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Secretly Hers (Sterling Canyon)(100)

By:Jamie Beck
 
Prince Charming. Kelsey couldn’t help but grin at the memory of Fee’s introduction to Trip in July. “Me too.”
 
They both sat there absorbed in their own thoughts, but then Avery tapped her hands on the arms of her chair. “So, come on. Join me for dinner. We can go to Mamacitas and have your favorite flan.”
 
Kelsey cracked a smile. “I never have been able to say no to that flan.”
 
“I’ll call Emma.”
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Twenty
 
“Trip, can we talk?” Grey tossed his pack in the corner of the office and grabbed a bottle of water from the small refrigerator. “I’m getting more concerned with each day that goes by. You haven’t been yourself, which is understandable. But more than two weeks later, it feels like you’re getting worse instead of better. You’ve barely taken advantage of all this snow that keeps falling.”
 
“Sorry. Wasn’t aware my mourning period had an expiration date.” Trip stiffened, considering turning on his heel and walking out the door. He stopped himself because he knew Grey meant well.
 
“That’s not what I meant.” Grey plopped into his chair. “I wish you’d talk to me, or someone. Better yet, maybe you ought to go talk to Kelsey.”
 
“Kelsey asked me to give her space, so that’s what I’m doing.” Trip sat across from Grey and folded his arms across his chest. “I’m giving her what she wants.”
 
“Yeah? Keep telling yourself that, pal.” Grey turned on the computer, pretending to give up on his attempt to get Trip to talk. But Trip knew Grey too well to believe he hadn’t just goaded him in order to pry him open.
 
“Just because you and Avery found a way to patch things up after your big fallout doesn’t mean everyone else will follow suit.” A streak of resentment burned through Trip, propelling him out of his seat. “If you need proof that I’m getting back to my old self, come out for a drink.”
 
Grey stuck a lollipop into his mouth and shook his head. “That’s not what I’m suggesting, and I think you know it.”
 
“Maybe not, but maybe it’s exactly what I need.” Trip defiantly picked up his cowboy hat and nodded at Grey. “See you in the morning.”
 
Trip strolled through town on his way to Grizzly’s, noticing all the Halloween decorations in the store windows, which looked a little funny surrounded by the mounds of snow on the sidewalks. He’d loved Halloween as a young boy, but after his mom died, things had changed, and the door-to-door event had changed to fancy “neighborhood parties” with parents and kids. One of many changes he’d disliked about life with his dad’s family.
 
A cold breeze caused Trip to zip up his jacket and tuck his hands in his pockets as he kept walking through town. Kelsey’s office wasn’t along the most direct route to the bar, but he found himself walking down that block anyway—across the street, of course. Six thirty, but her office lights were still on. He smiled, assuming she might be diligently working on the Copeland sale. Perhaps his plan had worked, and he’d given her some small comfort.
 
When he spied her from a distance through the plate glass, his heart nearly dropped to the sidewalk. Mason was sitting across from Kelsey’s desk. What the hell was his brother doing with her? Had they made plans to go to dinner?
 
Jealousy singed his lungs, but he backed away and waited for Mason to emerge. When his brother finally crossed the street alone, Trip called out, “Just couldn’t keep away from Kelsey, could you? I can’t believe you’d go after her after what just happened.”
 
Mason crossed the street. “Gunner, I can assure you, it’s not what you think.”
 
“And I should believe you because you’ve always been so honest?” Trip tipped his cowboy hat back and cocked his head.
 
“Actually, I was coming to see you next.” Mason maintained a calm expression. “First, let me say I’m sorry about the baby. Dad mentioned that to me last week, but I figured I’d be the last person you’d want to see so soon afterward.”
 
Trip shrugged and cleared his throat, waiting to hear what else Mason planned to say.
 
“Secondly—and what I’m sure you’ll consider to be good news—is that I’m returning to Denver to be near my girls. Dad finally stopped fighting me on it. He’s got a replacement coming next week to take over. I needed to meet with Kelsey tonight about whether the landlord would let me assign my lease over to the new guy.”