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“Now?”
“Why mention me renting it if I don’t like it? Show it to me, and then I’ll help you unpack all of this and put it wherever it needs to go. I don’t have anything else to do at the moment. Wellington told me to get the hell out so I packed up my stuff and left.”
“You said you gave notice.”
“I lied.” He shoved his big hands into his pockets. “It sounded better than saying I told him where he could stick his partnership and got fired.”
“Good for you.” She swallowed, her heart beating a little too fast. Why should she care that Tobias told Wellington off? Why should she feel proud of him? But she did. Because she wanted to do the same with her father. Wanted to stand up to him and people like Mr. Wellington, prove their meanness and hatefulness would come back to haunt them because the people they disregarded would rise above their sad behavior. “Let me get the keys and a Band-Aid.”
“I’ll come with you.”
Too aware of Tobias following her, she entered the office and grabbed the first-aid kit. While she sprayed the cut with antiseptic, he opened a Band-Aid. Did his hands tremble, just a little? Or was that hers? Finally the protective strip was in place and they were on their way upstairs in the old-fashioned elevator.
“So…have you talked to Garret today?”
“Earlier, yes.” Why hadn’t she noticed how slow the elevator was before? “Briefly.” Finally the elevator settled into place. “Here we are.” The third floor spread out in front of them. “The area is only about two thousand square feet. I doubt it’s what you’re looking for but—”
“It’s perfect.”
“Oh.” She watched Tobias look around the area, his big body moving with surprising masculine grace. Strong lines, the proud tilt of his head. He’d be a hard man to sketch but she’d love to tackle the challenge. A bronze nude would—
She blinked, her heart beating out of rhythm. She had no business, no business at all, looking at Tobias like that. Why had she? She loved Garret. But the last few times they’d been together she’d left the encounters feeling frustrated and uneasy. It was silly, nothing more than stress. She loved Garret, and how many couples didn’t share one iota of love between them? They could be happy,wouldbe happy if he ever proposed. It was silly to let absurd, inconsequential things irritate her the way they seemed to be doing of late.
But she couldn’t help it. She hated the way Garret rubbed his chin anytime he was sitting still, and his awful taste in movies that lacked even the most basic plot. More guns and action did not a blockbuster make. And art? How could anyonenotappreciate art on some level?
“Are you planning on doing anything with it soon?” Tobias’s gaze narrowed on her. “What’s wrong? What were you thinking about?”
Her mind scrambled for an appropriate topic. “Rosetta’s birthday party. It’s coming up.”
“Not for a month.” Tobias moved close. “Jocelyn…” He ran a hand over his face, and she knew he didn’t want to say whatever was on his mind. “You and Garret are bound to have some rough spots. You just have to stick it out and be strong.”
Stick it out? Be strong?Why did she always have to be the one to give in? Conform? What about Garret? Realizing Tobias knew nothing of her thoughts, and the topic probably had more to do with Garret’s actions over the weekend, she sighed. “If this is about the pregnant woman he rescued, I’m not worried.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Sure about that? You looked worried.”
“Tobias, he’s Garret. He’s just doing what he does best, what he’s always done. One of the ladies from The Village stopped by this morning to congratulate me on snagging such a hero, and then proceeded to grill me on what I knew about the woman staying with Rosetta. Think he’d take a mistress there? I’mnotworried.”
As she spoke she felt, saw, his attention shift lower. To her mouth? A low throb unfurled in her stomach. “Garret and I are fine. We’re both busy. Besides, I couldn’t plan a wedding now, anyway.”
“Some people think that’s what wedding planners are for. And your mother and his would handle everything if you’d let them.”
“I’d want to plan my own wedding.”
“Does that mean you’re going to turn Garret down if he asks?”
“No! Of course not. How could I after all this time?”
“You just said you didn’t have time to get married. Surely you wouldn’t do it simply because your father wants it to happen?”
She released a hollow laugh. Where was he going with this? “I’d make time. And I’m sure everyone in town has heard Daddy’s views on when and where and how Garret and I should get married, but I wouldn’t do it unless I wanted to.”
“Do you?”
“Any woman would be nuts not to want to marry Garret.” That wasn’t an answer and they both knew it. He watched her too closely, made her afraid to blink, to move, because if she did, he’d see the truth. The doubts. “Really, Tobias, why all the questions? Do you doubt my sincerity?”
“I’ve known you long enough to know you generally do what your father says.”
“Not always. He didn’t want me opening this gallery and I’m still doing it. And that’s the second time you’ve indicated youthinkyou know me better than you do. How is that possible when you’ve always disliked me and kept your distance as if you’re afraid to be near me?”
