Escape From Obsession (4 page)

“Six months,” she said then swallowed hard. She felt a bit of anxiety speaking with him. She didn’t want him to think she was interested or flirting, but he did seem so nice. Plus considering how crowded it was, he wasn’t trying to invade her space and take advantage. But, he held her gaze and she found herself staring just as intently into his eyes as well.

She started to look at the pictures again and began to walk farther along the hallway. She didn’t like being alone with a man and especially one she didn’t know.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you here before.”

She turned to look at him and he was staring at her as if he were trying to read her mind. She felt his masculinity and something told her that this man was not a man to be trifled with. It was something beyond his big muscles and had something to do with the darkness of his eyes and an almost sad, lonely expression.

“This is my first time here. It’s nice. Your dad said he and your brothers and his brothers own the place.”

Garrett chuckled. “Yeah, he likes to talk.”

“Well, I’m certain that’s a plus considering that he owns a bar and restaurant. People like to go places where staff and owners are friendly, not rude,” she added just as a few rowdy guys walked by and nearly bumped her. Garrett placed himself in front of her, taking the brunt of the bump but hardly losing his balance.

“Hey, sorry, Garrett, I didn’t mean to bump into you,” one of the guys said then looked from Garrett to her.

“Not a problem, just be careful,” he replied then turned back to look at Gia.

Some kind of exchange went back and forth between the guy and Garrett, but she didn’t know what it was about. Gia turned to look for her friends and of course Sammy and Kaleigh were staring right at her and whispering because Gia was talking with the gorgeous bartender.

“I’m on break, can I get you a drink or something to eat?” he asked her. She was hungry and the girls were supposed be getting a table in the other room.

“Uhm, I was supposed to get a table with my friends.”

“Let’s go see what they’re going to do,” he said and walked with her toward Sammy and Kaleigh.

As they approached, Gia noticed that her jacket was draped over the chair and not wrapped around Sammy’s waist. Before she could say something the girls were answering Garrett’s question about eating and getting a table.

“I totally forgot to put our name down on the waitlist. It should die down in there soon right, Garrett?” Sammy asked. Gia was starving, having missed lunch and only grabbed an apple during the meeting.

“Lucky for you, Sammy, I kind of have connections. Come on. How many are you?” he asked.

“Just five of us. The others ate already,” Sammy said.

As they headed toward the other room with Garrett leading them, Gia gave her friends a look. They fanned themselves and stared at Garrett’s ass as he walked.

She had to admit he had a great ass. Firm, round, and dipped in at the sides indicating that his thighs were more than likely just as muscular and solid.

“Hey, what’s going on?” another older gentleman asked as Garrett spoke to him. The man looked at Gia and her friends. “Take table seven. You should all fit, but it may be a bit tight in the right side.”

Garrett led them back. The girls immediately took seats around the table and then Gia was last to get in on the right side. She wound up wedged against the wall on one side with Garrett on the other. Gia thought she was feeling palpitations from being so close to the man, but her friends winked knowingly and giggled.

Make an excuse to leave. Get out of here now.

Gia was feeling a bit panicked. The scent of his cologne, the way it felt to have such a large, male body so close to her, was scary. Sure she’d been next to plenty of men, but this felt different. She prayed that she didn’t have a panic attack.

“The wings are great here,” he whispered to her as the girls ordered more drinks as one of the waitresses came over.

Gia stared at the menu.

“I kind of like salads,” she replied in a whisper and felt his arm brush against hers.

“They’re all good, darling,” he said and she could feel her body shaking. She tried to just calm her breathing and get through this situation.

They all ordered except for Garrett. She felt her cheeks warm and heat flashes cascade her body as his thigh pressed against hers.

“I thought you said you were on break and wanted to grab a bite?” she asked him as her friends talked amongst one another.

He held her gaze and she could really appreciate his adorable dimples and mysterious eyes. He wasn’t a pretty boy, he was tough as nails.

He shyly looked across the way and then back at her with his lower lip between his bottom teeth. He gave her an expression that nearly knocked her socks off.

“I have to get back to work in a few minutes. I just wanted to be sure to meet you properly, instead of across the bar.”

She swallowed hard.

“Well, it was nice meeting you, Garrett,” she replied, feeling a bit of relief.

“Gia?” He said her name so softly, she slowly turned to look up at him. He was a very tall man and definitely cramped in this tight space.

“I hope to see you again here at Casper’s.”

“Oh she’ll be here tomorrow night with us. It’s girls’ night out,” Sammy chimed in and the others added their comments as Gia shook her head and stared at her lap. When she looked back up into Garrett’s eyes, he appeared different.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He began to stand up and her friends waved good-bye, saying that they would see him tomorrow night.

She watched him walk away and then looked at her friends.

“You lucky girl,” Kaleigh teased and Sammy and her friends made some noises.

“What are you talking about?” Gia asked.

“You just caught the interest of the hottest eligible bachelor in Houston,” Sammy said.

“You go, New York,” the others teased.

Gia shook her head. “I did not catch anyone. He was just being friendly.” Gia then took a sip of her seltzer that the waitress had brought over.

“Honey, he doesn’t talk to anyone he doesn’t want to talk to. He’s respectful and nice to patrons, but he never accepts any invitations from the ladies, if y’ know what I mean,” Kaleigh said.

“I can vouch for that info. I’ve known Garrett since high school. He was always kind of shy and good-looking. After he returned from the military and serving in the Middle East, he was a changed man. Even his dads think so,” Sammy whispered.

Gia thought about that a moment. It was understandable and she wondered if he sustained an injury while there.

“Is that why he has a bit of a limp? Was he injured in the war?” Kaleigh asked before Gia could.

