Way to Her Heart - By Melanie Schuster Page 0,57

about his family from time to time, but I honestly don’t remember him talking about money per se,” she admitted. “I had the impression that they were well-to-do, I guess, but frankly, that’s not a big interest of mine. I was really naive, wasn’t I?”

Royce assured her that she wasn’t. “You were a hardworking, serious student. Trevor was used to the flashy chicks who were after a rich guy, so you were probably a whole new world for him. But be that as it may, I’ve got the feeling that his sudden epiphany about you being the love of his life has something to do with his family’s money. Let me make a few phone calls and I’ll see what I can find out. It won’t be too hard because, as I said, I’ve stayed in touch with our line brothers and I’ve got a kind of pipeline of chatter that I can tap.

“In the meantime, just keep to the status quo. If he contacts you again, and he will, let me know immediately. If he threatens you with any legal action, refer him to your attorney—that’s me. And by all means, keep him away from Sydney. He hasn’t earned the right to be around her and I agree that it’s only going to cause turmoil if he gets near her.”

They talked about a few other details, and as Sherri got ready to leave his office she was feeling much better. Of all the lawyers in Columbia, she’d been steered to the right one, thanks to Aretha Sharp. What were the odds of her going to see someone who actually knew Trevor from law school? There was a light at the end of the tunnel after all, and its name was Royce Griffin. She couldn’t wait to share her news with Lucas. As Royce escorted her to the door, Thelonius ruffled his feathers and said, “See you soon, pretty lady,” which made her burst out laughing. It was the perfect note on which to end her first conference. Everything was going to be fine. She knew it now.

Chapter 17

Sherri’s feeling of optimism lasted as long as it took her to drive home from Royce’s office to pick up Sydney’s dance bag. She’d been so preoccupied with her impending appointment that she’d forgotten it when they left for daycare, so she made a quick run to pick up the bag and drop it off at daycare so that Sydney could have it when it was time for her class that afternoon. She parked in the driveway, ran inside and grabbed the bag from the foyer, but when she turned to go back to the car, there was Trevor. He had on a blue suit and was carrying another bouquet of blue flowers. He also had a smug smile on his face. She tightened her grip on the handles of the small duffel bag.

“Make this the last time you violate my privacy or there will be a restraining order sworn out on you,” she said in a cold and even tone. “I’ve made it abundantly clear that I don’t wish to have anything to do with you, yet you persist in accosting me. It has to stop.”

The smug smile shifted to an icy smirk so quickly that most people would have missed the transition, but Sherri saw it at once. In a second he went from looking annoying to looking predatory.

“You’re using some rather inflammatory terms to describe a harmless social call, Sherri. Violate? Accost? I came to say hello and to bring you something to brighten your day, and you’re acting as though I’m a common criminal. Is that any way to treat your future husband?” He had the colossal nerve to try for a winsome grin, as if that would win her over.

“Trevor, I have no intention of marrying you, now or ever. You were not invited here and if you are unexpected, you are also uninvited, so you need to leave. And those things couldn’t possibly brighten my day. You’ve forgotten that I despise cut flowers, and I particularly hate blue ones, so this has been a total waste of your time. Go away and leave me alone or you will be a common criminal because violation of a restraining order is against the law. I can’t make myself any plainer than that.”

She moved to get into the Lincoln and he took a step forward. Her arm moved back automatically in case she had to take a swing at