Page 73 of Two Risks I'd Never Take Again

Garrett checked the time. “If we go now, we’ll make it over to the dining hall in time for lunch.”

“Good because I’m starving.” I put on my shoes while he pulled on his boots. “Where’s your hat?”

“In the truck.” He laced his fingers with mine as we walked out the door. “When is your lease up?”

“End of the month. I was supposed to let them know at the end of December if I wasn’t going to renew, and I’d told them I probably wouldn’t but that I’d let them know for sure after this weekend.”

“You liked me.” Those blue eyes twinkled with the mischief of a little boy as he opened the truck door.

“A lot.” After climbing in, I grabbed his shirt before he stepped away. “You clearly get me, so you probably already figured this out, but...” I could say anything to Garrett, and now that my heart was unmistakably on the butchering slab, I was about to hand Garrett the cleaver. “If you ask me to marry you, I’m going to say yes. And when I’m married to you, I’ll sleep with you. I’ll want to. But I don’t want a long engagement. The shorter the better.”

Grinning, he leaned in and gave me a quick peck. “I’ll remember that.” He cupped my cheek. “I love you, and my heart is yours. To you, I will always be faithful.”

I leaned into his hand. “When you didn’t kiss me that night, you showed me you were safe. And strong.”

“I’m glad you like my kind of muscles.”

“And when you did kiss me at New Year’s, it was impossible to ignore what I felt for you.”

Smiling, he patted my leg before closing the door.

I watched him run around to the driver’s side.

He climbed in, then leaned over and kissed me. “I’m glad you love me.”

Clutching his hand, I watched out the window as he drove to the main house. “You kept showing up. I need steady. Scratch that. Iwantsomeone steady.”

“Steady, huh? Some people call it stubborn.” He winked as he parked the truck.

When we walked into the dining hall hand in hand, everyone clapped. I inched up and kissed Garrett, which garnered some cheers and whistles. What hadn’t been obvious to me had been obvious to everyone here, and I loved that for some weird reason.

Parker laughed. “Friends, huh? I need a friend like that.”

Garrett grinned as we sat down. “Normally, I’d give getting beaten up zero stars, but well... totally worth it.” He bumped my shoulder. “She didn’t even run me over.”

Just like he promised,Garrett helped me clean the shop, and then we started packing up my apartment. And after we’d cleaned and packed for several hours, the hot tub felt magical.

He eased into the water after me, and I didn’t hesitate to snuggle into his lap. “Why did you ask me out that day?”

“Does it matter?” He nuzzled my neck.

“I want to know.”

“I heard you defending Eli to the two women in the doughnut shop. You know, the one who wanted you to introduce her at New Year’s.”

I remembered. “They were the typical mean girls in high school. And some people don’t change. I still can’t believe she asked me if I’d introduce her to you at the New Year’s Eve party.”

“But you weren’t rude to them. In the doughnut shop, you just stuck up for Eli and Delaney. At the party, it was cute that you didn’t want to introduce me. I liked that.”

“So you asked me out because of how I treat people?”

“Part of the reason. Then you showed your true colors.” His arms tightened around me. “That night on the side of the road, I was scared. I don’t think I’ve ever said that. More than one car drove past me that night, and the later it got, the more despair I felt. I was in so much pain, and it was cold. I’d never been more miserable. But then you showed up.”

I blinked away tears.

“You could’ve decided that it was too scary to help a stranger in the dark alone, but you did more than just help me into the car and take me to the hospital. You cared. And that meant so much to me.” He kissed my head. “Also, you’re extremely attractive.”

“I’m glad you think so, and I’m glad you moved here.” I tilted my head back to look at him. “I really missed eating doughnuts.”

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