Meant To Be (2 page)

Come on, Jessie, we're all responsible for our own actions.

Oh, shut up.

Jessica pulled her old pickup into the driveway and killed the engine. She eyeballed Garrett Jamison's truck, tempted to sneak over and let the air out of his tires. Nope, she thought with a wistful twist of her lips, not worth a night in jail. She grabbed her purse and the beef melt sandwich she'd brought home for supper, and headed into the house.

She got settled in her old rocker-recliner with her sandwich and a bottle of iced tea and clicked on the TV. The five o'clock news would be on soon, and she leaned back in the comfortable beige chair, plate balanced on her lap, curious to know more about her new hometown of Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Hard to believe she'd only been here two weeks. Seemed more like months had gone by since she'd packed up her truck and traveled halfway across the country. She'd rented the house in advance from her great-uncle Charlie and had been lucky enough to find full-time employment on her fourth night in town. The minimum wage job would barely cover all her bills, however, so she'd need to find something part-time before she ended up dipping into the little bit of savings she had.

Jessica tilted the bottle to her lips and took a sip of her tea. So far, she loved it here. The city itself was beautiful, particularly the rural neighborhood Uncle Charlie lived in. White-flowered trees lined both sides of the street, and just about everybody had a basketful of petunias, begonias, or some such flower hanging by their front door. The people were just as friendly as she'd always heard Midwesterners were, too.

With the exception of the Jolly Mean Giant next door.

And what a waste since the man was as gorgeous as they came. Thick, near-black hair curled up around the nape of his neck; dark, bedroom brown eyes framed by thick lashes any woman would envy. Not to mention the sexiest dimples she'd ever seen—which she'd only seen once when he'd smiled down at his sister's kid. The guy was huge, too, well over six feet tall and solidly built, with muscular arms that just bordered on being too thick. The kind of arms a girl could feel safe in.

Disgusted by the direction of her thoughts, Jessica unwrapped her sandwich and sank her teeth in. Maybe some major chewing would get the big jerk out of her mind.

Mr. Louie hopped up on her lap, stuck his little pink nose into the melted cheese, and let out a whopper of a sneeze.

"Oh, flippin’ gross! Thanks a lot, cat.” Mr. Louie grinned up at her. She eyed the sandwich with regret before setting the plate on the floor.
Taps
bugled in her mind as she watched the little crapper devour her supper.

Having pretty much lost her appetite and her desire to watch the news, Jessica got up and headed into the bedroom. Might as well fire up her laptop and see if her online service was in a more accommodating mood than it'd been yesterday.

Garrett was lifting weights in the basement when he heard the front door fly open and the familiar tread of small feet race across the floor above him.

"Uncle Garrett! Uncle Garrett! I mastered it! I mastered Combat Commando!"

Grinning, Garrett listened to the staccato clip of those feet as they flew through the kitchen, down the basement steps, until his nephew, Ethan, skidded to a halt in front of him.

"Mastered it? Holy cow, sport, that's amazing.” He set the barbell down and reached for a towel. “Maybe we can play a few rounds later tonight, if it's okay with your parents."

"Sounds good to this parent,” Mike Andrews assured him as he descended the stairs and strode over to stand beside his son.

It never failed to amaze Garrett just how much father and son resembled each other, with their nearly black hair and unnaturally bright blue eyes. “Hey, Mike."

"Garrett.” Mike reached out and shook his hand. “Ethan was hoping he could spend the night here, if you don't have plans. Please say you don't have plans."

Garrett grinned. “You and Sara not getting much alone time?"

"Not as much as I'd like, although I'm not complaining.” Mike took a seat on the couch, legs sprawled and arms draped across the top. “Listen, there's something I'd like to talk to you about, if you've got a minute."

Garrett glanced over at Ethan. “Hey, sport, why don't you get the game set up while I talk to your dad."

"Okay."

Garrett worked the towel down his neck and chest. “So what's up?"

"Detective Brady put in for a transfer today. His wife got some big promotion so they're moving down to Milwaukee."

"No kidding, hey?” Garrett laid the towel over his shoulder. “Can't say I envy him. Milwaukee? No goddamn thanks."

Mike chuckled. “I hear you. What I'm wondering is, you interested in making detective?"

