by J. H. Croix
She considered that the way she saw him probably wasn’t the way he usually was. The man she’d heard him to be before she met him was different—at least in her imagination. He was a wealthy corporate lawyer in Seattle. He probably wore suits every day and night. His hair might still be mussed, but she doubted it. When she’d hoped to eventually find a man, she’d never considered a man such as Garrett. For starters, he likely had his pick of women in Seattle. If she’d met him in his world, he’d have intimidated her so much, she couldn’t even imagine talking to him. Yet here in Diamond Creek, he wasn’t what she expected. She knew Gage and had met the rest of his family, so she knew he had loving parents and a close family that tended toward boisterous. She’d pictured a sharp, cold man when she’d heard about Garrett. Instead she found a warm, funny, strong, dark and sexy man—one who took her breath away and pushed her body to stratospheres of pleasure she’d never known existed.
Garrett turned his head, a slow smile spreading across his face when he saw her standing in the archway between the reception area and restaurant. She walked over to the desk, her heels clicking on the floor. When she reached his side, he whistled so softly, no one but her could hear it. Heat suffused her, a whole body blush racing through her.
***
Garrett watched Delia walk toward him. She wore a black skirt that hugged her lush bottom and flared around her knees, accentuating the dip and curve of her waist. Her fitted white blouse was simple, yet the tease of her skin in the vee at the top and the way her breasts strained against the fabric heated his blood. He shifted on his feet. Now was definitely not the time and place to look like a foolish teenage boy with a hard on. When it came to Delia though, he felt like a foolish boy most of the time. When she reached his side, he couldn’t stop himself from giving a soft whistle. Her cheeks pinkened. He resisted the urge to tug her close for a kiss. They were far from alone, and she was working.
Her heels tapped on the floor as she walked behind the desk. He toyed with the pen on the reservation list. Her hair fell forward as she leaned over. Her blue eyes lifted to his. His brain went soft. All he could think about was how her lips would feel under his. They were soft, pink and full. He flipped the pen back and forth, trying to corral the lust racing through him. She arched a brow and cleared her throat.
“Hey there,” he said.
“Any chance I could borrow the pen?” she asked with a small smile.
He stilled his hand and slowly slid it across the desk to her. Her fingers brushed his as she picked it up. It was ridiculous that such a small, casual touch could make his heart pound against his ribs, but it did.
She quickly crossed a name off the reservation list and glanced up. “Is the Taylor party here yet?” she asked the room at large.
A woman raised her hand and stood with four children and a man rising at her side. Delia caught Garrett’s eyes. “Be right back.”
He nodded and watched her walk away, her hips swinging with her steps. Long moments later, she returned. He immediately handed the pen over. After she crossed the next name off, she returned the pen to his hand and rested her elbows on the desk. This afforded him a tantalizing view. Tiny freckles were scattered randomly. His fingertips remembered the lush give of her skin. His eyes traveled along her neck, past the soft beat of her pulse and down to the shadowed curves of her breasts. He fought the urge to lean across the desk and drag his tongue down into that valley where her skin was dewy and scented with vanilla. Holy hell. He was in serious trouble.
After he’d obsessed about whether or not Delia was the main reason he was so reluctant to return to Seattle, he’d reminded himself he’d never even thought of her when he walked out of that courtroom and impulsively booked his flight to Alaska. The trouble was now he couldn’t sort out his feelings. She brought him to his knees, literally and figuratively. He forced his eyes back up and found hers. They held a glimmer of uncertainty, the tiny flicker making him want to wipe it out of her eyes and heart. She made him feel all kinds of things he’d never even considered—this overriding need to be with her that went beyond physical, and a desire to protect her and take care of her. He took a breath and reminded himself—again—where they were.
“How was your day?” he asked.
Something passed through her eyes, but it was gone before he had a chance to guess at it. She shrugged. “Okay I guess. Busy. Our hostess tonight called out sick, so I’m pulling double duty. How about you?”
