Say You Will (The Alexanders 5)

She didn’t speak again, just allowed him to lead her outside, docile as a child. When he glanced over at her she was hunched over, her shoulders rounded like she was bracing for something to hit her.

And it killed Trent to realize that she was right to be scared.

* * * * *

THE RIDE BACK to the penthouse wasn’t filled with sexual tension like the ride to the gala had been. Trent had been moody and quiet ever since they’d left and nothing Mara said seemed to draw him out. All he would say is “not here” and then go back to brooding out the window. Eventually she gave up and just rested her head on the seat. It was perplexing that he was in such a bad mood when she felt so loose and satisfied.

Was he angry with her for teasing him in the middle of the party?

The thought worried her, that her bold proposition had somehow embarrassed him. Then she threw that idea out completely. Trent had been completely with her one hundred percent and he’d been the one to take her to the roped off area of the exhibit. If he’d been embarrassed by the idea of getting caught then he would have just taken her to the limo.

He definitely wouldn’t have hiked her dress up amongst a roomful of medieval weaponry.

They pulled up to the front of their building and when Shane opened the door, Mara followed Trent out. The cool night air brushed over her skin and she clutched her wrap around her shoulders. As they rode the elevator up, Mara was already planning what she would do to relax after she took off her dress and shoes. It was fun to wear such fancy clothes but the strapless bra she had to wear with the dress was starting to pinch and the soles of her feet hurt from the high arch of the heels.

“I can’t wait to take these shoes off. And take a hot bath.”

Trent smiled down at her indulgently. “I hope you don’t mind if I join you.”

When the doors opened, they walked hand-in-hand into the entryway. Mara draped her wrap over one of the kitchen barstools and set her purse down on the counter. She took out her cell phone to check if she had gotten any messages.

“Oh, my brother called. I wonder what he wanted.” She was about to call him back when she looked up and noticed the figure standing in the living room.

“Avery? What are you doing here?”

Trent looked up sharply at the words, his gaze moving around the room wildly. Avery didn’t move, just stood there, still wearing the formal gown that she’d worn to the gala.

Trent stepped forward. “Mara, I’ll take care of this. I think she had too much to drink tonight. You can go ahead and get ready for bed. I’ll just call her a cab.”

But Mara couldn’t move her feet. There was something… proprietary about the way Avery was looking at Trent. Then she raised her hand and Mara could see that she was holding a piece of paper. Trent stalked forward and snatched it.

“Avery, I don’t have time for this right now. I already said everything I wanted to say earlier. You have to leave.”

“Look at it, Trent. James just gave it to me tonight,” she rasped.

Mara moved forward, her feet moving of their own accord. Trent finally looked at the sheet of paper in his hand and then paled. He placed one hand over his heart. “Holy shit.”

Mara walked over and looked over his shoulder. When she realized what she was looking at, she backed up until she bumped into the couch. When her knees hit the furniture, she sank down.

“That’s a DNA test. Who is it for?” She asked even though she already knew the answer.

Avery was the one who answered. “Travis. My son. And Trent’s son. James had the test done and he’s not the father.” She looked over at Trent. “It has to be you.”

Mara squeezed her eyes closed. “I can’t believe I trusted you all those times you swore that she was just a friend.” She cursed her own stupidity. He’d lied to her so many times and yet she’d believed him when he said he thought of Avery like a sister. If Travis was their child, he’d clearly not been telling her the truth.

Trent still stood in the same position. “I wasn’t lying. I honestly didn’t know. When my brother told me he thought Travis was mine–“

“When?” Mara demanded. “When did James tell you this?”

Trent looked pained. “A few weeks ago.”

“Weeks! You knew about this for weeks and didn’t say anything?”

“I only knew that my brother thought it was true and I didn’t say anything because I thought it was bullshit. I didn’t think anything happened that night other than the both of us nearly having alcohol poisoning. I figured James misinterpreted something he saw.”

“You don’t think anything happened. Think? You don’t know?”

His mouth opened and his jaw worked, but no sound came out. White-hot rage rushed through her. “You don’t, do you? You knew all along that this could be true and you didn’t say anything.”