I buttoned up my jacket to hide the coffee stain and headed inside. In the lobby, I saw Chelsie as she was rushing out.
“Morning, Knoah. Hey, I have to run downtown for Sawyer and this Elvis-obsessed bride.”
This morning, Sawyer had given me an earful. Apparently, the ice sculptor making the giant Elvis head was in the hospital. Scrambling for a last-minute substitute was not easy. “Good luck. Let me know if you need anything.”
“I will. Is it Friday yet?”
“I wish.”
She took a few steps but turned back around. “Oh, I forgot. This came for you as I was leaving. I meant to leave it on your desk.” She handed me a small manila envelope.
“Thanks.”
When I opened it, a small card dropped out.
I know who you are. We need to meet.
There was a small, embossed lily on the bottom. Of course, this would happen today. Of all days. Irritation bloomed in me. Why can’t people leave me alone when it comes to Kurt?
“Who the hell cares who I am?” I muttered to myself. Someone probably found out I’d been married to Dylan. Dylan’s relationship to the band was no secret. Kurt talked about him often but left me out of it at my request. When and if the dots were connected, it would be a field day. Hopefully, I would have time to tell Sawyer.
At this point, with the way my day was going, the whole damn world would find out. Think positive. I crumpled up the card and dropped it in my purse. Whoever it was could go to hell. I blew out a breath and resumed walking to the office. As I turned, someone slammed into me, and I felt warm liquid. No. It wasn’t possible to have this happen twice in one day.
I froze, not knowing how this day could get worse. A young, pink-faced man started handing me napkins and patting me down. “I’m so sorry. I was texting and didn’t see you.”
The patting approached my breasts. This was about to become awkward. I took a step back and opened my mouth to speak when I heard the familiar timbre of Garrick’s voice. It was official. The world was after me.
“I’ve got this, Sam.”
Wide-eyed, the younger man looked at Garrick before handing me the soggy napkins. “I’m really sorry, ma’am. Mr. Garrick, sir. I’m almost done with the report Chad requested. It’ll be on your desk within the hour.”
“Thank you, Sam. I’ll see you in the meeting at ten.”
The dismissal was obvious.
“Yes, sir.” Sam handed me the napkins, the pink receding from his cheeks. “I’m very sorry, ma’am.”
“It’s okay. I won’t melt. Promise.”
The janitor appeared with a mop bucket and garbage pail. I threw the soggy napkins away. “Good morning, Ms. Knoah.”
“Good morning, James. Thank you.” James and I often chatted about his little girl, Jane, while he was cleaning on the nights I worked late. He was a single dad who worked two jobs to keep Jane in her current facility due to her severe autism. Recently, I’d made a phone call to my accountant and become an anonymous donor to the facility for her care.
He smiled. “No problem, Miss Knoah. I have some good news. I’m quitting my job at the bar. Seems my Jane qualifies for some funding. I’ll get to spend more time with her.”
“That is absolutely wonderful. I know she’ll be excited. I can’t wait to see her next drawing.” And using the money Dylan had left me helped ease the missing ache at times.
Garrick waited with his head cocked and smiling at me as James resumed his duties. I mumbled, “Good morning, Mr. Shaw. I can have an update for you in twenty minutes if that works.”
He winked. Yes, he actually winked. And I wanted him to do it again.
“You seem a little exasperated.”
I snickered. “That’s putting it mildly. I need to get to my office.”
I felt waterlogged as I walked to the office. Garrick didn’t go to his office but fell into step with me instead. Beside me, he acknowledged a few people we passed in the lobby. Some spoke of meetings with him later today.
After unlocking the door to As You Wish, I stepped inside and headed to my office. He continued to walk along beside me. “Is there something I can help you with?”
Geez, I hoped I hadn’t sounded too bitchy. I desperately needed a few minutes to get myself sorted.
“Another late night?”
I flipped on the office lights and made my way back to my desk. My birthday flowers were still beautiful. Each day they brought a smile to my face.
My bag seemed to have escaped being doused this morning. Thank goodness. All my designs from last night would have been ruined. At least one thing was going my way this morning.
Peeling off my suit jacket, I felt better—but still soaked.
I turned, and Garrick stood in the doorway. “Have dinner with me.”
What? Seriously, am I being punked? I looked around. “What?”
“I would like for you to have dinner with me.”
He seemed to jump from zero to sixty. And I was completely confused. I mean, yes, I had fantasized about him against my will. But this all seemed too good to be true. Something else was up. “What’s your endgame, Garrick?”
Crap, I used his first name again.
“What?”
I massaged my temples. “Listen, I’ve had a shitty morning, and I imagine I’m about to make it shittier. What is your endgame? It doesn’t make sense. You’re spearheading an event. You, the CEO of multiple companies. I’ve never worked with a CEO as much as I have you.”
“Knoah, let’s calm down.”
“Now I’m Knoah?” He said nothing. If he refused to tell me the truth, I had no other choice. Whatever the ramifications were, I’d survive them. My emotions were all over the place since I met Garrick. If I walked away, I could go back to how things were. This man was driving me crazy. “I think Mickey will be better suited for this event.”
