Clarissa peered up at me. “I didn’t see Trent as a tennis player.”
I grinned. “He’s not. It was here when he bought the place. But it’s nice, so he left it. But he did install a sport court because he does play a mean game of basketball.”
“Really?” She seemed genuinely interested in this revelation.
“Yeah. He’s kicked my ass a few times.”
“I used to play basketball when I was a kid,” she said, her attention focused outside. “My dad put a hoop on the house above the garage. The only time I ever scored was when he hefted me up so I could dunk the ball in.”
I smiled at the thought of Clarissa as a kid.
“So, what’s Submissive 101?” I asked.
Clarissa chuckled. “I’m pretty sure he was joking.”
“Oh.” That figured.
We stood there for several minutes in complete silence watching the lights glittering under the water. The backyard was the equivalent of a tropical paradise, one that had clearly captivated Clarissa.
It wasn’t until Trent cleared his throat from behind us that I realized he had returned.
“Come. Sit,” he said, motioning toward the couch.
I followed Clarissa around the room, then waited for her to select a seat before I chose one on the opposite couch. I figured Trent would want to sit by her and I was right. He sat close, crossing his legs as though he was comfortable sitting in the quiet with the two of us.
The quiet didn’t last long.
“Still don’t care to tell me why you’re moving?” he prompted, his gaze settling on Clarissa.
“Preferably not.” If he pushed, I figured Clarissa would divulge her secrets, but it was evident he was going to let it slide for now.
For whatever reason, he seemed different around her. He was the type of man who pushed for answers he wanted. If they weren’t forthcoming, he could be relentless in his pursuit of them. I found it interesting that he wasn’t pushing her.
“Okay, then. Tell us something about yourself.”
“Like?”
“Where did you grow up?” He took a sip of his wine, his eyes cutting to me every now and then.
“Here in the Dallas area,” she admitted. “My mother lives in Garland and my father in Wylie.”
“They’re divorced?” I asked.
“Yes.” She leaned back, trying to get more comfortable, but it was clear she wasn’t sure who to focus on. “They divorced when I was six.”
“Irreconcilable differences?” Trent asked with a grin.
“You could say that. My father wanted to cheat, my mother didn’t want him to. They couldn’t come to an agreement about it.”
“Well, I hope your mother took him for everything,” he said firmly.
She laughed, obviously not expecting that from Trent. “No. I don’t remember much about it, but I think it was relatively civil. The same can’t be said for her second divorce. When husband number two cheated, she took it personally that time.”
I decided to chime in. “How many times has she been married?”
“Three. And she’s been divorced three times as well. She picked men who liked to play the field, despite their vows.”
“And you?” Trent asked.
Clarissa frowned.
“Have you ever been married?” I filled in for him.
She huffed a laugh. “No. I have no desire to end up in my mother’s position. I’ve learned quite well that men don’t like to be chained down.”
“All men?” Trent didn’t appear fazed by her obvious gender bias.
“Well, I figure it’s a safe bet since she married three and all of them cheated. What are the odds of that?”
“I can assure you not all men are interested in playing the field,” he said firmly.
“Well, I’m not willing to take that chance.”
It was clear Clarissa was jaded.
“No?” Trent pushed. “So, you’re saying you expect Luke and Cole to stray from Sierra at some point? Or Logan and Elijah from Sam?”
I had heard the names, but I didn’t know who these people were.
“No,” Clarissa declared, obviously knowing them. “That’s not what I’m saying.”
“Then Tag and McKenna? They won’t have a lifetime together? Or what about Xander? You think he’ll cheat on Mercedes?”
“Absolutely not.”
“So, your argument holds no water then, counselor.”
I had to admit, Trent did know how to argue a point.
“What about your parents?” Clarissa asked, looking directly at me, apparently hoping to change the subject.
“My parents are still married. I’m not sure I’d say happily, but I don’t see them splitting up anytime soon.”
“And yours?” she asked Trent.
“What about them?” Trent’s eyes slid to me briefly, then back to Clarissa.
I knew all about Trent’s background. Being that they’d done numerous stories on Trent over the years, I’d heard the good, the bad, and the absurd.
“Are they still together?” Clarissa asked.
“My mother gave me up for adoption when she was fourteen. I suspect they haven’t been together since.”
“Oh. I didn’t realize.”
“However, the people who fostered me when I was a teenager are still happily married. Thirty-five years, in fact.”
Clarissa took a sip of wine. “Where do they live?”
