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Garrett

"So Dylan informs me that he has a basketball retreat coming up," Garrett said as he moved through the kitchen. "The week of Halloween."

"That is correct," Imani replied, stepping around him and leaning against the counter. Dylan was in the family room with Eugene, discussing a video game he enjoyed. Garrett laughed as her son pointed to Imani's tablet, where Eugene was paying close attention.

"Your son is just like you." He moved closer to her. "The boy has a way of charming people. Not many kids his age interact with others like he does."

"Dylan had a rough patch last year after his father died. He acted out and was disrespectful. We both began seeing a psychiatrist." Imani folded a hand towel and set it on the countertop. "He has a big heart, and age is irrelevant to him. My son is all in if you treat him with dignity, and he treats everyone equally."

Garrett kept a close eye on her. He saw the love and pride. "Mani, you did a fantastic job with his upbringing. He's lucky to have you."

She turned to look at him, but he couldn't read her. He'd been trying all night since she arrived at his house for dinner. No one was more surprised than he to see Imani and Dylan outside the house. He assumed Regina was coming to check on Eugene.

"What about you?" Imani asked, head tilted.

"What do you mean?"

"Children. We've never talked about it, but do you have any?"

He inhaled and shook his head. "None that I know of. I've only ever had sex with four women, and none of them became pregnant during our time together."

"Oh." She licked her lips while looking down. "Do you want any children?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure," he responded, smiling slightly. "I would rather not work so much before I become a father. The fact that I'm abroad sometimes adds to the stress."

As they began discussing a more serious topic, Imani shifted her weight uneasily but kept her gaze fixed on him.

"Did you and your ex-wife try for kids?"

"Veronica and I weren't sexually active. I can count on one hand how many times we had sex throughout our marriage. Our careers were always our number one priority, and satisfying one another wasn't."

"Wow."

He rubbed his stubble as his eyes narrowed. "I traveled often, so that conversation never came up. Maybe she and I realized a child wouldn't heal us."

Imani glanced at Dylan. "My marriage to Mason was amazing, and having a child when I did gave me strength. Dylan completes me."

"I understand, Mani. I do. He is incredible."

She whispered, "He is."

"Can I ask you something, if it's okay?" Garrett inhaled a breath as he looked at her.

She nodded. "All right."

"Did you and Mason want more children?"

"Y-yeah," she stuttered, clearing her throat. "We planned to try again after my contract with the agency expired. But he died last September, three weeks after our anniversary."

Garrett saw her trying to hold back tears. He wanted to know more and had endless questions for her. But the timing was off. Not now, in his family's kitchen. Both of them needed to be alone. They needed to be in a place free of distractions. He wanted to have a clear understanding of where they stood in their relationship.

I want us to be together.

Those words echoed in his mind. They hit him hard in the gut, and he moved toward her.

Mani, I want to be a family with both you and Dylan.

She looked up, startled by his proximity.

"Let's plan a trip. Just you and me." Garrett stared into her eyes, cupping her cheek. "We could go during Dylan's retreat this week."

Her expression was priceless. "Gray, did you hit your head?"

He laughed loudly. "No."

"I can't leave everything to go off with you. I have two jobs, and my family needs me here."

"I know," he said, reaching down and taking her hand. "But we need this."

"Why leave now?"

"There are things we need to talk about. Things we should resolve before I return to work."

"Um..." She shook her head. "I can't..." Then she paused. Imani looked up at him, her face filled with emotion. He resisted kissing her and gave her a reason to leave with him. She spoke in a raspy, low voice that conveyed agitation. "I would prefer we keep this between ourselves. Nothing too extravagant that would attract attention. I don't want the media to find me."

"Okay."

"Where did you have in mind?"

His smile grew. "I know just the place. It's somewhere we have both been, but only we know about."

Dylan chuckled in the other room, his shriek drawing their attention. Garrett and Imani both smiled as they saw him practically standing on his head to prove a point to Eugene.

"Your grandfather thinks you and I are more than friends." She spoke quietly now. "I'm sure he has caught on to us."

"No one ever accused the old man of being ignorant. He observes people."

"He called me the other day and said he would come and get us if we didn't help him celebrate his welcome home party. I almost turned his invitation down."

"Maybe his demand caught your attention because you're in his kitchen, speaking with me."

