Echoes From The Past (Women of Character) (30 page)

"Normally he is, but she
brought out the worst in him. They brought out the worst in each other."
Ally leaned closer. "Garrett hasn’t been an angel by any means, but there
aren’t many men who’d raise someone else’s child. He’s done a good job raising
Hannah, too." Ally stood up and dusted the hay off her jeans. "So
what do you say, are you with us?"

Pushing aside her misgivings,
Christie nodded. "Sure. I'll have to stop somewhere to pick up a
gift."

"Not to bother. We're all
putting in toward a new bike helmet and jacket, since he's started riding
again."

"He hasn't been riding that
long?"

"Not that much since I've
worked here, about three years now." Ally arched a brow and gave her a
slow smile. "He's starting to have a bit of fun like in the old days. I’d
venture a guess somebody’s a good influence on him. What do you think, Christie?"

Truthfully, Christie didn’t know
what to think. Her heart was telling her to love the man and take a chance, but
her head was saying run like hell and save herself potential heartache.

"I don’t want to miss
Garrett’s party."

###

Later that evening Christie sat at
the table next to Ally while Darrell and Eric sat across from them in the
restaurant’s dining room. She’d ridden into town with Darrell and on the way
over he’d thanked her for explaining to Eric about big dogs in small
apartments. For a moment, Christie had almost felt close to her brother-in-law.
It had been the first time they’d spent any time together and hadn’t ended up
in an argument.

Garrett and Hannah hadn't arrived
yet. The restaurant was full of people. Randy stood behind Ally and played with
a strand of her hair, then urged Christie out of her seat and introduced her to
his mother, Caroline McIntyre. Christie recognized her from the pictures in
Garrett’s living room. Caroline was an attractive woman dressed in a gorgeous
midnight blue dress, flitting from person to person. Christie had felt
decidedly underdressed beside her even though the older woman commented with
admiration on Christie’s soft blue floral slip dress. It was light and cool and
packed easily. For some reason Christie had thrown it in her bag before she
left New York, never dreaming she would be wearing it. The matching sandals
were perfect for the warm evening.

Ally had taken Christie under her
wing and introduced her to several of Garrett’s friends and their wives. Christie
had sensed their curiosity and friendly interest and she’d wished she would be
here long enough to develop lasting friendships. She had never experienced such
warmth and a feeling of coming home as she did since staying at Winding Creek
Farms. It would be difficult to leave.

Christie was seeing the social
side of Garrett’s life. She knew he was involved in quite a few community
undertakings and she was finding small towns a quaint novelty. Garrett’s
friends seemed genuinely interested in her and didn’t hesitate to ask about her
life in New York.

When people began to whisper that
Garrett had arrived she was aware of a pounding in her chest. Garrett walked
through the door and people began to yell surprise and throw paper confetti.
Eric of course, had a great time pelting everyone within range from the
confetti-filled paper cup he’d been given.

Slowly, Christie turned her head,
looked past Darrell’s curious and suddenly knowing eyes. All sound fell away as
she met Garrett’s glance, saw her presence register on his face. He gave her a
quick smile then he turned as people greeted him on all sides.

"So you and Garrett are
involved," Darrell said beside her.

Christie looked at him.

"He was Judith’s husband, for
Christ sakes!"

Christie opened her mouth to tell him
to mind his own business. Instead, she said, "Don’t you think I know that?
I can’t forget it."

Darrell frowned but didn’t say
anything further.

Garrett looked incredibly handsome
in a dark blue shirt with an equally dark tie tucked across his flat stomach.
Black jeans hugged long legs. A jacket was slung over his shoulder, and he was
laughing and talking. Hannah stood by her father in a long pink, frilly dress,
ivory colored bows in her hair. Christie wondered if Ruth had helped her pick
the dress and had fixed her hair.

One after another, friends greeted
him. Women hugged and kissed him and hung on his arm. Jealousy bit at Christie
sharply and she became annoyed with herself but she couldn’t bear to think of
Garrett with other women ... making love with other women. She thought of him
as making love only to her. She wanted Garrett to be hers alone.

