A Matter of Trust: London Calling Book One (18 page)

“Dom, I’m perfectly dressed. In fact, I’m quite comfortable where I am.” She reached over to the table beside her where he realized she’d poured herself a modest measure of brandy. “Anyway, I thought you might want to take Natalie. It sounds like a nice, romantic sort of place.”

She shot him a bland look before tipping the snifter up to her lips. Stepping carefully into the room, he came closer as she swallowed and set the glass down gently, watching him. He’d never known Devon to drink brandy. She could knock back whisky, vodka, or any god-awful concoction with rum, but she couldn’t sip even the finest brandy without a shudder wracking through her on the first swallow.
 

She propped her chin on one hand, waiting him out. Briefly, he considered a wild excuse, some fabrication she might believe. But this was Devon. And it was time she heard the truth.
 

It never occurred to him she might have deserved it sooner.

“Devvie, I can explain.”

“But there’s no need, Dominic. I clearly saw for myself today that you’re seeing Natalie, so I don’t need you to explain it to me.”
 

He sat down slowly, stalling for time to take the full measure of her mood. “I know you’re upset. I get that. But please let me explain.”

She picked up the glass again, giving it one expert swirl before cupping it between her hands. Sighing, she said, “Dominic, you seem awfully determined. If you insist on my enlightenment, then I’ll indulge you. But there’s only one thing I want to know.”

“What?”

“Did you ever step away from Natalie as I asked? Or has this been going on from the beginning, practically since you got here?”

He dropped his eyes to examine the carpet. “Devvie, you have to listen. You don’t understand everything going on. I know it seems like I lied, but—”

Devon sat forward, ash-dark eyes boring into his. “Don’t sit there and act like this is a misunderstanding! You
did
lie to me. I want to know if it was outright or by omission.” At his blank look, she raged on. “You either deceived me from the outset, with no intention of keeping your word or it was later, when you rekindled this
romance
,” she practically sneered the word, “and failed to tell me.”
 

He reached out for her hand, confounded when she snapped back from him.
 

 
“Either tell me which it was, or leave me alone. I’ve no interest in your justifications, Dominic. I have even less interest in any arguments you have that this was necessary or vital to some scheme I’ve been left out of.
As usual.
”
 

She spat the words, vibrating with raw energy as she clutched the brandy between hands knuckled white in anger. He’d never seen her so furious, and his chest tightened as he fully comprehended the hurt he’d caused.
 

Deflated next to her pulsing resentment, Dom sighed.
 

“Why do you want to know, Dev? Does it matter?”

“Because one scenario suggests you might actually care about her. Maybe you rationalized it to yourself, not seeing any harm since Bennett and I were over. The other suggests you only care about yourself, Dominic, and whatever plans and plots you’ve cooked up. It’s
Machiavellian
.” She lowered her voice, practically whispering her pained words. “I’m truly afraid you’re the kind of man who sacrificed my trust, and probably Natalie’s feelings by now, for something you’ve told yourself is
more important.
The end justifies the means, right, Dom?”

“Jesus, Devvie, how can you think so little of me?”

She exploded out of the chair, slamming her glass down on the table so hard he was amazed it didn’t shatter.
 

“If you did that, how can
you think so little of me?
”

He stood, more than topping her in height but unable to match her temper. Shaking his head, he looked into the fireplace where the embers now glowed red. “Why is this important? Why are you taking this so damn personally? For God’s sake, I’ve taken the woman out a few times!
Why does it matter, Dev?
”

She stepped back from him, gathering herself. Picking up her brandy, he saw the amber contents shake as she held the glass. Seeing his gaze, she tossed the remainder into the fading fire, staring as the flames shot orange and gold before dying back down. She turned her head to him, and he saw her eyes had returned to palest gray.
 

“It matters because I needed a favor, Dom. And I’ve never asked you for
anything
.”

***

Ultimately, Devon left the flat soon after Dominic made his silent exit. Her thoughts were too complicated, too dark for the solitary space once the sky had turned to night. The fire died and the soft lamps only accented the inkiness surrounding her. She wanted to be around people.
 

