So Right With You (6 page)

“Thanks. I’m sorry about waking you. It just hit me all at once.”

“It’s going to take a while. Drink it. It will make you feel better. My mother’s cure for a sleepless night. Although she never added rum, I thought you could use something a little stronger.” He took the pot over to the sink, rinsed it, and stuck it in the dishwasher.

Chloe took a sip and winced at the slightly bitter taste of the alcohol. She set the cup back down and asked, “Back in the office, you said you knew how I felt. What did you mean?”

At first, Garrett made no attempt to answer. He thought about brushing it off, but somehow he didn’t want to. “I was engaged almost five years ago. I thought she was my life. She thought differently. Came home early one day and found her in bed with my best friend and business partner. Decided to get out. Sold my share of the company in Austin. Came back home to Houston and started over. Threw everything I had into the new business. So yeah, I guess you could say I know how you feel.”

“Wow. Okay. If it’s any consolation, I think she made the wrong choice.”

He smiled. “Back at you, Red. I don’t know how Trevor ever let you go. You about done there?” Taking the cup from her, he rinsed it and set it in the sink. “Time to put you back to bed. Patches, come.” The dog rose to follow. Looking back at his bone one last time, he left.

Placing his hand at the small of her back, Garrett led her back upstairs to her room with Patches behind them.

“I’m still not sure I am going to be able to sleep.”

“Tell you what. I’m going to stay with you until you do go to sleep. Just so you don’t get any funny ideas, I’ll even stay on top of the covers.” He stretched out on the bed and propped a pillow behind his head. Pulling back the blankets, he patted her side. “Come on. Get in.” Chloe wavered. Then she went over, slipped off her tennis shoes, and climbed in. When she was settled, Garrett adjusted the blankets so they covered her.

“Down, Patches.” The dog settled obediently on the rug.

In a short while, all three had fallen asleep.

*~*

Garrett woke with a hard-on and Chloe cuddled up next to him, sound asleep with her head on his chest. Somehow, she had lost her pillow and had gravitated toward him in her sleep. Guilt and desire warred within him. It wasn’t right. She was an employee and a friend. He shouldn’t be wanting her. He rested his arm across her back. In a few minutes, he would go back to his own room. But for now, he allowed himself the chance to hold her.

From the first, he had liked her. She’d entered his office with her glasses and tightly woven bun. She’d looked like a mousy librarian. Upon closer examination, he’d realized how young she actually was. She must have just graduated from college. He remembered thinking it would never work. She’d never last. He needed someone more experienced.

She’d given him her résumé and glanced around the office. He’d quickly scanned the page. Sure enough, she had received her degree in business a year ago. He’d figured she must be about twenty-three, maybe twenty-four. Her letters of recommendation were good, but he’d still had his doubts.

Could she really handle the responsibilities of the job? He hadn’t thought so. He’d been about to let her know he had decided not to hire her when she had surprised him.

“I can see you’ve already made up your mind. I’ll ask you to give me a two-week trial. After that time, we can both reexamine whether this situation is working for either of us. Judging from the amount of paperwork you have piled on your desk, I think you could use my services. I have excellent skills in computer technology, multitasking, and interpersonal communication. By the way, I like the picture.” She indicated a drawing he had done on the back of one of his business papers. “You captured the view outside your window down to the last detail of the inept window washer.” She smiled. “It’s very funny.”

He had liked her forthrightness. He’d changed his mind on the spot. After all, he could always let her go after two weeks. He’d never regretted his decision.

Besides bringing order to his life, she’d brought cheer with her quirky sense of humor. When most people cowered at his temper, she waited him out. Having experienced the biting end of her own temper, he’d started calling her Red. Over the last three years, they had become close.

He hated to see her hurt. He couldn’t wait to see Trevor. He had plans for that sorry son of a bitch.

