Arms of an Angel (3 page)

“
Garrett, correct?” He
nodded. “I shall welcome the switch. Last names are so formally
tedious at times; especially when we forget which one belongs to
us.” Free laughter flowed again.

“
Claire it is then.” He
liked the feel of her name on his tongue. The thought made his brow
crinkle. She intoxicated him much more than the champagne. He
wondered why.

The meal progressed quite pleasantly, capped
with a shared, decadent, raspberry chocolate dessert.

“
Why are we celebrating?” he
asked as she dipped her fork into the corner closest to
her.

“
What would make you say
we’re celebrating?” She was surprised by his suggestion.

He shrugged, not wanting to ruffle her again
in any way.

Reading his thoughts, she smiled. “You’re
suddenly wondering, as you did in the beginning, why a woman would
get all dressed up and take herself out to a fancy restaurant to
dine alone. It seems… dysfunctional? Emotionally unstable?
Downright coo coo?”

He shook his head then laughed.

“
Perhaps I was stood up as
well…”

“
Nope. You called in for a
table,” he reminded her.

“
Right.” She tried to think
of something else, though the quantity of champagne they’d consumed
made anything short of silly hard to formulate. “We need coffee. I
do anyway. Or maybe just a cab. It appears we’re about the last
ones in here.”

Garrett looked around, surprised at the
number of empty tables. He looked back at his bewitching dinner
partner, remorseful at the thought of this evening coming to an
end.

“
I have my car. Perhaps I
might offer you a ride?” he asked, holding his breath in
hope.

“
It’s a big city. How do you
know I’m not far out of your way?”

“
Statistically people don’t
venture far from their own zone for a meal.” He shrugged. “Am I
wrong?”

“
Actually I live at the
Grange. So your statistic stands, at least for me.”

“
So? The ride?” He could
tell she was debating within herself. After all, she really didn’t
know him. It was one thing to have dinner with a stranger in a full
restaurant. A ride all alone changed the playing field completely.
Though as he watched her, secretly analyzing because that’s just
what he did, Garrett got the distinct feeling his was certainly not
the first offer to be taken home she’d received nor
accepted.

He smiled as she nodded. “Good,” he said. “I
wasn’t quite ready to part with such a mesmerizing companion.”

Claire raised her brows; her eyes and lips
teasingly questioning.

“
Oh dear!” he stammered, a
bit embarrassed she’d think him so forward. “I didn’t mean to
imply… I never expected… I didn’t think…”

Claire began to giggle at his uneasy
moment.

“
Well, I’m glad
you’re
finding humor in
the moment.”

“
I apologize,” Claire
sputtered through her laughter. “Oh we do clearly travel in
different circles, my new-found friend.” She dabbed her
mirth-filled eyes with a tissue she produced from her bag. “It’s
been a long time since I’ve stumbled across anyone with your
quality of innocence, Garrett. It’s…refreshing,
actually.”

He studied her again. “How old are you,
Claire?”

“
Is there a qualifying age?”
she joked.

He shook his head. “Just curious. You seem to
have lived an awful lot for one who I’d say has to be on the lower
numeral side of her twenties. You’ve got a lot going on inside of
you.”

Their eyes locked. Claire was quiet. Had it
not been for the champagne she might have bolted. She didn’t want
him to see inside of her; at least she thought she didn’t.

Her moment of seriousness
was replaced by that mischievousness he’d glimpsed earlier.
“Experience is a great teacher. You should know that, Mr. Analyst.
And a ride home
only
will suffice, if the offer is still on the table.”

“
It is and glad I shall be
for the continued gracing of your company,” he said and they both
laughed. Claire was thinking he’d have made quite a gallant knight
in shining armor.

* * * * *

Garrett didn’t see it, though Claire must
have indicated that they were ready to leave. Anthony appeared and
leaned toward her, whispering that there would be no check.

“
Your meal is on the house
due to the mistake,” he told her quietly.

