Yours for the Night (9 page)

Her heart slammed in her chest as she walked toward the door, spying the clerk, the camera very clearly placed at the entrance, and the other customers getting gas—surely no one would try to hurt her or even steal her car here in broad daylight?

Rounding the pump, she jumped out of her skin as she nearly ran directly into whoever it was that was skulking by her car. His solid mass was like hitting a wall as strong fingers closed around her upper arms to steady her.

Looking up, she couldn’t have been more surprised.

Garrett.

* * *

“W
HAT
ARE
YOU
doing here? Did you
follow
me? What’s going on?” Tiffany asked the questions in rapid succession, shaking like a leaf under his hands where he still held her.

He’d frightened her. Garrett hadn’t quite believed his eyes when he saw her emerge from the jewelry store. Just as he parked his rental, he’d watched her go into the café with some pretty guy who smiled way too much. Then, when he’d gone into the store himself and spoken to the clerk, he found out that guy was the manager.

What was Tiffany up to? He had some questions of his own, but for now, he wanted to calm her down. They were drawing attention.

“I’m sorry,” he said sincerely. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Are you some kind of weird stalker now, following me around because we spent a few nights together? How long were you watching me?”

Her voice rose, drawing the attention of a few people nearby, two guys in particular who stopped and watched them closely.

“I am
not
stalking you. It was simple coincidence. I was going to the jewelry store and saw you walk out with the manager. I was curious and concerned, so I waited and followed you back here. I guess my tailing skills are a little rusty,” he said with a grin, hoping to lighten the tension between them. “What were you doing down here?”

“It’s none of your business what I do, and you have no right to follow me anywhere. You scared the life out of me,” she said, taking a step back, her arms still wrapped protectively around her middle.

Garrett hated that he had scared her so much; it wasn’t his intention at all. Why did he always seem to make the wrong move with this woman?

“I said I’m sorry. I really had no intention to follow you, or to scare you. But I am curious why you were at that store.”

She started to open her mouth, and then closed it again, pinning him with an intent look. “Really? Maybe Armando is a friend. Maybe we’re lovers. What business is it of yours? A better question is why were
you
there?”

Garrett knew from watching her with Armando that they were not lovers—not that the younger man wouldn’t be open to it. But she had a fair point, that it was more unusual for him to be there than her.

“I thought I would track down a few leads on the robberies, see what I could find out. I went in, talked to the clerk for a few minutes while you were in the café, and she didn’t know much, so I came back out.”

“And waited to follow me. Why are you investigating my case? Aren’t you supposed to be gone on your vacation?”

Garrett blinked at her aggressiveness. “Your case? What am I missing here?”

Before she could answer, someone else spoke.

“Is there a problem here? Is this guy bugging you?” a voice interrupted, and they turned to find one of the men who had been watching them, eyeing Garrett closely.

“No problem,” Garrett said. Tiffany said nothing, but just glared.

“It looks like the lady doesn’t agree,” the guy said, waving his friend forward to join them. “Maybe you should be on your way.”

Garrett sized the guy up. He wasn’t small, but there was no way he was leaving Tiffany alone here. A second man joined them, and Garrett tried appealing to them on a different level.

“We’re just friends having a disagreement. I don’t intend her any harm.”

“Then you won’t mind leaving,” the second guy said.

“Actually, I do mind leaving,” Garrett said, giving the guy a look that reinforced the fact, pulling up to his full height.

Sensing that things were heating up, Tiffany stepped in.

“I’m sure he doesn’t mean me any harm, guys, I was just angry—”

“Maybe you should let us handle this,” the second guy said, sliding an appreciative look over Tiffany. “And you can thank us later.”

“I think you should leave us alone, or I’ll call the police and let
them
handle it,” Tiffany said, pulling her phone from her pocket.

The first guy who’d approached them put his hands up, backing off. “Hey, we were just trying to help.”

“Thanks, but I can handle him myself,” she said, giving both men a look that carried more steel than Garrett would have given her credit for. The men backed away, the second one throwing out a curse at them as the men disappeared down the street.

“You handled that well. Kept your cool,” Garrett said approvingly.

The look she threw him wasn’t a friendly one. “Gee, thanks for admitting that I might be able to take care of myself, but I don’t need you sticking your nose in, like you did with Marcus.”