His eyes widened. He obviously was not expecting this from me. Courage came from within. “Between my hair dryer dying, my flat tire, coffee all over my clothes, losing my favorite earring, my boss’s complete change of attitude toward me, and now this… I’m done.”
Garrick took a seat at my small conference table and motioned for me to as well. But this was my office, and giving him any power in it would be my demise. In defiance, I folded my arms across my chest.
“Since the day I saw you outside Cameron’s office, I haven’t been able to get you off my mind. I tried. Trust me.”
Wait. What? My jaw grew slack as I attempted to comprehend what he said. Did I hear him correctly? The beat of my heart raced within my chest. His words came out of left field. He hasn’t stopped thinking about me? He wants to? It was the exact situation I’d gone through—I tried to get him out of my head, too.
“How close are you and Cameron?”
“We’re not. Just professionally, but I respect him.”
That explained why I’d never met him. “Go on.”
“I’m tired of fighting this attraction between us. I tried to stay away, but that lasted all of two seconds.” He paused, searching my face. “I know you feel it, too.”
He feels this, too. As suspected, I had been obvious about my attraction. I sagged against the wall and stared at the flowers. Yes, I felt an insane attraction to him. I touched one of the petals.
“I sent the flowers after I heard Cameron wish you a happy birthday.”
“What?” They were from Garrick? I closed my eyes, overwhelmed.
Garrick’s voice filled the silence. “When Cameron came back into his office, he apologized for the delay. He explained that it was your birthday and how you worked with his sister on the first floor. I needed to put a smile on your face. When you looked into the mirrored wall, your eyes looked sad, almost hollow. Now, they’re full of life.”
My throat was thick with emotion. Softly, I asked. “Why?”
“I have no idea. None. These last few days, I’ve felt crazy with how often my thoughts turn to you.”
I looked his
way. He scooted his chair back, and then the warmth of his body was close. “I heard your exchange with Kurt Hendrix. I had to go to the concert to see what happened.”
“You were there?”
Again, I’d been aware he was there without seeing him. My body had felt his presence and reacted. That was a heady, unexplainable feeling.
“Yes. I obtained backstage passes but kept my distance. If you were seeing him, I was determined to leave you alone—even if it felt impossible. There’s something between us I haven’t experienced before. I hoped it would go away.”
He hoped it would go away? He wasn’t looking for a relationship either? What am I supposed to make of that?
He traced his fingertip down my arm, and the tingles danced across my skin. “It’s there, Knoah. Don’t you feel it? I do.”
“What about the job?” I raised my eyebrow.
He took a step back. “After my meeting with Cameron, Brenda told me we were taking on the gala. I knew you worked at an event-planning company from Cameron, so I informed Brenda I would handle it. I went to the website and researched your work to see if it would fit our needs. The job is legitimate. I’d hoped that by seeing you more, this”—he motioned between us—“would go away.”
That made me smile. I’d hoped the same thing. I turned so we were face to face. “So where do we go from here?”
“I would like to have dinner with you so we can get to know each other outside of work.”
My initial instinct was to pull away from the feelings threatening to break free, but the thought of not seeing Garrick again was not something I wanted to entertain. I needed to spend more time with him even if it scared the living daylights out of me. Live. No regrets. “Okay, we can go to dinner.”
A smile lit up his face, and bright flecks of caramel danced in his eyes. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“I’ll meet you there. Just text me the details.” If things became uncomfortable, I wanted a way out.
Chapter Eleven
Lunch came and went. Strangely, I felt more energized, considering the serious lack of sleep I’d had over the last two days. Mickey had sent an e-mail earlier saying she’d be out of the office for the day. Thank goodness.
“Knoah, you have a delivery.” Chelsie walked in carrying a large box with a black bow on it.
“Thanks.”
I took it from her, and she left to go back to the showroom for more counting by nines for Sawyer. I pulled the card out from under the bow and opened it.
To a fresh start.
Garrick
I smiled. The wording was perfect in so many ways. As I opened the box, my mouth dropped open. Inside was a beautiful green wrap dress made of the softest fabric. Luckily, the black strappy heels I had on matched it perfectly. Underneath the dress was a panties and bra set. I felt the heat rise in my cheeks until I saw the note.
Mr. Shaw stated you’d had coffee spilled on you and needed a new outfit. I threw this in here gratis. If it doesn’t fit, please call the store.
Melanie
Personal Stylist
La Boutique
Wow. This place was nice. And expensive. I should have sent it back, but the fabric felt like heaven beneath my fingertips. I wanted to wear this… for him. Knowing Melanie added the lingerie made me less leery of Garrick’s intentions. Dinner would not lead to the bedroom tonight. But still, the decadence of the sheer lace made me feel sexy.
In the privacy of my office, I took off my stained clothes and slipped on the dress, immediately feeling better.
To a fresh start.
I took out my phone.
Me: Thank you for the dress. It’s beautiful.
Garrick: It reminded me of your eyes when Annie showed me options. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about them. See you tonight. I’ll send over the dinner arrangements as soon as they’re done.
