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What goes on in that soft little head of yours, Jocelyn? Sometimes I think you’re either too smart for your own good or too stupid to live.
Stupidwas proving her father right.
TOBY BURST out of the gallery via the back door. Where all the bottom feeders come and go in Debutante World.
He shook his head and kept going, sludging through the deep snow and not giving a damn about what it did to his best suit.
Garret was going to kill him. It wasn’t anything less than Toby deserved after what had just happened, but he’d already lost his job. He didn’t want to lose his best bud in the same day.Then why did you kiss her back?
He growled out a curse and climbed into his Jeep, but after starting it he sat there a long moment, too angry to drive, too dangerous behind the wheel until he calmed down.
Jocelyn’s passionate speech about not being a china doll had nearly destroyed what was left of his restraint, but the hold he’d managed to maintain unraveled the moment she’d crushed her lips to his. It was the desperation in her that had gotten to him. The way she’d gripped him, clung to him, the little moans in her throat because it had felt so right.
He hit his palm against the steering wheel. Screwed. He. Was.Screwed.No job. No best friend once Jocelyn went running to Garret, desperate to save her own neck in case he told Garret that she’d made the first move. Did it matter who’d crossed the line when all he’d wanted to do was have her up against the wall?
Maybe itwasa good time to contact that headhunter, he thought, shoving the vehicle into gear. A job in Siberia might come in handy right now.
Chapter 15
“I JUST WANTEDto let you know I received the flowers. They’re beautiful, Garret. Thank you.”
A slow smile spread across his face at the sound of Joss’s voice on the other end of the line. “I’m glad you like them. Joss, about today—”
“I’msorry.Garret, I had no right to go off on you like that and—I love you. You know that, right?”
“I love you, too.” He frowned at her tone, the thready, anxious pitch so unlike her. “Is something wrong?” He thought he heard a sniffle. “Joss?”
“Garret, I—I need to tell you something.”
“What?” He listened carefully, but didn’t hear anything that sounded like she was crying. It was winter, a sniffle could mean anything.
“I—I…” She inhaled shakily. “I’m going to Montana.”
“What? Why? When?”
“Tomorrow morning. Early. An artist I want to showcase isn’t returning my messages, so I’ve decided to fly out and talk to him in person.”
“What about the gallery? Won’t this throw you even more behind schedule?”
“A little.”
“It’s only one guy. Can’t you find someone else to display?”
“No. I want this artwork. And things will move more quickly than I’d thought. It’s just a matter of hiring some help. I’m sure I can get an art student to come work for a good recommendation. I won’t be gone long. A few days at most.”
“I’d love to see Montana. If I could get away, I’d come with you. We could spend a little quality time together.”
“That would be nice, but I know now isn’t a good time with the buyout, and this is a business trip. I won’t be sightseeing.”
“You’ll be careful?”
“Yes. But I’d better go. I have a lot to get done before my flight in the morning…. Garret? I’m sorry about today. Really.”
“We just had a spat, Joss. It’s okay. When you get back, we’ll go out to dinner and you can tell me all about your trip. We’ll make a special date of it. Maybe go to Biltmore and spend the weekend.”
“That sounds lovely. Good night, Garret. Don’t work too hard while I’m gone, and remember I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Hanging up, Garret frowned down at the phone and sighed. Joss had sounded tired and stressed and upset, so maybe taking off and getting out of town for a few days would do her some good. And in the meantime?