“Busy. The old snowmobile got cranky today, so I spent most of the day helping Gage fix it. When all was said and done, we got it running, but that thing’s on its last legs. Gage is stubborn though. He’s not ready to give up on it. I’m thinking I might go behind his back and buy another new one. If I ask him about it, he’ll say no.”
Delia giggled and nodded. “You’re absolutely right. Gage is great, but he’s a fixer. My dad shares that tendency, so I’m used to it. I say go for it. He already got one new snowmobile, so he’s hanging onto that old one no matter what.”
Garrett nodded. “The rest of us inherited the lodge with Gage, but he’s the only one working his ass off to make a go of it. I figure if all I do is help out with equipment and supplies, it’ll be better than nothing.”
Delia nodded and turned away when a new group of customers walked in. She checked her list and gave them a time frame before turning back to him. She picked up right where their conversation left off. “Gage doesn’t mind you all aren’t working up here. He says all the time that he feels lucky you guys are supporting him to try to bring the lodge back to life.”
“Try? He did more than try. It’s done.” Garrett felt a flush of pride when he considered how hard Gage had worked to bring Last Frontier Lodge out of retirement. Before Gage moved to Alaska, he’d had a rough few years. He seemed at loose ends after he retired from active duty with the Navy SEAL’s and had seemed burdened after the death of his best friend on a mission. Garrett had initially thought Gage was half-crazy to uproot himself and try to resurrect the lodge, but once he’d come up to visit over Christmas, he’d known Gage had made the right choice for him. Now, with Garrett’s own misgivings about his career, he had a better sense of what Gage had been seeking—a sense of purpose that what he did mattered personally. Garrett recalled Becca’s words about how she thought he’d eventually need to find something more meaningful.
Delia’s voice broke into his thoughts. “You should tell him that.”
“Huh?”
“That you think he’s succeeded with the lodge. I think he’s happy here, especially since he’s met Marley, but I know he wonders here and there if you all think he’s crazy. He was so happy when everyone came up for the holidays. Even though you were only here for a few days,” she said with a wry grin.
Garrett nodded slowly. “Right. Maybe I will. And maybe I was only here for a few days at Christmas, but I’m here for a bit longer now. I didn’t realize what I was missing.”
His heart thumped—hard. He wasn’t sure where he intended to go with this conversation, but for some reason, he wanted to talk with Delia about his confusion. He was saved from this impulse when Don entered the waiting area with Nick on his heels. Nick raced to Garrett’s side.
“Hey Garrett! Can I help you and Gage again tomorrow?”
Garrett glanced down at Nick and ruffled his almost-black hair. “If it’s okay with your mom, it’s okay with me. Not sure what we’ll be doing tomorrow, so you might have to wait on that.”
Nick’s blue eyes widened with his smile. He bounced on his heels and looked up at his mother. Delia smiled softly and shook her head. “You know I usually say yes. But,” she paused, her gaze sobering. “…it depends on the weather. If it’s bad out, you won’t be going anywhere on the slopes.”
Nick clapped his hands. “Thanks Mom!” He raced past her through the swinging door into the kitchen where he’d likely get all kinds of tasty snacks from the line cooks.
Don clapped Garrett on the shoulder and leane
d against the desk beside him. “You’re good with him. Not everyone’s a fan of little boys who talk non-stop.”
Garrett met Don’s warm blue eyes. “No problem. He’s a good kid.”
Conversation carried on around Garrett with Delia checking in with customers and Don chatting up locals he knew. At one point, Garrett found himself alone with Don for several minutes. Don met his eyes and cleared his throat.
“Delia’s my only daughter,” Don offered.
Garrett held his eyes and nodded. “I know.” He waited, sensing Don needed to say whatever he was about to say.
“If you’re wondering, she hasn’t said a word to me about you, but I’ve been around the block. I see the way she looks at you and vice versa.” Don paused for a slow breath. “I like you and I get the feeling Delia might mean something to you. Do me a favor and just be straight with her.”
