Page 79 of The Bodyguard
19
GARRETT
The King’s Land
I looked at the clock on my dashboard and cursed. It was a little after one in the morning. I felt like a schmuck because I knew by now she was probably sleeping, but this was too big to let sit overnight. Brin needed to know how I felt about her. Now. Before another minute went by. I hit the button on the security intercom and was surprised when someone immediately opened the gate. I drove my truck up the driveway and hopped out.
Clayton and Ronnie were waiting for me at the front door. I was prepared for this. Prepared to battle my way through, if I had to, but I figured I would try reason and logic first.
“I know she’s had a rough night. I know you’ve probably got her tucked into bed. But I have to talk to her. I have to explain what I said. Why I said it. I was so…I was so freaking scared of what was happening that I…”
Ronnie held up her hand. “She’s gone, Garrett.”
I shook my head. “She said okay. When I said I would come back and we would talk, she said that was okay.”
Ronnie shrugged. “I guess she lied. Look, Garrett, I see that you’re upset but maybe this is for the best. You know Sabrina. She’s worn her heart on her sleeve for years when it comes to you, and you’ve never really felt the same way. I don’t know what happened between you that week she stayed with you, but if this is just about sex…”
I squatted down and grabbed my hair because I couldn’t believe she was saying these things.
“Just about sex,” I whispered. “You have no idea what she gave me. She gave me hope back.”
Slowly I stood back up again. “You have to tell me where she is.”
“I…geezus, Garrett. She told me what you said. You said you were never going to be the man to love her. What else does she need to know? That you feel bad for thinking she’s been lying to you this entire time?”
“I was scared,” I said, swallowing the lump in my throat. “So damn scared to want someone again. To love someone again. I’ve spent this last week kicking myself in the ass, trying to figure out how to fix this and being desperately afraid that I can’t. But tonight I realized that I can’tnottry to fix this. I can’t let her go. I love her.”
“She’s in Dallas,” Clayton said. “At our condo. Give me your cell and I’ll send you the address.”
“Clayton!” Ronnie looked at him. “I don’t know if that was the right thing to do.”
“Ronnie, I spent five years in hell. Loving you, wanting you back, desperate to fix what I had screwed up. Garrett screwed up, too. You going to make him wait five years? You going to make Sabrina wait that long? You promise me you love her?” This he said to me.
It was easier to say now. Easier to let myself feel it. Because I wasn’t scared anymore.
“I love her. And the best thing about my whole life has been that Sabrina King has loved me back. I just didn’t know it until now.”
Clayton nodded. “There is an extra key in the planter when you get off the elevator.”
I rattled off my cell phone number as Clayton pulled his phone out. A second later I knew were Sabrina was. A second after that I was headed back to my ranch to take a quick shower and pack a bag, and then I was off to Dallas.
* * *
SABRINA
Dallas—The Next Morning
“You have got to be kidding. Are you bottle-feeding that cat?”
I looked up at Bea’s horrified face and smiled. “Romeo is my baby. Why wouldn’t I feed him?”
“I thought you didn’t like animals.”
“No, I just didn’t like that hundred pound beast you call Thelma drooling over my Gucci shoes.”
“I’m going to head to Starbucks. You want anything?”
“Yes! A triple shot venti latte with two and a half pumps of sugar-free hazelnut, soy milk, extra hot, no foam.”