Wondering why she did this to
herself, Christie looked around wildly. She caught Ally’s glance and the other
woman lifted her glass. So Ally knew she and Garrett were involved. It didn’t
matter. He was an adult, he must have had affairs before now. Christie shook
her head, disliking the idea that she might be just an affair. Maybe she and
Ally had more in common than she’d realized. Both of them hankering after a
McIntyre man who wouldn’t or couldn’t commit.

"Christie," Randy said,
startling her when he appeared at her side. "How’s the wrist?"

She moved it this way and that.
"No problems." She lowered her voice. "Have you found Les
yet?"

He looked disgruntled. "No,
it’s like he vanished."

"Well, he has to turn up
somewhere. Speaking of which," she added lightly, "you’ve been pretty
scarce around the farm all week."

Randy’s smile reminded her of
Garrett. He was a fun-loving guy, and she could only imagine the trouble the
two of them could have found together as boys.

"I’ve been putting in a lot
of overtime and I’m seriously considering buying a small farm on the outskirts
of town. It’s too good a deal to pass up. There’s an attached barn with room
for a few horses. The place needs work but I like doing that kind of thing, and
Garrett’s real good at fixing up places, so I’m going to rope him in on
this."

"I had no idea you were
looking to buy something. I wish you luck with it."

"By the way," he said,
looking past her shoulder. "Have you seen Ally? I’ve lost her."

Christie wondered if Ally had
anything to do with him wanting a place that had room for a few horses.
"Yes. She was over by the buffet a few minutes ago. I think she was
looking for you also."

Randy flashed a confident smile.
"I’ll find her."

"Randy. Christie." She
turned instinctively toward Garrett's voice, her body instantly filled by
warmth.

Randy shook his brother’s hand.
"Happy birthday, Garrett. What’s it feel like to be an old man of
thirty?"

"Same as yesterday,"
Garrett said with a laugh.

Christie studied him, taking in
the carefully brushed back hair, lean jaw and the smile in his eyes. He was a
man who would be at ease and confident in any surroundings.

"Happy birthday," she
said, aware of the sizzle of attraction when his attention turned to her.
"Many more."

Garrett’s intent gaze made her
feel as if she was the only woman in the room. Reaching forward, he took her
arm and drew her closer to his side. "Don't I get a birthday kiss?"
he murmured, turning his back on his brother.

Surprised, Christie raised a brow.
"I think you've had your quota of adoring women already. I don’t want to
be one more in a long line."

"You’re in a category all by
yourself, Christie," he murmured. He lowered his head, bringing his face
close to hers. She could see each whisker on his smooth shaven face and the
laugh lines beside his eyes. She wanted the birthday kiss, or any kiss from
Garrett for that matter.

When his lips touched hers, warmth
sped through her, infusing her with heat and want. The sounds of revelry fell
away. Christie felt only Garrett. She brought her hands up to grip his arms and
then his arms circled her back. Christie put all her desire for him into the
kiss.

He stepped back, but his eyes
remained locked with hers for countless seconds. Christie felt too muddled to
read what might be there in the deep seriousness. Slowly, the sounds of the
crowded room once more impinged on her ears.

Self-consciously, she looked
around, but no one seemed to be paying them any special attention. Even Randy
had disappeared, no doubt in search of Ally. Christie wanted to ride the
feeling of that kiss for another few minutes. Ride it until reality intruded.

"Will you come with me,
Christie?" He held his hand out, palm up. "I'd like to introduce you
to my friends. Ally mentioned she started the introductions, but I’d like to
pick up where she left off."

Telling herself this didn't change
anything, yet feeling as if her life was taking another turn, Christie twined
her fingers with Garrett’s. In that moment, with the memory of his mouth on
hers, she might have followed him anywhere.

"We need to talk
Christie." As if he couldn’t stop himself, Garrett dropped another
leisurely kiss on her mouth. Christie could barely breathe, but she knew her
eyes had to be saying what her heart felt. There was something different about
him.

"Tonight," he promised.

