39. Garrett
GARRETT
Maybe it was the way Zara fell apart in my hands last night or the way she called out my name…whatever the reason, the moment I sat at my laptop this morning, the words flew onto the page.
I even skipped my lunchtime run with Kellan. I didn’t want to risk the flow of words hitting a wall while I was gone.
By dinner, the words finally petered out.
I cut into the chicken breast on my plate. “If it’s all right with you,” I tell Athena, “I’m going out tonight. Unless you have plans.” I don’t want to assume she’s available to stay here with Peony just because she hasn’t discussed them with me.
But then, I can’t think of a time when she has had plans. Even when Mom comes over to spend time with her granddaughter, Athena hangs around the house.
“Where are you going?” The soft smile on her face is directed at Peony, the suspicion in her tone only for me.
“Zara’s apartment. My brothers will be there for Game Night, and we need to discuss last-minute details about this weekend’s excursion.” Plus, I thought I’d give Zara another orgasm, since their benefits only last approximately twenty-four hours and I’ll be away for two days .
Guilt digs deep holes in my gut, knowing I should stay home with Peony in case she wakes up from a nightmare. I hate relying on Athena to do that, even if she’s been there for Peony from day one, whenever she’s had a nightmare.
You’ll only be gone a few hours. You’ll be there if Peony wakes later on.
“So, you and Zara…” The rest of her words are left hanging, the wince in her tone filling the gap.
“Are friends. As you know.” I don’t bother to get her to clarify what she’s really asking. What Zara and I are is not up for discussion. With anyone.
Athena pushes a bite-sized piece of chicken around her plate. “Are you sure about that?” Her attention remains glued on her food.
Peony picks up a chunk of cooked carrot from her unicorn plate and shoves it in her mouth. The toothy grin she flashes at me wraps my heart in a sweet hug. I miss her, and I haven’t left for the trip yet.
“Yes, I’m sure.” I pull out my phone and snap a photo of Peony. She grins at me again, and I snap another photo.
“You’re not posting that on social media, are you?” The frosty snap to Athena’s tone startles Peony and me. Peony stares at her with tearful, round eyes.
I frown, the creases in my brow solely for Athena. “I haven’t posted on social media that I have a daughter, and I have no intention of posting photos of her.” I keep my voice calm so as not to further upset Peony, and I flash her a reassuring smile.
She returns to playing with her food, babbling something I don’t understand.
“Plenty of influencers and authors post family photos on social media to build a connection between themselves and their fans,” I tell Athena. “But I don’t plan to do that. My life is private. Not that it’s your choice if I post about her.”
As far as I know, it’s not public knowledge in town that I have a daughter. Some people might have seen me with Peony, but the news hasn’t made it yet to the Maple Ridge grapevine.
Athena huffs a small, irritated sound. “You’ve posted photos of yourself on the Wilderness Warriors social media accounts,” she counters .
Technically, Avery, who works for us, posts those photos.
“Yes, but that’s different. All the people in those photos are adults, and they agreed to be in the pictures.
And those photos are on social media for reasons that have nothing to do with my author career.
” Such as showing what some of the military veterans have accomplished, despite the challenges they face due to a life-altering injury they got while deployed.
“I am doing everything I can to protect my daughter,” I remind her. I have no idea how the conversation veered so far to the left. But at least we’re no longer on the off-the-wall tangent of Zara and me.
The doorbell rings, saving me from continuing this wayward conversation.
I walk to the front door, at this point happy to see whoever is on the other side of it…even a canvasser.
I swing open the door to find a man standing on the stoop. George and his family live five houses down from me. This is the first time, that I know of, he’s dropped by my house. He’s a contract lawyer and a fan of my books, but whenever we talk, it’s usually in front of his property or mine.
“Sorry to interrupt you,” he says rather cheerfully. “The postal service dropped off a letter for you in my mailbox.” He hands me the envelope. My name and address are typed on it, but there’s nothing to hint who it’s from.
I give him a chin nod and smile. “Thank you. I appreciate you dropping it off.”
“Thought it might be important.” He turns to leave. He’s not the kind of man who likes to pry into people’s lives. He’s not here to fish for intel to feed the vultures, though I’m sure by now there are questions circulating as to why Peony and Athena are living with me.
I shut the door and open the envelope. Inside is a single folded sheet of paper with a typed message.