Garrett paused. He wasn’t sure how she would react to his reading through her notes, but he hadn’t been able to sleep and decided to go see what he could see. As it turned out, he’d had lucky timing, and saw Hooper going into the hotel with his date. It hadn’t taken long to grab some shots through a partially closed curtain and leave. In truth, he hadn’t liked the idea of Tiffany hanging out in that neighborhood, and it made him feel better to finish the job for her.

Now, staring into her stormy green eyes, he realized the error.

“Tiff, I wasn’t trying to—”

“What? Act like I couldn’t handle it? That I can’t do this job? That it’s too tough for a girl like me?”

“Not exactly that, no. I was just hoping to do you a favor, as Mrs. Hooper sounded angry, and, well, yes, I will admit I didn’t think it was safe for you to be hanging out in that parking lot night after night.”

“Private investigators have to be in dangerous situations sometimes, Garrett. Like I need to tell you that? I was fine. I can handle myself.”

Garrett didn’t want to burst her bubble, but he just wasn’t sure.

“Did you deliver the pictures?”

“Yes. She was very pleased.”

“Did she pay you?”

“She offered. I declined.
I
didn’t finish the job, not that I told her that. She promised to refer me to friends, if she had the chance.”

Garrett shook his head. “Let me tell you something, Tiff—”

“No, let me tell
you
something. You had no right to go sniffing around in my things. You had no right to do any of this just because we slept together.”

Garrett noticed more curious interest from people getting gas, and smiled to one guy, waving him off.

“You’re right. I was wrong. I’m sorry,” he said, trying to calm her down. “But what about this? Why are you investigating these robberies on your own?”

“Because it’s what I want to do, and because I had to tell my parents what happened on the phone this morning and hear the worry in their voices. I can solve this case, or at least I can try.” She sighed, whispering, “I have to do something.”

“This is a lot different than getting pictures of cheating husbands, Tiffany—and that’s dangerous enough—cheating husbands can get pretty angry. But these thieves are professionals. That’s a whole new ballgame.”

She clenched her jaw, and made him want to kiss her until she relaxed it. “I’m talking to people, Garrett. That’s all. Nothing dangerous about that.”

He supposed she was right. Maybe. His protective instincts, and his worry about her getting in over her head, warred with the realization that she was an adult who could make her own decisions. But maybe there was another way to come at it.

“Did you find out anything interesting?” he asked.

Her expression told him that she wasn’t in a sharing mood.

“Why don’t you let me buy you lunch?” he offered.

“I already had lunch—as you know—since you were watching us.”

He rocked back on his heels. “Right. You and Mario Lanza.”

“I thought he was more like a young Clark Gable,” she retorted with a slight smile. She knew that he was just a bit jealous, he realized. And he was. He’d hated sitting there, watching from the car during their lunch. Business was the last thing on that guy’s mind, and it bothered Garrett, though he certainly had no claim on Tiffany.

She sighed, shaking her head. “Garrett, go enjoy your vacation, okay? This isn’t your problem.”

“Are you visiting more stores today?”

“You’re like a dog with a bone, I swear. And I don’t like being the bone,” she said testily.

“Just let me tag along and make sure that you’re okay. I won’t interfere, but just in case something happens, I’ll be there.”

“Garrett—”

“Listen, Tiffany, I’ve seen a lot of seemingly harmless situations go bad. I’ve seen people get hurt and worse. Believe me, the worst mistake you can make is thinking you have everything under control.”

“I’m sure—”

“What if these robberies are an inside job? What if one employee at one establishment is involved, and you are poking around, asking questions? You could hit a nerve. It’s hard to predict what people will do in that situation. Let me be your bodyguard for the day. I’m good at this. I can stay out of the way, but make sure you’re safe. And if you find anything, we’ll take it to the police, and then I’ll go my merry way, okay?”

She bit her lip in the fashion that always drew his attention to her lips, and Garrett experienced a split second of doubting his own motives. He was being honest—he did worry that something could go wrong—it happened all the time. If something happened to her, he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself. But in all honesty, he also still wanted Tiffany. Still wanted to be around her.

“Okay, fine,” she said, though clearly unhappy. “I guess it can’t hurt.”

He smiled. “Thanks. Where to next?”

She gave him the list of stores she was planning to visit, and he typed them into his smartphone. He’d map the routes into his GPS in case he lost her.

She smiled slightly, the tension seeming to ease between them. “Thanks for having my back, Garrett. And thank you, I suppose, for Marcus, as well. It ticked me off at first, but I learned a lot from what you did there. In fact, it inspired me to take this case on,” she said.

