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Harry grumbled a bit longer about the hospital and Joss “wasting money.” Garret hated that Harry couldn’t see how great his daughter was. But the only way he would have was if she had been born a son.
“Go take care of business, Garret. I’m counting on you to keep maintenance and my daughter on track.”
“Have a good day, Harry.” Garret hung up and leaned his head against the office chair, palming his face with both hands and rubbing hard.
Harry would make Garret’s life a living hell if he didn’t propose to Joss soon. He loved her, cared for her. Could see himself spending the rest of his life with her. They had a solid, good relationship.
So whatwashe waiting for? Why did the idea of forever with Joss seem so unsatisfying? Why wasn’t he eager to make their relationship permanent?
And maybe the fact that he avoided probing into the answers to those questions told him all he needed to know.
Chapter 12
THE NEXT MORNINGToby entered Garret’s office in a piss-poor mood. What kind of friend lusted after his best friend’s soon-to-be fiancée? Not a good one, that’s for sure.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Garret sat in his standard position—phone glued to his ear with a pile of paper in front of him and pen in hand. A workaholic at his best.
Ignoring the phone since Garret was doing the same, Toby got right to the point. “Jocelyn needs help at the gallery. I think she’s overwhelmed trying to get ready for the opening. Did you go help her this weekend?”
Garret tugged at his tie and shook his head. “No, I couldn’t get out. The roads didn’t open up until late last night.”
Like any cop in the area would ticket a Tulane. “I made it okay. I did some stuff for her.”
“She told me.” Jerking to attention, Garret spoke into the phone. “I’m on hold for Benjamin Thomas. Yes, I would like to leave a message, thank you.”
Toby approached Garret’s desk and perused the surface, reaching out to grab a picture of Jocelyn before hesitating and picking up the one next to it. Garret’s family was gathered around one of his mother’s Christmas trees, Jocelyn included. And right there in full color he saw the way Jocelyn and Garret complimented each other—her sleek blond up-do and insanely expensive-looking red dress the perfect foil for Garret’s jet-black hair and suit. A debutante and one of Beauty’s founding families’ sons. Go figure.
“Hey, sorry about that.” Garret hung up and settled back in his chair. “The board meeting was postponed and one guy’s already in transit, so we’re trying to track him down before he gets here and has a fit. And thanks for helping Joss out. Especially with the permit.”
“I thought you’d taken care of it for her.”
A disgusted expression flickered over Garret’s face. “I was going to but I forgot about it. The mess with the buyout has me forgetting my own name. I owe you one.”
“You don’t owe me for the permit.” If anything he owed Garret, seeing as how Toby had enjoyed the time with Jocelyn way more than he should have. “But you do owe me for not making our racquetball slot this morning. Where were you?”
Garret fiddled with the pen and cleared his throat. “I tried to call.”
“I got the message when I got back to the locker room. Don’t tell me your twenty-two-inch wheels couldn’t take a little slush.”
Making a face, Garret motioned for Toby to shut the door behind him.
He did as requested. “What’s wrong?”
“I picked up a woman who wrecked Friday night. After the hospital released her, I drove her to the motels but they were full so…I took her home with me. She spent the weekend.”
Toby stared at Garret, the urge to deck him so strong his knuckles cracked. Garret picked up strangers when he had a woman like Jocelyn waiting for him to make the next move? “Did youcheaton her?” Toby barely got the words out. Not because he actually thought Garrethadcheated on Jocelyn but because he was shocked to his core that, in a sick and twisted way, he wanted it to be true. Why? So he’d have a chance with Jocelyn?
Garret glared at him. “Of course not! It was nothing like that. And I’ve already talked to Joss about it, so stop being an ass.”
He’d been Garret’s friend for over half his life. Toby knew Garret wasn’t like that. But if Garret had cheated on her—What? Toby would tell her? Be happy about it? What kind of friend wasthat?
“Who is she?”
“No one you know. She’s just traveling through town.”
“She could be anyone. One of those women who go home with a guy, drugs him then opens the door for the boyfriend so they can rob him before murdering the guy.”