###

Several hours later Christie
stared at her flushed face in the restroom’s bathroom mirror. Quickly, she wet
a paper towel and wiped her hot cheeks with water. What an unbelievably fun
party! Garrett had persuaded her to dance most of the night.

The band had sounded wonderful and
for the first time in a long time Christie had felt the music flow through her.
She and Garrett had danced so well together. Fast dances, two steps, line
dancing which she knew nothing about but she’d been game to try. Right now the
flow of adrenaline still raced through her veins. She hadn’t wanted the music
to end. Christie recalled the look in Garrett’s eyes, the heat and promise he
made no effort to hide.

She gripped the edge of the sink,
waiting for the accelerated beat of her heart to even out. The excitement
inside made her want to sing and shout. She couldn’t keep still. "I can’t
believe I’m doing this. I can’t believe I love him."

"Some things are meant to be,
you know."

With a muffled cry, Christie swung
around.

"Ally!"

Ally grimaced. "Sorry, I
didn't mean to startle you. I was in the bathroom stall."

"I was just talking to
myself, it didn’t mean anything," Christie murmured, knowing her cheeks
were bright red.

Ally lifted a brow, but her eyes
were kind. "If you love Garrett, don't let him go. The man you love is
worth fighting for."

Christie leaned back against the
counter. She put her head back and looked up at the ceiling. "That sounds
like an old cliché, but to quote another one, sometimes it’s easier said than
done."

Ally nodded somberly. "You’re
right, and I’m a fine one to give advice."

Christie lifted a brow. "You
and Randy?"

Ally’s eyes flashed with excitement
and then she looked miserable. "That man is going to be the death of me
yet." She leaned over the sink to wash her hands. "At least with
Garrett it’s easy to see where you stand. He’s so crazy about you. The man
never takes his eyes off you."

Christie swallowed her surprise.

"Randy is another story, but
I’ve decided to take him at his word and take the plunge. He says he’s serious
and he wants to settle down."

Thinking of Randy’s plans to buy a
small farm, Christie said warmly, "I don’t think you’ll be sorry. Does
this mean marriage?"

Ally laughed, and her eyes had
lost their earlier sad look. "Hell no, not yet. I’m talking a long
engagement. I can’t let go of all my hang-ups at once, you know."

"I wish things were that easy
for Garrett and me."

"They are. You’re both
single, attracted to each other. There’s nothing standing in your way."

"I wish that was so."
Christie gave Ally a rueful glance. "You’ll probably hear it sooner or
later. The big thing between us is Judith."

"She’s gone, and Garrett’s
better off without her."

"She was my sister."

Ally looked shocked, then
embarrassed. "Damn me and my big mouth. I’m sorry, Christie."

"You were just telling me the
truth. I was young when she left, I barely remember her, but it’s like she’s
standing between us."

"Honey, only if you and
Garrett let her. He was over her a long time ago. Don’t hang onto her ghost at
the cost of your happiness." She pressed Christie’s shoulder.
"Eventually, things will come out right for you and Garrett, you’ll see. But
in the meantime, I sure as heck wouldn’t kick the boss out of my bed."

Garrett offered Christie a ride
home. When Hannah smiled at her and said "pretty please," Christie
was truly lost under the spell of the entire evening. Why refuse when she
wanted to be in his company?

"Let me find Darrell,"
she said. "I got a ride in with him."

"I told him earlier I’d give
you a ride if you needed one."

"Oh." Christie wasn’t
sure how to feel about that. Was Garrett so confident of her that he could make
that decision?

"Eric was tired so they left
about an hour ago."

She’d been having too good a time
to notice Darrell or anyone else leaving.

It was almost midnight and most of
the party had broken up. Christie should have been exhausted but she still rode
the earlier high of dancing with Garrett, meeting his friends and being
included in his family circle.

On the way home, with Hannah
buckled between the two of them and sound asleep, Christie knew she had to
speak with Garrett about the decision she’d made. "You know why I came to
Kentucky."

He glanced at her then returned
his attention to the road. "Yes."

"I’ve decided the closest
I’ll be to fulfilling Ellen’s last wish is to leave her ashes here."