Not exactly what he had intended, but at least she was less angry with him.

“But you know, next time, don’t go behind my back to do it,” she continued. “Not that there would be a next time, but you know what I mean,” she added.

She was so pretty; he couldn’t stop looking at her. It was all he could do not to kiss her. Damn. But she appeared to be waiting for a response, and he cleared his throat, shaking himself out of his thoughts.

“You’re right. Let me buy you dinner after you’re done, and make it up to you? And we can talk about the—your—case?”

She laughed lightly, her head tilting back like it sometimes did when he was inside her, when she was letting go, falling apart for him.

“Dinner would be nice. And maybe I can show you some of the city after dark,” she said, peeking up at him through her lashes.

“I’d like that,” he said. He liked the sound of that a lot.

“But first we have work to do,” she said, all business again as she walked around to the other side of her car.

We have work to do,
she’d said. He liked the sound of that, too.

6

“T
HIS
IS
EXACTLY
like I imagined it,” Garrett said, taking in the quiet streets of Russian Hill as he walked arm-
in-arm with Tiffany toward the Spanish tapas restaurant she said was her absolute favorite.

Trolleys rolled by, stuffed to the brim with tourists and locals out enjoying the nightlife. While walking the hills was a workout, Garrett was glad to stroll along the pretty, blue-grey lit streets with Tiffany rather than being in the middle of the crush.

This neighborhood, which was residential with a spattering of boutiques, small businesses and restaurants, was completely different from the crazy urban vibe of downtown. The architecture was classic, clean and charming, the soft colors on the building fronts accented by almost golden street lighting.

Garrett felt like he had just walked onto the set of
Monk
. It was blissfully quiet compared to Union Square; a few people walked with their grocery bags or their dogs, and a few other couples passed by, wrapped up in each other. Laughing groups of diners emerged from small restaurant entryways.

“It is one of the nicest sections, certainly. And very expensive to live here. Lombard Street isn’t far away. We can walk down there after dinner and do the tourist thing,” Tiffany said, sounding happy and satisfied, and much more relaxed than she had been earlier in the day.

“Here we are,” Tiffany announced as they arrived at the top of the hill, stopping at a corner restaurant that specialized in tapas, or “small plates.” Garrett hadn’t been to a place that specialized in the appetizer-like entrées for quite some time. The dining area was small, and sitting at one table was actually more like sitting with six other people, as they were all so close together. But it wasn’t crowded so much as companionable.

A large, boisterous man who appeared to be the owner greeted Tiffany and then Garrett, and obviously knew her well, asking how her parents were doing.

“They’re good, Gio. They’re off on a buying trip right now,” Tiffany said, not mentioning the robbery.

“You have this table by the window, so that passersby can see how beautiful you are tonight,” the older man said, winking at Tiffany.

“Thank you. You’re such a charmer,” Tiffany said, her cheeks pink from the compliment.

“I’ll pick you a nice wine that you will like. Perfect with tonight’s specials,” Gio announced happily, and then went to greet more people at the door.

“He’s been a friend of my father’s for decades. They both started up their businesses around the same time,” she explained to Garrett. “The whole family is like that. And they’re all amazing cooks, too.”

“We have some family friends back in Philly who own an Italian place down in the old neighborhood and it beats anything the food magazines recommend, but not too many people know about it,” Garrett responded.

“Why not?”

“Fishtown has a somewhat mixed reputation, especially for tourists. To us, it’s just home, you know? But it’s kind of run-down in places, there’s some crime and it’s off the beaten track. But overall, it’s a wonderful spot. Real Philly. Tourists wouldn’t find the restaurant listed in most tourist guides, but it’s a local favorite.”

Tiffany grinned. “When you talk about your city, your accent gets stronger.”

“What accent? I don’t have an accent,” he said in a more heavily accented tone, laughing.

Philadelphians had accents that reflected a mélange of ethnic influences, and he knew his strengthened when he was at ease, with friends, or when he was intense about something. He was glad Tiffany liked it.

“It’s sexy,” she said, and Garrett felt his heart catch. She had a way of knocking him off guard with comments like that. He wasn’t used to it—Lainey had always been more reserved—but he liked it.

“Tiffany, how nice to see you,” a voice interrupted them, and Garrett looked up to see a balding, older man approach the table with a smile aimed at Tiffany. “Are your parents back yet?”

