Once inside the garage, Trent stepped into a small room and returned with a set of keys. A few minutes later, he was helping me into a relatively nondescript—albeit brand-new—Chevy Silverado while Zeke and Tank climbed into the backseat.
When Trent climbed behind the wheel, he glanced over at me. “There’s a hat and glasses in the glove box. I’ll need those.”
I opened the glove box, and sure enough, there was a ball cap and a pair of black-rimmed glasses.
“I’ll have to do some creative driving, but we’ll get there eventually.”
“Creative driving?” I asked as he pulled out of the garage and turned toward the driveway that led to the main gate.
“You’ll see what I mean when we pull out of here.”
A few minutes later, I knew exactly what he was referring to. The instant the gates closed behind us and we pulled onto the street that bisected the elaborate neighborhood, several sets of headlights lit up behind us. Oddly enough, I hadn’t noticed them the last time Trent had driven me home.
Then again, Trent hadn’t opted for a disguise that night, so maybe there hadn’t been anyone following us.
“Are those reporters?”
“Paparazzi,” he clarified. “They get paid for pictures, not news stories. They follow me everywhere I go.”
“Did they follow us the other night?” I glanced in the side mirror to see the cars following behind us.
“One did, but only for a bit.”
“That has to be a pain in the ass.” I couldn’t imagine having people following me everywhere, trying to catch a glimpse of what I was doing.
“It is,” he confirmed.
We drove in silence for a few minutes and I realized almost instantly that Trent was doubling back a few times. It took a while, and he managed to evade at least two of the three cars, but there was still one tailing us.
“If you don’t mind me asking,” I prompted when the silence became deafening, “what happens when the paparazzi catch a glimpse of you and me together again?”
“It’s going to make headlines,” he said simply.
“I was worried you were going to say that.” I watched him as he drove. “And what if they catch a glimpse of you with Troy? I mean, you know, when you’re not technically working.”
“As much as I try, I can’t stay out of the public eye, pet. They’re going to catch me with one or both of you at some point. Do you know how many times I’ve been in the news?”
“Probably hundreds,” I answered. “However, you’ve never been with a male submissive.”
“Try thousands. And no, I haven’t.” His gaze shot over to me. “Do you want me to hide what’s going on?”
“Not what I’m saying. But if you’re confronted, you won’t deny you have a relationship with Troy?”
Trent reached over and took my hand, linking our fingers together. My heart picked up speed once more. I was mindful of Zeke in the backseat, but he was so quiet, at times it was difficult to remember.
“I do my best to keep my private life out of the news, Clarissa. I don’t share information that isn’t necessary. However, it’s not because I care what they say about me. I’ve learned to deal with it.”
“But Troy hasn’t.”
“Nor have you,” he added. “And I’m in a relationship with you, am I not?”
I shrugged, then glanced out the window.
“Answer me, Clarissa.”
“Yes. I guess you could call this a relationship of sorts.”
He chuckled. “By morning, you’ll feel differently.”
I glanced over at him, trying to figure out what he meant. My body heated another few degrees as my mind managed to catch up with what was going on. There was no doubt this wasn’t going to be a platonic sleepover tonight.
And I couldn’t say I was disappointed. Not in the least.
*
When we finally arrived at my house a solid forty-five minutes later, my heart was practically in my throat. I’d spent more time than was appropriate thinking about all the things I wanted Trent to do to me when we got back to my place. That session on his jet had seemed like a tease. I already wanted more of him.
And now, as he opened the truck door and helped me out, I forced my shaky legs to carry me to my front porch. Zeke quickly took my keys from my hand, unlocked the door, then stepped inside and flipped on all the lights. A minute later, he returned with a silent nod to Trent.
“I’m gonna take Tank out back for a while. When we’re done, I’m gonna shower if that’s all right?”
“Of course,” I told him.
His gaze swung to Trent. “Pretend I’m not even here.”
“I plan to.”
Once Zeke and Tank slipped out the back door, I smiled at the handsome man who looked very little like the Trent Ramsey I’d been with all day. The disguise wasn’t quite as flimsy as I’d thought when I had pulled the items out of the glove box.
