The Lemon Sisters (Wildstone #3)(96)

His dad pointed the spatula at him. “That girl’s got a head on her shoulders. She wouldn’t have walked away without good cause. What the hell did you do?”

Garrett shook his head. “It’s complicated.”

“Of course it is, a woman’s involved. But whatever bullshit you pulled, you can fix it with a sincere apology and a promise to do better.”

“This isn’t some simple misunderstanding, Dad. I accused her of being too chicken to go after what she really wanted. But it was me. I was the chickenshit who wasn’t brave enough to fight for her.”

“So you were stupid.”

Garrett sighed. “Yeah.”

His dad shook his head. “Good to know the asshole trait flows down.”

“Gee, thanks, that’s really helpful. I’m going after her, by the way.”

“Yeah? What’s taking you so long?”

“Clearly, I’m a dumbass.”

His dad nodded and clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry. Knowing it is half the battle.”





Chapter 26


“We’re going to Disneyland!”

Brooke got to LA at midday, which meant she started her big return stuck in an LA traffic jam. She went straight to the studio and hit another major pet peeve—meetings that could’ve been handled with an email. Sitting in an office after being in Wildstone for weeks—hiking, taking pics again, enjoying the great outdoors—was sheer torture. She told herself she’d fix that by taking the job Cole had gotten her. There was a new show starting up in a few months. It would take her to South America for six months. Six months gone, without getting back to Wildstone to see the kids. Mindy and Linc.

Garrett . . .

If she closed her eyes, she could still see the look on his face when she’d walked away. Just remembering shriveled her heart more than a little. So the question was obvious. Why was she even here? Why had she run away instead of taking a stand for what she wanted, which was, at the very least, being part of her family again? She could’ve had that, a job, and some pretty amazing sex, but she’d had to blow it all up, and why?

It was exactly as Garrett had said: she was afraid. What she felt for him ran deeper and felt more real than she’d allowed in . . . well, ever, and she’d let the fear take over. The fear of not being enough—not for her family, not for Garrett.

Or was it because, as Mindy had accused, when shit had gotten real, way too real, she was simply afraid to put down roots, because if she did, it was like admitting her best days were behind her?

Both. It was both.

At the end of a long day in front of three huge computer screens, she leaned back in her chair and stared blindly up at the ceiling, running the pads of her thumbs over her fingers rhythmically. She didn’t look over when she felt Cole drop into the chair beside her.

“I’m not taking that job,” she said.

“The one you demanded I get you?”

“Yes.” She turned to him. “I’m grateful to you. So grateful.”

He sighed. “I don’t want gratitude, Brooke.”

“I know.” She looked right at him. “But I can’t give you what you want,” she said softly.

He nodded and spoke just as quietly. “I know. You’re going back.”

“I’m going back,” she agreed.

He looked pained.

“What?”

“Hearing you say it out loud . . .” He lifted a shoulder. “It makes it real. I mean, I already knew it. I knew it before you even came back. But it does make it easier to tell you something.”

“What’s that?”

He paused and held her gaze. “Garrett’s here.”

She jerked to her feet. “What?”

“Yeah. He’s in the—”

That was all Cole got out before she tore out of the editing booth and plowed directly into Tommy.

“Whoa,” he said, catching her. “Where’s the fire?”

“I gotta go, Garrett’s here.”

Tommy nodded. “Yep. He’s currently pacing the reception area. But—”

But nothing. She flew down the hall and into the open greeting area. There was a surprising crowd. Her sister. Princess Millie, Mason, and Maddox. Linc. Garrett’s dad and Snoop, who gave a low wuff in greeting.

But she had eyes for only one person.

Garrett had turned at the sound of her footsteps. He stood there in jeans and his battered leather jacket over a Whiskey River T-shirt, along with a three-day beard and dark circles under his eyes.

He looked like the best thing she’d ever seen.

“Hi, Auntie Bee!” Millie yelled, and waved. “We’re going to Disneyland tomorrow! And then the next day Mommy and Daddy are going to Hawaii. We don’t get to go, but I get to get a princess dress at Disneyland! And—”

Linc took Millie’s hand. “Baby, remember what we said in the car?”

“That I was to be quiet and let Garrett talk first. But, Daddy, he’s not talking fast enough!”

“Hey, who wants a tour of the studio?” Tommy called out as he came up to Brooke’s side. He gave her a wink. “Right this way, everyone!”

Linc leaned in to give Brooke a quick hug. “Don’t kill her.”