Trevor woke up when his uncle announced that they were there, only to discover "there" was the community center. With a simple nod he told Trevor to get out and go inside for his GED class and that his mother would be there to pick him up in two hours. Before he drove off he explained what would happen if Trevor didn't stay awake and pay attention. Knowing his uncle didn't make idle threats he stumbled inside and forced himself to stay awake and pay attention.

Eight months later he had his GED and a pay raise for doing a good job. By then he liked his job and was pretty good at it so he stayed. He saved his money, learned to flip homes with his uncle and by twenty owned his first rental property, a beat up tiny cottage by the pond that he fixed up and once he did he never had a problem finding tenants that were willing to pay his asking price. Since then he'd bought several more rental properties and flipped at least two houses a year.

He knew there might come a day when his uncle decided to sell the place and retire and he didn't want to find himself dependent on some ass**le who didn't want some guy who couldn't read well working for him. When the day came that he no longer had a job working for his uncle he knew he could more than take care of himself. He also knew that if his uncle hadn't threatened to beat the shit out of him numerous times over the years that he would have probably f**ked up his life big time and been screwed when his mother passed away ten years ago.

Of course his uncle was also a big softie when it came to woman so he was probably beating himself up right now for making Zoe cry, but it had been for the best. He'd wondered why she gave in, not that he really thought she gave in that easily, but he figured he was going to have to tie her down to feed her. He was glad that his uncle did most of his dirty work for him. Not that he really expected this to be the end of it. He wasn't f**king stupid after all.

"Yeah, it's really sore," she said, squirming next to him to shift some of the weight off her bottom.

"I didn't mean that, smartass," he said, moving away from her. "Lay down," he said, grabbing the pillow and quilt.

When she shot him a nervous look, he bit out, "To rest, Zoe. No sex tonight. I promise."

Did she not trust him? That just plain hurt.

"Are you sure?"

"Didn't I just say no sex tonight?" he demanded, wondering why the woman didn't just take his word for it. It wasn't as though he acted like some horny bastard that couldn't keep his hands off of her.....at least he hadn't tonight.

"I can survive a day without sex, Zoe," he pointed out, purposely not mentioning the mind blowing sex they'd had this morning since it would only weaken his point.

"Okay," she answered slowly, keeping an eye on him as she lay down and snuggled beneath the comforter.

It was insulting and if she wasn't so damn tired he'd do that thing with his tongue that he knew she liked and make her apologize for ever doubting him. He really couldn't believe that she didn't trust him, he thought as he started to climb behind her, pausing to adjust the bulge in his pants.

He was just wondering how in the hell he was going to lie behind her without her finding out that he was a lying bastard when the doorbell rang. With an annoyed groan he climbed back off the couch and was about to tell her he'd be right back when he realized that she was already fast asleep.

Poor thing really was exhausted, he thought as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head and earned a little grumble and a swat. So of course he did it again, chuckling when she tried to hide beneath the comforter as she called him a "Muking mastid."

He quietly left his apartment, shutting the door halfway to give her privacy as he wondered who the hell could be at his door this late at night. Then he wondered if Zoe had called for Black Jack's and simply forgot to tell him about it. She was tired and he was a Bradford after all. She knew damn well if she put enough food in front of him that she could distract him for a while. Poor thing was probably hoping to buy some time, he thought as his poor neglected stomach growled in anticipation of finally getting some proper nourishment.

So when he opened the door and discovered that it was not a Black Jacks delivery boy waiting to hand him a box full of deliciousness, but Hank with two incredibly beautiful women he scowled, just a little bit.

"Ah," Hank started, clearing his throat nervously, "Mandy this is Trevor. Trevor this is Mandy," Hank said gesturing to the gorgeous blonde who was busy running an appreciative eye over his bare chest.

"What do you need?" he asked Hank, feeling his patience fray. Not only had the man interrupted some decent cuddling time with Zoe, but he'd made him think that he was getting Black Jacks' pizza, something that he just couldn't forgive.

"Did you forget about our double date tonight?" Hank bit out, gesturing discretely to the two women standing behind him.

Frowning, Trevor looked back at the woman named Mandy and looked her over. She was beautiful, stunningly so. She had just the right amount of makeup, perfect silky long black hair ending halfway down her back. Her br**sts were high and full without the look of plastic and her figure was absolutely perfect.

"We thought we'd head back to the girl's place so that Mandy could cook us all dinner. She's a chef," Hank announced with a cocky grin, no doubt knowing how attractive a woman who could cook was to a Bradford.

What he didn't know was that so far Mandy was scoring pretty high on Trevor's perfect woman list. He shot a look over his shoulder before stepping out onto the front stoop and closing the door behind him.

He shot Mandy a smile that she quickly returned.

"So, Mandy, tell me....are you a Yankees fan?"

"Yes," she said, giving him a flirty little smile.

"Are you close to your family?"

"Yes."

"Large family?"

"Yes," she answered, frowning a bit at his questions or the rapid fire way he was asking them, he didn't know or care.

"Do you think you're fat?" he asked, narrowing his eyes on her as he waited for her to answer.

Her beautiful, perfectly painted mouth worked soundlessly for a moment before she answered. "A little, but I'm on a diet," she rushed to explain as if that's what he wanted to hear.

"Do you like dogs?"

"Yes, but I'm more of a cat person."

"Are you clingy?" he demanded.

"No," she answered with a nervous laugh as she shot her sister, who only shrugged, a look.

With a regrettable sigh he shook his head. "I'm sorry, but this isn't going to work out."

"What the hell are you doing, Trevor?" Hank demanded anxiously. No doubt the man wouldn't be getting laid tonight, but Trevor couldn't help it. He had his standards and this woman failed them.

"Maybe we could go grab a cup of coffee somewhere and get to know-"

He held up his hand, stopping her before she made an even bigger fool out of herself. "Please stop."

"But, I was only-"

"Don't beg."

"I wasn't. I was just-"

"Begging?" Trevor guessed, sighing. "I know, but you're going to have to accept that this would never work out."

She frowned up at him. "I wasn't begging. I was just going to suggest that we should-"

"Look," he said, reaching for the door, "this is just getting sad. I'm just going to go before things get out of hand."

"You bastard," Hank hissed as Trevor stepped past him, but he didn't really care. He was more insulted than anything. What the hell was the man thinking bringing a woman like that to meet him? Did the man think he was so desperate that he'd consider sleeping with a woman like that? It was really insulting, he thought as he climbed onto the couch behind Zoe and pulled her back against his body. She of course rewarded him with an elbow to his gut, which he manfully took since she turned in his arms and cuddled up quite nicely against him.

A half hour later as he dozed off he wondered why Hank brought him a woman like that when he clearly had standards. Then he remembered that the man was a f**king moron and that explained everything.

Chapter 22

"God, you feel good, baby," Trevor whispered harshly against her ear and she would have loved to return the compliment, but at the moment she'd lost the ability to speak.