Even if they were strangers.

After all, did anyone ever really know someone else? After Dominic’s latest actions, she wasn’t sure.

“Well, hello. Dirty martini, yes?”

She’d migrated to a place she knew, the gastropub. Its familiarity beckoned. She wouldn’t admit it also reminded her of Bennett.

The bartender smiled as he quickly wiped down the area in front of her before placing a coaster down. She looked at him blankly before remembering he’d been working the night she and Bennett argued, then left together.

“Yes,” she smiled. “A dirty martini is as good a place to start as any, right?”

“It certainly is.” He placed the martini in front of her with a nod then walked away to take care of other waiting customers.

Devon tasted her cocktail, finding it flawless. The icy vodka skated down her throat, easing the lingering tightness left over from her confrontation with Dom. She set her glass down, making sure she paced herself. Not one to usually drink, she’d made a bit of a habit of it lately.
 

A frown creased her forehead.
 

Alcohol was no fix for what ailed her.
 

Devon was lonely. Even in the crowded bar, she felt isolated, cut off from the people milling about her. If she were honest, she’d felt this way for a long time, even before she’d come to London.
 

She’d plunged herself into school and work to be useful to her father. Succeeding beyond anyone’s wildest imagination, she’d used academia and her incredible intelligence to wall herself away from people. She couldn’t explain her childhood, or herself, to people. So, she’d made sure no one got close enough to ask.

She kept her father and by extension, Dom and his father, very close. She counted on her family to fill the gaps loneliness cut into her, maybe since her mother left without a word so long ago. They understood her.

Or so she’d thought.

She drained her drink, damning herself and Dominic. Alcohol wasn’t a solution to anything, but there were times when she could let loose a little. It was time she stopped being so hard on herself, holding herself to standards no one could possibly meet.

At the bartender’s raised brow toward her empty glass, she nodded. He fixed another, adding extra olives with a flourish.

She raised her glass to him, distantly noting he seemed a bit blurry. She recalled drinking the hateful brandy earlier, and now vodka besides.

It was probably the lighting. Disregarding any worries, she fished out an olive with one delicate finger and caught the dripping vodka on her tongue. Then she popped it into the air, capturing it between her teeth. Absentmindedly, she chewed and sipped while contemplating the crowd with her chin propped on a fist.
 

A little later, she caught the bartender’s eye, winking at her now empty glass. When had that happened?

He cocked his head, eyeing her as he thrummed his fingers on the bar. “Okay, but let’s slow it down a little. Agreed?” He took his time mixing her a fresh martini, this one with more olive juice and less vodka. Devon never noticed.
 

With a dreamy smile, she started to pat his hand but knocked into the glass instead. He caught the stem, straightening it before it could spill. With a brief hesitation, he pushed a sparkling water in front of her, edging the martini to the side.
 

“I see you’re at it again.”

Devon swiveled in her chair to see Bennett standing right behind her. He braced an arm on the bar, effectively caging her in.

The bartender, unsure if the man had been speaking to him or the lady, backed away unnoticed.

“What’s it to you, boss?”

A muscle bunched in his jaw. “As I said, you’re here again, drinking too many martinis and flirting with the staff. I’d say you’re in danger of becoming cliché.”

“Cliché would be me throwing this drink in your face. Lucky for you, I don’t like to waste good vodka.” She waved a careless hand toward her seltzer. “Be warned though; I do have a handy glass of water. I’d hate to spill it on you.” She smiled, vaguely amused with her own moxie. Sensing Bennett’s impatience, she rose to leave. For both their sakes.

 
He clamped a hand on her forearm, stopping her. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“I’m leaving. I don’t want to fight with you. Otherwise, I might add that you’re here again too. Did you come with Natalie?”

He threw his head back, bewildered. “No, I didn’t. I’m alone. Natalie and I are not seeing each other, Devon. Nor have we ever. Didn’t you believe me?”

She sighed, slumping back onto her stool. “Yes, I guess so. But only because she’s seeing someone else.”

