by Kay Stockham
Ethan headed toward the door, but paused with his hand on the knob. “I understand why you picked her up. Even why you brought her home. You did the right thing. Just be careful. There are a lot of women who’d take one look at you and decide Junior could use a daddy.”
DARCY BREATHED a sigh of relief as both Garret and Ethan left the kitchen. Breakfast had been a chore to get through with everyone pretending Ethan hadn’t said anything to Garret about her being there. Did he seriously think his voice hadn’t carried through the house? She hadn’t made out every word, but the tone was clear. And the tension between them? Neither man would ever win an award for acting.
She blinked back ridiculous tears and plopped another plate on the counter beside the sink. It was stupid to be upset, but she couldn’t help it. Who’d feel comfortable in a place where they knew they weren’t welcome?
Garret cleared his throat from the doorway. “Sorry about that, I had to take the call. And there you go again. Leave those alone, I’ll put them in the dishwasher.”
Ready to escape, Darcy nodded. “Okay. I think I’m going to go try calling my mom again.”
“Maybe this time you’ll have some luck.”
She made her way through the house, glaring at Ethan’s closed door as she entered Garret’s room. Please, Mom, be home. She grabbed the phone from the base and punched in her mother’s number. This time after two rings, the recorded voice told her to leave a message.
“Mom, it’s me again. Where are you? Call me as soon as you get my messages.” She left the number once more and hung up. Almost immediately the phone rang. Her mother? She grabbed the receiver. “Hello?”
A slight pause sounded on the other end. “Hello. You must be a friend of Ethan’s.”
A friend of Ethan’s? Interesting assumption. “Um, would you like to talk to him?”
“Oh, no, I’m calling for Garret. This is Jocelyn.”
The way she said her name she might as well have attached his girlfriend onto the end. The pancakes threatened to revolt. Of course Garret had a girlfriend. He hadn’t mentioned her, but apparently even white knights lied by omission. Not that she’d expected Garret to tell her everything about his life, but she’d told him about Stephen. He couldn’t have mentioned a girlfriend? No wonder Ethan had followed Garret into the bedroom to talk. “Hold on a moment while I get Garret for you.”
Darcy returned to the kitchen, holding the phone in front of her, the mouthpiece covered by her hand. And even though she was disappointed, she didn’t want to cause him any trouble. Garret had been nice to her, gone above and beyond to help her. Just because he hadn’t mentioned a girlfriend, well, typical guy. Why had she expected anything else?
“Garret, it’s for you. Someone named Jocelyn.” And there it was. Garret’s expression turned guarded right before her eyes. He excused himself and, phone in hand, walked out.
Darcy palmed her stomach and made a face, staring down at her belly. “Come on, Marcus, the snow’s letting up. Let’s finish the dishes, then go pack.”
GARRET ENTERED his office and shut the door behind him, feeling more guilt than the situation warranted. Nothing had happened between him and Darcy. “Joss, I’ve been meaning to call you.”
“Oh? Sorry. I haven’t been home.”
Concern overrode guilt. “Where are you if not home?”
“The gallery. After you dropped me off Friday night, I heard about how bad the storm was going to be and packed a bag. I thought it better to be snowed in here where I can get some work done.”
“You could’ve come home with me.”
“And still not gotten any work done?” She laughed softly. “Besides, Tobias came by yesterday.”
“He did?”
“Surprised me, too. He stayed for hours and helped me get things organized. And you’ll never guess why he stopped by.”
“Why?”
“He, um, brought the permit I needed to open.”
Crap! Garret made a fist and punched his thigh. “Joss, I’m sorry. I can’t believe I forgot the permit. It completely slipped my mind.” How many ways could he let this woman down?
“It’s okay. I understand how busy you’ve been.”
“That’s no excuse.”
“Hey, I’m a big girl. I know how things work. And I would’ve handled it myself if not for Tobias. I was floored by the gesture.”
“Everything taken care of now?”
