“How’s your arm?” she asked.
“Feels like I dropped a hunk of granite on it.”
Nicole couldn’t hold back a smile. It lit up her face and her pretty brown eyes twinkled. “Glad you didn’t lose your sense of humor.”
“No, just a few liters of blood.”
She made a face. A cute little wrinkling of her nose and her expression softened even more. “I should go. Let you get some rest.”
Coop was waiting in the other room. Garrett couldn’t keep them any longer. “Sure.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said.
“I appreciate the thought, but you don’t need to check on me.” Which was the exact opposite of how he was feeling. The truth was he’d like to see her tomorrow, but he didn’t want her to feel obligated because he’d been hurt.
“Okay, so let’s just say I need to work on the fundraiser. Unless you’re not up to it.”
“No, no. If you have work to do, I won’t stop you.”
“Well, then. I guess I’ll say good night.”
The last time they parted it ended in a kiss. Though he wasn’t at his best, having Nicole’s lips on his was a balm like no other and he’d never forget it. He glanced at her mouth and then quickly lifted his lids to meet her eyes. “Thanks again, Nic.”
“You’re welcome,” she said, a little breathless.
They walked to the great room and found Coop cleaning up the granite. It was probably still marred with dried blood.
“I’ll stop by tomorrow with one of my crew and we’ll get this granite laid for you,” Coop said.
“That’s not—”
“Garrett, it’s not safe to have this piece lying out like this. And it’s way too heavy for one man to move.”
He hated the feeling of helplessness, of not being able to do what needed doing. But he couldn’t let his pride get in the way of Cody’s safety. The kitchen was a disaster zone right now. Coop was right. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
He walked over to shake Coop’s hand, careful not to move his other arm. “In fact, thanks for saving my hide earlier and getting me to the hospital. Can’t thank you enough for that, and for driving my nephew all over town.”
“No problem at all. Glad I was here to help. We’ll get out of your hair now. Let you get some rest.”
Garrett walked Coop and Nicole to the door and locked up after they said their farewells.
He lay down on the sofa, his good arm behind his head, and closed his eyes. The first image that came to mind was Nicole’s pretty face. He was worn out and his arm still ached, but the feeling was muted by warm, soothing sensations swirling through his stomach, making him almost smile.
*
Two days later,Nicole walked into Blake Charles’s realty office, her mind made up. She’d put this off long enough. For some time now, she’d wanted a home of her own. She’d thought she’d be doing this with her husband, Johnny, buying a home for them to share. But she realized she didn’t have to wait around for a knight in shining armor in order to move on with her life. She could do it on her own. In fact, she preferred doing it on her own. This way, she’d get exactly the house she wanted, without compromise.
A thrill ran up her spine as she glanced around the bustling office. Posters of homes for sale covered the walls, and phones rang almost nonstop. Charles Realty was well-known in the area and served three counties. She’d known Blake Charles for several years and he had a solid reputation for honesty and integrity. He and her brother Sam had been friends during high school. Blake believed in supporting the community and he’d sponsored some of Honeysuckle Elementary School’s events.
As soon as he spotted her, he rose from his desk and walked over to greet her. “Nicole. Good to see you.”
“Hi, Blake. Thanks for getting me in right away. And it’s great to see you too.”
“Of course. Have a seat. How are things at Honeysuckle?”
They both took a seat. “Going well. It’s almost time for the holiday fundraiser and we’ve all been working hard on that. Thanks again for your support.” Charles Realty had made a sizable donation for the cause and had paid for the flyers they’ll be putting around town.
“It’s my pleasure. So, before we talk about houses, tell me, how are your folks? And Sam?”