Garrett let out a long-suffering breath. Detective? Hell, he'd been dreaming of making detective since the day he joined the police academy. Now he wasn't even sure he wanted to remain on the force, let alone move up the ranks. The most important asset a cop had was his instincts. Garrett discovered his were worthless the night he got shot, and Ethan got kidnapped right out of his own bed.

"I'm not sure what I want to do anymore.” He lowered his voice. “I've been thinking about taking a leave from the force. And that information stays between us, got it?"

Mike glanced at Ethan and it was almost as if understanding dawned. Garrett felt a stab of jealousy. It seemed that Mike's instincts were sharp as a tack.

"You're a good cop. Don't you think you're being a bit hard on yourself?"

Garrett shot to his feet and tossed the towel over the back of the weight bench. “There isn't anyone in this world I care about more than that boy,” he said in a furious whisper. “And because of me, he almost died. Hard on myself? I should've had my badge stripped away, and you know it."

"Hey, Uncle Garrett, can I sleep over tonight? We can order pizza and play Combat Commando all night. I'll pay for the pizza. I got my allowance today.” Ethan stuffed his hand in his front pocket and proudly pulled out a crumpled ten-dollar bill.

"That's mighty generous, Ethan, but I'll pay for the pizza. You just put your money in your piggy bank."

Ethan rolled his eyes. “It's a
Spiderman
bank."

Garrett held up his hands. “Sorry."

Mike gave him one last searching look before rising to his feet. “I have to get back home and fire up the grill. You sure it's all right if he sleeps over?"

The look on Mike's face was so hopeful, Garrett couldn't help but laugh. “I'm sure. I planned on staying in tonight anyway.” He looked at Ethan. “It'll be a ‘guys only’ night. Pizza, root beer, chocolate cake, and Combat Commando. Uncle Luke and Uncle Nicky'll probably join us."

"Yay! I love whippin’ Uncle Nicky at Combat Commando. He gets really mad and his eye starts twitchin'."

Garrett ruffled his hair. “Sounds good to me. You get to practicing while I walk your dad out."

Mike gave Ethan a quick hug, then led the way upstairs.

"Hey, thanks again for taking Ethan.” With a wink, Mike opened the front door and stepped out.

Jessica's hands flew up in reflex when Sara's fiancé—who was almost as large as Garrett—practically mowed her down.

He caught himself in the nick of time. “Whoa!"

Jessica expelled a nervous laugh. “You just scared ten years off my life."

"Sorry,” he said with a sheepish grin. “Guess I'd better watch were I'm going. Garrett, thanks again. I'll talk to you later."

Jessica watched him leave before turning back to Garrett. Standing there in nothing but a pair of black gym shorts, he was too hot for words.
Damn him
.

"So what can I do for you?” He leaned negligently against the doorframe, an almost pleasant smile curving his lips.

"I'm here to see Nick. Is he home?"

The smile disappeared. He straightened and crossed his arms over his chest, which made those huge biceps bulge even more. Jessica realized for the first time he had a tattoo. Huh. She wouldn't have thought him the type. Frankly, she thought tattoos were sexy, if they weren't garish, which his wasn't. It looked to be some sort of Chinese symbol.

Probably means ‘He-with-head-too-big-for-hat.'

"You're barking up the wrong tree there, honey. Nicky's married to his computer."

"Not that it's any of your business, but that's exactly why I'm here. I'm having trouble with my online service and was hoping he could help.” Now why did she feel the urge to explain herself?
Double damn him.

He looked her up and down in an insultingly blatant manner. “I know a thing or two about computers."

"No kidding? Great, next time I need help surfing the porno sites, you'll be the first one I call."

His eyes went cold. “You think I'm just some big, dumb Neanderthal, don't you?"

Jessica gave him the same insulting once over he'd given her. “If the leopard toga fits..."

"I happen to have a BS in Computer Science."

Hands on hips, jaw working furiously, he looked so offended Jessica was hard-pressed not to laugh. “I don't understand. You could be making a lot more money in computers than you are as a cop. And you wouldn't be putting your life in danger on a daily basis.” She glanced meaningfully at the scarred flesh visible above the waistband of his shorts.

"This didn't happen in the line of duty. Besides, I love being a cop."

