by Mysti Parker
He leaned in close, smiling as Morgan’s breath caught in surprise. “Sure, if you promise Paige won’t poison my cheese.”
Her eyes danced with mischief. She cupped her hand to the side of her mouth and tiptoed to reach his ear. “I won’t let her near your cheese.”
Garrett smelled her strawberry shampoo and briefly envisioned her in the shower, washing her long hair while water streamed down and shimmered on her skin. Things got a little tight in his pants.
He backed away, smiling past his nervousness. “Thanks. I won’t be long.”
As he turned to retreat and head back into the fray sans cooler, he could have sworn Morgan looked a little disappointed. Or was he imagining that? He could never get a good read on her. Paige, on the other hand, wasn’t hard to figure out. She wore her emotions like a piece of gaudy jewelry—and it was clear she didn’t want him anywhere near her sister.
****
Back at the shop around three o’clock, Garrett unloaded his haul. They closed at two o’clock on Saturdays, so he was relieved to see the store quiet for a change. Tanner helped him put the cold things away.
They had just stuck the last block of cheese in the fridge when Tanner said, “You were at the farmers’ market a really long time. I figured you’d come back with a truckload of stuff.”
Garrett picked up the empty cooler and set it in the sink to wash and disinfect. “Oh, I ran into Morgan. We chatted for a while and got some hot dogs at one of the food trucks.”
“Really? What was she doing there?” Arms crossed, Tanner leaned casually against the sink, though Garrett could see the tightness in his jaw and his narrowed eyes.
“The girls had a booth. First time they’ve set up there, according to Morgan.”
“Did they now?”
“Yes, and they were doing pretty good from the looks of it.” Garrett turned on the hot water to fill the cooler and added detergent. Couldn't be too careful where raw meat was concerned.
Tanner stayed silent while suds and steam rose from the sink, but Garrett felt his brother’s anger radiating hotter than the 120-degree water. Tanner pulled his cell phone from his back pocket and stalked away.
“Who are you calling?” Garrett grabbed a towel, turned off the water, and followed.
“Who do you think? I’m getting us a booth next weekend.”
“Seriously, bro, are you really going to do this? It’s childish.”
“Childish? I’m not the one who stormed in here and accused me of trying to destroy a business. Nothing wrong with some friendly competition, is there?”
“Is this what you call friendly? You look like you could chew through nails right now.”
“You and Morgan certainly seem friendly enough.”
“It’s not like that.”
“What’s it like, then?”
Garrett didn’t know what it was like, really, but he knew for certain he didn’t want to stop spending time with her.
“None of your business, that’s what it’s like. I’m not giving her secret recipes or whatever you’re worried about.”
“Good. Since they’ve launched the first attack, it’s time to plan the counterattack.” Tanner held up his finger to shush Garrett and put the phone to his ear.
Shaking his head, Garrett found the goat jerky and grabbed a piece. They’d left a war zone just to come back to a new one. IEDs and ambushes in the Afghani mountains seemed more predictable than this cupcake war. As long as he didn’t lose Morgan’s friendship, he’d consider it a win. But who else would get hurt in the process?
Chapter Eight
Humming happily to herself, Morgan packed empty boxes and coolers into the trunk of Paige’s car. She was already thinking about when she’d see Garrett again. She’d forgotten how funny he could be when he let his guard down and how easily they could carry on a conversation, even if all they’d managed were a few short coffee breaks and a quick hot dog lunch. She was tempted to ask him out for a real date, but he was wrapped up in his new business, and she didn’t know whether it would be a good idea to interrupt that. Plus, once Paige got back on her feet with Two Sisters, Morgan had promised herself she would go back to school. A school which was nine hours away didn’t leave much room for exploring anything beyond friendship with Garrett.
