Page 88 of Bling

Garrett sighed. “You’re killing me, Doll. If I were there to hug you I totally would.”

She ended the call and went downstairs where Jeff, the driver, was waiting.

She was ready for dinner, a bath, and a good night’s rest.

At home, she checked in with the girls. Tonight, she was especially grateful for their self-sufficiency.

“I’ve had an exceedingly long day, girls. I’m going to hide in my room. Just knock if you need me.”

Three hours later, as she was climbing under her covers to read until she fell asleep, her bedroom door opened.

A scream bubbled in her throat, but she stifled it when she realized it was Garrett stalking toward her.

“Garrett? What are you doing here? I thought you were gone until Thursday afternoon.”

“I was, but you’re under my skin so fucking bad and you sounded so small and scared on the phone. I knew I had to come home.”

He wrapped her in a tight hug and she willingly let her head rest on his chest as she inhaled his scent.

“Were you going to bed?” he asked a moment later.

She nodded. “I was going to read until you called, or I fell asleep.”

He caressed her cheek. “Can I sit in bed with you and work quietly?”

She nodded and moved to climb in bed, but he stopped her, capturing her mouth in a rough kiss. When he pulled away, he smiled down at her. That’s better. Carry on,” he said with a wink.

She giggled and climbed beneath the fluffy comforter and picked up her book. Garrett stepped into the hallway and picked up his suitcase.

“Wait a minute,” Isabelle said as he made his way to the bathroom. “Who let you in?”

“Uncle Henry,” he said with a grin. “Maybe he doesn’t think I’m so bad after all.”

• • •

Garrett slipped out of bed early the next morning, intent on getting to his office for a conference call with the people he’d intended to meet with in Philadelphia today.

As he was pulling on his slacks, Isabelle stirred.

“Hey,” she mumbled sleepily. “Are you staying in town or do you have to go back to Pennsylvania today?”

He buttoned his pants and sat on the edge of the bed, running his hand through her hair. “Are you saying you would miss me if I left?”

She gave a slow nod and he grinned. “I’m not going anywhere, Doll. At least not until after the weekend.”

Her face lit up as she sat, tugging the blanket up around her chest.

“Speaking of the weekend, I wanted to see if you would go to another event with me on Friday. We would miss the first half of the party at Solitaire, but it’s important that I go. I would feel better having you with me.”

He hadn’t actually secured tickets yet but once his friend Paul, the governor of Colorado, called him back, he knew that would be rectified.

She reached for his hand. “I’ll go if you’ll do something for me.”

“Anything,” he said, tugging her closer to him.

“My family reunion is coming up in a couple of weeks. Will you come with me? It would mean missing a weekend at Solitaire.”

He held his grimace in check. A family reunion sounded horrifying, but there was no way he was telling her that.

---