Garrett,
I just wanted to let you know how excited I am to read your next book. I can’t tell you how many times I dream about you. How many times I touch myself while reading your words.
I don’t read beyond that. I don’t need to. This is similar to how the stalker began her letters. What concerns me is that whoever sent this knows my address. Usually, letters are sent via my agent. And the ones forwarded to me are vetted first by her assistant.
I’m tempted to crunch the paper up and toss it into the recycle bin. But in case I’m dealing with a new stalker, I’ll give the letter to Noah, so he can keep it on file at the police station, should things progress beyond this one.
I walk with Kellan and Emily to the elevator after Game Night ends. Lucas, Simone, Troy, and Jess left the apartment not that long ago. Emily needed to talk to Zara about an upcoming wedding Em is coordinating for a client. Zara is catering the event.
“I can’t believe you two lost,” Em says, almost a little too gleefully. “I’ve never seen you and Zara so off your game. Pun intended.”
“We were letting you and Kellan win for once.” I wink at her, and Kellan scoffs. Those two are a force of their own when we’re playing partner games. But then, usually so are Zara and I.
I pat my pockets as the elevator door opens. “Shit. I forgot my phone. Go ahead without me.” It’s on the coffee table…where I purposely left it.
“See you tomorrow. And don’t be late.” Kellan might be saying the words to me, but I’m not the one he’s referring to. Troy and Lucas have a habit of being late on Saturday mornings, because they’re fucking their girlfriend or wife right before they head out to the Warriors property.
“Okay.” My mouth slides into a smirk, acknowledging that of course I won’t be late; I’m not Lucas or Troy.
I walk to Zara’s apartment in record time and knock on her door. It opens, revealing the woman who’s been on my mind all evening. I step into the apartment, closing the door behind me with a soft click.
And then my mouth is on Zara’s .
It was torture sitting next to her during Game Night, unable to touch her. But now, with everyone else gone, I no longer have to restrain myself.
I deepen the kiss, but it’s not enough. I grab the back of her thighs and hoist her up. Her legs wrap around my hips, and I push her against the wall. I rock into her, my cock getting the wrong idea. It hardens in my jeans.
Zara lets out a shuddering moan. “My bedroom,” she murmurs on my lips.
I don’t bother to reply, my thoughts focused on how much I want to taste her. On how much I want to hear her cry out my name.
I walk toward her room, our mouths busy making up for lost time. Making up for the long stretch tonight when I just wanted to touch her, kiss her, but couldn’t because my brothers and our friends were here.
I lower her onto the bed. Her skin softly glows in the light spilling into the room from the hallway.
Christ, she’s fucking gorgeous. A goddess.
A siren. Luring me willingly to my demise.
Her subtle jasmine scent is the last nail in my coffin, the one I’ll happily hammer in myself for the chance to taste her.
I brush my thumb across her nipple, hidden under her T-shirt and bra. She shudders beneath my touch, her inhale a whispered gasp.
“Can I?” I lift the hem of her T-shirt enough to reveal a thin strip of her golden-brown stomach, enough so she knows what I’m really asking.
She nods, her lips parted, her eyes dark with want, and I tug the fabric up the rest of the way.
I help her remove the top. Then I peel off the rest of her clothes, waiting for her permission with each one until she’s sitting on her bed in only her violet lace bra and panties.
I stand motionless for a beat, barely able to draw oxygen into my lungs, my gaze worshiping every part of her.
She lifts an eyebrow and gestures to my body. “Are you forgetting something?” The corner of her mouth curls up. “I’m not the only one who is gonna be naked here. You said ‘next time’ I’d get to see you.”
She pushes the button of my jeans through the hole.
Her fingers brush the hard length pressing almost painfully into the denim, and I suck in a sharp breath.
“Oh, and I bought a box of condoms this afternoon. They’re in the drawer.
If you’re interested…” She points to the bedside table.
“If you want to have sex with me.” Her voice is low and smoky, a sweet dab of honey mixed into a cock-arousing elixir.
“Because…because I want to have sex with you.”
Fuuuuuuck.
“Are you sure?” Because, damn, while I crave to be wrapped in her, to be snug in her tight heat, I need to make sure it won’t affect our friendship. Ensure she also definitely wants what she’s offering.
“I’m sure. I know when we agreed to our kissing arrangement, I said no sex. But that was before…”
“Before you found out one of the benefits of orgasms?”
Her mouth curves into a huge-ass grin. “Exactly.”