“
As expected,” she answered,
discreetly handing him a couple of large bills. “There will be no
need for change.”

The waiter stared at her for a moment before
realization set in and a look of gratitude and delight covered his
features. “Thank you.” He half bowed as he went away. Claire merely
glanced at Garrett who watched her with a look of awe. A class act
with an unmistakable edge of sheer rawness all rolled up into one
perfect bundle.

“
Shall we?” she asked when
she was finished with whatever it was she was doing beneath the
edge of the table.

Garrett nodded. “You know,” he said as he
scooted her chair back, “you really should let me take care of our
dear Mr. Ballard. I didn’t realize you’d already made arrangements
with the waiter. I’d have protested but you seem the type not to
take interference lightly.”

“
You’re right,” she teased.
“Never undermine or second guess me and all will go well between
us,” she continued in a silly English accent, “and I shan’t hear
anymore of your nonsense. Now come along and watch the pro in
action.” She crooked her finger and winked as she walked away.
Garrett followed, unsure if he was bemused or bewitched. He felt
fairly certain about one thing, Mr. Ballard was about to find
himself asking the same question.

Secured within Garrett’s jet black Lexus,
Claire and Garrett both burst into laughter.

“
Oh, that was priceless, my
dear.” Garrett was able to speak only as his laughter subsided
somewhat. “That poor man… Oh, Claire, you really had him certain
his job was on the block. And such a pleasant look upon your
angelic face as you delivered the blow.”

“
Oh, I’m truly evil in
heels, aren’t I?” She looked apologetic for a full split second
before breaking into more laughter. “Oh, bah. He was happy when I
kissed his cheek and pulled my hand free of his.” She waved her
hand back and forth.

“
Yes, once he realized you
were putting him on.”

Claire shrugged. “Evil!”

Garrett shook his head. “Playful and,
perhaps, a bit ornery. Evil? No!” He smiled at her as Claire
studied his face. Uncertainty clouded her beautiful features. She
looked away, staring out her window as they drove a couple of
blocks in silence.

“
How long have you lived at
the Grange?” he asked. “I heard they’re very hard units to get hold
of.”

Claire nodded that they were. “We’ve had the
unit forever,” she told him then laughed. “Well, Dad had it.
Acquired it many years ago, along with his first mistress.”

Garrett’s mouth fell open. Claire nodded
again and laughed. “You’re surprised that I know, am so nonchalant
about it, that she was his first, or that we’d keep the unit?”

“
Yes… all of the
above.”

“
Boy! For a psych you sure
are naïve,” she poked. He started to protest then decided she was
right.

“
The woman faded away, my
mom liked the unit, and it became our place to stay when we came to
town. He loved my mom, Garrett. The other women were mere
diversions. My mom was the only true wife he had.”

Garrett couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
Had he known her better he’d have told her that was crap. He’d have
asked her what about vows and respect? “Well, it’s a beautiful
building, at least from the outside. I’ve never been in,” he said
instead.

“
You want to come up? We can
have that coffee we never ordered…” They were stopped in front of
the building waiting for a clearing to turn into the circle drive
where the doorman waited. Their eyes locked and a bucket of
emotions passed between them.

He reached over and touched her cheek. “I
want to, but I won’t. Besides, I have a brunch date at my parent’s
farm in Morgan’s Falls. It’s late and I’ll have to get up early to
make it on time.”

“
Oh.” Claire nodded, the
corners of her lips turning down. “A decent reason I suppose.” She
chuckled. “I’ve never been turned down for parents.”

They smiled at one another as he pulled in
and the doorman approached. “Another time perhaps?”

Claire gave a noncommittal half shrug.
“Perhaps.” She was silent for a moment, signaling the doorman to
wait. “Thank you for an enjoyable evening, Garrett. I’m pleased our
paths crossed.” She started to reach for the door and he grasped
her arm. She looked at his hand then at him.

