by Lori Foster
She said she’d been looking after her mom since her dad died. By now she probably thought she didn’t need anyone.
He’d have to find a way to convince her otherwise, but without being too obvious. “It can’t hurt to take extra precautions.”
Without looking at him, she said to his dad, “Thanks to the work Garrett’s done here, the locks are all up-to-date. And of course, I have Ticket.”
The dog jumped up to her lap, looked at Garrett and then at Morgan and let his tongue loll out.
Laughing, Morgan sent Garrett a look that said I tried. He pushed back his chair. “If anything comes up, let me know.”
Setting the dog back on the floor, Zoey stood, too. With a lot of suspicion, she asked, “Is that the job of the mayor?”
“Around here, everyone seems to think everything is my job.”
“I don’t.”
“Because you’re new, I reckon.” Morgan bent to give the dog a few more strokes. “But in this case, I head up the COCP program.”
“Community organized crime prevention,” Garrett explained. “Basically it’s made up of residents and local agencies working together on crime, delinquency, vandalism, that sort of thing.”
“You’re part of it?” she asked him.
He nodded. “Shohn, too, since he’s a park ranger.”
“And Adam keeps an eye on things at the school.” Morgan shrugged. “When everyone stays in touch with everyone else, things get figured out sooner rather than later.”
Covering her face, she muttered, “The whole town is going to be in my business.”
“Part of the charm of Buckhorn County,” his dad told her with a squeeze to her shoulder. “Nice dog, by the way.”
That got her to stop hiding behind her hands. “Thank you. He’s wonderful.”
As if he understood her, Ticket started wiggling all over again.
Morgan smiled. “I think you’ll do a real nice business here, Zoey. Jordan already told me you have a way with animals.”
His uncle Jordan had liked her on the spot. Anyone who took in a stray won him over, but Zoey was so sweet, who wouldn’t love her? Sick babies, stray dogs...every guy with a pulse.
For certain, he wasn’t immune.
Damn it.
While Garrett struggled internally, his dad started for the door, so he and Zoey followed with Ticket bounding behind them.
“The nearest groomer is a county over. You’ll be more convenient, and the setup looks great—for a business. Living out here, though...” Concern still showing, he said again, “Be extra careful, okay?”
Before Zoey could answer, Garrett put his arm around her. “We will.”
Amused at his obvious predicament, his dad grinned. “If you need any help advertising your grand opening, give a yell.” He paused with the door half-open. “You’ll be at the fireman’s fund-raiser?”
“Garrett invited me and my mom.”
“He did, huh?” His dad raised a brow. “Guess we’ll all get to know you better then—if we don’t have a chance to visit before that.”
Which was code for you should have brought her home for dinner already, and your mother is going to kick your butt if you don’t take care of that real soon.
“In fact, I’m betting the majority of the town will greet you warmly.” His gaze met Garrett’s. “The men are all real friendly that way.”
When Garrett worked his jaw, his dad added, “The women, too, of course.”
Nodding, Zoey said, “Thank you again, Mr. Hudson.”
“Call me Morgan.” He drew her in for a hug, winked at Garrett and finally left.
Garrett checked the time. He was going to be even later than he’d figured on, but he knew what he had to do.
He caught Zoey’s shoulders. “We need to reconfigure our plan.”
“Our plan?”
Meaning to keep it light, he kissed her—but yeah, that never worked with Zoey. Half a minute later, both of them breathing deeply, he said, “That whole business of taking it one day at a time?”
“What about it?” She pushed back from him. “Are you changing your mind just because your dad is trying to pressure you? I’m still fine with us just being friends.”
He’d moved beyond the friend stage a day after meeting her. Now he just needed her to catch up. “Friends who have sex day and night.”
She gasped in accusation. “You don’t want to have sex anymore?”
Silly Zoey. Did she really think he could give that up? Give her up? “I want it to be exclusive.”
She snapped her mouth shut.
Garrett dared another kiss, and managed to keep that one under fifteen seconds. “The longer you’re here, the more people you’ll meet.” And his dad was right; guys would hit on her at the fireman’s fund-raiser. “You and me,” he said with insistence as he started away. “Friends with benefits, as long as we’re only benefiting each other.”
He gathered up his hat and his keys, and stooped to say goodbye to Ticket.
When he straightened, Zoey still stood in that exact spot. Did being exclusive scare her so much?
He tipped up her chin, and this time said more softly, “You and me.”
Eyes huge, she bit her lip, and finally, finally, after torturing him with a long, searching stare, she gave a small nod. “You and me.”
Progress, he thought.
One day at a time.
* * *
Zoey awoke suddenly, aware of Garrett sprawled beside her. Given the shadows in the room, it was super early still. They’d be doing the fireman’s fund-raiser later, but they still had time.
Trying not to disturb him, she turned her head and took in the sight of his long, strong body. On his side facing her, his hairy thigh against her hip, his hand curved over her naked breast, he remained deeply asleep.
His long, thick lashes hid those incandescent blue eyes that never failed to melt her heart. Rumpled dark hair just added to his sexiness, as did the whiskers on his jaw.
