Meant To Be (4 page)

"So you've been wondering what her lips taste like then?"

Garrett shook his head. “You've just got to romanticize everything, don't you?"

Her gaze turned serious. “I'm worried about you, big brother. You haven't been with anyone in a long time."

"Jesus, first Danny tells me I need to get laid, and now you?” He let out an uncomfortable, half-hearted laugh.

"I just meant dating, actually.” She grinned up at him. “Men and women usually have different priorities when it comes to sex."

"Can't argue with that."

"So, are you going to ask her out or what? ‘Cause if you're even half as interested as I think you are, you'd better get moving. That is one beautiful woman, and it won't be long before she's off the market."

Nicky walked up and joined them. “Hey, Sis, do you happen to know if that new neighbor of ours is seeing anyone?"

Sara promptly burst out laughing.

"You two set that up,” Garrett accused through narrowed eyes.

Sara held up a hand in disbelief. “I swear, it was a total coincidence."

"Set what up?” Nicky asked, frowning.

"You're moving to New York in less than two months,” Garrett pointed out, hating the surge of jealousy that tightened his chest.

"And I can't have a little fun before I go?"

"I don't give a shit what you do."

Nicky's smile was annoyingly knowing. “Sorry, big brother, but I saw the way she looked at you. You'd have a better chance at a nun's convention."

"You two talk about her like she's a blow up doll,” Sara snapped, her heated gaze ping-ponging between them. It stopped on Nicky. “And I have news for you. You're not the one she wants."

He crossed his arms over his chest, his expression smug. “I know when a woman's into me. She hung on every word I said when we talked earlier."

"Yeah, to make this one jealous,” Sara shot back, flipping her chin toward Garrett.

"What makes you so sure?” Garrett couldn't stop himself from asking. He scowled at her shrewd smile.

"Bullshit,” Nicky said. “She actually told you she was interested in Captain Hothead here? Or is this some women's intuition crap."

Sara's eyes narrowed. “I don't need ‘intuition’ to know your name never came up in conversation.” Her gaze swung back to Garrett. “And if your intentions are the same as Mr. Wham-bam's here, you can just forget it. She doesn't strike me as the casual sex type."

Jessica ran downstairs to pull the last load from the dryer, relieved to finally be done with laundry. She hadn't eaten much earlier at the party, so she planned to fry herself up a big juicy cheeseburger. After supper, she'd soak in a hot bath for an hour or so, then get to bed early for a change.

Someone knocked at the door just as she reached the top of the steps. She set the stack of towels on the back of the sofa and peeked out the window. Her traitorous body tingled with awareness when she realized who stood on her porch.

She swung the door open and said in her haughtiest tone, “What do you want?"

"I was hoping we could talk."

"About...?"

"Us."

Jessica laughed. “Jamison, I think you must've had one too many beers at the party. There is no, nor will there ever be, an ‘us'."

Garrett's smug smile grated on her nerves. She tried to shut the door, but he reached out and blocked her.

"Why can't you just let me enjoy the rest of my night in peace?"

"I figure I owe you an apology. Not only for the restaurant scene, but for Ethan's behavior as well."

Jessica let out a lusty sigh. “I forgive you, okay?"

"Look, I've had some ... difficult things to deal with lately, and I've been inexcusably rude—mostly to you."

He grinned, and Jessica was once again taken by how handsome he was. And sexy. Lord, the man was sexy.

"But when you slapped me yesterday,” he continued, “it was like you slapped the meanness right out of me."

"Well, I did put my shoulder into it."

He chuckled. “I was impressed, I'll tell you that.” They stared at each other for a few seconds. “May I come in?"

Jessica chewed on the inside of her cheek, knowing she was entering dangerous territory if she let him in. She gave her head an ‘I must be nuts’ shake, then took a step back. “Fine. But don't think for one minute I'll be putting my cat out for you."

Following her inside, he admitted, “Hell, truth is, I don't mind cats. Though, I have a feeling yours won't want to come within ten feet of me."

"I swear, I've never seen him sit on someone's head before."

Garrett had taken a seat on the recliner, and as soon as he'd leaned his head back, her crazy cat hopped up and settled right atop his head, tail tickling Garrett's nose, back paws resting menacingly against the side of Garrett's face.