“Dominic.”

“Yes.”

“Are you upset by that?”

“Yes, but not for reasons you think. There’s nothing between Dom and me either,” she said. “He’s like family.”

She stood again, ready to push past him but wobbling a little instead.

Bennett braced a hand to her back in support, amusement creasing his eyes. He didn’t budge so much as an inch out of her way.

“Where do you want to go?” He asked as she pushed ineffectually against him.

Frustrated beyond belief, Devon neatly stomped a foot in temper. Unknowingly, she appeared young and crossly cute. Bennett promptly burst out in laughter.
 

“All right, let’s get you home.”
 

She stubbornly planted her feet.

Bennett continued to laugh, all while draping her coat over her shoulders and buttoning her into it. “Devon, please come with me. After all, I’m here because I’m tired of my own company.” Her eyes met his, concentrating on his words. “I’m here because it reminds me of you. Of us.”

He leaned in and brushed his lips lightly over hers. She looked up at him, weakened. His honesty, coupled with his tenderness, robbed her of any defenses.
 

“Can we call another truce? Please?” He held out his hand, inviting her to take it.

If he but knew it, she couldn’t resist him when he simply asked, rather than demanded. She laced her fingers with his.
 

Meeting his eyes, she saw desire, mingling with need. He wanted her. And she wanted him, so much.
 

Why shouldn’t she have him, even if it was only for a while?

“Okay, Bennett,” she sighed her acceptance of everything his eyes asked. “Truce.”

He caught her to him, pressing her up as he angled his mouth over hers in a hard, breathless kiss. Speechless, she could only smile before he looped an arm around her shoulders, leading her out of the pub.

As they stepped on the sidewalk, she looked up at him, clear gray eyes meeting midnight blue.
 

“Bennett?”

“Yes?”

“Our truce?”

“Yes?”
 

“Well, it’s more of a trial cease fire. So don’t get cocky.”

She heard him chuckle as they walked into the night, toward his waiting car.

***

Whisper light kisses brushed Devon’s face, touching her cheeks before darting to lightly lick the corners of her lips. She opened her mouth, bringing her tongue out to chase the soft intruder, tasting hints of spice and mint he left behind.
 

Murmuring, she turned her head, seeking solace when a quick nip to her earlobe brought her fully awake.

Drowsily, she opened her eyes to Bennett’s, inches away. Looking to the side, she saw they were in his car, where she’d apparently dozed off on the drive to her flat. Bennett’s palm on her cheek brought her head back around, bringing him back into her focus. He dropped his mouth on hers, demanding everything she could give.

She sparked into flames. Desperate to be closer, she fumbled with her seatbelt until he reached down and deftly released it. Reaching behind her, he pulled her closer. Their tongues and hands danced and explored, breaking only for hurried gasps before pressing close again. She was scarcely aware he’d unbuttoned her coat until she felt his cool hands slip beneath her blouse to brush her abdomen. Sucking in a breath, she loosed a husky laugh, lost in the rapture of being with Bennett after so long without him.
 

“Somehow you fit me perfectly. Touch me more.” She smiled up through long lashes while starting to unfasten his coat.
 

He quickly took advantage of her exposed neck, grazing the skin with his teeth before soothing it with soft licks and pressed kisses. When he reached her ear, he rubbed his cheek closer, whispering, “I knew we’d fit since the first time I laid eyes on you, Devon. Even after you broke my nose.”

She gurgled with laughter, thumping him so he would lean back. Lowering her eyes, she concentrated on unbuttoning his coat and spreading it open. She ran her hands over his chest, letting her right palm rest over his heart, feeling its rapid beat.
 

She lifted stormy gray eyes to his, preserving a moment she’d remember all her life. “Make love with me, Bennett.”

He rested his forehead on hers, as if waiting to see if she would change her mind. After a few seconds, he raised his head to press a kiss to her forehead. Lifting the hand she’d placed over his heart, he pressed it to his lips in a reverent kiss.

“Yes.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN