Trinity stood in front of the bathroom mirror, staring at herself, trying to see something different in herself, trying to see what Levi saw in her.

She and Josiah had met for the rest of the afternoon and made it through two of the three company reviews before they called it a day. They were going to finish reviewing the final company the next day. Halfway through their meeting, Levi had texted Josiah and told him to lend Trinity his key because he would be back late.

Trinity hadn't thought anything about it until Josiah let it slip where Levi was and why he was there. She knew he had a meeting with his lawyers, but she assumed it was because of the theft at the hotel. However, that wasn't the case. Josiah told her that he had met several times over the last month with his lawyers in an attempt to get the Savannah paper to print a retraction and discuss the possibility of a lawsuit for liable.

The information had floored Trinity. Why would Levi do that for her? No one had ever done anything like that for her. She refused to let Josiah see how much the news affected her. She knew he was watching her, wanting her to react to the news in some way, but she couldn't. It was too much for her to handle, so she had said that it was kind of him and then focused on work.

Trinity could tell that Josiah was disappointed in her, which was why she was studying herself in a foggy mirror, trying to find something in her that was worthy of such a selfless effort.

With a sigh, she reached for her comb and ran it through her wet hair then reached for the bathrobe that was conveniently hanging on the back of the bathroom door. It was large but warm, and she wandered into the guest bedroom and sat on the bed with a heavy bounce.

She loved Levi. She loved that he would do that for her. He was one of the kindest men that she knew. He trusted her, trusted that she wasn't a killer, that she was worthy of such actions. It was the modern-day version of a white knight fighting a battle on her behalf.  It had to mean something, right?

Trinity heard the front door close and waited as she heard Levi's heavy tread on the step as he climbed the stairs. The door to her room was open, and his door was across from hers so she knew he would see her.

When Levi didn't see her right away, it gave her time to note how tired he looked and knowing why he was so tired made her tear-up. He was holding his jacket in the crook of his elbow, and his head was bent. There was a thoughtful frown on his face as he mulled something over in his mind. He must have felt her gaze on him because he looked over at her, his frown instantly replaced by a smile.

"There you are. I thought it was quiet when I walked in the door."

Trinity didn't say anything, she couldn't, all she could do was stare at him in wonder.

"Is everything alright?" he asked, his frown returning.

Trinity nodded and cleared her throat. "Yes."

"Good, come tell me what you and Josiah found while I change," he suggested heading into his room. Trinity stood on shaky legs and followed him, sitting on the edge of his bed, watching him remove his watch and unbutton his cuffs.

He must still have been distracted because he didn't engage her in conversation as he moved through the motions of changing. He hung up his suit jacket, unbuttoned his shirt and put it in the laundry basket, took off his shoes and socks, hung up his belt, then took off his pants and hung them up with the jacket.

Trinity realized that she could watch him for hours, no matter what he was doing. She had never felt this way about anyone.

"You're quiet," Levi said as he reached for a pair of jeans.

"Yes," Trinity agreed.

"There is something wrong." Levi moved to sit next to her on the bed and took her hands in his. "What is it?" he asked.

Trinity bit her lip as she looked at him. Then she couldn't help herself, she leaned forward and kissed him for all she was worth, putting her entire soul into the kiss as she cupped his face with her hands. "Thank you," she whispered.

"For what?" Levi asked, confusion written on his face.

"For spending the day with your lawyers, for trying to defend me."

Levi stood up and looked down at her with an angry frown. "Who told you about that?" he ground out through clenched teeth.

If it were any other man, she would have been frightened, but it was Levi, and she trusted him completely.

"Josiah let it slip today after you called." Trinity watched him pace. "No one had ever done anything like that for me, Levi." She couldn't control the tremor in her voice.

Levi folded his arms defensively. "Is that what this is?" he motioned to her state of undress. "Is this little seduction scene to thank me properly? I bet you're not wearing anything under that, are you?"

Trinity watched him. It was an out of character comment for him, and she knew it was about his demons and not hers. It was his past rearing its ugly head, not hers. She would be as patient with him as he had always been with her.

"No," she shook her head, her voice remaining calm. She took a deep breath, she could only think of one way to combat his anger and insecurity, and that was with love.

"Then what is it about, Trinity?" He looked so strong, standing there before her with all of his muscles on display.

"It's about the fact that I've fallen in love with you, Levi." Her voice was soft, and she could barely hear it over the roar of her heart. Trinity could see the disbelief in his eyes. "Remember that day in my office, my first day back from vacation when I...changed, and you asked me if something was wrong?"

He nodded, still looking wary.

"That was when I knew. When you were sitting in front of me and admitting you had been wrong about Dorthy, you did it with such self-confidence. You didn't care that you had been caught making a mistake. In fact, you were amused by the entire episode. I also realized that I was jealous that you had hired Dorthy because she was beautiful."

"You mean that actually worked?" he asked, surprised.

Trinity's mouth fell open at his careless admission.

Then he laughed, and it was such a joyful sound that it made Trinity smile, but then she watched as his smile faded. "I still find it very convenient that you decided to feel this way after you find out what I've been doing with the lawyers." He shook his head. "Why are you telling me this now?"

She took a deep, shaky breath. "Because I realized for you to do something like that, you must care a little, and you deserve to know that I care too, even if it does scare me half to death."

"I care more than a little, Trinty, and I have for a while now."

Trinity couldn't hold back the tears. "I'm afraid I don't deserve it." She stood up on shaky legs and took another deep breath. "Do you think I'm ready for you to show me how much you care? I know I'm ready to show you. I want to show you."

"You don't have to, Trinity," he said, stepping towards her and cupping her face with his hands.

"I know, but you need me to show you, don't you. You won't believe the words because you've heard them all before, and they're just words." Trinity reached for the belt of her robe and untied it, letting it fall open. "I want you to touch me, Levi."

*******

Levi had been right. There was so much difference between having sex and making love. However, now, laying in bed together, Trinity's stomach growled as the real word began to intrude once more.

"Should we try to find something to eat, do you think?" he asked with a laugh.

"I don't want to move, though," Trinity held him a little tighter. She had never felt so safe.

"But we should," Levi said, squeezing her in return then sitting up. "We have to keep our strength up for later." He shot her a wicked grin before giving her a quick kiss.

"Take your time. I'm going to go find us something to eat."  Trinity watched as he pulled on his jeans and a sweater and then listened as he bounded down the stairs.

Taking her time, Trinity used the bathroom, then put on a pair of her jeans and a sweater as well before she made her way downstairs. She heard voices as she reached the bottom of the stairs. She didn't want to be accused of eavesdropping, so she kept on moving, and as soon as she entered the kitchen, Josiah stopped talking and shot her a frown. He was still angry with her.

"We'll talk about this later, Levi." Josiah said before he left, slamming the backdoor behind him.

"What was that all about?" Levi asked, looking over at Trinity.

"He's mad at me." Trinity sat at the bar and rubbed her forehead with her hands.

"Why?" Levi placed and omelet in front of her.

"I think he expected me to fall all over him and you with gratitude for what you're doing. When I didn't, he got mad because he thought I was ungrateful."

"But, as I recall, you did fall all over me?" Levi teased as he joined her with his plate.

"Josiah doesn't know that does he, and he'll probably think the same thing you did if he does learn that I fell all over you." Trinity shook her head, unable to find a way out of it.

"It'll pass, don't worry about it. The sins of the mother." Levi said softly.

It didn't help as Trinity realized that she wasn't the only one that had scars that needed time and trust to heal. They all had a long way to go.