She wouldn’t mind waking next to him every day for the rest of her life.
Lately, things had been...surreal. Better than she’d ever known was possible.
After demanding that exclusive agreement—and really, who would she want other than Garrett?—he’d decided she needed to spend more time with his family, too. Not just the cousins, but his parents, his uncles and aunts. They were all so welcoming, treating her not as the town pariah, but more like someone very special.
He’d also made several trips with her to the hospital to visit her mother. Once he even stopped by without her, dropping off flowers that had put a smile on her mother’s face for days.
Her house was now freshly painted, many repairs done and her business was ready to open. She still had some big projects to do, but thanks to Garrett—oh, Garrett—all the plumbing worked, the electrical was safe and the dock had been rebuilt.
He was just plain amazing. Tireless when it came to lending a hand.
Or sex. He was especially tireless then.
She didn’t know how a guy could be more wonderful.
Ticket felt the same, always greeting Garrett with howls and a thumping tail when he got home from work. It warmed her heart, how much the dog loved him.
And it scared her a little, because she was starting to feel the same.
The hand on her breast moved, cuddling a little...and it was no longer just his leg she felt on her hip.
“You big faker,” she whispered. “You’re awake.”
“I felt you looking at me.” Still without opening his eyes, he brushed his thumb over her nipple, making her shiver. “What time is it?”
“I don’t know.” She twisted to see the clock...and instead found Ticket standing beside the bed looking at her.
She’d long since removed the gate in the kitchen, giving the dog the choice of where to sleep, but he repeatedly returned to the same spot where she’d first put him, what she and Garrett now referred to as Ticket’s corner.
As soon as the dog saw her move, he barked.
Groaning, Garrett released her to stretch. “I take it he wants out.”
Usually that would get a resounding yap from Ticket. Not this time.
He growled, reared back on his haunches and whined.
“What the hell?” Garrett sat up, looked at Ticket and threw back the sheet. “Something’s wrong.”
Having the same feeling, Zoey took only one second to admire Garrett’s body as he yanked on jeans, without underwear. She grabbed for her housecoat, but Ticket was already racing down the hallway, barking in excitement, before she’d even gotten her arms in the sleeves.
Without waiting for her, Garrett followed him.
“Damn it.” Zoey hastily pulled on panties then tied the belt to the housecoat. Figuring she was decent enough, she ran after them.
Gray dawn struggled through the fog, leaving too many shadows in the yard. The morning mist in the air kept the porch light from traveling very far.
With Ticket hooked to his leash, Garrett stepped out with him...and saw the smoke coming from her ramshackle shed.
He thrust the leash at Zoey, said “Stay here,” and took off. Barefoot. Into the darkness.
And possible danger.
“Damn it,” she said again, more meanly this time.
Ticket had a fit, jerking and pulling at the leash when she went back in for a flashlight and her phone. It took her less than a minute, but when she got back outside she saw her small shed engulfed in fire.
And there was Garrett, backlit by the flames, leading a reluctant Cody Donahue toward the house.
Oh, no. Just what she didn’t need.
Her heart sank, especially when she got a good look at Cody’s face. The boy was lost, and if someone didn’t intercede, he could end up with the same needless fate as Gus.
Blowing out a long breath, Zoey knew she’d have to take on one more responsibility.
And it was going to be a doozy.
When Garrett reached her, he said in a voice as placid as the lake, “Don’t let Ticket loose, okay? The fire should burn itself out, especially with everything still dew-wet. But we don’t want him near it.”
Straining away from Garrett’s hold, Cody avoided her gaze.
She held the door open for both of them.
Like her, Ticket watched with quiet sympathy until they were inside, then he started sniffing the grass.
Zoey gave him plenty of time to do his business...while also giving Garrett plenty of time to do his. She assumed he’d call the sheriff, maybe the fire station...she wasn’t sure, but there’d definitely be some confusion going on.
When Ticket finished up, she went into the kitchen. With the phone to his ear, Garrett stood behind Cody, who sat at the table. He had a hand on the boy’s shoulder, and to Zoey the touch looked more like reassurance than restraint.
When she caught part of the conversation, she knew it was Cody’s father Garrett spoke to.
“This was a courtesy call, Mr. Donahue, that’s all.”
A raised voice came over the line. Garrett waited, occasionally giving Cody a squeeze.
“No, you may not come get him. He’ll be at the sheriff’s station.” Garrett nodded. “Sure, call your lawyer if that’s what you want to do. No, I’m sorry, but there’s no mistake.” Again he squeezed. “I caught him myself, Mr. Donahue. He still had the lighter in his hand.”
Zoey unleashed Ticket, who decided to lay by Cody’s chair, then she went about making coffee. She and Garrett finished up at the same time.
To give them some privacy, she said, “I’ll go get dressed.”
He nodded, and then to Cody, asked, “You drink coffee?”
“No.”
“Want a cola then?”
Stubbornness and suspicion hunched his shoulders. “I guess.”
“Don’t run,” Garrett said when he released him. “It’ll only piss me off and this is bad enough already.”