Me: See you then.
His eyes had stayed in my thoughts, too. A little girlish giggle left me. My feelings weren’t one-sided.
An hour later, I was alone in the office, reviewing all of the names for Sawyer to make sure they were spelled correctly while I waited to hear back from various vendors.
I was startled when the buzzer rang. A deliveryman handed me another package. “For Ms. Knox.”
“That’s me. Thank you.”
I relocked the door and went back to my office, curious what was in the sleek black bag with all the gold tissue paper sticking out.
Reading the card brought another warm feeling to my chest, further chipping away at the wall of ice I’d built over the years.
To resetting a bad day.
Garrick
A shiny new black hair dryer was hidden amidst the tissue paper in the bag. It had more buttons than I’d ever seen. I loved it—and the gesture behind it. He’d listened to me this morning. Heard everything I’d said. And he went out of his way to make my day better. It occurred to me that the writing on the cards matched the writing from last night’s dinner.
He went to the restaurant to write the note. I got up to check the card from the flower arrangement. Again, the same writing. I traced the letters and chewed on my lips. No regrets.
As I took my phone from the charger, another girlish bubble of excitement welled up inside me.
Me: I feel like a broken record, but thank you. You’ve turned a terrible day into one of the best I’ve had in a long time.
His response was almost immediate.
Garrick: That’s what your smiles do to me.
Wow.
Just wow.
Wow. Wow. Wow.
Garrick was unlike anyone I’d ever known, putting himself out there freely and without apology. Yet there was a raw, restrained power within him. Something beneath the surface motivated all his decisions.
Late afternoon approached when the buzzer sounded again. Through most of the day, there had been constant deliveries, all for the upcoming wedding. This time, a man dressed in a mechanic’s uniform stood at the door with a clipboard.
“Hello. Can I help you?”
“Ms. Knox?”
“Yes…”
“I’m here to fix your flat. I have this for you.” He handed me another card.
Everything is fixable. Nothing stays lost forever.
Garrick
The words hit me like a ton of bricks, and I froze gawking at the card. The word lost had been underlined twice, referring to the song I’d written with Kurt.
Dylan.
What have I done? I’d stopped remembering him. Suddenly, the air was too warm, and I felt a little dizzy. I shouldn’t be happy like this. “I… uhh… let me get my keys. I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time, ma’am.”
The door closed and automatically locked, leaving the man alone outside the office. On autopilot, I grabbed my keys from my office.
Home.
I’d go home early and work from there. Shit. I had to stay because of the wedding deliveries. This had to stop. Overwhelmed and panicking, I picked up my phone to dial Garrick.
“Hello.”
“I can’t do this, Garrick.” Without waiting for a response, I hung up.
Why does canceling dinner with him hurt so much? A physical ache formed. For support, I leaned against the desk and allowed all the confusing feelings to swirl inside me. What have I done?
The buzzer sounded.
Crap, I needed to tell the man I wouldn’t need his services.
I stopped at the sight of Garrick staring at me from the door. He’d come for me. My chest heaved at the mere sight of him. An ache formed within my chest at the thought that this might be the last time I ever saw him. What did I do? Garrick made eye contact with me, and time stood still.
“Please let me in, Knoah.”
On autopilot, my body responded to his words, and I walked to the door. He ran his fingers through his dark hair as he waited for me.
“Do you have your keys?”
I held them out, and
Garrick passed them to the mechanic. “Deliver them to the fourth floor when you’re done.”
The mechanic left, and the door shut behind him, leaving us alone in my office.
“Garrick—” I would have to go to his office if the keys went to the fourth floor. Could I let him go again? I swallowed hard and felt my breath leaving faster. My mouth grew dry as we stared at each other. Everything inside me screamed at me to launch myself into the comfort of his embrace. This was crazy—absolutely indescribable—how deeply he affected me. Seeing him confirmed that I wasn’t ready to never see him again, but it terrified me at the same time.
“Knoah, we need to talk. Please.” There was a vulnerability about him that tugged at my heartstrings.
I nodded. “Okay. Let’s talk in my office.”
I turned, and he followed close behind me. We sat at my conference table. My nerves rose with every passing second.
“Knoah, what can’t you do?”
“I don’t know. Seeing you again makes this… I don’t know what this is.”
He exhaled. “What happened? You were fine with dinner.”
“I was. I am.” I shook my head. “I don’t know what I am.”
“What spooked you?”
Memories of the past. But I wasn’t ready to reveal that piece of me. I motioned to my dress and the bag. “All this today. You swept into my day and made it better. Made me forget.”
He truly looked confused. “And this is a problem because…”
“Because you make me feel things, Garrick. Things I never wanted to feel again.” I pressed my lips shut when I realized what I’d revealed.
“Why?” He watched me closely, as if analyzing my thoughts.
I got up to stand at the window and stare outside, unnerved I’d revealed too much. “I don’t know. And I always know. I always have a game plan. Surprises aren’t my thing anymore. Now I make the safe choices.”
Untouched Perfection Page 8
