Loving You (The Jade Series #3) (27 page)

His story has images forming in my head of him strutting into a lingerie store, pulling stuff off the rack, and flashing that famous cocky grin at the stunned sales girl ringing him up at the register. It’s hilarious and it’s so Garret.

“Now open this one.” He hands me a tiny blue box. As in Tiffany’s robin egg blue. This box could hold something that would change my life forever. And although just minutes ago I confessed to myself my desire to marry him, I’m not ready for that. Not right now. Not this minute.

“Are you going to open it?”

I swallow hard, finding it difficult to speak. I nod, then slowly lift open the top of the box.
 

Relief washes over me when I see that it’s not a ring. It’s a pair of diamond stud earrings. And they’re gorgeous.
 

“Garret, these are beautiful. I love them. I really, really love them.”

“Those other earrings I got you seemed kind of fancy for every day, so I got you these because you could wear them with anything. At least that’s what Harper said. I got her opinion before I bought them.”

I hold them up to the light, noticing how much they sparkle.
 

“They’re each a half carat.” He leans over and whispers by my ear. “If you marry me someday, I’ll get you ones twice that size.”

I turn my head to kiss him. “These are plenty big enough. I’m sure these cost a fortune. You spent way too much money.” I realize what I said and cover my mouth with my hand.
 

“Yes! I knew the earrings would make you say that.” He laughs. “Striptease for Garret tonight.”

“I’m more than happy to take my punishment.” I kiss him again. “Thank you for the gifts.”

“You’re welcome.” He pulls me up from the couch. “Let’s get ready for dinner.”

We have a candlelight dinner at the restaurant followed by a night of bedroom fun that includes a lingerie show and my promised striptease.
 

In the morning we order room service and have breakfast next to the window looking out at the ocean. The weekend is so perfect I hate to see it end.
 

Early afternoon, we leave the hotel and drive until we get to Garret’s house. Nobody’s there when we arrive.
 

“Katherine must’ve taken Lilly out for dinner,” Garret says. “I should call her quick and tell her Happy Valentine’s Day. Lilly will love it and it’ll totally piss off Katherine. It’s a win-win.”

“You’re calling Lilly? Does she have a cell phone?”

“It’s a kid phone. She can only call the numbers programmed into the phone. And it only accepts calls from family. But Katherine doesn’t like it when I call Lilly without telling her first.” He dials the number. “I’ll put it on speaker so you can talk to her.”

Lilly answers in her tiny kid voice. “Hello?”

“Hi, Lilly. It’s Garret and Jade. We wanted to say Happy Valentine’s Day.”

“Hi, Lilly,” I say. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

“Guess what?” She answers before we can guess. “I got candy and a pink bear from grandma!”

“So you’re over at Grandma Kensington’s?” Garret asks.

“Nope. Grandma Jacobs.”

“You’re in New York? I didn’t know your mom was taking you there.”

“Mom’s not here. Just me. I made you a picture, Garret.”

“Okay, I’ll see it when you get back. When are you coming home?”

“I don’t know. I have to go. Grandpa’s taking me for ice cream. Bye.”

She hangs up.

“That’s strange,” Garret says. “Katherine never leaves Lilly like that. Not even with her parents. She always stays with her.” He puts his phone away. “Let’s go upstairs and change.”

Being in his room again brings up memories of us together in his bed.
 

“I can’t be in here without thinking about—you know.”

He laughs. “What, Jade? Say it.”

“I don’t need to say it. You know what I mean.”

He stands in front of me and walks slowly forward, forcing me to walk backward until I fall back onto the bed. Then he lies over me, his face hovering over mine.
 

“You mean sex? This room reminds you of the first time we had sex? And all the other times after that?”

I feel my cheeks getting hot. “See? You knew what I was saying.”

“Yeah, but I think it’s funny how you never say it. Like it’s some dirty word even though I’ve heard you curse plenty of times. I think I’ve only heard you say the word sex like three or four times.”

“Whatever. I just don’t like the word. They should come up with a better one.”

“Like what? Make love?”

“Ugh. No. That’s even worse.”

“Say it, Jade. Just say the word. It’s not a big deal.”

“I can’t just say the word without it being attached to something.”

He’s laughing again. “Okay. Say ‘I’m dying to have sex with Garret right now, but I’m too afraid to ask for it.’”

“I am not saying that.” I try to squirm away from him. “Let me up.”

“Not until you say it.” He kisses the ticklish part of my neck, right in the back under my hair.
 

“Stop! Please,” I say, laughing as I try to push him away.

The tickling stops, but he won’t let me up. “I’m waiting.”

“Fine.” I sigh. “I’m dying to have sex with Garret right now, but I’m too afraid to ask for it. There. Can I get up now?”

He doesn’t move. “But you’re dying to have sex with me. And I can’t disappoint you, especially on Valentine’s Day.”

I smile. “We’ll be late for dinner.”

He puts his lips just above mine and whispers. “I know the owner. We can be late.”

And we are. What can I say? I can’t resist him.
 

The restaurant is on the top of a hill overlooking a lake. It’s very elegant with white tablecloths, red velvet curtains, and chandeliers. Classical music plays in the background. We’re seated at a table near the window. Even though it’s dark out we can still see the lake because it’s surrounded by torch lights and trees decorated with white lights.

 
“I’d suggest the steak, but get whatever you want.” Garret says as he looks at the menu.
 

“Steak sounds good, actually. Is that what you’re getting?”

He looks up. “Yeah, I think I’ll get that and—” He stops and I notice him staring at something behind me. I turn around, and walking out from what looks like a private dining room is Katherine and some man. They’re both dressed up and appear to be trying to sneak out a back entrance.

