keeping me back until they were far enough away, then looked down at me. “My room tonight, Lollipop,” he said softly. “I’m going to handle something quickly with Kye. But be in my bed when I get there.”

  “Okay,” I replied.

  He released me, and I climbed the stairs. Mom was waiting at the door for me when I reached it. Garrett was already up the left wing stairs. She closed the door behind me, then took my arm.

  “Did I do the right thing? Is that what you want?” she whispered.

  I nodded.

  She looked at me with her worried mom frown. “Don’t get hurt. I know I talked a big game in that limo, but I am worried. Trev does look at you like you’re the precious jewel you are, and that’s why I did it. I watched him tonight, and he won me over with the way he couldn’t see anyone but you. It’s just that you’ve been hurt already, and I feel like that was my fault. Is Trev why you aren’t seeing Saxon?”

  I nodded. “It’s been Trev all along. Since day one.”

  “Oh, honey. If anyone can tame a playboy, it’s you. I have faith in you.”

  I laughed. “Thanks, but I’m not trying to tame him. It’s a friends with benefits thing.”

  She raised her eyebrows. “The way he was looking at you was not friendly.”

  “That’s the benefits thing.”

  “Not so sure about that.”

  I reached up and kissed her cheek. “Stop worrying, and thank you. Garrett had put the hammer down on Trev. This helps. We’ve had a rough week. I’ll tell you about it later. I’m just glad it’s all cleared up. I missed him.”

  “So, it wasn’t my engagement that had you so sad. You like it here?”

  “I like it here. And I’m happy about your engagement. If it falls through, we can sell that ring and live the rest of our lives on the profit.”

  Mom laughed and shook her head. “I love that man. This isn’t falling through.”

  I believed her.

  Thirty-Four

  Trev

  Gypsi was asleep in my bed when I got back. It had taken longer than expected with the new security guy we had in place. I watched her sleep while I took off the tux and kicked off my shoes. Seeing her there was right. It made every-fucking-thing in my life feel like it was going to be okay. She made it okay. She made it perfect.

  Pulling back the covers, I paused when I saw her naked body and thanked whatever gods there were for that view. I moved over to her and rolled her onto her back. She made a noise, but her eyes didn’t open. Pushing her thighs open, I stared down at the pretty pink folds. I should let her sleep, but I had missed her too bad.

  I leaned down and began to lick my favorite spot in the world. She moaned and jerked lightly. Lifting my eyes to look up at her, I was met with her sleepy smile.

  “That’s the best wake-up I’ve ever had,” she breathed.

  “I’ve been missing this pussy. I needed it on my tongue,” I told her.

  She opened her legs wider and buried her fingers in my hair. “So good,” she mumbled.

  I played with her clit, and she made sexy little noises, making my dick throb harder.

  “It makes me crazy, thinking about someone else touching this. Tasting it. I’m fucking jealous. It makes me do stupid shit,” I told her.

  She lifted her hips to meet my tongue. “That turns me on,” she panted.

  “You want me jealous?” I asked, sliding a finger into her tight hole.

  “YES!”

  Grinning, I watched her pleasure as I plunged two fingers inside her while licking at her sweet juices. “So fucking sexy.”

  “Trev?”

  “Yeah, Lollipop?”

  “Please fuck me now.”

  I took one last lick, then climbed up and over her. I wanted her like this. Face-to-face. After the shit week without her, I wanted to see her. Feel the connection when I was deep inside her.

  Her wet, slick entrance squeezed me as I sank all the way in, hitting the back spot that drove her crazy. Her hands grabbed my arms, and she held on to me, lifting her hips to meet my thrusts.

  “There is no pussy that compares to this. I swear, Lollipop, my cock only wants you.”

  Her eyes looked up at me with so much emotion that it almost undid me. I had to clench my damn ass to keep from unloading inside of her already. No one had ever looked at me like that. As if I was all they wanted. I met all their needs. Damn, the fucking rush in my chest was overwhelming. I leaned down and kissed her on the lips. Her mouth opened for me, so hungry and desperate for a taste. I slid my tongue over hers in a gentle caress. The longing to get lost in this. For everything else to fade away until it was just us.

  Her little licks and soft moans sent jolts of pleasure straight to my dick. I wasn’t going to last much longer. Although I wanted it to never end.

  “Lollipop, come for me, baby. All over my cock,” I pleaded.