“Yes. Before he left we painted the far wall and hung some things. And we unpacked the displays for the pottery and assembled two of them. At this rate, I’ll be able to open on time.”
“Well, I’m glad you had help.” He owed Tobe a day of golf, dinner. Something. “But I’m not crazy about you being there by yourself.”
“I’m fine. So should I ask who Ethan’s friend is? She’s not another nurse from the hospital, is she? Didn’t he learn his lesson about that after Daddy talked to him?”
“Ahh, actually she’s not Ethan’s friend.” Garret inhaled and sighed. He couldn’t put this off any longer. “Her name is Darcy Rhodes. I found her stranded by the side of the road Friday night. She was in labor.”
“What?”
He told her the rest of the story. “I’m going to take her to a motel as soon as the roads are clear to travel. Until then I’m sleeping on the couch.” He needed to clarify that, just in case Joss had doubts. “You’re not upset because she’s here, are you?”
“Of course not. Why would you ask that?”
“Just curious.”
“It’s sweet of you to look after her. Then again I’d expect nothing less. You’ve always liked playing hero.”
Playing hero? “What do you mean?”
“Garret, you know you like fixing everything. Your family. The hospital. This is no different. Your second-child characteristics are very strong. It’s very heroic and very admirable. That’s a good thing.”
Then why did she make it sound like a flaw? Because he hadn’t remembered the permit? “Ethan thought you’d be upset.”
“Yes, well, Ethan’s experiences with women fighting over his attentions at the hospital would make him think that. But no, I’m not upset. For pity’s sake, you just said she’s how far along? If you’d left her by the side of the road, I’d have been horrified. I understand completely, Garret.”
Her words rang with truth. She wasn’t jealous, wasn’t upset. In fact, it seemed as though Joss didn’t mind at all. While he knew it was juvenile of him, it bothered him that she wasn’t more troubled. He’d care plenty if Joss took another man home with her.
“Make sure you call the hotels before you leave this afternoon. There were so many power outages I heard the companies brought in extra crews and they’re staying in the area.”
“I’ll do that.”
“Good. Now I’d better go. I’ve got to call Daddy and check in before he calls out the National Guard. Take care of your guest and let me know how things go. Bye.”
Just like that the phone clicked in his ear. No “I love you,” no nothing. Just “Bye.” Shouldn’t she be the slightest bit jealous? Have asked more questions? Even Ethan had issued a brotherly warning about Darcy. Shouldn’t his girlfriend be a little more curious?
He pressed the button on the phone and set it aside. He and Joss hadn’t spent more than a few hours in each other’s company the entire month. And most of that time they had spent was surrounded by his family and hers on Christmas day.
She trusts you. Be glad she’s not upset. Then you’d be kissing up trying to make amends.
Garret got back to work and was nose deep reading a deposition when the phone rang. Ahh, here it was. Joss had thought about things and was calling him back. “Hello?”
“Garret, what the hell is going on?”
He stilled. Had Joss called her father with her complaints instead of voicing them to him? What kind of behavior was that? “Sir?”
“I just got a call from a board member who said there are ten-foot snowdrifts in the
parking lot.”
He switched mental gears. That’s why Harry was calling? “There’s a lot of snow out there, Harry. They were told to pile it on the back lots farthest from the entrances.”
“I don’t want it there at all!”
He gritted his teeth, his hand gripping the phone tight. “It has to go somewhere. When they scrape off the parking lot because we want the spaces clear, where are they supposed to put it? They can’t put it back in the air.” Did Harry not have any sense?
Harry hem-hawed and grumbled for a moment. “Fine, but if I go down there to check things out and there’s a snow pile on any of the front lots, that team is history. Fired! Do you understand me?”
“Yessir.” Garret rubbed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. So much for Darcy’s massage.
“Jocelyn called, too.”
He braced himself.
“I don’t approve of her staying in that rat-trap building, son. Why she had to set up shop in the old part of town, I’ll never know.”
