If the situation were reversed, he wouldnt give up on either of us. Maybe it would help if you pick up some of those minimarshmallows for the sundaes. Hes a sucker for those.
Minimarshmallows? she echoed skeptically. Thats our plan?
Justin shrugged. Hey, we all have our weaknesses.
* * *
GARRETT WHEELED THE shopping cart into the produce section, absently navigating as he consulted Darcys grocery list. Hed asked her to let him do the supermarket run as a way to pay the Connors back for room and board. It was more diplomatic than saying he needed a break from the doting couple.
Conversation between Garrett and Hugh had been uncharacteristically stilted. Garrett wanted to confide in his friend but hadnt quite worked up the courage. It felt disloyal to tell anyone what Caroline had done, and it rocked Garretts sense of identity to admit Brandon wasnt his father. Hed never said the words aloud, and they were harder than hed expected.
The other potential topic of discussion Garrett wrestled with was Arden Cade. Hed started to ask about her half a dozen times, but stopped himself. After their intimate night together, shed left without saying goodbye. That seemed like a strong indicator that she wasnt expecting to see him again.
Blinking, Garrett whipped his head around in a double take. A dark-haired woman in his peripheral vision had triggered his notice. Youre pitiful. Just because hed been thinking of Arden, now random shoppers looked like her?
Or, maybe... Could it actually be Arden? The long fall of shiny brown hair was familiar. He could recall its silky texture between his fingers. Given the crappy week he was having, had fate decided it owed him a favor? He hadnt figured out a casual way to look her up, but he couldnt be blamed for a chance encounter.
Steering toward her, he asked hopefully, Arden?
Yes? She smiled over her shoulder but froze in recognition, his name on her lips so soft he saw it rather than heard it. Garrett.
He couldnt believe she was hereand even more beautiful than he remembered. Her cheeks were rosy, her aquamarine eyes bright and lively. He couldnt recall noticing a womans skin before, but Ardens creamy complexion beckoned him to touch her.
Garrett realized two things at once: he was staring, and she didnt look happy to see him. Then he came up alongside her, getting his first real look at her profile, and had a startling third revelation. Arden Cade was pregnant.
It wasnt immediately obvious until one saw her stomach. She seemed to be carrying the baby completely in front. From behind, other than the curve of her hips, there hadnt been Good Lord. He was ogling a pregnant woman.
He swallowed. So. Howve you been? He punctuated his question with a wry glance at her abdomen. He knew nothing about pregnancy. His understanding was that women didnt show for a few weeks, although Arden was slim enough that perhaps it was more obvious on her than it would have been on someone else. He had no real sense of whether she was four months along or eight.
That was a sobering thought. Was there a chance shed already been carrying when theyd made love? The possibility upset him beyond any rational justification.
I, uh... Her eyes cut to the side, as if she were seeking help. Or scoping exit routes. Its good to see you.
Wow, are you a bad liar, sweetheart. Youre obviously busy. He gestured to the bananas shed been perusing. I wont keep you. Im staying in town with the Connors for a few days, and when I saw you there, I thought Id say hi.
The tension in her shoulders eased fractionally. Hi. She managed a smile, but it didnt reach her eyes.
Arden? Is there a problem here? A broad-shouldered man approached, his tone possessive as he practically rammed his cart between Arden and Garrett. He was a tall son of a gun, even had an inch or two of height on Garrett.
No problem, Justin. Except that Im...feeling sick. Her progressively ashen color backed up her claim. She dropped the produce bag shed been holding into the cart. Get me home. I can come back later for anything we missed.
Dont be ridiculous. Ill come back. When he glanced at her, Justins features softened. But the glare he aimed at Garrett was flinty with suspicion.
Garretts stomach dropped. Hed known there was a good chance Arden would be involved with someone. So why was his disappointment at being right so keenly bitter?
Wait a minute. His eyes narrowed, and he met Justins unblinking stare. Those blue-green eyes were a lot like Ardens. And the thick brown hair they both shared? Ardens was streaked with honey and gold, while the mans was more like coffee grounds, but the resemblance was unmistakable.
A broad grin stretched across Garretts face. Is this your brother?
Damn right. The man took a step forward. And you are...?
Justin, please. Ardens voice trembled. I have to get out of here.