Who was she kidding? Could she even afford to pay off the student loans she would need to finish her art degree? Sighing with frustration, she set her mind to the job at hand. The tent was the only thing left to take down. It was one of those big canopy things perfect for all manner of outdoor events until a storm blew up. Then they’d have to hang on to it for dear life unless they wanted it to become a deadly parachute that would take every other tent out with it. Of course, on a windless, sunny day like this one, the thing didn’t want to budge from where they’d secured it to the ground. Paige was already fighting with it, squatting and swearing under her breath while trying in vain to wrestle the tent stakes from the dry earth.
“Here, let me help. Where’s the stake hammer?” Morgan asked.
“No idea. I thought you were keeping up with it.”
“Why do I have to be the hammer’s keeper?” Morgan bent to pull up a stake. No matter how hard she pulled, it didn’t want to budge.
“Don’t bother,” Paige said. “Don’t you have a date or something?”
“No.” Morgan’s sporty army-style boots came in handy as she kicked the stake from side to side until it came loose. “What’s your problem with Garrett anyway?”
“Nothing. I just don’t appreciate you giving marketing tips to our competition.”
“Right. Like he couldn’t figure out how to get a booth for himself? He’s practically a genius, for goodness sakes.”
“If he’s such a genius, why didn’t he stay in the city and land a six-figure job? You’d think he and Tanner were conjoined twins.”
“Maybe he wants to follow his dreams instead of the money.”
Paige let out a sarcastic laugh, stood, and brushed off her hands. “Yeah, well I wouldn’t know about that. Dreams don’t pay the bills.”
“The cupcake business was your dream, or so I thought. I had other plans.”
“Well, nobody asked you to give up anything.” She looked around on the ground, spotted the hammer, and went to pick it up.
“You didn’t have to ask. I happen to love you and wanted to help. Wouldn’t you do the same for me? You know what, don’t answer that.” Morgan yanked the stake from the ground. She kicked another one so hard, it let go and flew to one side, throwing dirt onto the sidewalk. Some of it also hit Mrs. Peters, the roasted nut lady, as she rolled her portable containers past the tent. Mrs. Peters glared and brushed her dress with a few quick swipes of her hand.
“Sorry,” Morgan said.
“If you don’t sweep that up, I’ll see to it that you lose your spot next time. My sister Annabelle could have had that booth had you not taken it. She sells painted rocks.” She emphasized that last word like Annabelle's rocks were the bomb.
Paige came over, holding the tent stake hammer. She whacked the palm of her hand with it and narrowed her eyes. “Have we got a problem here?”
Mrs. Peters’ jaw worked up and down as though struggling for a reply while staring at Paige’s hammer. Finally, she shook her head and hurried off, nearly at a run. Her portable containers bounced across the sidewalk cracks as the lids were jarred open and left to flap helplessly during the hasty retreat. Roasted nuts jumped out like popcorn every time she hit a bump.
Hand to her mouth, Morgan snickered and was surprised to see Paige smiling too. “Who needs the heavies when I have you?”
“Hey, I’m sorry,” Paige said, suddenly sober again. Smiles never lasted very long on her these days.
“Don’t worry about it. Listen, I’m going home to just chillax if that’s okay.”
“Of course it’s okay. I think I’ll take Ty to the park while the weather is so nice.”
“Good idea. If you need me, call. Hugs?�
�
Paige pulled Morgan into a tight embrace. Her breath shuddered as though she was trying to hold back tears.
She broke away and cupped Paige’s cheek. “It’ll be okay, sis.”
Paige nodded then turned away. The two of them finished packing up the tent in silence. Then Paige drove Morgan home with only a “See ya,” when she got out.
Standing by her apartment door, Morgan watched Paige drive off in her yellow Buick GSX that she couldn’t afford to finish refurbishing. That had been the “project car” that she and their dad had begun rebuilding before he left. Before she got pregnant, she had plans to finish it and take it to shows like he had always talked about, but that had never happened.
It hurt Morgan’s heart to see her sister still struggling so much now as a single mom. It hurt even more to remember the way they used to be back when things were good. Back when Paige loved life. Back when Morgan had first entered art school and loved every minute of it. As much as her heart ached with those fond memories, she knew they tormented Paige’s heart.