Garrett stared at Don, his thoughts scrambling. Of all the situations he’d talked his way through, this one flummoxed him. Don was a good man. Garrett respected him. How the hell could he explain his feelings for Delia when he didn’t fully understand them himself? Not to mention he didn’t know if she reciprocated them. He realized Don was waiting. “Look, I’m not gonna lie to you. I like Delia—a lot more than I bargained on. If you’re worried about my intentions, it’s fair to say I don’t know exactly what they are. You might think I’m out for a fling, but I’m not. When I came up here, I wasn’t sure what my plans were. Right now, I’m thinking about staying for a while.” He ran out of words and paused for a breath.
Don glanced through the archway into the restaurant. Delia stood by a table chatting with customers. Don turned back to Garrett. “Does Delia know you might be staying for a while?”
Garrett shrugged. “As much as I know about it. She knows I planned to be here at least a month or more. Once I know more, she’ll be the first to know.”
Don nodded slowly. “Got it. It’s up to Delia, but be careful about what you say to Nick. He’d love to have a father. He doesn’t need to get confused.”
Garrett’s throat tightened. “I know. I’d never do anything to confuse him.”
The click of heels carried in their direction. Delia was walking their way.
Don caught his eyes briefly. “Hope you understand why I said something,” he said gruffly.
Garrett nodded swiftly and turned away as Delia walked behind the desk. Her blue eyes bounced between her father and him. If she sensed anything, she elected to ignore it. “Dad, how late you plan on staying tonight? Did you need some leftovers for dinner?”
Don grinned. “Nick’s probably got a full belly by now. He’s been grazing in the kitchen long enough. I’ll grab something and head out. You’ll be working late, I suppose.”
“I’ll be here at least until we shut down. It’s Friday, so that means a late night at the bar.”
Don pushed away from the desk. “We’ll leave through the back. Catch you tomorrow,” he said with a wave before nudging the swinging door to the kitchen with his shoulder.
Chapter 12
Garrett came awake slowly. The room was dark with only the soft light from the bathroom splashing across the bed. Delia lay beside him, her legs tangled with his. He stroked a hand down her back and curled it over her hip. He wanted nothing more than to fall back asleep with her, but he knew she wanted to get up and drive through the dark, so she could be home for Nick in the morning. He listened to the rhythmic sound of her breathing. He allowed himself a few moments of luxury, of simply laying at her side, savoring the rise and fall of her breath and her lush curves warm against his side.
He gently rocked her shoulder. “Delia,” he whispered.
“Hmm?” she mumbled.
“It’s one-thirty. You said you wanted to get up before two to drive home.”
She lifted her head from his shoulder, her hair a rumpled mess. “It’s already one-thirty?” Her voice had more strength.
“Sorry to say, but now it’s…” He paused and glanced at the clock on the nightstand. The numbers glowed bright green, mocking him with their clarity. He turned back to her and brushed her hair out of her face. “…one-thirty two to be precise.”
She groaned and let her head fall back to his shoulder. He chuckled and stroked her back in slow circles. “Fine with me if you want to stay, but I don’t think that’s what you want.”
Oddly enough, there was a time when he’d have considered himself crazy to date a single mother. Too complicated, too many needs to consider. With Delia, though he desperately wanted to sleep through the night and wake in the morning with her, he didn’t question the fact that she needed to go home. If it weren’t for her father, who could put Nick to bed and be there for him at any point, Garrett wouldn’t even blink at the fact that it would mean a rather long wait before she ever fell asleep at his side. He knew it was important to her to be there for Nick in the morning, so he’d make sure she was there. His own wants and needs took a backseat.
She lifted her head again. “Okay then. I’m getting up,” she announced firmly.
When she didn’t move, he chuckled. “Is this you getting up?”
“This is me working up the energy to get up.”
He felt her smile in the darkness. He leaned up and caught her lips in a kiss before kicking the covers back and sitting up. “Let’s do this. I’ll walk you out.”