He wasn’t sure how it would work having her stay with him. He figured they’d come to blows with their strong personalities. He couldn’t believe he had come close to kissing her for real. Thank goodness he had come to his senses.

He’d been in love once. He now chose women who weren’t looking for anything permanent. He didn’t want Chloe to get hurt. She’d been hurt enough. Chloe wasn’t the type of woman a man could have a fling with. She was the type they married.

As desirable as he found her, there would be no more kisses exchanged. He couldn’t risk it. It wasn’t going to be a cakewalk having her stay here. He had to balance their professional relationship with his growing feelings for her.

After a while, Garrett found her pillow and placed it back under her head. Rising, he whispered to the dog, “Time to go.” It had been tempting enough for tonight. Patches looked at him. It seemed he preferred to stay with Chloe. “All right, boy. See you in the morning.”

*~*

The next morning, Chloe woke to something warm, wet, and sticky licking her foot. She moved her foot away. But it happened again. “Trevor, stop.” Trevor, to her knowledge, had never had a foot fetish. Then she remembered where she was and her eyes popped open.

Patches stood by the foot of the bed, looking expectantly from her then back to the door.

Letting out a relieved breath, she said, “Morning. I suppose you need to go out.”

Patches wagged his tail in answer.

“Okay, give me a second.” Chloe sat up and swung her feet over the side of the bed. When her feet touched the floor, it was freezing cold. She quickly retracted them. “Jeez.” Reaching under the bed, she found her pink furry slippers and slid them on. She got to her feet and headed for the door where Patches waited, eager to go out.

As soon as she opened the door, the dog sprinted past her. She darted out to catch him, ran smack into Garrett, and tripped. He turned and caught her before she fell. Her hand rested on his bare chest. Her breath caught.

He wore a pair of jogging shorts, running shoes, and no T-shirt. Actually, the shirt was looped around his neck, along with a towel. Heat radiated off his body. It was obvious he had been out for a morning run.

If she had thought the man was hot fully dressed, he was now sizzling. She felt a few of her wires short-circuit at the sight. She stepped back as if scorched.

Taking in her nightie and bed head, he flashed her an electric smile that made her knees go weak. “I gather Patches woke you and needed to go out. I’ll take him. Why don’t you shower and meet me downstairs for breakfast?”

Chloe stared at him. He was built like a gladiator: tall and broad-shouldered. Chloe needed to snap herself out of this. This wasn’t going to work if her mind went into a meltdown every time he showed some skin. There were bound to be some of these awkward moments.

“Okay. I take it, since you went for a run this morning, your foot feels better.”

“Yes, thanks to the excellent TLC you provided, a little sore, but not bad. Thanks.”

“All part of the service,” she answered.

Garrett had started to head downstairs when he called over his shoulder. “Do you run?”

“Not for some time.” What she really meant was “not unless I’m forced to.”

“Maybe you might like to take it up again and join me sometime. There’s a path I like to take that gives you a great view of the whole valley.”

“Sounds nice.”

“Next time I go, I’ll be sure to wake you.” He continued downstairs.

Had she just agreed to go jogging with her boss? She hated exercise, particularly running, and she had agreed to go jogging. She slapped herself in the head with an open palm. She was such an idiot.

After making the bed, Chloe showered and changed into the gray pencil skirt and fuchsia chiffon blouse. She blow-dried her hair. This time, she elected to put it up into her customary bun. She thought it was important to present a more professional image.

Dental hygiene was important to her, so she took extra care to brush her teeth and floss, even though she would have to do it again after breakfast. She applied light foundation, eye shadow, blush, and lip gloss, but skipped mascara. With yesterday’s incident fresh in her mind, she was leery of trying it again.

Chloe was ready to go, except she still couldn’t remember where her glasses were. She had looked for them last night when she had come up for her tennis shoes but couldn’t find them. She searched the room one more time without luck. If she didn’t hurry, she was going to be late. With one last glance around, she left the room to go downstairs.