  Her eyes held my gaze, and her mouth fell open as the first tremor ran through her body. The cry that tore from her was my name, and that was all it took. The hard surge that crashed through me sent my release pulsing into her.

  “OH GOD! TREV!” She shook as a second orgasm hit her. Making her cunt continue to suck me.

  “Damn, Lollipop, don’t stop. That’s fucking heaven,” I groaned as my length was being worked over, still deep inside her.

  “Oh, oh,” she panted, then slowly began to ease beneath me. “That was—” She stopped, still trying to catch her breath.

  “Earth-shattering,” I finished for her.

  She nodded and smiled up at me. I held those pretty eyes with mine, wondering how I’d thought I could end this. Walk away from it. I should have been on my knees, begging her. Promising her everything. Whatever the fuck she wanted.

  I bent my arms and held myself over her just enough so she could breathe. “I don’t want to pull out of you yet,” I told her.

  She wiggled her hips. “Then, don’t.”

  I leaned down and kissed her. “Do you want to come again, Lollipop?”

  “Yes,” she said, kissing me back.

  “This sweet little pussy missed me,” I said, grinning.

  “Yes.”

  “We might fuck all damn night,” I told her, feeling myself start to slowly harden again.

  “Please,” she breathed, pressing her hips up when she realized I was growing inside her.

  I pressed a kiss on the tip of her nose, her eyelids, then went to her ear to whisper, “You own this cock, Lollipop. You use it any way you want to.”

  “Then, let me ride you.”

  I rolled over, taking her with me, not wanting to leave her tight sheath. She straddled me with her wild blonde curls all over the place and that sexy grin on her face as she began to rock against me. The sight made my chest so damn tight that I struggled to breathe. It didn’t get any more perfect than her. At least not for me. I stared up at her as it dawned on me what this tightness was. The warm rush that I didn’t understand. The insane jealousy and possessiveness. The uncontrollable rage when I thought someone was taking her from me. Or hurting her …

  Holy hell.

  I fucking loved her.

  Thirty-Five

  Gypsi

  The lighting was perfect. Kye had Iron War out in the straight track, working with him. Moses Mile had originally owned Iron War, but Maddy had said he’d been difficult. He had some emotional damage, but he had excellent breeding. Garrett had brought him over to have Blaise work with him, and he was now ready for the track.

  Kye, in a cowboy hat, on top of a thoroughbred as impressive as Iron War, made for excellent photos. I had spent the past thirty minutes moving all over to get the best shots. Once, Kye came close to where I stood and smirked at the camera. Women were going to love that picture.

  Standing to move one more time, I looked down at the photos I’d already taken. I was sure I had enough, but that horse was beautiful. The sounds of the horses’ hooves got closer, and I looked up to see Kye headed toward me.

  He pulled to a stop beside me. “You get what you need? Or do I need to take him out some more?”

  “I think I have enough, but maybe one more, if it’s okay. That time you got close and smirked at the camera—could you do something like that before we lose the lighting? I think it will be a big draw for females. Just to get more follows and likes.”

  He laughed. “Okay. Yeah, I can do that. What about winking?” he asked and gave me a wink.

  That could work.

  “What the fuck are you winking at Gypsi for?” Trev called out from behind me.

  “Shit,” Kye muttered.

  I looked back at him, thinking he was kidding but the scowl on his face was serious. We’d had a great week. Trev had even began teaching me to ride. We had started looking at horses online, and Trev had made calls to decide where we were going to go look for my horse. Seeing him angry was startling. He’d been all smiles until now.

  “I’m fucking serious, Kye,” he said with a snarl when he reached us. “Why are you winking at her? She’s taking photos; she’s not out here to flirt with your ass.”

  Trev’s hand slid around my waist, pulling me against him. I stared up at him in confusion.

  “Trev,” I said, and his face softened as he looked down at me, “I asked him to do something flirty for the camera. It will go over well on social media. He was asking me if a wink would work.”

  Trev glanced back in Kye’s direction.

  “Truth,” Kye said, holding up his hands.

  Trev nodded. “Okay.”

  He didn’t apologize, and he didn’t let me go.

  Kye’s gaze dropped to Trev’s hold on me. “You gonna let her take this picture, or are we done?”

  Trev’s fingers flexed as they tightened on my waist. Okay, apparently, we were done.

  I turned to Kye. “I have plenty. It’s good. Thank you,” I told him.

  He nodded, then gave Trev an amused grin before turning Iron War and heading for the stables.