Once again, he watched her drive away in the cold, dark night. There were no northern lights shimmering in the sky tonight, only a panorama of stars glittering in the inky darkness. The sound of her tires rolling across the snow-packed drive slowly faded. An owl hooted softly from the trees nearby. He took several deep breaths—the air was so cold and clean here, it was as if he could drink it in and cleanse himself inside and out.
Hours later, he sat at the kitchen table and turned on his laptop. As promised, he was checking his work email. He could tell Elaine was pruning for him. As his assistant, she had access to his email. Without her, he’d have expected hundreds of emails, yet there were only about twenty flagged for his attention. He quickly skimmed them and replied as needed to a few. Elaine had also conveniently sent him a summary of matters of concern. To this day, he didn’t know how he’d manage without her relentlessly efficient support. He clicked on his work cell and checked his messages. He’d left Carlton a message the other day just as he’d promised Elaine. Carlton had left a return message—demanding and pushy as Garrett expected.
Garrett tapped to return Carlton’s call and waited.
“It’s about damn time.”
Carlton wasn’t one for niceties, so Garrett didn’t bother with them when he was dealing with Carlton.
“I already left you a message, Carlton. What else are you waiting for?”
“I will not be working with Ms. Brooks. That’s unacceptable. I hired your firm to have you handle all of my cases.”
Garrett took a breath. This conversation was strangely calming. Carlton represented everything he didn’t like about corporate law—he was entitled, arrogant and cared little for the needs of anyone other than himself and the bottom line.
“Working with Ms. Brooks is the only option you have right now. As I’m sure Elaine explained to you, I’m currently unavailable due to a family situation and don’t have a time frame for my return.”
Carlton sputtered. Garrett could actually picture his face reddening.
“Well, I may have to take my business elsewhere if that’s the case.”
Carlton’s reply was exactly what Garrett expected. Carlton thought he was playing a poker game and was waiting for Garrett’s next move. He’d yet to learn any lessons from the various legal firms that had allowed him to take his business elsewhere. He was a high maintenance client who tended to argue about everything, billing included. At one time, Garrett would have thrived on playing this imaginary game of poker. Right now, he simply didn’t care about the outcome, which strengthened every move he made.
“You can do
whatever you need to do, Carlton. Please notify Elaine of your decision by the end of next week. Ms. Brooks’ availability will be limited after that.”
He didn’t wait for Carlton’s reply and ended the call. His phone immediately began ringing again. He turned it off and put it back in the bottom of his duffel bag. He glanced around to find his personal phone. Spying it on the counter, he snagged it and called Elaine. She picked up immediately.
“Hello, Garrett. How are you today?”
“Just fine. Talked to Carlton a few minutes ago. He has until the end of next week to let you know what his plans are.”
“What are his options?”
“Work with Olivia, or take his business elsewhere.”
Elaine chuckled. “Excellent. I’ll let you know when I hear from him. Did you get my email?”
“I did. Anything else I need to know?”
“Of course not. Any updates on when you’ll be back?”
The sense of temporary relief he’d felt after his call with Carlton was followed with a knot of tension and uncertainty. He knew he’d have to give an answer soon, but he wasn’t quite ready. He also knew his answer would involve going to Seattle and making a decision there. Whatever lay between him and Delia muddied his thoughts so much that he couldn’t think clearly when he was near her.
Alaska, Diamond Creek, and the Last Frontier Lodge also represented layer upon layer of something he was seeking. He wasn’t quite sure he could see through the haze without going back to the place he once thought had been his center.
He took a deep breath and replied to Elaine. “I don’t have a firm date, but it should be within the month.”
***
Delia carefully straightened the silverware and placemat. After they were perfectly situated, she flipped through the menu. She was restlessly waiting for Helen to arrive at the Boathouse. Her phone chirped, indicating a text had arrived. She flipped her phone over on the table. Marley was checking in.