Garrett was turning over an omelet. He had showered and changed into a navy-blue suit. “Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes. The coffee is over there.” He pointed to a coffeemaker on the counter. “Although you might want to try the juice in the fridge.”

She headed to the coffee machine. “Yes!” Chloe was dying for a caffeine fix. She poured herself a steaming cup of the steaming brew. “I usually eat light, yogurt or fruit, maybe some toast for breakfast.”

He shot her an offended look. “That’s not breakfast. That’s more of a snack.”

She was about to drink the coffee when she thought about her glasses. Maybe Garrett knew where they were. She needed them to drive.

“Have you seen my glasses? I can’t seem to figure out where I placed them,” she said, squinting. She really couldn’t see well without them.

“Oh, sure. I hate to break it to you, Red, but you were a definite dud last night as a date. Within minutes of the start of the movie, you were sound asleep and snoring.”

“I don’t snore,” she denied.

“A freight train is quieter than you. Anyway, you fell asleep. I left your glasses there when I carried you up the stairs.”

“You did what?”

“I carried you up the stairs, Prince Charming like and all. No easy feat either, let me tell you.”

“Why didn’t you try to wake me?”

“Sweetheart, believe me, I tried. Prince Charming had an easier time waking Sleeping Beauty.”

Chloe was still contemplating Garrett’s revelation as she raised her cup of coffee, took a sip, and nearly spit it back out again. It tasted like sludge. It was thick.

Garrett looked over at her apologetically. “Sorry, I warned you.”

“You call that a warning?”

“I haven’t gotten the hang of the new coffeemaker yet.”

Chloe looked at the machine. It looked like some kind of high-tech spaceship.

He saw her glancing at it. “It’s supposed to be the top of the line.”

“I’m sure.” Sometimes, simpler was best.

“You might want to take over that responsibility. I tend to make it a little strong,” he said, looking uncomfortable.

She would have to if she planned on keeping any of her internal organs. “How have you managed to drink that so long?”

“Actually, I usually have breakfast at the Café House on my way in, but I thought it would be a nice gesture to fix you breakfast your first morning here. I promise the eggs will be better. You want some toast?”

“Sure. Just one slice though.”

He popped three slices into the toaster and turned to watch her. She was eyeballing her coffee with distaste. Garrett decided to let her off the hook.

“Try the juice. I promise not to be offended.”

Chloe looked up from her contemplation of the thick, gooey substance in her cup. She walked over to the sink and poured it down the drain. There were some things she wasn’t willing to do and drinking that coffee was one of them.

Thankfully, he was right. The eggs were good.

Toward the end of breakfast, Garrett asked, “Do you know how to use a GPS?”

“No, but I’m sure I could figure it out. Why?”

“I removed mine from the SUV. I thought you could use it to help you get back and forth until you learn the route. I wouldn’t want you getting lost and not being able to find your way home.”

“Thanks. That would be great.” It was strange to think of Garrett’s home as hers now.

“You’ll also need a remote for the main gate. Remind me to give you one before we leave. Be sure to put it in your purse. That way you’ll always have it. I think this morning you should ride with me, so you can see the route during the day. Let me show you how to use it.”

Garrett’s idea of e-mailing everyone about the cancellation of her wedding had been good in theory. However, in actuality, it had a definite disadvantage. Chloe’s e-mail and phone were now jam-packed with messages. It would take her over a week to weed through them all.

It was time to call her family. She was dreading it. It wasn’t that her family wasn’t wonderful, at least in their intent. It was that the reality was something else. She had never doubted their love for her, but sometimes it could be a bit overpowering.

For fourteen years, “family” had meant her mother, Trisha Goodwin, and her. Her father had left long before she was born. Actually, he didn’t even know of her existence. He was a military man who had been stationed in Texas for the summer. When his tour of duty was over, he had been reassigned. He had left without ever knowing he had fathered a child.

