Garrett looks good in a tux. I mean, really good. Like better than any mere mortal should. His hair is cut short with just a few dark locks artfully arranged to fall casually across his forehead. It’s sexy as hell.

And his blue eyes stay trained on me through the entire meal. Well, that’s not true. When he’s not carefully watching me, he’s staring at Eli. Some part of me feels guilty that Garrett obviously thinks Eli and I are here together.

But it’s better this way.

The less Garrett tries to pursue me, the easier it will be for me to resist. Because right at this moment, if he even tilted his head in my direction, beckoning me to follow him into a back room for a quick fuck, I’d be there.

I just wouldn’t be able to stop myself.

Not having Garrett visit me at work lately has been disappointing, but it’s made it easier for me to stay focused on my goals.

And my most important goal is sitting right beside me, trying to avoid the vegetables on his plate.

“Oscar.” I wait for him to look at me before continuing so I know he’s really listening. “I heard the desserts around here are pretty amazing. If you want some, you need to finish those off.”

Oscar glares at me then spears an asparagus stalk with his fork. “Fine. But you have to eat yours too.”

My plate is almost empty, except for a few of the roasted potatoes I was resisting. I’ve been trying to watch my carbs, but I guess that will have to take a backburner for the evening. “Fine.” I stab a potato with my fork and quickly pop it into my mouth. “Mmm, delicious.”

Oscar giggles and finishes the rest of his mixed vegetables just before the plates are taken away and the dessert course is served.

“Should we go check to see if we won yet?” Oscar asks before taking a big bite of cake.

“No, it’ll be more fun if it’s a surprise. Besides, if the bids are too high, I won’t be able to outbid them anyway.” I look Oscar in the eye to make sure he understands what I’m saying.

“I know, Auntie Angie. We have to be reasonable.”

I grin at his choice of words. I’ve had to use them often when it comes to Oscar. I’m afraid he has his mother’s addictive personality. Keeping him from overindulging on the good stuff and obsessing about the bad stuff has been a challenge for us both.  “Exactly right, little man. We’ll just wait and see what happens.”

There are a few speeches that seem to drone on and on before a woman in a sequined gown takes the stage to announce the auction winners.

She starts with the lowest dollar items first, working her way up to the really big items. A bottle of Dom Pérignon goes for $375. A painting by an up-and-coming local artist goes for $700. And a beach house weekend in Pescadero goes for $1200.

Disappointment fills me as I lean down and whisper into Oscar’s ear, “I’m sorry, buddy. I don’t think we won either item this time, but I promise we’ll go to the aquarium and we’ll have a painting day.”

Oscar’s shoulders droop and his head quickly follows. “That’s okay, Auntie Angie. Maybe next time.”

My maximum bid for each item was $1000. I was afraid to go over that and win both since I really don’t have $2000 to spare. The money from Fate Advisors is amazing and has paid off all my personal debt, including my car, but in order to cover the land taxes due next month, I need to be smart about how I spend.

Oscar’s head rests against my shoulder, and I can tell he’s fading fast. Syrus invited us to the event as his guests, and it was fun to bring Oscar to such a fancy dinner, but it’s time for us to go.

Besides, without the anticipation of possibly winning the auction items, it’s hard to stay focused on anything except Garrett.

I turn to Emily and nudge her shoulder to get her attention. “We’re going to head out,” I whisper. “It’s past our bedtime.”

Emily smiles as she looks down at Oscar. She loves him as if he were her own blood. “No problem. Syrus’s driver can take you home then come back for us. Syrus needs to talk to a few people before we leave, so we aren’t in a hurry.”

I wave off the suggestion. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll call an Uber.”

“You’re leaving?” Eli leans across the table to jump into our conversation.

“Yeah, it’s getting late, and I need to get Oscar into bed.”

“I’m pretty beat too.” Eli forces a fake yawn, and I try not to smile. “I’ll call a car for us.”

“Are you sure?” Eli already has his phone out, so I don’t bother trying to sway him. I’m sure he’s just as bored as me and Oscar are. They’re like two peas in a pod.

Just as Oscar and I stand up, the emcee announces the classroom painting party. “And the winning bid of $6,000 goes to Eli White.”

I stand there in shock, looking at Eli. “You?”

A shy smile spreads across his face. “Well, the money goes to a good cause.”

I turn to Emily. “Did you know about this?”

She shakes her head, also in shock. “Nope. I thought Syrus was going to bid on it.”

I roll my eyes. “It’s too much money, guys. You shouldn’t have spent that much. We could probably order a party directly for one-fifth of that price.”

“It’s done, Ang,” Eli says just as the overnight at the aquarium is announced.

“And the winning bid of $8,200 goes to Eli White.”

“How do you even have that much money?”

He winks and glances at Syrus. Syrus has hired him for some projects recently, but I had no idea he was paid so well.

I put the conversation on hold as I kiss Emily goodbye and give Syrus a quick hug before circling the table to Garrett.

He stands just as I reach him and pulls me against his chest. “I’m heading out too. I’ll walk with you.”

“Sure.” Oscar is talking Eli’s ear off about the auction items he now knows we won so Garrett and I walk a few steps behind him. “I can’t believe he did that.”

Garrett’s hands are in his pockets. He seems tense and his words are choppy, but he’s trying to hide his emotions behind a terse smile. “I think someone is smitten.”

“Eli? With me?” I shake my head and keep walking. “Maybe a little crush, but he knows there will never be anything between us. We’re like family.”

Eli bends down and scoops Oscar into his arms to point out a model of a dinosaur hanging from the ceiling. “See that? He’s like a big kid.”

Garrett eyes me but doesn’t say anything as we continue toward the main entrance. His warm palm lands on the small of my back and my breath hitches as I look over at him. He keeps his eyes trained straight ahead even while stepping closer to my side. “Would you like me to take you home?”

I swallow and try not to think about the field of heated energy coursing through me because of Garrett’s proximity. I thought I was getting past my attraction to him. I thought the time apart had done me some good and I could accept that friendship isn’t possible…and neither is a business relationship.

I thought I’d decided it’s just not the right time for us. Even though it feels like exactly the right time.

But maybe I was wrong.

It wouldn’t be the first time.

“No, thanks. Eli called an Uber, so we’re riding back with him.” Eli peeks out the front door then turns back and waves at me. When I nod to him, he points to the minivan waiting at the curb. “Oh, I think that’s it. I better run.”

Without thinking, I lean up on my tiptoes and give Garrett a kiss on the cheek before jogging away to catch up with Oscar and Eli.

I don’t know where my mind is, but my strict no-kissing policy doesn’t seem to extend to Garrett Madison. And for the first time, I’m not annoyed by that.