Inside her tiny apartment, Morgan left a trail behind her, shedding her boots, purse, jacket, and a bag containing one homemade organic candle. On second thought, she picked up the candle and carried it to the spacious bath. It was her favorite room in this bachelorette pad. She wondered what the architects had been smoking when they designed it, leaving only a matchbox worth of space for the rest of the apartment.
Taking up one corner of the bath was a huge stand-up shower with clear glass doors and marble tiles. One shower wall was composed of frosted glass blocks up to eye level, where some clear blocks allowed her to peek out over the park. To make things more luxurious, there were two shower heads and even a tiled seat – perfect for leg shaving. It would be even more perfect for lovemaking, but she’d probably never know. At least not with an actual human. The only love she ever experienced nowadays was battery powered and waterproof. Come to think of it, she hadn’t had a date with Buzz in a long time.
Morgan stripped off her clothes and turned on the water jets. While she waited for the steamy goodness, she fetched a towel and lit the candle, placing it on a table just outside the shower. She didn’t know why she bought it, as she rarely remembered to light candles. The other three unscented ones beside it had gathered dust from her neglect. So, she lit those too.
It was getting dark outside, with the sun’s last orange rays casting a beautiful glow through the glass blocks. She left the bathroom light off to bask in the soft illumination. She started to step in then turned back to fetch Buzz from where she stored it under the sink.
Giddy with anticipation, Morgan smiled and got in the shower, setting the vibrator gently down on the seat. She let the water drench her face first, then her hair. While she breathed in the steam and strawberry shampoo, she eyed her special toy. Her stomach fluttered. Morgan had every intention of washing up first then finishing up with a bang before relaxing into a night of Netflix and a bottle of red. She’d watch the movie Ghost again. Sure, it was an oldie, but that sexy pottery wheel scene was to die for.
As she rinsed the strawberry suds from her hair, the scent from the candle took its place. And now she remembered why she had bought it. Its musky, spicy scent reminded her of Garrett. That little reminder was all it took for her vivid imagination to picture him standing behind her in the shower, wrapping his arms around her, sliding his hands all over her body like an expert potter. Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore would have nothing on them.
What was wrong with her? She never used to think about him like that. She’d thought about kissing him, sure, and holding hands—cutesy boyfriend/girlfriend stuff—but that was then, and this was now. Her fantasies had matured way beyond the teenage crush era.
Morgan angled the lower jet to hit her back while she settled herself on the tiled seat. She picked up Buzz and turned him on, then massaged herself with him until she found that magic spot.
“Wow, oh wow,” she exclaimed, surprised at how turned on she already was. It usually took a few minutes to warm up to that level of excitement. Thinking about Garrett all hot, naked, and hard must have done the trick. Shrugging, she decided to go with it. How would he know anyway?
Closing her eyes, she let the vibrator do the work on the magic spot, while she let her fingers do their thing. Just a few strokes had her panting and shaking. She imagined Garrett kneeling there, licking and teasing, and better yet, his eyes and how they burned with pure desire. That was all her body needed. Morgan cried out Garrett’s name as the orgasm exploded from deep inside. It rippled down her clenching sheath, radiated through her legs, and curled her toes.
It took a few seconds to catch her breath and descend from the endorphin high. She opened her eyes. Blue lights pulsed through the glass wall.
“What the—?” Holding to the grab bar, Morgan pulled herself up on still-trembling legs and peered through the clear blocks. A cop car sat on the one-lane road that circled the park. Slight panic wedged itself in her throat. There had been a few break-ins over the past month. But that wasn’t what worried her most. Paige was supposed to be taking Ty to the park. What if something had happened to them?
Morgan quickly toweled off, grabbed her pink fluffy robe, and hurried to her small second story balcony. She squinted into the flashing lights and recognized Jesse Maddox right away. He was the deputy sheriff, built like a Mack truck, and took his job very seriously. He’d once written Morgan up for not parking straight in a space in front of the grocery. There hadn’t been ten cars in the whole lot. She had gotten out of the ticket by agreeing to go out on a date with him—a decision she regretted to this day. Since then, she’d told him six ways from Sunday that she wasn’t interested. He wasn’t a bad guy; she just didn’t feel any real attraction to him.