Her mother, upset at having been left without a backward glance, decided to keep the knowledge to herself. When she later regretted her decision, she had discovered he was married and already had a family. Ashamed that she had been with a married man, her mother had not dated and had given her love to Chloe.

Wanting a better life for Chloe, her mother had gone back to school and received a degree in nursing. During the early years, Chloe had spent most of her time with a series of babysitters in the various rundown apartments her mother had rented while attending school and working full-time. With her first full-time nursing job, her mother had finally been able to save and had purchased a small home. It was next door to David Lambert, a high-school coach and widower with a teenage daughter of his own. He saw her mother and fell instantly in love. Her mother was a harder sell.

Having been deceived by love once, she was not so willing to fall under the charm of her ruggedly handsome neighbor. He had worked for a full two years doing small things around the house for her, earning her trust. When Chloe was fourteen, her mother had married him. He had adopted Chloe so they could all share the same last name. Eleven months later, the couple had added two more additions to the family with the birth of twin boys.

“Family” now consisted of her mother, stepfather, stepsister Dana, and twin half-brothers, Kevin and Kyle. Having spent the first fourteen years with only her mother, it had been a big adjustment to become part of a large family. That had been twelve years ago.

Gripping her cell phone, she pushed the listing for her parents’ number. Part of her hoped they were out. The other part wanted her mom and the only man she had ever known as her father. The phone was picked up after two rings.

“Hello,” Trisha Lambert said.

“Hi, Mom,” Chloe answered.

“Honey, is that you? We’ve been so worried. Wait, your dad’s going to get on the other line.”

There was a click, then Dave said, “Hey, Sweet Pea.” It was the name he had called her forever. Somehow, she found it comforting.

“What happened?” her mother asked.

Was there really any good way to tell them? “I caught him cheating with Ashley,” Chloe blurted.

“Ashley! Oh baby, I’m so sorry,” her mom cried.

“You want to come home?” This was from her stepfather.

“No, I’ll be okay.”

“I can be on the next flight out. Dave, get on the computer and find me the next flight to Texas.”

“You know you can’t leave. Grandma needs you and so do the twins,” Chloe said. Seven years ago, Chloe’s family had moved back to St. Paul, Minnesota, to care for Dave’s mother, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Chloe had been in her second year of college and had chosen to stay in Texas.

“But you’re my daughter. You need me, too. I hadn’t told you, but I had bought a ticket to fly out by myself for the wedding. My neighbor was going to help me with the twins and Grandma. It was supposed to be a surprise. I can change the date.”

“Oh, Mom.” Tears sprang to Chloe’s eyes. She knew how tight things were for them, and yet her mom had saved enough to fly out for her wedding. “You should really cash in the ticket. You need the money more. I’m going to be okay.”

“Do you need anything?” Dave asked. “I would like to get a hold of Trevor. I didn’t want to say anything, but I never liked that boy. He wasn’t good enough for you.”

“You’re better off without him,” Mom added.

Chloe smiled. It was nice to know her parents were behind her.

“You need any money?” he asked.

“No. I wanted to let you know I’m okay and tell you where I’m staying,” Chloe said.

“Don’t tell me you moved in with Harper?” Mom interrupted.

“Harper. Is her dad still in jail?” her stepfather asked. Harper’s father was serving a jail term for fraud.

“No and yes. I am not staying at Harper’s, and yes her dad is still in jail.” Chloe was beginning to feel like the ball in a game of Ping-Pong between her parents.

“I’m not sure you should stay at Reanne’s. You’ll never get any sleep on that street she lives on. It’s way too busy. I don’t know how she can stand it.”

“I’m not staying with Ree, either.”

“Oh, Leighton came back from her trip early. She’s such a nice girl. I imagine her mother must be so proud of her, now that she’s about to make partner and so young, too.”

Oh, kill me now.
There had to be an easier way to do this.

“I am not staying with Leighton, either.” How had her parents managed to get the conversation so off track?

