Chapter Seventeen

Garrett

He stood in the doorway of the bedroom, staring at her sleeping body, and couldn’t help but sigh. Jesus, she had him tied up in knots like a school girl with her first crush.

He had an early morning stunt on Marc’s movie set and had to get going, but leaving the tiny-as-fuck apartment was getting harder and harder to do.

She stirred, and he looked up and saw her eyes on him. Quietly staring and assessing him. He wondered what she saw when she looked at him.

“Morning,” she whispered even though it was just the two of them. She was soft and gentle, his complete opposite. The thought was sobering. She deserved sweet and kind.

“Morning.” His voice felt deep in his ears. “I have an early call,” he reminded and watched her blink, not moving from the way she had woken up, unashamed of the curves and skin that were on display for him.

“I know.”

“I’ll try to make it back tonight.” It would be the first time he wouldn’t be returning home since he’d moved his ass into her place.

“Okay.” She didn’t move, and the distance between them felt too big.

“I’ll be back.”

“Okay,” she said again. He had an overwhelming need to touch her, but the moment was broken when she broke their stare to look at her clock and frowned. “You really should get going if you wanna get there early.” She sat up, and he walked over to her.

“I’ll call you,” he whispered before kissing her forehead, the moment almost as intimate as the night they’d shared. She touched his chest and placed her hand open-palmed over his heart. His eyes shut at the feel of it. I love you. She hadn’t said it, but that’s what it meant, and he knew it. He just wished he had the balls to say it out loud to her.

“Drive safe.” And with her words, he found the strength to get his ass out of the room and out the apartment and into his truck.

_______________

“And that’s a wrap!” the director shouted, and he felt his brother’s hand touch his shoulder.

“You did great,” Marc said. Garrett turned to see his little brother smiling.

“Did you doubt I could do it?” he asked gruffly before thinking twice, but Marc was used to him.

“I wouldn’t have brought you in if I didn’t think you could pull it off.”

“Good.” He was about to walk away, but Marc stopped him.

“Hey, G, we need to talk.”

“About?”

“A couple of things.”

“Well, hurry up.” He pulled his phone out and frowned. He hadn’t heard a word from Stef. It was getting late and he was fucking exhausted, but he wanted to try and make it back home tonight. Home. A place small enough to give anyone claustrophobia was now home.

“Geez, you in a hurry?”

“Something like that.”

“I get it. I’d rather look at Grace’s face than your ugly mug, too.”

“Funny, since we look a lot alike.”

“Shut up.” Marc smiled. “Let’s go to the trailer, not out here.” Marc led them toward his fancy-as-hell trailer. There were happy-looking faces and people patting them both on the back as they walked through the lot. The huge amount of people on set always threw him off. Everyone had a specific job. Without it, what they were creating wouldn’t be able to be done. Garrett had bigger respect for his brother’s work, one he had teased him about.

Stepping into the trailer, Marc and Garrett took a seat at the kitchenette facing one another.

“What’s up?” Garrett asked, taking in Marc’s serious expression.

“I need to talk to you, and I don’t want you to get pissed.”

“Okay,” he said slowly.

“I wanna know your honest opinion.”

“Yes. You’re lame.”

“Shut up. Seriously, man.” Marc rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m thinking of selling the house,” he announced. Garrett tilted his head, waiting for him to drop what the hell ever Marc was holding back.

“Okay, and?” Garrett urged. He didn’t have all day to wait on Marc to spill.

“Okay?” Marc said, scowling.

“Yeah. What’s the problem?”

“Problem.”

“Geez, Marc, I don’t have all day.”

“G, you live there. “

“Used to. I moved in with Stef.” He realized it was the first time he had said it out loud.

With a quick shake to his head, ignoring the wide-eyed look Marc was giving him, he continued, “The place is huge, but let’s get real. It’s not really Grace’s style or a family type place. It’s an oversized bachelor pad. Plus, Don and I aren’t there, so it’s just sitting empty most of the time. It’s surprising you have held on to it this long.”

