Page 58 of Act of Brotherhood
“Holy shit, he’s a keeper!” yelled Clara. “Does he have a brother?”
Garth’s smile faded. “I do, but she wants nothing to do with him. Trust me on that.”
Nicolette grunted. “Clara, I’ll call you back when I can.”
“Okay, but no rush. I heard what’s in store for you tonight. Carry on! And have fun with him raiding your panties.” Her friend hung up.
Nicolette slipped her phone back into her crossover bag. “You have really great hearing.”
“Yep.” He stayed close to her. “So, about me raiding your panties…?”
“Garth!”
“Nicolette,” he returned suggestively.
Giving up, she buried her face against his chest while he wrapped his arms around her, laughing softly as he did.
Nicolette considered his offer to go away with him for the weekend and nearly said yes. Cody knew him and trusted him and deep down, she trusted him too. “If we left for a weekend trip, we’d be back in time for me to get to work Monday, right?”
“Beauty, I saw how much your class means to you. I would never dream of keeping you from them,” he said, his hand finding her cheek. “I want you all to myself for the weekend.”
“You already have me to yourself all weekend. If you want me, that is. Clara won’t be back from her trip until next week. Maybe longer, if she gets held up like she has before,” said Nicolette. “It’s just the two of us at my house for the weekend. You don’t have to spend money.”
He caressed her cheek. “I’m okay in the money department, but thank you for your concern.”
She’d already guessed as much.
“Okay, which would you rather do? The beach or a cabin in the woods?” she asked.
Garth dipped his head and kissed her temple. “I want whichever you like more.”
“I burn easy, so I won’t be much fun at the beach. I’ll need shade during peak sun times.”
“You’re very fair skinned,” he commented. “Let’s go with the cabin then. I’ll make a few calls and we can get a bag packed for you.” He took her hand in his and began walking in the direction of her house.
When he’d insisted on taking her for dinner to the place of her choosing, she’d picked a small bistro that she liked that wasn’t too far from her house. Garth had impressed her by eating enough food for several men. He’d then insisted on getting her an ice cream even though she’d tried to tell him she was fine.
They walked in relative silence, seeming content to simply be near one another. The wind changed slightly, and Nicolette paused as the smell of vanilla, clove, and cinnamon came out of nowhere.
Garth stopped too and sniffed the air in a dramatic fashion.
The smell dissipated, and Garth glanced down at her, the edges of his mouth drawing upwards. “Is it wrong that I’m excited to have you to myself all weekend?”
“I hope not. I’m excited too.”
The walk went by far too quickly and before she knew it, they were back to the house. Nicolette withdrew her keys from her purse and automatically handed them to Garth, as if they’d done that very thing a hundred times before.
They hadn’t.
He opened the door and held it for her. As she walked past him, he dipped his head and kissed her cheek. “Beauty, I’m planning to conquer your nether regions before we leave. Consider yourself warned. You have a two-minute head start.”
Laughing, Nicolette hurried in the house and up the stairs.
Garth was hot on her heels.
“You said I had a two-minute head start!”
He swatted her backside playfully. “I lied.”