“Sweet Pea, where are you staying?” This was from her stepfather.

“If you’d give me a second, I’d tell you. I am staying just outside Houston at a ranch.”

“Did you say ranch?” her mother asked.

“Yes, Mom, the Rainbow Star Ranch.” She hoped her parents weren’t aware of the charity work done through the ranch, or there would be more explaining to do.

“That’s a nice name,” her mother said.

“Mmm hmm.” So far so good.

“Who are you staying with?” her stepfather asked, worried.

She decided to hedge. They had never really taken to the idea of her staying with Trevor. She didn’t think they would like her jumping from the frying pan into the fire, especially with Garrett’s reputation as an international playboy. If they knew she had moved in with him, they would probably be on the next flight out. She could imagine them asking if she’d lost her mind and demanding she return with them to Minnesota. As much as she questioned her decision to move in with her boss, she didn’t need the added pressure of her parents worrying about her. “Uh, a friend from work.”

“Do they have a name?” her stepfather asked.

“Of course.” The
US
magazine in front of her had a picture of Sandra Bullock on the cover. “Sandra.”

“I don’t recall you mentioning a Sandra,” her mother said, puzzled.

“Ah, she’s new, just transferred in from, ah, California.”

“Is there a telephone number we can reach you at?” Trisha asked.

“For now, it would be best if you just used my cell phone number.” She could imagine what their reaction would be if Garrett picked up. “I am going to have to go. I’ll call you in a few days. Love you.”

“We love you, too,” they said in unison.

“You let us know if you need anything,” her stepfather said.

“Thanks, but I’ll be okay. Bye, Mom. Bye Dad.”

“Bye, sweetie,” her mother said.

“You take care now. If you need anything, your mother and I are only a phone call away. Bye, Sweet Pea,” her stepfather said.

Chloe waited until she heard the click before replacing the receiver. That had been harder than she had thought it would be. She didn’t like the idea of lying to her parents. She wished she could go home for the holidays. It would be nice to be pampered by them while she sorted things out. But she needed to stand on her own two feet. She always had. It was hard for her to lean on others, even her own family.

*~*

A few hours later, the sound of raised voices in the reception area alerted Chloe to a disturbance in the main office. She stopped typing a letter for Garrett and listened.

“Is Miss Lambert in?” a sweet-sounding Southern female voice inquired.

“May I ask who you are?” Donna May asked.

“Can’t you just answer a simple question? Oh, forget it. We’ll just see for ourselves,” a sarcastic female voice grumbled.

“You can’t do that. I must ring you through,” Donna May countered.

“Well, then by all means, ring away,” the sarcastic voice retorted.

“I can’t do that until I know who you are,” Donna May snapped.

“Oh, this is stupid,” muttered the sassy voice.

“Now, don’t be rude. The poor woman is only doing her job,” the soothing, sweet Southern voice replied.

“I’ve had three hours of sleep, and I am not in the mood to play nice. All we want to know is, is Miss Lambert here? Can’t the woman simply answer the damn question?”

“I apologize for my friend. As you can see, she doesn’t do well on little sleep.”

“Ree, bite me.”

“Ms. Clark, is Miss Lambert here?” Ever the diplomat, Ree must have read the name plaque on Donna May’s desk.

“Yes, she is,” Donna May answered.

“Great!” Ree responded.

“Finally, we’re getting somewhere,” the sarcastic voice said.

“We would appreciate it if you could ring Miss Lambert and let her know Miss Deveraux and Miss Sheridan are here to see her,” the sweet, Southern voice requested.

Chloe recognized the voices of two of her dearest friends. She knew she should have called to reassure them after she’d hung up with her parents. Leave it to them to seek her out in the one place they knew she would probably be. She got up to intervene.

Opening the connecting door, she took in a harassed-looking Donna May as she dealt with the polar opposites that comprised her two best friends.

