Chapter 53
Garrett was contemplative when he collected Meredith from the end of the bar, spun her around the dance floor for a few songs, and then escorted her out the door.
He hadn’t fully factored into his newly developed love equation the complication of him traveling for a living. Garrett hadn’t had roots since he’d left his parents’ house to join the rodeo circuit, where he’d met Chase. He’d been on his own for nearly a decade and he’d visited just about every state in this great country. Admittedly, he liked a change of scenery every few months.
Then again…
His gaze slid to the woman tucked against his side as they left the saloon and walked to her apartment. She was chattering on about Emma’s sudden appearance at the bar and how that was just a recipe for disaster because, apparently, Tristan didn’t date locally and Emma had a touch of the crazy in her—evidently, it ran in her family—and she was just too volatile for Tristan for them to be compatible. If that was, indeed, what Emma had in mind—coupling up with her new boss.
According to Meredith, Tristan preferred his life simple and quiet and easily contained within his carefully crafted construct. As in…he didn’t deal well with tables being turned on him and he for-sure wasn’t into causing a ruckus. Such as what had happened at the bar when Emma had dumped a glass of water in his lap.
As Meredith prattled on, Garrett grinned.
Okay, he could earnestly confess he was quiet pleased and content with the current scenery. Especially since it changed unexpectedly, depending on Meredith’s mood.
She’d dolled up for their evening out, even though it’d just been to hit the dance floor and drink a few beers. Garrett had worked late at the ranch, so he’d told her to go ahead and have dinner without him. He’d rolled into town just as the nightlife was getting lively at Tristan’s.
The bar with no name.
Garrett found that amusing.
But he digressed within his own mind.
He’d been considering how much he’d always enjoyed, how he’d always looked forward to, moving on when he was done with a job. Certainly, he’d stuck around a bit longer from time to time when necessary. Particularly when he was working with race horses. They required a bit more commitment.
In the end, however, he’d get antsy to hit the road and would be relieved to be cut loose.
There hadn’t ever been anything more in his life than horses to keep him in one place.
Until now.
And, curiously enough, Garrett wasn’t feeling an inkling of claustrophobia, or even the need to spread his wings.
Not at present He liked having his arm draped around Meredith’s shoulders and hearing her debate this and that regarding Tristan and Emma. When she exhausted that topic—not having conclusive information for more than mere speculation and conjecture at this point—she switched gears to Chase and Lacey’s wedding.
She said, “This is going to be one hell of a shindig, without doubt. Lacey’s importing flowers from Japan or some such thing. Decorations from Beverly Hills and Paris. She wants to hire Dustin Lynch or Ingrid Andress—or both!—to sing at the wedding. And she’s got another band already lined up for the reception. She won’t tell me who, says it’s a surprise for Chase. Jesus…”
“In that case, Toby Keith or Kenny Chesney would be my guess.”
“Holy Christ! That would be just too over the top! But…that’s Lacey for you. And she has the money and the clout to book all of the aforementioned. They’re having the ceremony and the party at the ranch. Lacey calls the north end her event lawn and it’s perfectly gorgeous and manicured—and overlooks the ridge with the roaming mustangs Chase loves.”
“That’ll make a sensational venue.”
“To the extreme,” Meredith concurred with a jovial snicker. “I wouldn’t bat an eye if she came floating in from a hot air balloon. Sipping expensive champagne in the basket and then stepping out, appearing as though she’d just been transported from some Milan runway. Mark my words, she will be nothing but spectacular in her wedding gown. Do you know I haven’t even seen it yet? She commissioned it from Vera Wang or some other amazing wedding gown designer. All top-secret like.”
“Sounds as though this’ll be the event of the season.”
With a laugh, Meredith said, “The event of the decade, is more like. Which is probably why they’re waiting until after the street festival to have it. Not to mention, they need more predictable weather for an outdoor wedding.”
“Good point. And it’s kind of them not to eclipse the big soiree down Main Street that’s coming up,” Garrett mused.
They reached the boutique and Meredith handed over her keys. He let them in and disengaged the alarm, since she’d given him the code the night before.
When they were upstairs, she unraveled from him and shed her lightweight coat. She was wearing the dress from her birthday “party” and she was stunning.
So much so, he told her, “You know how hard it was to hold a conversation with Chase and shoot pool when you were across the room, lookin’ so damn sexy?”
Her smile lit her tawny eyes. “Serves you right for even trying, when you could have been with me.”
Garrett chuckled and said, “Chase and I needed a little bonding time outside of work hours.” A moment later, he more seriously contended, “I will say, however, I wasn’t particularly pleased with the attention that dress manages to get you.”
She snuggled up to him again, her arms snaking around his waist. In a playful voice, she said, “You have nothing to worry about there. There’s not another cowboy in this town—or anywhere else—whom I’d rather be dancin’ with. And besides…It’s Lacey who draws all the attention. She is just too striking for words.”
He whisked his hat off, dipped his head and murmured against Meredith’s soft, glossy lips, “Darlin’, you have no idea how striking you are. And I suppose that’s okay when you’re lookin’ the way you do tonight. That way you’re not tempted to flirt with anyone other than me.”
“So territorial,” she teased. “I love it.”
“Mm. I love you.” His mouth sealed to hers.
Meredith’s lips immediately parted and his tongue swept over hers, twisting and tangling provocatively.
Her body melded to his as his hands combed through her fat curls and pushed them away from her face. Meredith’s palms splayed over his back, his muscles flexing beneath her touch, making her even hotter for him. Making her itch to strip off his button-down shirt so her fingers could brush over his smooth skin and tight sinew.
But she was lost in his kiss at the moment, and that was all she could think of, all she could concentrate on.
Garrett was a man capable of delivering the most knee-knocking, searing liplocks, and Meredith felt the effects straight to her core. She was grateful to have a firm hold on him, because the warmth and weakness seeping through her veins and down her legs were enough to have her wilting to the floor otherwise.
She wondered if the effect would ever dim…Ever, as in three months from now or three years. Then he went and deepened the kiss, turning it darker and more heated, stealing her breath and all coherent thought.
Meredith honestly had no idea how long that scorching kiss went on and on. And on.
When Garrett finally dragged his mouth away and it trailed along her neck, she was lightheaded and gasping for air.
Her fingers coiled into the material of his shirt for extra support. The exhilaration and blaze rippling through her sparked an intense desire that suddenly demanded to be sated.
She told Garrett in a breathy voice, “We should be in my bed by now, don’t you think?”
He didn’t even bother to reply. He instantly scooped her up into his arms and carried her into the other room.
Meredith’s lips were pressed to his throat and they curved upward as she smiled again.
She said. “I do admire your sense of urgency in matters such as this.”
“If I had my druthers, darlin’, there’d not be a necessity for me to bring you in here, because we’d never actually leave your bed to begin with.”
“As if I’d complain about that, cowboy.”
“It’s too damn bad we have jobs, isn’t it?”
She laughed softly. Then optimistically ventured, “Speaking of jobs…I hear Chase is interested in keeping you on a bit longer at the ranch. True fact?”
“That it is.”
He set her on the thick comforter.
Gazing up at Garrett, she dared to ask, “And um…What are your thoughts on an extended contract, by the way?”