“
I have this overwhelming
feeling that I’ll never see you again once you get out.” His brows
were drawn down, his face concerned.

Claire was sure he could hear the loud thud
of her heart. She felt the need to throw him off.

“
Let me have your phone.”
She held out her hand and he produced it with out question. She
stared at it for a moment then keyed in her number. “There.” She
handed it back.

“
Thank you.” He smiled,
rubbing the phone between his fingers as if it was her hand. “We’ll
have that coffee… and sooner than you think.

“
Would we have had coffee,
Dr. O’Bryan?” she asked, kissing his cheek and bolting from the car
before he had time to recover.

When she waved and smiled mischievously from
the lobby doorway he shook his head and laughed. The thought of her
would not easily be shaken, he was sure of that.

“
You’re home early, Ms.
Orion,” Garrett heard the doorman saying to her as he pushed the
button that rolled down the window. “And alone! You ruffled
somebody’s feathers again, girl?”

Claire started to respond but was cut off by
Garrett’s voice calling her name. She turned toward him and he was
struck momentarily silent by her beauty. Uncertain of his intent,
she walked back to the car and looked through the open window.

“
Change your mind?” she
teased. “No, I suppose Morgan’s Falls still has you bound. What
then?”

“
Sunday brunch? 10:00ish?
And we’ll have that coffee then. Scouts honor.” He held up two
fingers.

“
Wouldn’t you know. Friday
night and I get stuck with a parent whipped boy scout.” She
laughed, letting him know she was still teasing. “Make it 10:30 and
I’ll accept with expectation.”

Garrett nodded. “Claire,” he called as she
began to back away. “You are a woman of your word, right?” When she
didn’t respond he added, “You seem as though you would be.”

Claire breathed in and held it for a moment
as she looked into the distance. The night had not gone as she’d
planned. Now she was being asked for her word. Yes, she was a woman
of her word…most of the time, and especially when pressed. Why was
he asking? Did he inherently know? If she said yes, under the
circumstances, was she bound by her word? Yes, she supposed she
was. At last she nodded. “My yes is yes. I’ll be waiting and
watching. 10:30 sharp on Sunday morning.”

Garrett smiled. “Thank you.”

“
You may change your mind.
You don’t really know me.” She pushed away from the car with a
laugh.

He shook his head. No, he didn’t know her at
all. He’d lived enough of life, however, to believe their paths
must have crossed that evening for a definite reason. He wondered
if he’d ever find out why.

“
You losin’ your touch,
Miss?” Garrett heard the doorman teasing her again.

“
Nah, Charlie. I got lucky
in a different way tonight.” She elbowed the older gentleman. “I
found me an angel. What was his name? Clarence maybe? Oh listen… I
think I hear a bell ringing.”

He heard the doorman chuckle as Claire
disappeared behind the heavy wood and beveled glass doors of the
grand building.

“
Not an angel with these
thoughts!” he whispered as he drove away.

* * * * *

Claire sat down on the edge
of her bed to remove her shoes. She laid her phone on the
nightstand next to the two waiting pill bottles then pulled off her
earrings. She placed them next to the phone and picked up the
bottles. She put her empty hand over her heart and realized for the
first time in a very long time she hadn’t thought about the hurt
inside for many hours. Maybe Garrett really was an angel. She
considered the idea. Either way he’d altered the course of her
life. She opened the nightstand drawer and dropped the bottles
inside. She was suddenly very tired. Garrett was right. It was
late. She looked at her phone and shook her head as she realized
she hadn’t gotten his number. Now the true question… was
he
a man of
his
word? Would he show on
Sunday morning?

As she stood to prepare for bed, her phone
began to play its jingle.

“
Hello?” she spoke into
it.

“
Funny thing... as I was
driving home, I realized two things,” Garrett’s voice sounded
through the phone.

“
And those two things would
be what, Dr. O’Bryan?” Garrett could tell Claire was smiling as she
spoke. It made his own lips curve upward.