He said it as if she should've instinctually known it. Jessica sighed. Garrett Jamison was turning out to be much deeper than she'd imagined. “It's a noble profession. It's also a very dangerous one."

"True enough. But it's not as if I have a family who's dependent on me."

She reached up to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “What about your uncle, or your sister and brothers? Or your nephew? I'm sure they'd all be devastated if something happened to you."

"What about you?"

His voice had taken on a deep, sexy timbre that turned Jessica's knees to mush. Garrett Jamison was entirely too gorgeous for his own good—or for hers. “What about me?"

Before she knew what he was about, he reached out and cupped the side of her face, tracing his thumb over her cheekbone. “Would you miss me if something happened?"

"What a thing to ask,” she breathed, her gaze centered on his full lips. “I barely know you.” Was he going to kiss her? Right there where any of the neighbors could see? Not that she'd mind...

"Uncle Garrett, the game's set up. Can we order pizza now?"

Garrett snatched back his hand, and Jessica's gaze dropped to the little boy leaning possessively against his leg.

Was it her imagination, or was the little stinker glaring daggers at her?

"Hi, Ethan, my name is Jessica."

"I know."

Nope, not her imagination. In fact, the scowl on his face was downright hostile. Now what in the world had she done to warrant such disfavor?

"Ethan, you watch your manners,” Garrett growled.

"Yes, sir."

He cast her one last mutinous scowl, then turned and ran back into the house. Jessica had to resist the urge to laugh. She wouldn't take his behavior personally. The boy obviously adored his uncle and didn't care to share him. Another fascinating layer of Garrett Jamison—loving uncle.

"Sorry about that. Ethan's a good kid. I'm not sure what got into him."

"My guess would be old-fashioned jealousy. You two apparently have plans for the evening, and when he saw us ... talking, his young mind assumed I was trying to lure you away."

A frown creased his forehead. “I don't know. Ethan knows I'd never abandon him. For anyone."

Ouch, point taken. She shrugged. “You know him better than I do. I'm just telling you what I saw. Well, this has been fun, but I need to get back. Mr. Louie doesn't like to watch TV alone."

Garrett chuckled. “Give His Highness a scratch behind the ears for me."

"What? Just this afternoon you suggested I have him euthanized."

"Good Lord, woman, can't you take a joke?” Garrett winked at her, then stepped back and closed the door.

Jessica shook her head. The man was crazy, no doubt about it. He was also so handsome it should be a crime. With a sigh of frustration, she headed back home to watch
Wheel of Fortune
.

"She smacked you across the face in front of the entire restaurant?” Danny, Garrett's youngest brother, chuckled as he poured himself a cup of coffee. “Oh, man, I can only imagine what you must've said to piss her off that bad."

They'd just finished supper, and Ethan was downstairs playing video games with Nicky.

"Son, I thought I taught you better,” Uncle Luke chimed in. “You wouldn't want someone speaking to Sara like that, would you?"

Garrett took a thoughtful sip of his coffee. Uncle Luke had come to live with them right after their parents were killed in a car crash nearly twenty years ago, and there wasn't anyone in the world Garrett respected more. Or who knew him better.

"I've been in a funk lately, I know it. Believe me, I don't like it any better than the rest of you. Besides, I made sure she didn't lose her job. Doesn't that count for something?"

"You need to get laid, that's the problem,” opined Danny, who happened to be the only man in the Jamison household with a sex life. He and his girlfriend, Emily, had gotten engaged a few weeks back, and Danny had unofficially moved in with her that same night.

"As if I need you to remind me of that."

Uncle Luke cleared his throat. “Garrett, do you happen to know if Muriel is seeing anyone?"

Garrett looked up in surprise. Muriel Spencer was one of the non-sworn who answered phones down at the police station, and since she lived just up the block, she'd been casually flirting with Uncle Luke for years. “As a matter of fact, she had a blind date last weekend that was so bad she swore off men for good."

"Sounds like her. Well, I guess that's it then."

"'That's it'? You're not even gonna ask her?” Danny demanded, incredulous.

"Yeah,” Garrett said, “I mean, she swears off men
every
time she has a bad date. And hell, she's waited on you long enough."

"What are you talking about?"