“I just…” He sighed. “I didn’t want you guys to think I was kicking you out,” Marc shared, and Garrett shook his head.

“Man, you gave a us a place to live for longer than you should have. Look.” Garrett took a deep breath. “I know I haven’t said this as much or maybe at all, but man…” He swallowed hard. “But returning to civilian life wasn’t easy.”

“Hey, man, you don’t have to—”

“I was so fucking resentful about so much, Marc.” He cleared his throat. “I was, am sometimes, angry about what happened. About my career ending. About losing my brothers.”

“But you were alive,” Marc gritted through his teeth. Garrett looked up at him, slightly confused. “You were alive, G. You are here. Breathing.”

“Everything I ever wanted was over, and you were a fucking success. You offered me a place—”

“So did Mom, so don’t give me that shit.”

“Yeah, and living with you and the guys was the lesser of two evils,” Garrett easily teased.

“Come on, we both know you had enough money squirreled away for you to live on your own.”

“And we both know the way I was. I wouldn’t be here if I had done that,” he soberly admitted, not missing the way Marc flinched. It had gone unspoken for long enough. And hadn’t the good ole doc encouraged him since day one to put shit out there?

“Yeah, well…” Marc cleared his throat. “I just didn’t want you to think I was kicking you guys out.”

“I bought a place,” he shared just in time to look up at Marc’s frown.

“What? With Stefanie?”

“What? No. The cabin. In Big Bear.”

“What?”

“It’s not a sprawling ranch or mansion, but it works.” The image of Stefanie on his porch, in his bed, smiling up at him, made a pang hit his chest. It more than worked. He wondered if he could somehow, someday, talk her into moving there. Making it their permeant place.

“When?”

“Last year.” Jesus, he was a dick. He had been locked up so tightly he hadn’t shared he’d actually bought a house.

“Last year?”

“I closed in December.”

“Okay.”

“It’s where I go to think. Look, I don’t see why it’s a big deal. Bryan bought a place, too. But bottom line, you and Grace can’t live at her place forever.”

“Why not?”

“Security for one. Place is too exposed for someone as high profile as your ass. For two, that place is fucking tiny. If you two follow Bryan and Val’s lead, you’ll have another kid. Knowing your overachieving ass, more than one, and you’ll really need more space. Especially with the way you like to have all of us over.”

“I’m looking.” He shrugged. “I think I wanna surprise her.”

“That’s not smart, man.” Garrett leaned back, getting comfortable, with a smile playing on his lips behind his beard.

“Why not?” Marc asked.

“Surprising her with a ring and rooftop engagement party is one thing. A house is a whole other. She won’t like it,” Garrett clarified, and Marc rubbed is face.

“You’re probably right. I just…” He looked off to the distance, and Garrett felt compelled to push for more from his little brother.

“What?”

“Nothing.” Marc shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck. “You wouldn’t get it.” Something about those words made the hairs on the back of his neck bristle. Before Stefanie, he wouldn’t have gotten it. He wouldn’t have even tried to have this conversation.

“Get how you wanna hand her the world?” He swallowed hard. “But that’s the last freaking thing she wants?” Garrett asked, not missing the amusement on his brother’s face.

“Stefanie that way?”

“Stef is…” Everything. The word was on the tip of his tongue. He shook his head. “Stef is stubborn. Way she was brought up, the people around her… She’s had to work for everything she’s had, and she doesn’t like feeling like anything is handed to her.” He watched a brow lift on his brother’s face.

“Grace is the same freaking way.” Marc chuckled. “Stefanie was cool.” Marc smirked, looking at him with an expression he couldn’t completely read.

“She’s a fan of yours,” he begrudgingly shared, and Marc’s grin grew wider.

“And smart. What the hell is she doing with you?” Garrett knew Marc was teasing, but he looked up at his little brother, a sober expression on, his face and answered one hundred percent honestly.

“I have no fucking idea.”

“Hmm…” His brother tilted his head. “All joking aside, I think she might be good for you.”

“Me too. So, the house is going up for sale?”

