Straddling the Line(3)

Now she was going to be in the driver’s seat.

She stared out over the boxes, debating whether to unpack them.

She’d leave them, see how this assignment went. If it didn’t work out, if it didn’t light the fire under her after a few days, she’d call Chandler and tell him she was out.

But she’d give it a try. For her dad.





TWO





AFTER HER FLIGHT, HAVEN SAT IN THE BACK OF A TAXI bound for Trevor’s place outside St. Louis, equal parts nervous and excited. The rules Trevor had set down for this exposé were a little unorthodox, but whatever. If the network had agreed to it, she could live with it. For any other athlete, she’d have said hell no. But she’d known Trevor a long time. She knew how he felt about his privacy, and she knew he liked to call the shots.

She’d be staying on the grounds of his house here in St. Louis, at least while they were here. But when the camera crews showed up, they’d have to stay in a hotel. Trevor had to approve the filming segments, and he wanted some one-on-one time with Haven to discuss the parameters, especially as it related to his background.

She smiled as she took in the view of the St. Louis Gateway Arch as the car breezed along the highway. She’d seen the view of the stadium from the plane, and it reminded her of her dad bringing her up to see a Rivers baseball game. She and her mom had been so excited that summer they’d come up for a weekend of sightseeing and baseball. She’d been twelve, and they’d gone to Forest Park to visit the zoo, and then that night had gone to see the Rivers play baseball. They’d stayed in a hotel downtown near the stadium and had even gone out to dinner.

For a twelve-year-old, it had been an exciting time. The city had been lit up, and they’d even walked down along the riverfront before the game. It had been a perfect summer weekend, her first of many here. Haven had loved St. Louis. She was happy to be back here again, and surprised at how excited she was to get started on this assignment.

Now the car took them out of the city, away from the stadium and toward the county.

Not at all what she expected. For some reason she thought Trevor would live in a condo in the city near the stadium, not in a gated community with tall, tree-lined streets.

Her jaw dropped when the car pulled up the long drive to what had to be Trevor’s house.

This had to be wrong. It was like a freakin’ mansion, not at all where she expected him to live. The entire drive was thick with trees, the house a massive, gorgeous, two-story Colonial. The car stopped out front and the driver opened the door for her.

Trevor came out the front door wearing casual sweats and a sleeveless shirt, a big smile on his face.

“Hey, you’re here,” he said to Haven before turning toward the driver. “You can put those inside the front door. I’ll take it from there.”

“Yes, sir,” the driver said, taking Haven’s bags through the double white front doors.

Haven found herself unable to move. Instead, she gaped at the house, taking it all in, trying to reconcile this reality with her expectations.

“I thought you’d live in a condo.”

He laughed and laid his hand at the small of her back, propelling her inside. “Nah. I need my space. Besides, I don’t want to hear my neighbors arguing all night long. I like my privacy. Come on, I’ll show you around.”

Blinking to clear the fog away, she let him lead her. Inside, she was greeted by amazing Italian marble on the floor, and an expansive staircase leading to the second floor.

“Want the tour first, or would you rather I take your stuff to your room? There’s a separate wing to this place, so you’ll have plenty of privacy. You don’t need to worry about me infringing on your space.”

“Oh, a tour, definitely.” She couldn’t wait to see all this property had to offer.

“Sure.”

He took her into a formal living room. “I don’t spend a lot of time in here. It’s too stuffy. There’s a more relaxed, informal space I like better on the other side of the house.”

Next was a beautiful dining room.

“Where did you get all this furniture?” she asked, because there were beautiful antique tables and sideboards in the dining room.

“I don’t know. I have a person who helped furnish some of the rooms. I think she buys some of this stuff at auctions. I don’t use this room, either,” he said.

Haven reluctantly left the dining room, gawking at some of the artwork on the walls.

“I do spend time in here.”

She stopped and stared at the amazing kitchen with its dark wood cabinetry and stunning granite countertops. The island itself was a cook’s dream come true, and the six-burner chef’s stove made her want to drop everything and cook for about a week.