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“I meant at ease. Relaxed.”
That couldn’t be further from the truth because there’s something about Garrett Whelan that makes me feel anything but at ease. I’m charged with an energy I’ve never experienced. And that energy, if I could categorize it, would be of the sexual nature. He makes me feel alive, and womanly.
“Then, let’s go.” I pick up my purse from the kitchen counter, making sure I’ve got my keys.
On the ride to his place, we’re quiet until Garrett asks me more about my grandparents. I tell him how they’d raised me, how much I adored them, and then I spoke a little about the Locket clan. “My grandpa was proud of his heritage. And part of that was the locket. It was handed down to him from generation to generation. The fact that my mother took it and sold it broke his heart.” I peer out my window as the buildings slide by. “And not only because his daughter stole it. I think he was heartbroken because she, Lily, didn’t recognize the significance of the locket.”
“I can see that.” Garrett flicks on his blinker. I look in the direction we’re turning to a brick bungalow.
“Is this your home?”
“Yep.” He smiles with pride. “I grew up in this house. I always loved it. When my parents retired and moved south, I bought it from them.”
“So.” I feel heat flush through me. “You get what I mean, about the locket, don’t you?”
“I do.” We pull into a long driveway. He stops the car and shuts it down. “I’ve got to warn you.”
Oh, no. “What?”
“I’ve got a dog. He gets very excited when we have visitors. Prepare yourself.”
“You have a dog?” I beam. “What kind? What’s its name?”
“She’s a Labrador-retriever mix. I’m pretty sure she’s half husky, but I got her at the animal shelter about three years ago.”
I can’t believe any of this.
“And her name is Blue.”
“Blue?”
“You’ll see why.” Garrett hops out of the truck and jogs over to my side, opening my door for me. When I slide out of my seat, there’s a moment when neither one of us moves. Looking up into his eyes, I have the urge to push up onto my tiptoes and kiss him, but I resist that urge. That’s not my style.
I guess Garrett had other ideas, because he tugs on my hand and leads me up three brick steps to a pretty front porch large enough for two wicker chairs and a table. “This would be a great spot to drink your morning coffee.” I look up at him. “Do you do that?”
“My parents used to sit out here almost every morning when the weather was nice. They’d have coffee and talk to their neighbors.”
“You don’t?”
“No. There aren’t any of those neighbors left. Everyone here is new. Lots of young families, kids.”
“Maybe you could start it up again. Get to know some of them.”
He smiles. “Maybe.” Unlocking his door, he says, “Ready?”
“Ready.”
He wasn’t lying. The second the door opened, a large black dog with the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen launches herself at him. When she sees me, I brace for impact because she jumps up, placing her paws on my shoulders, she’s that tall, and starts licking my face. All I can do is laugh. “Blue,” I say between giggles. “Stop.”
“Down, Blue,” Garrett says in a commanding voice, except the dog doesn’t listen. So, I try.
“Blue.” I do my best to sound sure of myself. She stops licking for a second and stares at me. “Get down, honey. Be a good girl and get down.”
And do you want to know something? She listens. Not only that, but she sits obediently at my feet, her tail wagging a mile a minute.
“I’ll be damned.”
“What?” I bend to pet her head.