“I, uh, think rent had a lot to do with it.”
“It’s a waste of time and money. You need to take her in hand, Garret, and the only way you’re going to do it is if you put a ring on her finger. What are you waiting for?”
He smiled wearily. Yet another jab. Joss could’ve been more interested in him, but at least she hadn’t told her father about Darcy. Ethan was right. If Harry got wind of Darcy’s presence, however innocent, his temper would blow sky-high and the pressure would really be on. “She’s fine. The security system is top-notch.”
“If she had a home and family to take care of she wouldn’t be going so far to entertain herself.”
“She likes art, Harry, and she’s good at what she does. You should be proud of her accomplishments.”
Harry grumbled a bit longer about the hospital and Joss “wasting money.” Garret hated that Harry couldn’t see how great his daughter was. But the only way he would have was if she had been born a son.
“Go take care of business, Garret. I’m counting on you to keep maintenance and my daughter on track.”
“Have a good day, Harry.” Garret hung up and leaned his head against the office chair, palming his face with both hands and rubbing hard.
Harry would make Garret’s life a living hell if he didn’t propose to Joss soon. He loved her, cared for her. Could see himself spending the rest of his life with her. They had a solid, good relationship.
So what was he waiting for? Why did the idea of forever with Joss seem so unsatisfying? Why wasn’t he eager to make their relationship permanent?
And maybe the fact that he avoided probing into the answers to those questions told him all he needed to know.
CHAPTER TWELVE
THE NEXT MORNING Toby entered Garret’s office in a piss-poor mood. What kind of friend lusted after his best friend’s soon-to-be fiancée? Not a good one, that’s for sure.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Garret sat in his standard position—phone glued to his ear with a pile of paper in front of him and pen in hand. A workaholic at his best.
Ignoring the phone since Garret was doing the same, Toby got right to the point. “Jocelyn needs help at the gallery. I think she’s overwhelmed trying to get ready for the opening. Did you go help her this weekend?”
Garret tugged at his tie and shook his head. “No, I couldn’t get out. The roads didn’t open up until late last night.”
Like any cop in the area would ticket a Tulane. “I made it okay. I did some stuff for her.”
“She told me.” Jerking to attention, Garret spoke into the phone. “I’m on hold for Benjamin Thomas. Yes, I would like to leave a message, thank you.”
Toby approached Garret’s desk and perused the surface, reaching out to grab a picture of Jocelyn before hesitating and picking up the one next to it. Garret’s family was gathered around one of his mother’s Christmas trees, Jocelyn included. And right there in full color he saw the way Jocelyn and Garret complimented each other—her sleek blond up-do and insanely expensive-looking red dress the perfect foil for Garret’s jet-black hair and suit. A debutante and one of Beauty’s founding families’ sons. Go figure.
“Hey, sorry about that.” Garret hung up and settled back in his chair. “The board meeting was postponed and one guy’s already in transit, so we’re trying to track him down before he gets here and has a fit. And thanks for helping Joss out. Especially with the permit.”
“I thought you’d taken care of it for her.”
A disgusted expression flickered over Garret’s face. “I was going to but I forgot about it. The mess with the buyout has me forgetting my own name. I owe you one.”
“You don’t owe me for the permit.” If anything he owed Garret, seeing as how Toby had enjoyed the time with Jocelyn way more than he should have. “But you do owe me for not making our racquetball slot this morning. Where were you?”
Garret fiddled with the pen and cleared his throat. “I tried to call.”
“I got the message when I got back to the locker room. Don’t tell me your twenty-two-inch wheels couldn’t take a little slush.”
Making a face, Garret motioned for Toby to shut the door behind him.
He did as requested. “What’s wrong?”
“I picked up a woman who wrecked Friday night. After the hospital released her, I drove her to the motels but they were full so…I took her home with me. She spent the weekend.”