Imani turned to him; her soft lips parted, and her big, dark eyes were as beautiful as ever.

"It was worth coming tonight," she whispered. "I got to spend time with you."

"Then let's go away together." He moved forward, feeling her breath on his cheek. "Our first getaway."

A heartbeat passed. Then another. Imani leaned forward and whispered close to his ear, "We'll see how things go."

'We'll see how things go,' danced around in his mind. He might have gotten through to her, and the time away from town would benefit both of them.

* * *

Imani had put Garrett through a dreadful seventy-two hours, fourteen minutes, and twenty-nine seconds without a word, and then finally, Thursday night came around, and she sent him a simple smiley face emoji.

By Friday morning, he was ready to leave town with her. He'd just finished a business meeting with Isaiah. Imani's brother would use his time and experience to organize the housing development while Garrett was out of town. The project, which involved nearly a hundred people, gathered at the town council for approval. The meeting went well, and Isaiah was simple and professional to work with. Garrett considered their partnership a success, except for a warning from Isaiah not to mess with Imani.

Garrett left from the community center where the meeting took place and arrived at Sycamore Avenue, where Imani's car was undergoing an oil change. He offered her a ride home, but she had told him to be at the animal shelter by five o'clock on the dot. She then told him to meet her in the parking lot instead of going inside.

He arrived early and laughed at defying her suggestions to stay in the truck. Garrett walked across the lot just as an elderly woman opened the shelter's door. She had a floppy beige hat, a huge red-plaid coat, golden-white hair, and rosy lips. There was a black kennel with a gray cat around her wrist.

The woman turned and smiled at him. "Hello."

"Hi. Do you need a hand?"

"You don't mind?" She sounded like she had run a marathon. "My husband was sick, and I'm afraid my strength isn't as tough as it once was."

"I understand, ma'am." Garrett grabbed the carrier and held the door open for her. He rang the bell as he walked behind her.

When she turned, the woman smiled slowly in recognition. "Aren't you Garrett Beaumont?" He nodded, and she continued. "Bless your heart. Harper told us what you plan to do in town. God bless you."

"It's no problem."

"I'm sure you don't remember me, but I'm Harper's aunt, Mrs. Johnson. Both of you were friends back in high school."

Garrett smiled and nodded. "I remember. It's delightful to see you again."

"Likewise, young man." She moved closer to him and hugged him. "What you are doing for the neighborhood is amazing. Helping the elderly and disabled move into affordable housing is a blessing for us. We can't thank you enough."

"I'm happy to do what I can, Ms. Johnson." Garrett set the carrier on the counter and looked around. A large aquarium tank with colorful fish sat in the lobby. A kennel in the far corner held four kittens for adoption. Behind the counter, the receptionist stared at him.

Mrs. Johnson shuffled past him. "Hello, Kelly. I was taking out the trash when I came across this cat."

"Poor thing." Kelly smiled, but her curious gaze fell to Garrett before shifting back to Mrs. Johnson. "I will notify Mr. Fisher that we have a new arrival."

It was a few more minutes before she returned, and while Garrett waited, he wandered over to the kittens. He inserted his finger into the cage and wiggled it like an idiot over the tiniest bundle of fur. The white feline had large blue eyes. It wandered over and swiped at him.

"Little booger," he murmured. He kind of liked the animal's spunk. Since he loved dogs and worked with FBI-trained ones, small cats rarely piqued his interest.

Garrett straightened up when he heard Imani laugh, his smile fading as he watched her talk with Andrew Fisher. When she met his gaze, he walked toward them, admiring her darkened cheeks and wide eyes.

"Hey," he said, aware that the entire clinic was watching.

She coughed and glanced at Andrew before looking at Garrett. "You came inside."

"I promised I'd be here." He turned his attention away from her and offered his hand to Andrew. "Good to see you again, Andrew."

"Yeah, Beaumont."

Garrett's brows rose. "Do you mind if Imani and I take off now? We're going away for a few days."

"Sure," Andrew replied. "She can leave early."

"But what about the kennels?" Imani's intense gaze was on fire and had made Garrett eager to be with her outside of work. "I still need to take care of them."

Andrew turned from Garrett to Imani and said, "Don't worry about it. Go and have a wonderful time with your boyfriend."