Right. Sorry. Lets go.
With a hasty, departing wave from Arden, they were gone. Garrett stood there, bemused.
Had she truly been unhappy to see him, or did her not feeling well explain her behavior and the grimace shed tried to cover? At first, hed thought her skittish demeanor was due to the awkwardness of running into a fling while her significant other was nearby, but that wasnt the case. Maybe hed misread the situation entirely.
But as he began piling groceries into the buggy, he conjured her face again. He could have sworn the emotion hed seen in her eyes was...fear. Why on earth would Arden be scared of him?
* * *
GREAT DINNER, GARRETT complimented his hostess. Personally, hed been too preoccupied to taste a bite of the meal, but Hugh had wolfed down his roast beef with gusto, so Garrett felt reasonably sure of his statement.
Darcy Connor, Hughs pretty blonde wife, beamed from across the kitchen table. Her gregarious nature seemed at odds with the cliché image of a part-time librarian. Lavish praise, doing the shopping for mewhen word gets out about you, my single girlfriends are going to be lining up at the front door.
Since you cooked, we can do the dishes, Hugh volunteered.
Another time. She shooed them out of the kitchen. Garrett just got here yesterday. You still have lots of catching up to do.
Isnt she terrific? Hugh asked adoringly as they relocated to the living room. He grabbed a television remote from the side pocket in his recliner, flipping through channels until he found a college football game. If youd told me when I was a freckled, fifteen-year-old comic book collector that I could get a woman like that to marry me...
Garrett snorted. You were also six feet tall and the team quarterback. His auburn-haired friend might well have freckles and an interest in superheroes, but he hadnt spent his teenage years lonely. As I recall, you went to senior proms at three separate high schools.
Hugh grinned. Did I? Before Darcy, its all a blur. What about you, man? You had a pretty active social life, too. I was surprised you didnt bring anyone to the wedding.
Boy, would that night have ended differently. A month prior to the wedding, hed been dating a woman hed planned to take to the ceremony, but theyd ended things when she got a job offer that took her to the east coast.
Speaking of your wedding, Garrett said with studied nonchalance, I never got to see how the photos turned out. Isnt there an album or something?
Speaking of your wedding, Garrett said with studied nonchalance, I never got to see how the photos turned out. Isnt there an album or something?
Darcy, he called to his wife, you have a willing victim here. Garrett asked to see wedding pictures. Turning back to Garrett, he added, Narrating our photos is one of her favorite hobbies, up there with bird-watching and snowboarding. I warn you, the collection is massive. Theres the professional album our photographer put together, then the one Darcy crammed full of everything from wedding shower pics to the honeymoon.
I remember the photographer, Garrett said. Understatement of the yearshe was seared into his memory like a brand. Arden, right?
Hugh smirked. Why, you looking for a photographer? Maybe planning to have some of those glamorized portraits done? Youd look pretty spiffy in a sequined cowboy hat.
I think I ran into her at the grocery store earlier. The woman I saw was pregnant?
Thats her, Arden Cade. Hugh clucked his tongue. Poor kid. Being a single mom cant be easy under the best of circumstances, much less with gossips buzzing about the dad.
Garrett leaned forward on the couch. Why? Whos the dad?
Its a big mystery. Far as anyone knew, she wasnt seeing anyone. Maybe it was a long-distance relationship with an out-of-town guy. People were shocked when she turned up pregnant and even more shocked those two brothers of hers didnt march the dude responsible into a shotgun wedding.
The fear hed seen on Ardens face today flashed through his mind, and a completely insane thought struck him. He was an out-of-town guy. Theyd used condoms, but those werent effective one hundred percent of the time, were they? Hed heard stories.
Out of... His throat was so dry he had to try again. Out of curiosity, do you know how far along she is?
Hugh regarded him suspiciously but didnt challenge the bizarre question. Hey, Darce? You have any idea how far along Arden is in her pregnancy?
Darcy appeared in the doorway between rooms, drying her hands on a green-and-yellow-checkered towel. Around six months, maybe? She said shes due the week of Thanksgiving.
Garretts blood froze. Six months.
