up and placed a lingering kiss on his cheek.
“I’m glad. Get settled and I’ll be downstairs.”
Trent left and closed the door behind him. Skye walked to the window and crossed her arms over her chest. She was safe. For the first time she wasn’t looking at the news, she wasn’t holding strategy meetings, and she didn’t have to dodge the paparazzi. She felt freer than she had in years.
Skye unpacked her things, texted Karri and found out she loved it at Tinsley’s house, and cleaned up in the bathroom before going downstairs. She didn’t see Trent in the living room so she moved to the back of the house. The kitchen was cute. The dining room had been converted into an office, but it was what was off the kitchen that had her smiling. There sat Trent in a sunroom. The large windows were slid open, revealing screens to keep the bugs out.
“Hey, how is everything?” he asked when he saw her.
“Great. This room is so comfortable.” There was a large television on one wall, a couch and two recliners with a coffee table in front of them. The couch was the perfect spot for a nap with the breeze coming in.
“I’m glad you like it. As much as I like having you here, what’s your game plan? Are you really going to hide out here until the stalker gets caught?”
Trent patted the seat next to him and she sat down with a sigh. “I’m not really sure. I honestly just needed to catch my breath and find some way to take control of my life. I feel as if the Hollywood spotlight has stripped me of myself. I have no control over anything. Look what Lenny did to you. Speaking of which,” Skye took a deep breath and looked into Trent’s green eyes. “Tell me he didn’t ruin any chance we have to be together.”
Trent was silent for a moment and then he reached for her. “I was an idiot. I shouldn’t have signed the NDA. I should have gone right back upstairs and talked to you. Forgive me for being a stubborn jerk.”
“Of course I forgive you. I knew there was something special between us. You have to believe me when I said that night was the first time something like that had ever happened. Call it fate, love at first sight, chemistry . . . whatever it was, it was there. I don’t want to give up on it unless you didn’t feel it.”
“I felt it, Skye. I still do. If it didn’t mean anything to me, I’d have told you to screw off. But it meant so much to me I couldn’t tell you to stop texting, even though it hurt so much thinking what we had shared meant nothing to you.”
Trent leaned across the arm of his chair. Skye held her breath and hoped she was right that Trent was about to kiss her. His lips brushed against hers and tingles shot through her body before he placed his lips fully on hers and kissed her deeply. It felt like coming home. It felt right. It felt as if fireworks were exploding. It was like they were the only two people in the world. At least until the front door opened and Tinsley called out, “We’re here!”
8
Trent groaned as his cousin walked into his house without knocking. He pulled back enough to look into Skye’s eyes. Her eyes mirrored the desire and relief he felt. He should have listened to everyone and cleared the air much sooner. Then they could have had all this time together.
One kiss changed everything. Forgiveness. Understanding. Hope. It was all conveyed in that kiss. Skye smiled at him and cupped his cheek with her hand. “Now we have this settled, promise me to always talk to me first, okay?”
“I promise. The same goes for you. No lies or secrets between us. If something is bothering you or you’re scared or have great news—whatever it is, we tell each other.”
“Deal.” Skye leaned across and kissed him quickly on the lips. “It’s even sealed with a kiss.”
“Trent! Skye! Are y’all here?” Tinsley called out.
“Back here, Tins,” Trent answered without taking his eyes from Skye. “I’m glad you’re here.”
She smiled and he felt it in his heart. “Me too.”
“There you are!” Tinsley appeared with Karri. Trent saw her eyes go from him to Skye and down to where they were holding hands and then back up to his. “It looks as if y’all