Chapter Forty-Seven

“Are you ready? That counseling shit is fucking pointless.”

Trenton glanced over at Dom leaning against the doorframe of the closet, munching away on a pear. “Maybe it’s not. If the kid’s mine, I’d like Claudia and I to come to a place where we can sensibly communicate.” Though he’d said the words, he wasn’t looking forward to being in the same space with the woman. Raking fingers through his freshly shampooed hair, annoyance seeping past sensibility, he grabbed a pair of charcoal gray light pinstripe socks from the drawer and sat in the black leather dressing chair.

“I’d bet my trust fund that the damn kid isn’t yours.”

Trenton flinched, unable to hide how that possible truth cut the deepest. “I see you like to keep reminding me of that.”

“Man, I’m the one that caught them out together at that restaurant and told you about it. When I approached them, they claimed they’d happened to run into each other and decided to grab a bite. Do I look fucking stupid? I’d seen them all hugged up together long before they realized I was there.”

How could Trenton ever forget any of it? Dom had been even angrier than he. What his brother didn’t know was the suspicion had already surfaced that the woman had been stepping out.

Thinking of his love for Kennedi and what awaited him with her after all the bullshit, Trenton went to his suits neatly hanging behind the glass doors and selected the charcoal gray, then stepped over to his tie rack.

“Trent, man, all I’m saying is Claudia signed the agreement that after the counseling sessions are done, she’ll walk her greedy, money-grubbing ass into the sun and take Plumber Boy Pete with her.”

Trenton gave a look over his shoulder. “Plumber Boy Pete, that’s what I called him.” Laughter resounded between them. Hearing his cell phone ringing on the nightstand, he left the closet to check the display—lobby security. He opened the line. “Yes, what is it?”

“Sorry, sir, to disturb you so early, but you have a visitor. Tabitha Seils.”

Surprised, Trenton replied, “Send her up.”

“Who’s coming up? Don’t you dare say Claudia.”

“No. Tabitha Seils.” He hurried back to his closet. As he quickly threw on a pair of dark denims and a white polo, he ran through scenarios that would bring Kennedi’s best friend to his door, and they all ended with him receiving a good hard slap across the face. He’d come to learn Tabitha wasn’t the sort to waste words and suspected she’d drive that point home along with a few other choice adjectives, for certain.

“Ah, that hottie. I managed to get in one dance with her at the party.”

“She’s attractive but sort of austere for you, don’t you think?” Trenton remarked while slipping on a pair of black leather loafers. “She almost never smiles, and her hair is extremely long but always tucked in a bun or a braid. Not your usual type.”

Dom shrugged. “I actually find her look kind of sexy. It says ‘I have shit to do and don’t have time to fuck around.’”

“I find her kind of scary,” Trenton joked on his way down the stairs and over to the door at the second chime of the bell, bracing himself as he pulled it open. A braid. The troubled expression in her otherwise flawless features drew him pause. “Tabitha, good morning.”

“Good morning. I didn’t have your cell number. I tried your office as well as Chase Investments and was told you’d taken the day off.” She looked past him into the house.

He stretched open the door. “Come in.”

He ushered her into the living room and noted how those alert hazel eyes gave a thorough sweep of his place and up toward the stairs as if anticipating something…or someone. She knows. Trenton was certain she knew all there was to know about his situation. He tried to mentally prepare himself for her condemnation.

“Tabitha, it’s a pleasure to see you again.” Dom wore a bright smile and received an acknowledging nod in return, Tabitha hardly giving him a glance.

Moving her braid back over her right shoulder, she turned to Trenton. “Kennedi’s father had a seizure this morning and is in surgery. I received a call from Evie about fifteen minutes ago. I’m on my way there now but thought I’d try to get in touch with you to let you know. It’s what Kennedi would want.”

Evidently her best friend’s feelings overruled her abhorrence of him. “How is he now? What has the doctor said?”

“I hope to find that out once I get there.” With hands in the back pockets of her fitted jeans, she looked between him and Dom. “Well, that’s all I came to say.” Turning, she headed for the door with that no-nonsense, shit-to-do stride.

Closing the door behind her, Trenton sensed it hadn’t been all she’d come by to say—the words of which he probably wouldn’t have enjoyed hearing.

“Trent, man, this is bad timing. You can’t miss your appointment with Claudia. You know she’ll drag you down for sure if you do.”

“I’m fully aware.” Trenton thought of Kennedi, the worry and pain she must be going through.

“You can make your appointment, then later check in on Kennedi and her father. Win-win.” Dom smiled, blue eyes hopeful. “So all’s good, right?”

She’ll have her friends there for support, Trenton tried to reason. Yet he couldn’t shake the swarm of concern.

“Yeah.”