No, he was crazy to contemplate it. It was unfathomable that the woman who had been so open and expressive beneath him would keep a secret of this magnitude, cruelly excluding him. She knew he was friends with the Connors and could have found him easily. She could have called, emailed, sent a telegramsomething! This was just his imagination running wild.
The unpleasant combination of newfound cynicism and sleepless nights had colored his judgment. The odds that Arden was pregnant by him... Theyd used condoms, and theyd only been together one night.
Then again, Garrett himself was living proof that once was all it took.
* * *
LAYLA, I AM IN trouble. Arden leaned back in the leather office chair, resenting the way it creaked. She hadnt gained that much weight. Deep, deep trouble.
Dont panic, her friend counseled over the phone. The words of wisdom were somewhat muffled around a bite of sandwich. In response to Ardens frantic text that morning, Layla was taking her lunch break in her car, away from the curious ears of students or fellow teachers.
But hes here! Why is he here?
Um, didnt you say you met him because he was in town for a good friends wedding? Makes sense that hed occasionally visit said friend. The part I cant believe is that you saw him Sunday, yet waited until Tuesday to let me know.
Because I spent yesterday in denial, Arden mumbled. Shed never been comfortable discussing her night with Garrett. It had felt so private, something meant only to be between them. Maybe if shed known Layla back then, or if Natalie had still been alive... Am I being punished for having a one-night stand? Am I a bad person?
Dont start pinning those scarlet As on your maternity clothes just yet. The fact that youd only been with two men up until then is pretty solid evidence youre not a tramp.
No, the fact that there had only been two previous lovers in my life is evidence that I have very large, very overprotective brothers, Arden said without rancor. Her brothers local influence had probably helped prevent some impulsive mistakes in her teens. She nervously twisted the cord on the phone. I think Justin suspects Garrett is the father. What if Garrett suspects as much? So many emotions had rampaged through her when shed seen him. She hadnt exactly maintained a poker face.
Did he give you any reason to think that?
Not really. He was making small talk. I was busy freaking out.
Then lets not borrow trouble, Layla advised. Are you going to
Oops, work beckons, Arden interrupted as the door to her studio swung open. Maybe we can meet for dinner?
I dont know. Ive got a stack of practice tests I have to grade so I can figure out how much my students forgot over the summer and plan accordingly. But give me a few hours to talk myself into it, and Ill text you later.
Arden disconnected, calling out, Be with you in a second.
Over the summer, Layla had acted briefly as receptionist, but for the most part, Arden had always run a one-woman shop. She didnt get many random drop-ins. Customers usually called or emailed to schedule an appointment or, in the case of big events, to ask preliminary questions and do price comparisons.
Coming around the edge of her desk, she steadied herself with her hand. She was constantly readjusting to her ever-changing center of gravity.
Hope Im not interrupting your work. That smooth deep voice was exactly the same as it had been the first time hed spoken to her, sending tremors through her body. Garrett Frost stood in the center of her reception area, cowboy hat in hand, an unreadable expression on his face.
Adrenaline surged, making her head swim. Garrett. Her hands moved reflexively to cover the baby bump. That happened a lot lately when she was apprehensive.
He misinterpreted the protective gesture. If youre trying to hide that youre expecting, its a little late.
I...I... Say something. Preferably something intelligent. Can I get you a cup of coffee?
It wasnt until he shook his head that she realized she hadnt brewed any. Shed given it up during the pregnancy and hadnt been expecting clients for another few hours. Thank goodness he hadnt taken her up on the offerher pride balked at the idea of making herself seem more ridiculous. She hadnt exactly been articulate at the grocery store.
Im sorry I was rude the other day, she said. You took me by surprise. It was a shock, running in to you there.
You werent the only one stunned, he said pointedly. His gaze dropped before returning to her face.
So, uh, howd you find my office? Did your friend Hugh mention I was in this shopping center? I hope he and his wife are doing well. Her pulse was racing, and she heard her babbled words as though from a distance.
Actually, I looked you up myself. Knowing your name and that you owned a photography studio was enough. Its not difficult to find someone, if you bother to look. His gray eyes were like thunderclouds. If, for instance, a woman needed to locate a man, even one in a different town. I dont think there are many Garrett Frosts who are part owners of Colorado cattle ranches, but maybe Im wrong. What do you think, Arden?