“I wasn’t going to.”
Feeling far too emotional, Zoey went on down the hall. By the time she’d dressed, the deputy had arrived, along with a fire truck and Morgan Hudson. The yard was busy, the kitchen busier. And all she could think about was how Garrett had handled Cody.
He hadn’t bullied him, or hurled accusations. He’d been compassionate but firm.
God, she loved him. Like crazy, over-the-top, never-going-to-end love.
In for a penny, she decided... She’d do what she could for Cody.
And then she’d do what she could for herself...with Garrett.
* * *
The morning went by in a blur and Garrett stayed so busy he didn’t get a chance to see Zoey after leaving the house with the deputy. He’d showered and shaved at his own place, and barely gotten to the fund-raiser on time. Now, behind a booth grilling corn on the cob, games all around him, a dance stage set up across the way, his thoughts divided a dozen different ways.
Number one, he wanted to throttle Cody’s dad. The man had made a big production of insisting Cody was innocent no matter the evidence, no matter Garrett himself being an eyewitness. When his rude blustering got him nowhere, he turned on Cody, loudly complaining that he didn’t have time to waste on nonsense.
Cody’s dad was so opposite his own that Garrett couldn’t fathom what it must have been like for him growing up. Losing a brother, having a father who made excuses, but didn’t take time for him.
That led him to number two, because he wanted to take Cody under his wing and maybe help him see a better way. Cody needed to know he wasn’t a waste of time. He could still make amends and get on a better path before he hurt himself or someone else. Though he thought for sure it was Cody responsible for the fire by the lake, and no doubt in the woods, too, he hadn’t been busted on anything else. With a little guidance, he just might be able to get it together.
And thinking of better people led him to number three. Zoey. He wanted to cement their relationship, to have her actually commit to him. He wanted that bad.
A few minutes later, there she was, wearing a pretty sundress and sandals, her silky brown hair dancing in the breeze. Garrett set aside his tongs and watched her sway to the loud music blaring over the park. Did she dance?
He wouldn’t mind holding her to a slow song when he got a break.
Her mother was in a wheelchair pushed by her uncle. They paused at a booth to get colas, smiling and taking in the crowd. Zoey bent to say something to her mom, smiled at some kids running past and pointed at balloons.
Garrett pushed back his hat, his heart already tripping. She had that effect on him. Every single time.
Moseying along with her mom and uncle, she searched the crowd. When she saw him, she stopped dead in her tracks. Color rushed into her cheeks and she sank her teeth into that plump bottom lip. Two seconds later she put her shoulders back.
Huh.
After saying something to her uncle, she started toward him.
Wondering what she was up to, Garrett nudged Noel, said, “Be right back,” and left the booth.
He met Zoey halfway across the main entrance to the park. “Hey.”
“Hey.” Clearly keyed up about something, she stared at him. “Do you have a minute?”
The serious way she asked that left him uneasy. He searched her face. “Is something wrong?” Was she still upset over the fire that morning? “I can rebuild the shed, you know.”
A smile flickered. “I know. It’s fine.” She poked him. “At least the snakes are gone, right?”
“You live in the wood
s, honey. There will always be snakes.”
Wrinkling her nose, she said, “Thanks. Just what I needed to know.”
“Forget about snakes. You’re upset.” And trying to hide it. “What’s going on?”
She shored herself up with a big breath. “This morning, when I saw you with Cody Donahue, I made up my mind. About two things actually. And because you’ll want to come home with me again after the fund-raiser—”
“Damn right I will.” Someone bumped into him. He glanced back and saw the line for the corn had grown. Noel looked harassed, especially with the music even louder now.
“Come here.” He moved them both away from the growing line and noise and, to be clear, stated, “I am coming home with you.”
She nodded. “I know. And I want you to. It’s just—”
“If this is about the Donahues giving you a hard time—” Had she thought he went too easy on Cody? No, he couldn’t believe that. Zoey was the most compassionate person he knew. She was also a woman wrongly targeted. “You know I’m on your side, right?”
“Oh, Garrett.” She hugged him tight. “I loved how you dealt with Cody. That’s actually one of the decisions I made.”
“I don’t understand.”
Pushing back from him, she seemed to screw up her courage, then spoke in a rush of words that ran together. “I’m sorry because I know the timing is off and my mother is waiting and you have duties, but I haven’t seen you since I made up my mind to do this, and if I don’t do it now I might chicken out, so...”
“Hold up.” This sounded serious, so maybe a little privacy was in order. Taking her arm, he steered her over to a park bench, out of the glaring sunshine. He ignored onlookers. He especially ignored Noel trying to get his attention. “Now.” He wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to know, but he asked anyway. “What’s going on?”
She sucked in a very deep breath, then exhaled on a blurted, “I was wrong.”
Uneasiness cut into him, tightening his jaw. “About?”
“Being friends with benefits.”
Feeling lethal, and a little desperate, he reminded her, “You’re the one who insisted on those benefits.”
“I know!” She thrust out her hands. “But I can’t be just friends anymore.”