“Katherine.” Garret says it loudly causing the people around us to stare. I watch as she turns back. I wish I could get a picture of her face. It’s a mix of embarrassment, horror, regret, anger, and confusion. The woman’s face never shows emotion, so this is a real treat.

Garret stands up. There’s no way he’s letting her leave without talking to him. She walks over to our table and Garret sits back down. The man who’s with her follows, his hands stuffed in his pant pockets and his eyes darting to the floor, to the sides of the room—anywhere except our table.

Katherine’s lips quiver as she struggles to maintain her fake smile. “Garret, what a lovely surprise.” She glances at me but doesn’t say anything.

“Out celebrating Valentine’s Day?” Garret asks her. Before she can answer Garret looks at the man standing next to her. “Stephen, didn’t you and my dad just attend that financial conference in Dallas? How was it? Did your wife go with you?”

No way! Garret knows this guy?

The man clears his throat. “The conference was good. And no, Sheryl wasn’t able to attend.”

“Stephen and I were actually just meeting to go over the company’s financial reports,” Katherine says. “With your father out of town, I stepped in to help out.”

“I’m sure you did,” Garret says, smiling. “So anyway, I talked to Lilly earlier.”

Katherine’s fake smile disappears. “I really wish you wouldn’t phone her without talking to me first. You know it disrupts her schedule.”

“She didn’t seem to have a schedule today. She was getting ice cream with your father.”
 

Katherine is trying to remain calm, but I can tell she’s pissed as hell. She’s breathing fast, her lip is still quivering, and she’s looking at Garret like she wants to strangle him right here at the table.
 

Garret sits back and reaches in his pocket for his phone. “You know what? We should call Dad right now. It would be a nice surprise.”
 

He’s really pushing Katherine over the edge. And I love it!
 

Katherine puts her hand over his phone. “We really shouldn’t disturb him, Garret. Your father’s a very busy man.”

“Not too busy to talk to his loving wife and son.” He grins as he pushes her hand away from the phone.

Katherine turns to the man. “Stephen, wait outside. I’ll be right out.” As she says it, I notice that her hair doesn’t look as stiff and perfect as normal. She has it up, but it’s falling out in places. And her dress is wrinkled. Holy crap! Did they just have sex in that private room?
 

“Garret, stop this,” Katherine snaps at him, bringing my focus back to the table. She’s sitting next to him now, angled toward him with her back to me. “What you saw was nothing. Just two people having dinner. Do NOT tell your father about this.”

“Why? You’re separated. You’re practically divorced.”

She sits up straighter and smooths her hair back in place. “We’re not getting divorced.”

“You’re not? Then why are you separated?”

“We’re not separated. We’re back together now.” She starts fidgeting with the tablecloth, running her long, skinny, manicured fingers along the crease.

“Why didn’t Dad tell me about this?”
 

“It just happened. Now I need you to promise me you won’t say anything to your father about tonight.”

“Sorry, Katherine. If you wanted me to cover for you, you shouldn’t have been such a bitch to me all these years. And you definitely shouldn’t have been a bitch to my girlfriend.”

Wow! Who knew I’d get so much entertainment at dinner?

Katherine lowers her voice even more. “Don’t you dare speak to me that way! I am your mother.”
 

He rolls his eyes. “You are NOT my mother.” He takes a sip of his water. “Could you leave now? Jade and I are trying to have dinner.”

“What do you want, Garret?” she hisses. “Just tell me what you want to keep quiet. Another car? New golf clubs? A trip?”

Garret looks at me. “What do you think, Jade? What do you want?”

I’m taken aback by the question. I don’t want to be part of this. I’m just observing the scene. I’m already more involved with his family than I want to be. I don’t want to be part of their family blackmail.

“I don’t care. You decide,” I blurt out.
 

He looks at Katherine again. “You have to be nice to Jade. And not your usual fake nice. You have to actually be nice. No more rude looks. No more rude comments. You’ll make her feel welcome when she stays at the house. And she gets to see Lilly whenever she wants.”

Katherine glances at me, then back at Garret. “That’s it?”

“You also have to apologize to her for the way you’ve acted.”

This is totally unnecessary. I don’t need Katherine to be nice or apologize. I’ve accepted she’s a bitch and moved on.
 

Katherine turns to me and forces out another smile. “Jade, I’m terribly sorry if you felt that I was treating you poorly in the past.”

“Katherine?” Garret says, calling her on her sarcasm.

She sighs and tries again. “I’m sorry, Jade. I was rude and unwelcoming to you. I will do my best to be kinder to you in the future.”

“Are you satisfied with her apology?” Garret asks me.

“Yes,” I say keeping my eyes on him and not Katherine. Truthfully, her apology wasn’t that great, but I just want the woman out of my face.

“Goodnight, Katherine,” Garret says, not looking at her.

She quickly gets up and exits out the back door.
 

And here I thought this Valentine’s Day couldn’t get any better.
 

“Well, that was interesting,” Garret says, looking at the menu.

“Interesting? That was like watching a soap opera played out live at our table.”

The waiter cautiously approaches us. He’d stopped by a few minutes ago when Katherine was there, but she gave him her famous death stare and scared the poor guy away. We order and Garret acts extra friendly to put the guy at ease.

“So who was the man she was with?” I ask Garret after the waiter leaves.

“Stephen Reinhart. He’s the CFO at our company.”

“CFO. What’s that?”

“Chief Financial Officer. The money guy. He lives in New York and works out of our office there. He and his wife have been at our house a bunch of times for dinners and parties. My dad’s going to be so pissed when he finds out.”