This time, Jesse had some guy pinned up against his cop car in handcuffs. What had he done? Tossed some chewed gum on the sidewalk?
“Hey, Jesse!” Morgan called. “What’s going on?”
Still holding his prisoner, Jesse turned his head and looked around until he spotted her on the balcony. Then he lit up a smile that was almost as bright as the lights. He looked pretty proud of himself.
“Hey, Morgan! Found this guy spying on you.”
She gasped and pulled her robe tighter under her chin.
The guy lifted his cheek off the roof of the car. “I wasn’t spying on anyone. I was just out for a jog!”
Oh my God, she knew that voice. “Garrett?”
“Yeah, it’s me.” He sounded both annoyed and embarrassed.
Jesse smashed Garrett’s cheek onto the roof again. “Well, Garrett was standing out here staring up at your bathroom window. You want to press charges?”
Morgan’s cheeks burned, not from Garrett’s alleged Peeping-Tom crime, but from knowing she had fantasized about him just minutes ago. Not that he could see anything but shadows through the frosted glass, but was he really trying to watch her through the window? That should have totally freaked her out, but a laugh bubbled up instead.
“It’s okay. I won’t press any charges. I’m sure he’s learned his lesson.”
Jesse still held him against the car, lips drawn in as though weighing the dangers of letting this “criminal” go.
“Seriously, I know him. He’s good people.”
A couple seconds later, he finally released Garrett from the handcuffs and stepped back, hands hovering over his gun and billy club. Garrett stood up straight and turned around slowly, rubbing his wrists.
“You know who to call if he gives you any trouble.” Jesse opened his car door, pointed two fingers to his eyes and then to Garrett. "I'm watching you, Mann."
Garrett glared at him, then gave a stiff salute.
“Thanks, Jesse. Drive safe,” Morgan said.
The deputy drove off, leaving Garrett standing there shaking his head.
“You okay?” Morgan asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Looks like Jesse’s just as rough as he was in high school. I can
't count the number of times he stuffed me in a locker. But, I'm sorry to bother you.”
“You didn’t really… Well, you kind of did… Never mind. Come on up. I’ll get you a Gatorade or something.” She halfway expected him to say no, but he smiled and nodded.
“Sure. That would be great, thanks.”
Morgan went back inside, closing the balcony door behind her, and leaned against it for a moment, eyes closed. This night had not gone as planned at all. Nervous jitters ran down her arms until she had a full body shiver and took a few deep breaths. A knock on the front door startled her.
Morgan hurried over and opened it to find Garrett there with a bashful smile. He wore a sage green Air Force T-shirt and a pair of black jogging pants.
“Hey,” he said.
“Come in. Have a rest. Looks like you could use it.”
“Yeah, although I’ll have to jog back home. It’s five miles.”
Sweat darkened his shirt and beaded on his forehead. He stepped inside, and she shut the door behind him.
“Wow, a ten-mile run? Isn’t that a lot?” she asked, trying not to sound as breathless as she felt, and she hadn’t even run anywhere. She gestured to the loveseat, and he sat, perching on the edge of the cushion.
He didn’t seem out of breath at all. “Not really. We ran a lot in training.”
“I know, but aren’t you tired from the restaurant and all?” Morgan went to the kitchenette and opened the fridge, making a mental note to clean out the leftovers turned science experiments gone wrong. She grabbed a Gatorade and went back to the couch, handing the cold bottle to Garrett.
He took it, twisted off the lid in one swift motion that did wonderful things to his arm muscles, and took a drink. “Thanks. Standing and cooking all day is tiring, but it's hard to wind down without a good workout sometimes.”
Morgan sat against the arm rest on the other side of the couch, but it was so small, it didn’t provide a lot of personal space. His proximity broke her out in goosebumps. She tucked her legs beneath her, making sure the robe covered everything.