"Are you sure, Mr. Fisher?" she asked, glancing between Andrew and Garrett. "There are five I need to clean."

"I've got them!" Kelly exclaimed and grinned as she sat behind the desk. "We're closing anyway, and I need the overtime pay. You two run off to have fun in paradise." She ducked and reached for a handbag. "Here you go, Imani. Have fun."

"Thanks, Kelly," she said, casting a glance at the lobby and giving the audience a soft smile.

Imani rushed past Garrett and was out the door before he could say goodbye to everybody. Kelly gave him a big smile, and as they left, he could tell Imani was upset by the way she stomped across the parking lot.

Here it comes. Her outburst over his appearance. Not one second after she climbed into his truck, she laid it on him.

"Damn it, Gray. You're pushing me."

"What did I do?" He acted dumb, but she would not let him off.

"You saw me having a conversation with Andrew and felt envious. To make matters worse, everyone at the shelter knows we're going away together." She breathed while he started the engine and listened to her rant. "If I wanted them to know, I would have put a billboard up. Put up a picture of us holding each other and smiling, displaying that it will be a weekend of sex." Imani was trying to buckle her seat belt, but he helped her while hiding a smile.

"What makes you think it will be a weekend of sex?"

She stared daggers at him. "We're us. We have sex like animals."

"Don't say the S-word right now."

"Ugh!" Imani huffed and looked at him. "I mean it. Nobody needs to know where what we're doing." She swore and moaned again. Then, after letting out a heavy breath, she slumped back into the seat. "I don't even know how to feel about us."

"That's a good thing."

"What is?"

He turned onto the road but diverted his truck the other way instead of going back to her house. "We have a few days to decide what we want from each other. We'll enjoy seventy-two hours of playtime and more."

She picked at an invisible piece of lint, then sat up straighter and looked out the window. "Where are you taking us?"

"To paradise."

"Paradise Lounge?"

He chuckled. "No. Someplace quieter."

"I didn't bring anything fancy to wear, so..."

"Don't worry about that. You won't need clothes."

She gasped and opened her mouth. "Are you serious?"

Garrett laughed again. "I could be."

"Quit messing around and talk."

"Just relax. You look fine."

"You think so?"

"Yes, because I asked Ellie to help pack your things for you earlier," he answered, giving her a sly smile. "I knew you didn't have time since you had to rush to the animal shelter, so she used the spare key near your back door."

"Oh, great. Knowing my best friend, Ellie probably packed my French maid costume. I'm sure that's the only item in the suitcase."

Garrett's upper lip curled and wriggled like a precocious worm. "As long as I get to see it on you while cleaning the house, I'll be happy."

He saw the first hint of a smile.

"You're damn sure of yourself, Gray."

"As always, Mani." He smiled and cranked the music as they sped down the highway that circled Holden, then toward the outskirts of Montgomery.

The final week of October saw a sharp drop in the temperature. However, Garrett decided to spend most of the weekend indoors, indulging in indoor activities and having conversations with her. They drove in silence for nearly twenty minutes, turning onto Auburn Passage and navigating through a forest. She looked at him, but he kept his eyes on the road. He had driven up here earlier and knew the potholes were awful.

As they reached their destination, they sat for a few minutes, their silence becoming more like a companion. Both of them gazed up at a large rustic lodge in the woods, the sun setting behind it and the last rays of orange and gold disappearing as dusk fell. Along the shore, there were a few smaller cabins with docks.

"Wow, this place looks exactly the same," she remarked, unbuckling her seatbelt. "We made memories here."

"We sure did, Mani."

His chest tightened when she turned and looked at him. He felt both hot and cold, and his heart pounded rapidly. Him. Garrett Beaumont. He was suddenly nervous.

Imani shook her head, her voice trembling. "It has been ages since I was out here." Her eyes strayed back to the cabin before returning to him. "We spent a lot of time together here. This is where we first said we loved each other."

He waited for a moment before reaching for the door handle. "I remember those days. Great times."

Garrett climbed out of the truck and hoped he knew what he was doing as he walked with her up the steps to the cabin's veranda. Coming back here would bring back positive and negative memories for both of them, but he needed to get her away for a few days.

Going on a short vacation was new territory for them, and he couldn't afford to do anything to jeopardize their progress. He really wanted to keep them together because they were a perfect match.

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