Toby stared at Garret, the urge to deck him so strong his knuckles cracked. Garret picked up strangers when he had a woman like Jocelyn waiting for him to make the next move? “Did you cheat on her?” Toby barely got the words out. Not because he actually thought Garret had cheated on Jocelyn but because he was shocked to his core that, in a sick and twisted way, he wanted it to be true. Why? So he’d have a chance with Jocelyn?
Garret glared at him. “Of course not! It was nothing like that. And I’ve already talked to Joss about it, so stop being an ass.”
He’d been Garret’s friend for over half his life. Toby knew Garret wasn’t like that. But if Garret had cheated on her—What? Toby would tell her? Be happy about it? What kind of friend was that?
“Who is she?”
“No one you know. She’s just traveling through town.”
“She could be anyone. One of those women who go home with a guy, drugs him then opens the door for the boyfriend so they can rob him before murdering the guy.”
“You’ve been watching too much Dateline.”
“Ethan wasn’t at the house the whole weekend. I saw him in the cafeteria when I went down to get something for Maria. Which means you—” he pointed a finger at Garret “—were at the house alone with this woman. What did you do with her for hours on end?”
“I did exactly what you gave me such a hard time about the other night—I worked. Darcy rested and hung out. She’d just been in an accident—and she’s pregnant. Why is this such a big deal to you?”
“It’s not.” Toby raked his fingers through his hair and moved to the door of Garret’s office. “You didn’t say she was pregnant.” Like that made a difference? Toby had to get out of there. Liking Jocelyn was one thing, admiring her from afar, fine. But this feeling was more than like. And Garret was his best friend.
“Tobe, nothing happened.”
Maybe not, but a lot had happened in the past five minutes. Garret had to propose to Jocelyn soon. With his ring on her finger, she really would be off-limits—that was a boundary Toby wouldn’t cross. Ever. But until that happened, he had to stay away from her—them—altogether. It was only right.
“What’s with you today? You look ready to self-combust.”
He gripped the knob, wishing he could rip it off and throw it. “I thought maybe you’d…done something you shouldn’t have.”
“I didn’t.”
A look flashed over Garret’s face, though. Guilt? Toby turned and leaned against the door. “You sure?”
Garret avoided hi
s gaze and stood to pace to the window. “Nothing happened.”
“But?”
“But how do I know Joss is the one?” Garret glanced over his shoulder at him. “Don’t go mentioning this to your mother or sister but—You nailed me for not giving Joss the ring, and this is why. How do I know she’s the one?”
“You’re having second thoughts? You think it’s a mistake to marry Jocelyn?”
“Not a mistake. Joss would never be a mistake. She’s as perfect as a woman can come but…”
Toby struggled to find the right words, the things guys were supposed to say in situations like this. Somehow they all sounded false in his head while he silently cheered getting an opportunity to pursue Jocelyn. “You’ve just got cold feet. It’s hard for a guy to think that he’s giving up the field.” He knew Garret was a stand-up guy who cared for and honored the woman he was with. If Toby thought for a second that Garret used women when they were convenient, that his feelings for Jocelyn weren’t sincere, Toby would consider her free for the chase. But Garret wasn’t like that and Toby had to respect their relationship.
“You’re right. Cold feet. What else could it be, right? I love her, why shouldn’t I marry her?”
Toby opened the door. “I can’t think of a single reason.”
Not one he could say out loud, that is.
GARRET STARED out the window a long time after Toby left. Once his engagement to Joss became official, his mother and Joss’s would go off the deep end planning the wedding. It would be the first in the family and sure to create a fuss. He’d be asked to discuss parties and seating arrangements, colors and flowers. Stuff he didn’t have the time or desire to mess with. This was exactly why people eloped.
A soft knock sounded on his door. “Come in.”
“Hey, what’s going on?” Joss asked as she stepped into his office wearing a sleek blue pantsuit that matched her eyes. “I saw Tobias getting in one of the elevators. He looked angry.”
