Protecting Olivia Barnes-Fleetwood might be his calling.Hekissed her.
“Take me home, Master.I’m sure the contractors are alreadythere, but I didn’t even get one of Gigi’s pancakes.She does something tothem.I think it might be cinnamon,” she said, settling back and lookingperfectly comfortable.
He moved around to the driver’s seat knowing damn wellGarrett was going to use the time to make out with her.
It was good.It was right where he wanted to be.
* * * *
Two days later, Garrett settled down into the chairacross from Olivia in the large office with luxurious wood paneling andpictures of Jack Barnes’s family.He loved looking at the pictures of Oliviawhen she was a kid.There had been something infectious about her smile.
He was starting to see that smile again.
Olivia walked in.“Keane is off to the south field.I swearthe guys already love his new systems.Do you want some coffee?”
He gestured to the desk where her laptop was set up.“Ialready got some.Yours is on your desk.Some cream and one sugar.”
She moved to the smaller desk, the one she said her papaused from time to time.She planted herself right on Garrett’s lap.“Youalready know my coffee order.”
He wrapped an arm around her waist.“I know a lot of things.I know you love enchiladas but hate how messy hard-shelled tacos can be.Youlike the water in your shower hot enough to scald.”
She wrinkled her nose.“No, I don’t.I like it warm.”
“We have different definitions of warm.”He held her close.The past two days had been damn near perfect.Keane got up early and went outto work while Garrett took care of their sub.He liked their morning timetogether, but he also liked the fact that Olivia had taken to riding out tofind Keane to take him an afternoon snack.She would mount her mare with theease of a woman who was thrown on a horse as soon as she could walk.He kissedher temple, and she cuddled against him.“You ready for today?”
They managed to put off Scott for two days.He would ratherput the fucker off forever.
She groaned a little.“As ready as I’m going to be.He’sbeen texting me constantly, asking if he can come out here and work sincethere’s not a desk in the motel room.Apparently they’ve gone minimalist at theWillow Fork Sleep Easy Motel.Also, the wifi kind of sucks because Jerrydoesn’t like to pay for things he can’t see.I really do have to talk to him.”
“I know.”
“I managed to talk my dad into not storming the town afterthe fire, but if he thinks I’m going to lose a contract…”
That was not true.Not from anything he’d learned over thelast couple of days.“That is not why he would come running back.”
At first he wished they were alone.That first night Mirandaand Gabe had been sitting in Olivia’s house when they all came in from work.Gigi hadn’t been far behind, bringing big bags of food she brought from thekitchens of The Willow Fork Tranquility Spa and Resort.
And it had been a lovely night.They ate and had some wineand beer and talked about what it meant growing up with two dads.He learned alot about Olivia and her family, and he was sure of one thing—Jack Barnes lovedhis baby girl.
“Fine.He’ll freak out if he finds out it’s Scott.He’lllose his shit and cause a way bigger issue than we have right now.I don’t needmy dad running in to save me.”She gave him a brilliant smile.“I have you andKeane to do that for me.”
He was falling for this woman so quickly.
“Well, it’s been easy to put him off.I was surprised heagreed to move the meeting.”He thought Scott would put up a fit.He’d simplysaid yes.
It made him suspicious.
“I think he realizes that there’s zero way he’s getting backinto my bed,” she replied, leaning her head on his shoulder.
Garrett wasn’t sure.He didn’t think Scott was one to easilygive up.He’d regrouped and was likely trying to come up with another plan.
But they had more than Scott to deal with.“We need to talkabout Gladen Farms.”
She sighed, an exhausted sound.It had to be emotionalexhaustion since he knew she’d slept like a baby the last couple of nights.“You mean the one the nepo baby fucked up?”
He tightened his arms around her.“I’m sorry, baby.I was ina bad place because the most gorgeous woman in the universe used me for sex andsnuck out of my room without a good-bye kiss.”
Her head tilted up, a hollow look in her eyes.“You’re notthe first to call me that.”