“Now that I know it’s cool with you and D, and you two are okay, I’ll have the agent put it on the market next week.” Marc sat up and looked at his watch. “Shit, is that the time?”

“Yeah, why?”

“I have a jeweler coming.”

“Jeweler?”

“Yeah, I wanna get Grace something.”

“Hmm.” Garrett thought of something and looked at his brother, giving him the first honest easy smile since returning to civilian life, and said, “You think I can go with you?”

Stefanie

“Where’s your shadow?” Kip asked gruffly the moment I took my usual seat at the bar.

“Funny.”

“So?” he pressed, wiping down the countertop.

“Kip,” I groaned as he handed me my diet Coke. I took a sip of the bubbly goodness.

“Well? Come on, kid, the Hulk’s been following you around like a lost puppy. It’s as rare to see you without him as it would be gettin’ a glimpse of a fuckin’ Yeti.”

“A Yeti? Really?”

“You know what I mean.”

“If you have to know, he’s working,” I shared, wrapping my hand around my glass.

“The Hulk works, huh?”

“Yes, Kip, he works,” I muttered.

“Good. I don’t like the idea of him mooching off you,” he said. I was torn. Part of me wanted to let the warmth of his concern wash over me, while the other part was annoyed. For a moment, I wondered if that’s what having a dad would have been like.

“Geez.” I rolled my eyes playfully, then quickly smiled. “Why do you think that is, Kippy? Maybe because deep down you care about me?”

“Because if he’s mooching off you, you won’t have any extra cash to spend here,” he gruffed, his ice-blue eyes glaring at me. I couldn’t help but giggle.

“Like you ever let me pay.” I winked, but my smile faltered when the old man came close, his hand close enough to mine that our fingers brushed.

“I just want you to be careful with that guy. Okay?” he said, his eyes pinned on mine, but before I could answer, I felt heat at my back.

“What do you want?” Kip asked looking over my shoulder. I turned to see Sebastian’s large frame behind me.

“It’s not the customer service, that’s for fucking sure,” Bash mumbled, and I laughed.

“Take a seat, buddy. What’s your poison?” I asked him, patting the barstool beside me.

“Girl,” Kip warned, and I rolled my eyes. “Bash, I can get you a table if you need to—”

“I’m good here,” Bash said, taking a seat beside me. I smiled, looking between them. Bash was amused, and Kip was weary. “My usual,” he ordered. They exchanged a look before Kip huffed and turned, reaching for a bottle on the top shelf, then placing it in front of Bash with a glass.

“Thank you,” Bash politely answered before turning to me as if Kip weren’t staring at us like some kind of overprotective father. “Would you like one?” Bash kindly offered, but I quickly shook my head.

“I’m good.” I lifted my glass. “But thank you.” He nodded, pouring two fingers of whatever amber-colored liquid Kip gave him and taking a sip.

“So, you meet them?” Bash asked right off the bat, taking me by surprise.

“Meet who?” Kip frowned so hard he had those lines on his forehead grooved in so deep, I wondered if they would ever leave his face.

“Garrett’s family,” I gently enlightened him. Kip’s eyes go wide.

“Jesus, girl!” Kip shook his head, but I looked away and at Bash’s light brown eyes.

“I did.”

“And you survived,” Bash added. A smile graced his face before a tatted hand brought up the glass toward his full lips.

“I did.” I smirked just as Kip turned to help someone on the other end of the bar. “Thank you, by the way. I’m sorry about that night—”

“No apologies necessary.”

“Well, I owe you one.”

“Not really, but maybe one day, when I need advice, I’ll seek you out.”

“You better.”

“He better what?” A familiar grouchy tone said behind me. I smiled before turning to see my sexy soldier scowling at Bash.

“Seek me out.”

“What?” Garrett gritted through his teeth, and I giggled.

“Relax, it’s not as devious as it sounds. Bash, this is Garrett. Garrett, this is Bash,” I introduced and watched them do the manly nod thing. “How was your day?” I asked, my attention completely on Garrett, even though I knew I had not one but two pairs of eyes watching our every interaction.