  “You want to explain that?” I asked Trev when he was gone.

  Trev smiled at me like he’d just won something. “Let’s go somewhere. It’s the weekend. What about the Virgin Islands? We have a house there and a yacht.”

  “What?” I asked, trying to decide where this was coming from.

  “Have you been to St. Thomas? You’ll love it. I can take you to my favorite restaurant.”

  “Just the two of us? Go to the Virgin Islands?” I asked incredulously.

  He grinned. “I don’t like to share, Lollipop.”

  I rolled my eyes. “That’s not what I meant. That sounds … I don’t know. It’s not work-related. It’s not a family thing. It just feels …”

  I did not want to say relationship because I was afraid he’d go into hiding for a month. Things had been perfect all week. I hadn’t said the L-word again. I hadn’t put any pressure on him. It was Trev who had instigated the movie nights. Trev who had started making time for my riding lessons. Not me.

  “It sounds like what?” he asked, leaning down to brush a kiss across my lips.

  “Trev,” I whispered. “We are in the wide open. Anyone can see you.”

  “Good.”

  I grabbed his face with my hand. “Did you hit your head?” I asked.

  He chuckled. “No. I kiss you all the time.”

  “Yes, but not out like this.”

  “I need to fix that,” he replied, then leaned in, his tongue flicking a little along my bottom lip.

  “I am going to drop this expensive camera if you keep that up,” I warned him.

  “I’ll buy you a new one,” he said softly.

  “Trev.”

  “Hmm?” he murmured as he trailed kisses along my jawline.

  “I need to put this camera in its bag,” I sighed.

  “Tell me you’ll go to St. Thomas with me this weekend,” he urged.

  “Yes, if that’s what you want.”

  He stopped kissing me then. “Put your camera up, and let’s go get packed although you really just need that white bikini with the pink piping on it.”

  “You want to leave today?” I asked as I put the camera up.

  “We can leave in the morning if you don’t want to go tonight.”

  I put the bag strap over my shoulder, then turned back to him. If he realized this was him acting like more than friends with benefits, he was going to panic. Someone was going to tease him about it. I knew the guys, and they would say something. Then, Trev would go missing. I wasn’t sure I could recover from that again.

  “You’re frowning, Lollipop. I don’t like it when you frown,” he said with his own frown this time.

  I sighed and tried to think of how to say this and not upset him. It was a fine line with Trev Hughes. One I thought had gotten easier this week, but still.

  “It’s just … us going to St. Thomas together. Just the two of us isn’t very friends with benefits.”

  His frown deepened.

  Well, crap. I’d done it. Why hadn’t I just shut up? When the guys started teasing him about it, I’d have to deal with him acting weird again. Now, I had just sped the process up.

  “Okay, now, before you go and get weird, or run off to prove something, or whatever, I did not say the L-word. I did not say relationship. I am just warning you that the guys will say something about this and tease you. I need the reassurance that, when that happens, you won’t go MIA on me and repeat the last time. I didn’t like that, and I don’t want to do it again.”

  Trev reached out and took the bag off my shoulder, then put it on his. “You worry too much, Lollipop. Come on.”

  He draped his arm over my shoulders as we walked back to the stables.

  “You still liking the job?” he asked me like I hadn’t just broached a deep subject.

  “Yes. I love it,” I replied.

  “You’re great at it. Dad’s impressed, and that’s hard to do.”

  A smile tugged at my lips. I was glad I hadn’t disappointed Garrett. Not after what he was paying me to do this.

  We stepped into the stables, and I went to put the camera bag away and lock up. Maddy had left an hour ago. The horses were all put up for the night. Kye was brushing Iron War. I waved at him as we passed on our way out, and he nodded his head.

  Trev ignored him. He was still being ridiculous about that wink. I started toward the house when Trev grabbed the back of my jeans and tugged me back.

  Glancing over my shoulder, I frowned. “What are you doing?”

  “We aren’t going to the house just yet.”

  “I thought we were going to pack.”

  He licked his bottom lip and distracted me. I watched his tongue slide in and out of his mouth slowly.

  “We will, but I want to take you somewhere first.”

  I nodded. I was willing to go wherever he wanted to take me. The stone path that led behind the main stables turned into a dirt path that led into some woods. Trev held my hand, walking in front of me. It wasn’t very far before the trees cleared, and there was a rushing stream. It was beautiful. I hadn’t even realized it was hiding back here.