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He pushed his plate out of the way and leaned his elbows on the table. “Are you sure nothing’s wrong?”
Her gaze darted away from his. “I’m really tired and not hungry at all. I have a nasty headache and there’s this ongoing list of things to do buzzing around in my mind. I feel like I need to go to sleep and start fresh tomorrow.”
“I was kind of hoping we could talk. There’s something important I’d like to ask you.”
The fork slipped from her hand and clattered onto her plate before bouncing to the wood floor. “Sorry. I’m such a klutz. I’ll go get a new one from one of the stations. Your uncle won’t mind, will he?”
“You just said you weren’t hungry. Use mine, I’m finished.”
“I’m not hungry, but—”
He grabbed his fork from his plate and placed it on the edge of hers to use or not use as she liked. “Joss, listen, I’m sorry I haven’t been around to help you with the gallery. I apologize for that. I hope you’re not upset with me and just not saying anything. You can talk to me.”
“Don’t be silly. You’re busy and you’ve got more important things to do than mess with my little gallery.”
“Joss—”
“Daddy certainly wouldn’t want you wasting your time there when you could be working at the hospital. Besides, you’re not interested in art at all.”
“It’s just not my—”
“Not your thing. I know—” she pushed her plate away “—and it’s fine. Garret, really, I’m not very good company tonight. I think it’s best if we go. I think I’m coming down with a touch of the flu or something. You know what? You stay. Go have a drink at the bar. I’ll call a cab.”
“Joss, sit down. You look pale. Maybe you’re jet-lagged. Give me a second to take care of the bill and I’ll drive you home.”
JOCELYN GAZED out the window as Garret drove her home. He’d asked if she needed more air, if she felt sick. If he’d done something to upset her. All of which she answered with a low no. All of which she should have answered with a yes. She needed more air because she couldn’t breathe, felt sick because of what she’d done. Was furious at Garret for spending so much time at the hospital with her father instead of with her. Where were her guts? Her backbone? Why did she play the good little girl and pretend?
Turning her head, she watched as the streetlights played over Garret’s face. He was gorgeous. Strong and tall and handsome. A man’s man. A man she’d be thrilled to call her husband. But was Tobias right?
Garret pulled up to the house and stopped, shoving the vehicle into Park before he reached for the door handle.
“No,” she said quickly, unable to stomach the pretense a moment longer. “Don’t bother walking me to the door. I’m going straight to bed. Thank you for dinner.”
He snagged her arm before she could let herself out. Watching her closely, Garret slowly tugged and she moved toward him willingly, hoping, praying, that while she’d been gone something had changed.
Garret brushed his lips gently over hers. “Feel better.”
She nodded, hesitated, then wrapped an arm around his neck and kissed him again, the kiss too hard. Desperate. Awkward and totally different from the way she’d felt with Tobias. She pulled away with a murmured goodbye and rushed out of the Escalade.
“Joss?”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
She turned to shut the door, blinded by tears. “I love you, too.”
Chapter 20
DARCY STAREDup at Garret and laughed. “Shut up! Are you serious?”
He winked at her. “No one suspected a thing.”
She lifted the hammer up to him and watched as he nailed the closet supports into place. Darcy was fairly sure Rosetta’s maintenance contract covered such things, but the woman had insisted Garret was a better hand at completing the chores. Darcy was glad to see him again. After the kiss and that scene at the hospital, she wasn’t sure how he’d treat her. If he would even come to see her.
“What’s next on the list?”
“The shelf above the washer. It wobbles, apparently.”