"He's going to scratch the shit out of me if I move, isn't he?” Garrett looked cross-eyed up at the cat.

"Well, you
have
threatened him every night this week, and Mr. Louie can be a bit of a grudge holder. You'll just have to wait until he gets bored and jumps off.” She walked off into the kitchen. “Can I interest you in a cheeseburger?"

"Hell, cat, ever hear of an empty threat?” he muttered. To Jessica, he said, “Are you seriously not going to get this beast off my head?” He reached up and gingerly scratched under Mr. Louie's chin. To Garrett's amazement, the cat relaxed its back paws and started purring like a trolling motor.

With Mr. Louie wrapped around his neck like a mink stole, Garrett stood up and headed into the kitchen.

"If you want to prove how sorry you are for acting like a jerk,” Jessica was saying as she sliced into a tomato, “making nice with Mr. Louie is a good start. Like I said, he can be a bit of a grudge holder. Now, about that cheeseburger—"

"Sounds good to me."

Jessica whirled around. “Dammit, you almost gave me a heart attack!” Her eyes narrowed when they landed on Mr. Louie, then slowly softened as she watched him stroke the cat's head, its chin, its throat. Jessica licked her lips and slowly met his gaze.

"Look at me like that and those burgers'll never get fried."

"Conceited jackass,” she muttered, spinning back around.

He laughed and leaned up against her fridge. Mr. Louie continued to purr his little heart out as Garrett alternately stroked his head and scratched behind his ears. Jessica flipped the patties into the heated pan and finished slicing up the tomato.

"So, why don't you tell me something about yourself. You've already met my entire family, and all I know about you is you're divorced."

"And it's a subject that's off-limits, got it?"

He frowned. “I'm not trying to pry, woman. Just curious."

Jessica glanced back over her shoulder and, once again, Garrett was struck by those beautiful blue eyes of hers. Almost the exact same color as the morning glories Sara planted every year along the back of the house.

"Sorry. It's a touchy subject for me. And there's not much to tell, really. My mom and dad own a little coffee shop in Seattle where they've lived their whole lives. I have an older sister, Katie, who's twenty-seven, and a little brother, Richard, who just turned twenty-one."

"Sounds like a picture-perfect family."

She shrugged. “I think they're perfect. Katie teaches Tae Kwon Do, and Richard starts his third year at Michigan Tech this fall."

Garrett carefully unwrapped Mr. Louie from around his neck and set him on the floor. The cat angrily licked his paw, then took off as if shot from a cannon. “Michigan Tech, huh? Uncle Luke and I go ice fishing up that way every year. Portage Lake, outside of Houghton."

"Somehow, I can't picture you fishing. I mean, it takes a lot of patience if the fish aren't biting, and patience doesn't seem to be one of your strong suits."

She cast him a cheeky grin, and Garrett couldn't help but smile back. God, how he wanted her. “Normally, it's not. But fishing is different. And don't ask me why, it just is."

He watched in silence while she piled sliced tomatoes, lettuce, ketchup, mustard, and even pickle chips onto a platter. She buttered the buns and placed them cut side down in a large non-stick fry pan.

"You really take your burgers seriously,” he commented, stepping back so she could get into the fridge. She pulled out two bottles of iced tea and handed him one.

"A cheeseburger is just blah if the bun isn't toasted. Who wants to eat a blah cheeseburger?"

Garrett stared at her in silent contemplation as he shook the bottle. “Woman, you are one strange bird."

"I'm strange?” She let out a derisive laugh. “You threatened to skin my cat the other night, but I'm strange?"

"Touché.” He twisted off the cap and gulped down half his tea before adding, “Maybe that's why we're so drawn to each other."

"Speak for yourself, Jamison. You're the one who keeps showing up wherever I am."

"And you love it.” He set the bottle down on top of the fridge and strode forward, backing her up against the counter. “Admit it."

She lifted her chin a notch. “Actually, I was thinking your brother Nick's quite a catch. And he has a much sweeter disposition than you do."

"Nicky won't come within ten feet of you, if he knows what's good for him."

"You don't own me!” was her childish retort.