“Hello, Arthur, no, not yet. Wednesday,” she said with a smile as he took both of her hands in his for a friendly greeting. “Arthur Hayden, this is Garrett Berringer, a friend from out of town. Garrett, Arthur is our main appraiser. He’s worked with us and most stores around town forever.”

“Ha, I’m not that old,” the man said, shaking Garrett’s hand as well. “Welcome to our city. And Tiffany, please tell your parents to call me when they’re in. I was so sorry to hear about what happened at the store,” he said in a soft, covert tone.

“How did you know?” Tiffany asked, knowing he was talking about the robbery.

“The police called to confirm the appraisal of the diamonds. How infuriating, to think of such beautiful gems in the hands of such barbarians,” he said, his cheeks darkening with anger.

“I know, Arthur. Hopefully they will catch them.”

“Indeed. The police warned me to observe utmost confidentiality, as if I need to be told that in my business, but I had to say how sorry I was to hear it when I saw you here.”

“I understand. I appreciate you saying so. I know Mom and Dad will, too.”

“Well, you have a wonderful night, and don’t forget to tell your parents to call,” Arthur said to the both of them.

“He was upset,” Garrett noted.

“He’s been part of the scene around here for at least twenty years. You need something reliably and fairly appraised, he’s the man you see. He takes his work very seriously,” she said.

Gio returned to the table with the wine and waited until they both tasted and praised it. He took their orders, promising to add some of the specials he knew they’d want to try—on the house—and left them alone again.

“So what’s it like being a bodyguard? And you said you run the agency with your brothers?”

Garrett nodded. “I started it up after Lainey died. My brother Jonas was a Philadelphia cop then, but he left the force and joined up with me. Ely was in the Marines at the time, but when he got home he wanted in, and Chance, the youngest, followed suit. Before we knew it, we were all in it together.”

“You must all get along very well. Not many families could work together like that.”

“We do, most of the time. When I started it up, I actually didn’t imagine it being a family business. It was a lark. I figured I’d contract guys to work for me, and I would just manage the business, but it went this other way and I love it. My brothers were made for this work. They excel at it.”

“You’re proud of them,” she said with a smile, sipping her wine.

“I am. They’re good men. Jonas just got married. He met his wife on an assignment, actually.”

“Very romantic,” Tiffany commented. “Falling in love with your bodyguard.”

Garrett laughed. “Ha, it wasn’t like the movie, I’ll tell you that. It was kind of a mess. Jonas lost his eyesight—”

“No! He’s blind? How?”

“Protecting Tessa. It was a temporary loss, but it brought them back together. And while their relationship wasn’t easy, they are happy now. Hard times for a while, though.”

“The path of true love never runs easy?”

“Sometimes it does, I think, but Jonas isn’t an easy guy.”

“And the others? Ely and Chance?”

“Ely is kind of a mess at the moment. I guess we didn’t recognize how hard it was for him to adjust coming back from Afghanistan. Then he got duped by a woman he really cared for—found out she was engaged after he was already building the picket fences in his head.”

“That’s awful.”

“Yeah. He’s been unpredictable ever since. Great on the job, always a professional, but his personal life…well, I’d probably rather not know. And Chance. As long as he’s jumping off of something high or dodging bullets, he’s happy. I can’t see him ever settling down. There’s probably not a woman who’d be able to put up with his antics, but he’s never short of companionship, and seems happy enough.”

“And you? What makes you happy?”

The deep scarlet of the wine in his glass drew his attention as he paused, staring into it before he took a slow sip, contemplating the question.

“That should be an easy question, shouldn’t it?” he finally said, though he didn’t really have any clue for how to answer it.

“Maybe not. Sometimes the things I think will make me happy don’t…and then something I didn’t count on, like this weekend with you, makes me very happy,” she said simply.

Garrett smiled, relieved that she understood. “Exactly. I was going to say that I’m happy when things are going smoothly in life, no bumps, but that wasn’t quite right. I like excitement, too, and the unexpected. More so now than I used to, even. And this weekend was definitely unexpected, in the best possible way,” he said, holding her gaze and lifting his glass to meet hers.

“I like to shake things up a little, too. I need variety, to be up and moving, not just caught in one place all the time.”

“Like in your family’s store?”

