Chapter 49

Garrett snickered at her.

“Didn’t think so.” She smiled through her tears. “Boy. You sure know how to knock a girl off her feet.”

“You’re no girl, Meredith Jane. Why do I have to keep telling people that? Including you?”

“When you’re used to being treated like everyone’s kid sister…” She gave a slight shake of her head, then merely whispered, “Oh, my God.”

She went right back to putting her face in the crook of his neck.

He said, “You can’t really be this surprised.”

“I most certainly can be.” Her voice was muffled, but he heard every word.

“Meredith Jane, you have got to give yourself more credit, darlin’. I insist.”

She raised her head again, swiped at her tears and…smirked at him.

“Do you really feel the need to chastise me at a time like this?”

He grinned. “There’s the spunk I’m so crazy about.”

“You do realize that you’ve opened a can of worms here, yes? I mean, you said something that might incite me to say something in return…”

“And you think I fear you sayin’ that something in return?”

She worried on her lip for a moment.

He mock-scowled at her. “Don’t go clamming up on me now, honey. I’d prefer to listen to your thoughts on all of this.”

“You’re such a smartass.”

“Because I’m willing to goad you into accepting that I’d rather hear any comment that you have, versus no comment at all?”

“Why does that feel like you’re twistin’ all of this around?”

“Getting your spark back, I see.” He spun her outward and fluidly brought her back to him.

The rhythm from the band picked up and she didn’t miss a beat.

He twirled her a couple more times, knowing that was her “jam,” as she would say.

Then he held her tightly to him again and murmured in her ear, “I’m more than happy to stay out here till Tristan shuts the lights off on us. But if you, by chance, are interested in taking this conversation someplace quiet, say the privacy of your bedroom, I’d be more than happy to oblige.”

“I’d be more than happy to let you lead the way.”

He kissed the tip of her nose and said, “I do find you amusing.”

“And you do understand I’m going to say or do something that very sadly will set us back exponentially and—”

“Meredith Jane.” He stopped dancing. As did she.

He held her shoulders in his hands and gazed down at her.

“Yes, Garrett?” she humored him.

“Honey, we’re for-sure taking this conversation elsewhere. And by conversation, I mean something entirely different.” He winked at her.

She laughed and shook her head.

“Well, if you’re continually kissing me, cowboy, that significantly reduces my chances of uttering a lame diatribe that makes you rethink your previous stance on how you feel about me.”

“How’d I know that fallin’ in love with you was going to be anything but typical?”

“You do realize you can say that over and over again—the fallin’ in love part—and I’ll never tire of it, right?”

“Good to know.” He wrapped an arm around her waist and directed her to the table where they collected her flowers and bid their friends goodnight.

None of whom were surprised they were cutting out early.

Garrett knew why…it only dawned on Meredith as they were heading toward the door.

She pulled up short and gasped. She stared at him.

He waited patiently for her to collect her thoughts.

Then she said, “Oh, my God. Garrett Slater! You told them!”

***

Meredith’s gaze whipped in the direction of the table they’d sat at with her friends. She shook her head, astonished, then returned her attention to Garrett.

“That’s why Chase and Tristan haven’t ripped you apart this evening!”

“Bingo.” He pulled her to him and kissed her. A quick, though heated kiss. Still keeping her close to him, he said, “Let’s face facts. The only way I was going to keep my face intact was if I came clean with Chase and Tristan. Since it was so easy to do—”

“Easy?!” She gaped.

He said, “Yes, Meredith Jane. While I will admit that confessing one’s feelings—especially feelings one has never felt before—is a bit terrifying…When it’s the truth, it’s not exactly as difficult as one might think. You should give it a try, darlin’.”

“And I just might,” she countered, sassily. “If you’d give me the chance.”

He pressed his lips together. Crooked his brow. Waited patiently.

Meredith’s cheeks burned.

No way in hell could she do this right now!

So she said, “Um, what happened to discussing this in the privacy of my bedroom?”

“Right. Much better idea. Best idea ever, in fact.”

And he led her out the door. Across the street. Down the sidewalk.

Meredith’s stomach tumbled over how briskly he strode along next to her, causing her to make double-time strides of her own.

She literally bounced along beside him, not the least bit concerned she might stumble. As usual, he had a firm hold on her.

They reached the beauty boutique and she unlocked the door, letting them in. She disengaged the alarm, locked up behind them and set the alarm again.

They passed through the shop and went around to the back, taking the stairs up to her apartment, repeating the security process.

Meredith was actually relieved to have all these details to focus on.

Her heart was hammering in her chest and her pulse was racing.

The entire time she’d been at Tristan’s—in public—she’d had to fight her natural instincts, all of which were ridiculously out of whack because of those three little words Garrett had said on the dance floor.

She’d had the distinct compulsion to repeat the sentiment on the spot. Certainly.

The words had rushed to the tip of her tongue.

But she’d stopped herself.

When it came to barreling into things, Meredith had discovered she faltered, at best, when she did.

She had much better luck when she processed and analyzed and came to logical conclusions.

While she already knew her conclusion regarding this particular matter, she feared she didn’t have the logical aspect fully ironed out just yet.

Really…On what planet would a man like Garrett fall for a gal like her?

That was her simple query.

He was just so…everything. So hot and hunky and seductive. He was amazing with horses and innately knew how to handle her. He totally understood all that drove her, all that haunted her, all that inspired her.

It was crazy. Completely insane.

As so damn sweet.

Meredith tried extra hard to breathe normally as they entered her living room. Tried to act normally, as well.

She busied herself getting a vase and filling it with water. Sticking her flowers in them.

But now that her hands were empty, she had the urge to wring them, nervously.

She resisted with all her might.

Fidgeted with the hem of her sweater. Caught herself and merely folded her arms over her chest.

She asked Garrett, “You want some wine? Water? Tequila?”

They really hadn’t gotten around to that bottle he’d ordered. She supposed it was a good thing Tristan was buying tonight. Otherwise, that would have been a waste of money.

Not that Garrett seemed to put much thought into that.

She suspected he did quite well for himself in his line of work.

Jesus, with the idle mental chitchat!

She bristled at the voice inside her head as it berated her.

Then again…That voice was dead-on accurate.

Meredith was stalling.

They’d arrived at her apartment and…now what?

Garrett said, “I wouldn’t mind a shot.”

Oh, thank God!

“Comin’ right up!” She retrieved the bottle from a cabinet in the kitchen and then joined him on the sofa, where he’d made himself comfy.

He took his hat off and raked a hand through his thick hair as she poured two shots and gave him a glass.

Garrett said in toast, “Don’t know if I’ve lied to angels, don’t know if I’ve lived in sin—”

“Ha!” she interjected. “I know this one.”

They finished the toast in unison: “But when the devil comes a knockin’, I just gotta let him in.”

They clinked rims.

Meredith laughed. “That was always one of my Daddy’s favorites.”

She sipped. Then she simmered a little.

Blew out a long breath.

Garrett ventured, “I invoked a bad memory.”

Her gaze snapped up to meet his. “What? No…Of course not. I just…” Her voice trailed off.

“You’ve been trying to make a better life for yourself, Meredith Jane, and the two people who brought you into this world aren’t celebratin’ the effort with you. Am I right?”

Too right.

Meredith sighed.

But she wasn’t going to let her sidebar scenario with her parents bring her down.

Not tonight.

She inched a little closer to Garrett and suggestively said, “Weren’t we discussin’ something else, cowboy?”