Garrett didn't even bother with a response. He cupped her face in his hands and brought his mouth down on hers in a searing kiss.

[Back to Table of Contents]

It didn't take Jessica long to respond. She opened her mouth and twined her arms around his neck, pulse racing, skin tingling.

Garrett slid his hands down to her waist and lifted her, depositing her on the counter top, never breaking the kiss. Jessica breathed in the intoxicating scent of his aftershave, its spicy scent enveloping her like two loving arms. He spread her thighs and stepped between them.

Jessica moaned against his mouth and wrapped her legs around his hips, urging him closer still, meeting the thrust of his tongue with equal fervor. Garrett grasped her backside with both hands and squeezed, driving her wild with desire. He pulled her flush against him, his rock-hard erection nestled just where she wanted it most.

A suspicious smell made it past the fog surrounding Jessica's brain. She went still and sniffed the air, then tore her mouth from his with a squeal. “They're burning!” she cried, pushing against his chest as she wriggled to be free.

Garrett lifted her off the counter and set her on her feet. The nutty aroma of burnt butter filled the kitchen.

She snatched the fry pan off the burner and glowered up at him. “You made me burn my buns!” She pitched them in the garbage, set the pan in the sink, and turned on the faucet. The water crackled and hissed against the hot pan.

"How ‘bout we take a ride to Cleaver's?” he suggested.

"Cleaver's?” She knew she was making the lippy pout-face, but didn't care. She turned off the burner under the hamburger patties and flipped those in the garbage as well.

He grinned. “Yeah. They make a damn good burger, and their fries aren't bad either. Sound like a plan?"

Jessica's stomach let loose with a monster growl. “Fine. But since this is your fault, you're buying."

"Man, I'm starving.” Garrett took an appreciative whiff of the steaming paper bag as he held open the door.

Jessica cast him an incredulous look as she walked past him into the house. “After all the food you wolfed down a few hours ago?” She set her purse on the coffee table and headed into the kitchen.

"It's been more than four hours,” he countered when she returned. “And I'm a big boy; I need more fuel than the average guy."

She handed him a plate and a fresh bottle of iced tea. “With a big head that requires a larger hat size than the average guy."

"Funny.” He handed her a cheeseburger and order of fries before dumping the bag over his own plate. “Guess Mr. Louie isn't the only grudge holder in this house."

"Sorry.” She picked up the remote and clicked on the TV, running through the channels until Tom Cruise appeared on the screen. “Cool,
Jerry Maguire
."

"Don't tell me you like this guy?” Christ, what was it with women and Tom Cruise? Sara thought the guy walked on water, too. “He's like four feet tall."

"He is not; you're just a giant,” she shot back. “Everybody seems small compared to you."

"Please tell me you aren't going to make me watch this movie."

She rolled her eyes. “Fine, then you decide.” She tossed him the remote.

Garrett caught it in mid-air and started flipping through the channels. He stopped on the movie
Striptease
with Demi Moore and glanced at Jessica with a questioning lift of his brow. “Not that I'm into strippers,” he quickly explained, knowing how women felt about that kind of stuff, “but Burt Reynolds is a riot in this movie."

"I don't want to watch this,” she said, looking oddly uncomfortable.

With a shrug, he kept flipping until he came across a rerun of Three's Company.

Jessica nodded her approval.

By the time they finished eating it was close to seven o'clock. Jessica got up and carried their plates into the kitchen. “Well, Jamison, who would've thought we could spend this much time together without killing each other?"

"Hell, not me. Which reminds me, I'd like to know why you tried to separate my head from my shoulders yesterday in the restaurant."

Dead silence. Jessica returned to the living and met his gaze. “I told you, that subject is off-limits."

"You said the subject of your divorce was off limits, but you didn't slap me until after I made that comment about kids."

She sat Indian-style on the floor next to the recliner, stroking Mr. Louie's back. “Look, I don't care to talk about my past. I don't know what else I can say to make you understand."

"I'm a pretty good listener, Jess. And anything you told me would be strictly confidential. You have my word.” She gazed up at him with those big blue eyes, and the temptation to pull her into his arms nearly overpowered him.

"There's nothing to tell,” she insisted. “I got married too young, and he turned out to be a total loser. End of story."