“Oh, God yeah. It was bad. I don’t know all the details, but my dad said Garrett nearly died.”

Gia felt her chest tighten at the thought. And then the waitress brought over some wings.

“Compliments of the bar,” she said then placed the platter of delicious-smelling hot wings with very green, crisp celery in the center of the table. Gia looked up toward the bar and so did her friends as they waved a thank-you. Garrett continued to look at her, holding Gia’s gaze. She smiled and he nodded his head as she wondered if maybe there was a way to put some of the pain behind her. But just as quickly that feeling of dreadful fear made her entire body tighten up.

No way. Not now. Now ever.

The baby was crying and Deanna was trying to calm her down.

“She’s being so colicky. Dale wasn’t like this,” she complained and Gia smiled.

“It will get better. Didn’t the doctor tell you that at her last visit?” Gia asked.

Her cousin Teddy and his best friend Jim’s wife was so sweet and nurturing. The three of them made a great couple. Their son, Dale, who was fourteen, going on fifteen, played football for the local high school. Julia had been a bit of a surprise, but a good surprise, because Deanna had a difficult time getting pregnant with Dale.

“I appreciate you going to pick up Dale. Jim said he’s working late tonight at the headquarters and Teddy is conducting an investigation with his partner and they need to do some surveillance. I swear, things get crazy around here when both my men are working.”

“Well, they’re good men and they love you. I know I might not be sitting here right now if it weren’t for Teddy’s help.”

Deanna smiled.

“Honey, he thinks of you like a sister. He’d do anything for you and so would Jim. So did you do anything last night after work?” Deanna asked and Gia smiled. Deanna was always asking if Gia had met anyone or if she accepted invites from her friends to go out to bars and clubs. Gia had the feeling that Deanna missed that time of her life.

“Actually, Sammy and Kaleigh got me to go out after work to a place called Casper’s.”

“Oh my God, I love that place. I haven’t been there since the baby was born. Teddy knows the owners and their sons. They were all in the Marine Corp you know.”

“Yes, I saw all the pictures there last night and met John Luke. He was very nice.”

“Well, I’m proud of you for going out. I know it was probably a huge step. Did you feel okay about it afterward?”

She thought about that a moment. Deanna, Jim, and Teddy knew about what happened to her back in New York. They knew she was untrusting and that she didn’t like being exposed in any way.

“I guess I survived it.”

“You’re a very beautiful woman, Gia. The kind of woman that both men and women take notice of in a crowd. That’s not a bad thing, but you’re going to have to learn to accept it someday. It doesn’t mean you have to get involved in a relationship any time soon.”

“Oh, there’s no chance of that, believe me. I nearly had a panic attack last night when I met a few cowboys. It still never ceases to amaze me how handsome a lot of men are here in Houston. I mean it’s like something is in the water.”

Deanna chuckled. “Yeah, I’m glad I wrangled me two of them. Maybe you’ll meet a few and settle down here, too,” Deanna said in her Texas accent. Gia continued to get a kick out of the twang in certain words.

“Are you kidding me? I can’t even sit next to an attractive guy, never mind more than one. I think I would pass out.”

“You don’t know that. Maybe it will just take the right guys.” Just then baby Julia began crying again. Poor Deanna, she had just settled the baby down and it didn’t last long.

“I’ll go pick up Dale.”

* * * *

Gia knew that Dale was going to be surprised that she was at his school to pick him up. He loved her sports car, a Mercedes convertible SLS Roadster. It was silver with black-tinted windows. She treated herself after landing the great advertising job and selling some of her own artwork to get from New York to Texas. As she pulled up to the high school, she was impressed with the cleanliness and curbside appeal of the landscaping and campus. It was a very large school. She could see all the football signs and banners wishing good luck to a championship season. She knew football was big in Texas and she was glad she enjoyed watching it. As a NY Giants fan, she knew how to take the ups and downs of football teams. But high school? High school was something extra special. These kids were young, energetic, and all thought they were going to play college ball and ultimately become pros. Dale was one of them. She looked forward to seeing him play his first game next Saturday against a big rival team.

She parked the car behind a few other parked cars and a sign that said “drop off and pick up.”

She fixed her skirt and then looked into the rearview mirror as she waited for Dale to come out. His mom said she would see a group of the boys from the team leave the building together.

With sunglasses on and the music playing kind of loud, she wanted to pull off the cool older cousin. She thought about her own years in high school. To think about the decisions she made, the lack of parental supervision and guidance she received, made her wonder how she hadn’t wound up in trouble sooner. In her desire to succeed after college, she had taken the wrong route with Antonio and it nearly cost her everything. Swallowing hard, she gulped the lump of emotion and guilt in her throat. That was then and this was now. She was young, she had started over, and this was her chance for a future of happiness and success not fear. She had the car, was making the good salary, and she determined to survive whatever life threw at her. She hummed along to the music, ultimately eliminating any negative thoughts and simply just allowed the music to fill her.

She waited in the car until she looked at the clock and saw other kids heading out but not Dale. She got out of the car and saw a group of boys from the football team. They were wearing matching shirts with football helmets on them.

“Excuse me, are you guys on the varsity football team?” she asked and they looked a little shell-shocked except for one tall, kind of cute boy.

“We are, darling. Can I help you?” he asked, sounding all cocky and she had to hide her chuckle.

“Sure can, cowboy, if you know Dale. I’m waiting on him.” She leaned against the car. The kid looked shocked and then she saw Dale approaching with some guy following from the building. The man was dressed in jeans and a collared football shirt. He was big, he was tall, and he didn’t look too happy.