he’d built. And then there was Delia—beautiful, sexy, sweet Delia who’d slipped through his sophisticated defenses. Hell, she was the only woman who’d made him notice he had defenses.
“I see,” Elaine said quietly. He could sense her thinking and waited.
“Do you mind me asking what’s going on? Out of nowhere, you had me cancel everything for a month, which is a long time in your world. Now it sounds like it might be longer. This isn’t like you, Garrett.”
“I know. I’m not trying to hide anything from you, Elaine. I haven’t taken more than a few days off at a time since before I started law school. I just need a break. If I had a better explanation, I’d give it to you. I’d appreciate it if you kept this to yourself. As far as I’m concerned, have Olivia cover anything pressing and I’ll check in once a week. Will that work?”
Elaine chuckled softly. “Garrett, did you forget you’re the boss? Of course, it’s okay. Olivia will be fine. This is giving her a chance to prove herself right out of the gate. As far as I’m concerned, you deserve a break. How about I call you Monday after next in the morning?”
“That’s more than a week away.”
“Exactly. You don’t need to check in any sooner than that. You’re amazing at your job, but with Olivia’s help, we can juggle everything we need. Take that break.”
The line went dead in his ear before Garrett had a chance to reply. He slowly set the phone down on the table by the couch and sat in the quiet room. He watched the sun’s slow bow behind the mountains, streamers of soft lavender and pink in its wake. In the fading light of dusk, he was startled out of his reverie when the door swung open.
Marley flicked the lights on and grinned when she saw him. “Hey Garrett! I didn’t even know you were up here.”
He stood from the couch and strode over to relieve her of the grocery bags dangling from her hands. Marley followed him into the kitchen area. Their private quarters were comprised of a wide room including the living room and a kitchen and dining area to one side with windows running the length of the room. A small hallway in the back led to the master bedroom and bath, along with two other bedrooms and a bathroom.
Garrett quickly got to work unloading the groceries. Marley giggled as she watched him. “Gage always said you were efficient. That appears to apply to everything.”
He glanced up at her, meeting her warm green eyes. He shrugged. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to take over like that.”
Marley shrugged. “No worries. I’m not territorial about my kitchen. I was about to start dinner for you guys.” She tugged a wine bottle out from the wine rack against the wall and arched a brow. “Wine or beer?”
“Beer. Can I help with anything?”
Marley shook her head. “Sit and keep me company. Gage will be up here soon. He was finishing up in the office.”
Garrett took the beer Marley slid across the counter to him and sat down on a stool while she started dicing and sautéing vegetables.
“What’s for dinner?”
“Stir fry. Hope you like it.”
“I’ll eat anything.”
Marley’s lips quirked in a smile. “You and Gage both.” She lifted the cutting board to slide onions into a pan. “Can I be a little nosy?” she asked.
Garrett shrugged. “Sure. I showed up unannounced at your place with plans to stay for a month. I can’t promise I’ll answer all your questions. Hell, I might not even know the answers, but ask away.” While Marley was new to the family, he trusted her completely. Once he’d seen her with Gage, any doubts he’d had dissipated. She was so clearly in love with his brother it made his heart twinge. Besides, she’d brought a lightness to Gage that Garrett hadn’t seen since before Gage went into the military.
“What’s up with you and Delia?”
Marley’s question slammed into him. He didn’t know what he’d expected her to ask, but it wasn’t that. He thought he’d been
“I see,” Elaine said quietly. He could sense her thinking and waited.
“Do you mind me asking what’s going on? Out of nowhere, you had me cancel everything for a month, which is a long time in your world. Now it sounds like it might be longer. This isn’t like you, Garrett.”
“I know. I’m not trying to hide anything from you, Elaine. I haven’t taken more than a few days off at a time since before I started law school. I just need a break. If I had a better explanation, I’d give it to you. I’d appreciate it if you kept this to yourself. As far as I’m concerned, have Olivia cover anything pressing and I’ll check in once a week. Will that work?”
Elaine chuckled softly. “Garrett, did you forget you’re the boss? Of course, it’s okay. Olivia will be fine. This is giving her a chance to prove herself right out of the gate. As far as I’m concerned, you deserve a break. How about I call you Monday after next in the morning?”
“That’s more than a week away.”
“Exactly. You don’t need to check in any sooner than that. You’re amazing at your job, but with Olivia’s help, we can juggle everything we need. Take that break.”
The line went dead in his ear before Garrett had a chance to reply. He slowly set the phone down on the table by the couch and sat in the quiet room. He watched the sun’s slow bow behind the mountains, streamers of soft lavender and pink in its wake. In the fading light of dusk, he was startled out of his reverie when the door swung open.
Marley flicked the lights on and grinned when she saw him. “Hey Garrett! I didn’t even know you were up here.”
He stood from the couch and strode over to relieve her of the grocery bags dangling from her hands. Marley followed him into the kitchen area. Their private quarters were comprised of a wide room including the living room and a kitchen and dining area to one side with windows running the length of the room. A small hallway in the back led to the master bedroom and bath, along with two other bedrooms and a bathroom.
Garrett quickly got to work unloading the groceries. Marley giggled as she watched him. “Gage always said you were efficient. That appears to apply to everything.”
He glanced up at her, meeting her warm green eyes. He shrugged. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to take over like that.”
Marley shrugged. “No worries. I’m not territorial about my kitchen. I was about to start dinner for you guys.” She tugged a wine bottle out from the wine rack against the wall and arched a brow. “Wine or beer?”
“Beer. Can I help with anything?”
Marley shook her head. “Sit and keep me company. Gage will be up here soon. He was finishing up in the office.”
Garrett took the beer Marley slid across the counter to him and sat down on a stool while she started dicing and sautéing vegetables.
“What’s for dinner?”
“Stir fry. Hope you like it.”
“I’ll eat anything.”
Marley’s lips quirked in a smile. “You and Gage both.” She lifted the cutting board to slide onions into a pan. “Can I be a little nosy?” she asked.
Garrett shrugged. “Sure. I showed up unannounced at your place with plans to stay for a month. I can’t promise I’ll answer all your questions. Hell, I might not even know the answers, but ask away.” While Marley was new to the family, he trusted her completely. Once he’d seen her with Gage, any doubts he’d had dissipated. She was so clearly in love with his brother it made his heart twinge. Besides, she’d brought a lightness to Gage that Garrett hadn’t seen since before Gage went into the military.
“What’s up with you and Delia?”
Marley’s question slammed into him. He didn’t know what he’d expected her to ask, but it wasn’t that. He thought he’d been
Similar Books
