Page 57 of Need You
Delaney had been lucky so far. The news hadn’t paid much attention to her and Robert’s divorce. Of course they weren’t of the celebrity status that someone like Lisa Laredo was. But Delaney was well known and had made guest appearances onProject RunwayandAmerica’s Next Top Modelas well as on talk shows.
“I don’t expect him to bother me anymore,” she continued.
“All right. But if he shows up again I want to know about it. If he wants you to take the Delaney Scott name off your existing merchandise, his lawyers will have to get the court clarification. As far as I’m concerned, the ruling was perfectly clear. You can’t use it for new merchandise, but what’s done is done. So we’ll just carry on.”
“Sounds good to me. Thank you, Liz.” Her phone beeped. “I have to go; I’m getting another call.”
Delaney switched over to the other line. “Hello.”
“Hi, Delaney, this is TJ Garner. Did I catch you at a bad time?”
“No.” Though she couldn’t imagine why Colt’s brother was calling her. While she’d met him a few times through Hannah and at the Indian restaurant with Colt, they’d never said more than a few words to each other. “What’s up?”
“I was hoping I could take you to lunch. You hungry?”
It was noon and she’d only had a piece of toast and coffee for breakfast. “I could eat,” she said, curious. It couldn’t possibly be romantic, or at least she hoped it wasn’t. The only Garner brother she had eyes for was Colt.
“I could swing by, get you, and we could have lunch at the Morning Glory.”
“How about I meet you there?”
“That works too. How soon?”
“Give me twenty minutes.” He’d certainly piqued her interest.
Rushing upstairs, she put on something more appropriate for town than her exercise clothes, swiped on some mascara and lip gloss, and combed her hair. She made it to the diner with a few minutes to spare. The restaurant was crowded and she had to put her name on a list for a table. Deb came out of the kitchen and waved hello. When TJ walked in she escorted both of them to a back booth and rushed off to get another patron coffee.
“How did you do that?” she asked TJ. “The hostess told me it would be at least a ten-minute wait.”
“I called ahead. They don’t really take reservations, but I know people.” He winked.
Unlike Colt’s dark brown eyes, TJ’s were blue and his hair was a little lighter. He was about the same height as Colt, but leaner with a runner’s body. There was no mistaking the family resemblance, but in Delaney’s opinion, Colt was handsomer.
Deb came back to the table to take their orders. Delaney got a tuna sandwich with fries and TJ got biscuits and gravy.
“The place is swamped today,” Deb said. “I haven’t stopped running since I got here. Sorry I can’t talk.”
She trotted over to the cook’s window and yelled, “Heart attack on rack and tuna down.” A few minutes later, she brought their drinks and dashed off again.
“I wonder why it’s so crowded,” Delaney said. The diner did a brisk business but she’d never seen it like this.
“TheSan Francisco Callfeatured it in Sunday’s paper. Said it was one of the most authentic diners in northern California. Now everyone’s hiking up the mountain to eat patty melts. We’ve even gotten some business out of it. Just today, a group of walk-ins signed up for white-water rafting.”
“That’s great.” Delaney took a long drink. The walk to downtown had been hot and dry.
“Can’t complain. You see my brother this morning?”
“No. Why?”
He lifted his shoulders, trying to seem nonchalant. “No reason. I just thought you two were hanging out.”
If TJ was trying to find out where his brother and Delaney stood, she wasn’t taking the bait. “So to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?” She wanted him to get to the point of this lunch. And why he was asking questions about her and Colt.
“I saw the pants you made Colt. He says you made shorts too, which I haven’t seen, but if they’re anything like the pants ... Anyway, I’m interested in selling them at Garner Adventure.”
She’d thought Colt had been joking when he’d mentioned it the other night. “Ah, TJ, I don’t really do that. Even my ready-to-wear is, uh, higher concept.”
“I know,” he said, but she could tell he wasn’t ready to give up. “But what if we bought the design from you and had our people make them and sew in our own labels?”