“We wrapped up, and it’s done.”

“That’s awesome! Bash, Garrett is a stunt man.”

“Funny, I would have pegged him for a military man.” Bash said. I felt Garrett’s body radiate something that made my nerves frazzle as he stood behind me. “But stunt man is pretty…cool, too.” Bash’s lips twitched as he stood up off the barstool to his full height. They stood next to one another, silently sizing the other up.

“It was nice seeing you, babe,” Bash finally said, and I moved my hand into Garrett’s. “Kip, keep the change,” he said, placing a hundred-dollar bill on the bar before turning around and walking out the door.

“What have I told you about talking to that thug,” Kip hissed, his hand covering the bill and walking it to the register.

“Who was that?” Garrett asked. I shook my head.

“Just a friend.” I sighed.

“A friend,” he repeated before sighing and running his free hand through his beard. “I leave you alone for a couple hours, and you have guys like that talking about seeking you out in the future?”

“Jealous?” I quipped. He looked past me, his face serious. “Hey.” I placed a hand on his chest over his heart. “I was just playing.”

“Right. Have you had dinner?”

“No.”

“Okay, good, me either. Let’s go grab a bite.”

“Don’t forget what I said, kid!” Kip bit as he watched me stand. I tried to smile, wondering how the hell this had become my life.

_______________

Brushing my teeth, I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror wondering if it was really possible to feel what I felt. It was terrifying and exhilarating being genuinely happy.

“What are you thinking about?” Garrett asked from the bathroom doorway, his arms crossed over his sexy pecs as he stood there in nothing but black boxer briefs that stretched out delightfully across his thick, muscular thighs. I spit and rinsed my mouth before turning to look at him.

We’d had Chinese takeout that Garrett had made a big stink about paying for. When we got back to my apartment, he kept surprising me.

At the dinner table, without having to push, he had shared all about his day. For the first time in forever, I was quiet. Enjoying watching him talk about his day and the things he’d had to perform. The pride in his voice and the smile in his eyes showed he had enjoyed it, even though it wasn’t his top choice. He talked about the people on set and how many there were. How everyone had a job, and how he liked the structure of it. Then, in passing, he mentioned his brother and how he was selling the big house in Calabasas, where Garrett had lived before moving into my place. He also mentioned a potential job he wasn’t sure about because it would require him to travel. I wanted to ask questions, but I couldn’t get myself to do it.

Travel would mean he would have to leave, and I didn’t want to burst the bubble we were living in. When dinner was done and the kitchen cleaned up, we had watched a little TV, me sitting next to him, my head on his shoulder, his fingers playing softly with my hair. Despite that possibility of him traveling for another job, I was content. Happy, genuinely and wholeheartedly.

Looking at him standing there, I placed my toothbrush on the counter and walked the couple of steps it took to be right in front of him. In my own pajamas of a thin faded olive drab tank top and tiny shorts that had seen better days, I placed my hand over his heart. The steady beat of it made me smile even brighter as I looked into his eyes.

“I love you.” My voice was soft but steady. His face was unreadable. “I’m glad you came home tonight.” I smiled and was about to walk past him, but he grabbed my hand. I looked over my shoulder.

“I’ll always come home,” he promised. I let his words wrap me up like a blanket in the winter time. “I have something for you,” he said, and I grinned so big my eyes were almost closed.

“I bet you do, big boy, but I’m really tired.” His deep, easy laughter filled the space. My grin faltered as I took in the sight of him, and my nose stung. Every smile and smirk I’d been able to coax from him up until now had felt like a freaking gift.

“Come with me.” He led me back to bedroom and pointed toward the bed. “Get comfortable.”

“Garrett—” I smiled, about to say something sarcastic, but there was something about the way he was looking at me that made the words dry up before I could speak.

“Trust me, sunshine.” As I looked at him, his hands resting on his chest, I realized he was trying to act like he was calm, but I could see it. He was slightly nervous. “Please?”

