“We’ve got Blue-eyed Girls scheduled to be there on the twenty-third and twenty-fourth, but they’re booked up the rest of the month,” the manager on the other end of the line says.
“That’ll work,” I say, even though it’s not what I was hoping for. The musical act I had scheduled for the five-day festival backed out at the last minute, and I need someone equally popular to perform the rest of the days.
This morning, while he was in my bed, Garrick promised he’d look into finding a band, but I’m not holding my breath. It’s been over a week since we got back from his parents’ house, a week that he’s been in my bed every night, and he hasn’t been able to find the time for a real meeting about the festival yet.
He’s incredibly stressed about work, so I haven’t pushed him. He barely has time to spend with me and he’s been exhausted. Last night, he fell asleep in the first five minutes of the movie we started.
He lets me pick his brain when we’re together, but honestly, I usually choose sex over talking. Cuddling with him has become my new favorite pastime, and I’m not going to ruin that with pillow talk about the town festival.
I had no idea how sweet Garrick could be. He texts me several times a day and has made good on his promise of coffee every morning.
Obsessed isn’t a strong enough word for how I’m feeling about him. For the first time in my life, I’m thinking I might just like to try a relationship.
The alternative, not having him in my life, is too painful to even consider.
“Hey, Mayor,” my assistant, Roni, sticks her head in my office. “Janet Leigh is calling again for an interview about the festival.” Janet Leigh is a journalist for the local paper and has called every day this week.
“Can you schedule something for the end of the week?” Fingers crossed, I can actually have something together by then.
Roni winces. “I’ll try.”
Damn it. I really need Garrick’s help with this. He should have some ideas of musical acts to call, or maybe he can tell me what past festivals have had on the stages when musicians weren’t available.
I need to talk to him during the day and in a place where there’s no risk of us wanting to rip each other’s clothes off.
A quick glance at the time, and I gather up my binder for the festival and my bag and head out.
“Mayor Porter,” Roni says as I walk past. “The sheriff is on the phone for you.”
I already know he’s calling about no parking zones downtown and some traffic issues we’ve been discussing. “Tell him I’ve left for lunch, please. I’ll call him as soon as I get back.”
Roni smiles and nods. She is the most efficient and affable person I’ve ever met. And she might just be the only person in town who actually likes me. Or at least doesn’t hate me.
I grab sandwiches to go from my favorite deli downtown and drive over to Garrick’s office. Snow falls in fat flakes, but the road has been recently plowed.
The door to Evergreen Expeditions is open, but there’s no one immediately visible inside. Everyone must be out on guide trips. Hugging my binder to my chest, I go straight to Garrick’s office.
It’s closed, but the door is unlocked, so I let myself inside and close the door behind me. Unfortunately, it’s dark and empty. Garrick had a snowshoe hike this morning that he said wouldn’t be more than a couple of hours, but he must not be back yet.
His scent is strong here and my body wakes up like he’s actually near.
I consider stripping down to my undies to give him a sexy surprise.
Then, I slap my own wrist. “That isn’t what you’re here for. Focus.”
I set lunch on his desk and move to take a seat, but a paper on the top of his inbox catches my eye. It has my name on it.
Grabbing it, I sit and scrunch my eyes closed. I shouldn’t look at it. This is Garrick’s personal, well, business paperwork. It’s none of my business.
But, it has my name on it. And it was out in the open on his desk. It can’t be a secret.
And there’s no way I’m walking out of this office without peeking.
I open my eyes and scan the paper, my heart sinking. I should have known better.
That ache in my chest is my heart breaking.
I hadn’t even realized how hard I’ve fallen for Garrick until I realize how badly his betrayal hurts.