“Exactly. I’ve been trying to find my calling, my niche, and so far, no luck. I have a feeling though…about this....” she drifted off, and he watched as she visibly held herself back from talking about her new venture.

“About being a P.I.? A good feeling?”

“The best,” she said, her eyes shining. “I haven’t had much experience, and I’m still figuring things out, but even these low-level jobs are more fun than any other job I could imagine. I want to learn more, be better at it. Become a real investigator.”

“You will. It just takes time. Experience.”

“I have been trying to get that. I took an online course to get my license, and I have been taking self-defense and shooting lessons. I talk with whoever will talk to me, in the business, I mean, though they can be very cagey. It’s a competitive business. But you taught me a great lesson today.”

“What was that, exactly?”

“When you took that picture of Marcus, you just walked up to the window and took it—you didn’t wait for the shot. You got out of the car and went after it. I should have done that, so, really, I think I was angry with myself more than with you,” she said. “But now I know. I have to go after what I want, to show people I’m serious about this.” Her words came out in a rush.

Garrett listened closely. “Who do you have to show that you’re serious?”

Their food arrived, and after several minutes of complimenting the variety of goodies and filling their plates, Tiffany responded.

“My family, mostly. I can’t blame them for having their doubts. I’ve had kind of a bad string of employment ventures, and now this happening at the store…”

“The robbery is hardly your fault,” Garrett interjected.

“I know, but it just sort of adds to my pile of work-related disasters. Not to mention the personal ones,” she mumbled before taking a forkful of some delectable-looking roast. Garrett did the same, and they ate, doing nothing more than complimenting the food for the next few minutes.

“It’s why they can’t know about this. Not yet. My parents would have a fit. They’ve been so happy with me at the store, doing something ‘normal,’” she said, using air quotes around the last word. “I don’t think they’d be very happy about me learning to be an investigator.”

“They don’t know?” Garrett asked, surprised.

“No, and they can’t. Unless I manage to do something that could show them I can really do this, like solving this case, or at least finding something instrumental in solving it. I just can’t bear to worry them any more than I have already, or to feel their disappointment,” she confessed, putting her fork down.

“They probably have more faith in you than you imagine,” Garrett said, hoping that was the case. He couldn’t keep that kind of secret from his own family; they were all so close. Sure, they had their moments, their disagreements, but his parents had always been supportive of anything their sons wanted to pursue, succeed or fail.

“Maybe, but they certainly don’t need any more worries, considering recent events,” she said.

“You mentioned sisters? And a brother?” Garrett asked, curious about her family now.

“Yes. Ruby is the oldest, married, two kids. She’s very much an earth child. She lives on a farm with her husband and they grow a lot of their own food, grapes for wine, that kind of thing. Jewel is the youngest next to Nick, and she’s more of a hell-raiser, but smart as a whip. She and her partner just started a practice in the city.”

“Practice?”

“Architects. Both of them.”

“Husband and wife architects. Ambitious,” Garrett commented.

“Close. Jewel’s partner is Gracie.”

“Oh, my mistake,” said Garrett, surprised but not at all put off.

“My real question is, if you wanted to distract me from thinking about the case, you couldn’t do any better than asking about my sisters?” she asked mischievously, and Garrett had to stop from jumping out of his chair when her foot suddenly slid along the inside of his thigh.

“Uh, um, well,” he said, clearing his throat as he reached down to stop the upward progress of her foot.

She laughed, withdrawing her toes.

“Sorry, couldn’t resist.”

He looked into her eyes, and wished the restaurant weren’t such a crowded place. “Don’t resist too much,” he said and meant it.

Desire blazed in her eyes, but then she took a breath and shook her head.

“Actually, would you mind if we talked about the case? About my discussions with people at the stores today? I wouldn’t mind bouncing some ideas off of someone, and since you’re the only person who knows what I’m up to…”

Garrett was happy to have any reason to spend more time with Tiffany; in fact, he was going to try to convince her to let him help her with this investigation. It was too dangerous for a novice to be poking her nose into something like this on her own. How he would convince her, well…he had several notions about that, but first things first.

“I’d like that. But why don’t we just enjoy tonight, and we can talk about the case tomorrow?” he said, signaling for the check.

“Tomorrow?” she echoed as they left, emerging out into the cool night air.

Garrett paused to take in Tiffany as her hair blew softly around her face, her scent surrounding him. He was tired of resisting and pulled her over to the side of the walk and into his arms for the kiss he had been thinking about for hours.