Ree was the definition of Southern charm as she stood patiently in front of the desk, waiting for Donna May to respond to her request. She resembled a young socialite in her knockoff designer wear, pushing back her perfectly highlighted blond hair.

In contrast, Harper was perched on the corner of the reception desk in a Rolling Stones vintage tee, black leather leggings, knee-high black boots, and green-highlighted dark hair. She presented a pose of total irreverence as she picked at the black nail polish on her fingernails while popping bubbles with her gum.

The girls had bonded during a time of change at Pine Cove Summer Camp when they were teens. Leighton McCall had rounded out their group. She had been the oldest at fifteen. Each of the girls had been sent to camp while their families dealt with a major, life-altering event. By chance, they had all been assigned to the same cabin. The girls from diverse backgrounds had developed an unlikely alliance that had sustained them through the years.

For Chloe, it was the summer Dave Lambert married her mother. She had been sent to camp so her mother and new stepfather could go on their honeymoon. Although she hadn’t known it, this turned out to be a good thing. But at the time, Chloe had only seen it as her mother choosing her new husband over her.

For Ree, it was the summer her father had died. Her father in actuality had committed suicide after some business deals had gone wrong. The camp had already been paid for. Her mother had thought it would be easier if Ree went away to camp for a few weeks while she dealt with the bankruptcy and other repercussions from his death.

For Harper, it was the summer she had learned the father she loved and idolized was a criminal. James Sheridan had been sent away for the next eighteen months for forging checks. Feeling ashamed, her mother had thought it best if Harper went away to camp rather than face the ridicule of their neighbors. Her mother had proceeded to divorce her father.

Eventually, he would expand his business to the forgery of pictures. James had a gift for reproducing great works of art and substituting them for the real deal, for a price. Unfortunately, he had never thought to use his talent to produce his own works of art. He was currently serving a ten-year sentence. Harper had inherited his gift for art. However, she chose to stay on the right side of the law, even if she did dress like a rebel.

For Leighton, it was the summer she had learned love didn’t necessarily last forever. Her mother had discovered her father’s indiscretion with his much-younger secretary. They were supposed to use the time she was away to reconcile their marriage. Instead, when Leighton had returned from camp, she had found herself in a cold war. Her mother devoted her time to charity work as her father strove for success in the political world. There wasn’t much time or affection left for the daughter they had created together.

As for Ashley, Chloe had met her in college their freshmen year when they both took the same Psych I class. Ashley had sat next to her and asked if she could borrow a pen. At the end of class, Ashley had forgotten to return her pen. During the duration of the class, they had become study partners and developed a friendship. Over the years, Ashley had borrowed a few other things and forgotten to return them. Perhaps Trevor was just something else Ashley had borrowed. Chloe took a deep breath. She needed to stop dwelling on it.

“Donna May, I’ll take it from here,” Chloe said.

Donna May glanced up, looking relieved to be given a reprieve. “Thank you, Miss Lambert.”

“Oh, thank God. I was beginning to think getting to see you was harder than breaking into Fort Knox.” Harper hopped off the corner of the desk and moved toward her.

Always the polite one, Ree turned to Donna May and said, “Thank you for your assistance, Ms. Clark. I hope we didn’t cause you too much difficulty.”

Donna May basked in the warmth of Ree’s smile. She couldn’t help herself. Nobody could. It was infectious. She smiled back. “Not at all.”

“I couldn’t help noticing you had recently dyed your hair a honey-gold color.” Chloe could tell Ree was doing it again. Donna May’s hair looked awful. Her olive complexion was too dark to pull off such a pale hue. “It’s such a lovely color, but I couldn’t help thinking a warmer auburn shade would bring out your beautiful golden-brown eyes.”

“You really think so?”

“Oh, absolutely. Here, let me give you my card, and you can decide if you want to give it a try. I’ll even give you a ten-percent discount your first time since you work with Chloe.” Ree withdrew a business card from her purse and handed it to her.