“Okay.” I winked, then moved onto the bed to get comfy on top of the sheets. Sitting with my back to the headboard, I looked at him, waiting to see what he was up to.

“I’ll be right back.”

“Wait, what? Garrett.” He let his hands fall to his side.

“Close your eyes and just sit. I’ll be right back, I promise.”

“If you tell me to open my mouth with my eyes closed, you gotta know right now, soldier, I’m not falling for that one again.” I chuckled.

“Hey, you liked that last surprise.” Arousal ran through me at the thought, and I licked my lips.

We had played the weekend before. Garrett blindfolded me before having me please him, and even though I’d been the one on my knees, it had left me feeling utterly powerful and feminine. I wouldn’t mind a repeat. But then again, I liked everything Garrett and I did.

“Whatever,” I mumbled before closing my eyes, feeling the heat on my face.

Before long, I heard him walk back into the room. His scent mixed with mine and changed the dynamic of the air. It was cozy and made me feel safe. Happy.

The bed dipped beside me. His large, strong body pressed against mine. Garrett’s big hand rested on my shoulder. I rested my head on his bicep and loved how I fit there. Like his bulky, strong, and warm muscle had been sculpted to serve as a pillow for my head to find comfort in after a long day.

“Can I open my eyes now?” I asked smiling.

“In a second. Keep them closed and give me your hand.”

“Hmm, this is sounding rather familiar…”

“So sassy,” he whispered.

“You like it.” But my voice faltered when he slipped something flat and cool into the palm of my hands.

“Open ‘em,” Garrett’s voice rumbled above my head before I felt a kiss on top of my hair.

I looked up at him. He was waiting, staring at me expectantly, so my gaze slid down to my hand. A soft gasp escaped me.

A charm.

Not just any charm, but a gold flat saguaro cactus-shaped charm attached to a dainty, delicate gold chain.

“What? Why?” was all I could sputter out as I stared at the pretty and unique gift in my hand.

“Made me think of you.”

“Because I live in the desert?” I joked. My smirk melted away when our eyes connected and I took in the way he was looking back at me.

“Because you’re resilient as hell.” He blew me away with the confidence in his voice, like he believed what he was saying as much as he believed the sky was blue and one plus one made two. “The way you were brought up, against all the odds, you still found a way to smile and make those around you smile.”

“Baby.” But I couldn’t say anything else because he placed a gentle finger on my lips.

“Because no matter what is put in front of you, I’ll always bet on you for the win. Because you’re tough.”

“Tough, huh?” I mumbled. “Be still, my heart,” I teased, trying to lighten the mood, but he didn’t let me.

“Because as cheesy as this is gonna make me sound, sunshine, out of everyone in my life, you’re the only one I wanna be stuck with.”

“Shakespeare had nothing on you, soldier,” I whispered as I leaned closer. His lips touched mine lightly.

“You’re mine, Stefanie Banks.” Moving me slightly, he brushed my hair off to one side and placed the necklace around my neck. “We stick together, yeah? Good or bad, thick and thin,” he whispered against my temple. I touched the charm with the pads of my fingers. “You balance me, baby. I’m that cactus, a straight-up prick, but you’re my sunshine. Bursting your light where only darkness existed.” I turned, my mouth open, but I quickly shut and muffled a little yelp when he shifted us, so I could straddle him.

“Do you get what I’m saying to you?” he questioned seriously, and I bit my lip.

“I love you, too,” I whispered, not afraid of saying the words, and saw the way his gaze flared up with so much emotion. For a moment, he opened his mouth and closed it until he shook his head.

“I exist because of you,” he rumbled hoarsely, so much passion and emotion in his voice and in his eyes, I couldn’t help it.

Holding his face in my hands, his thick, soft beard beneath my fingertips, I touched my lips to his and was gone. He had no idea how his words affected me. How they made me helpless to surrender to him and everything he was because he owned me.

I was nothing but his to own. His to do what he wanted. And lucky for me, he wanted to get sweaty and dirty and give me lots of orgasms.