Identity Crisis(85)
Kendra handed over her phone. She had the very distinct impression that arguing with seemingly mild-mannered Wade Crittenden might not be a good idea. And in all honesty, after everything that had happened, even though she still believed that the emails were not a danger to her, she still felt better knowing Wade and everyone else in the room could keep an eye on her.
Chapter Twenty-two
‘Galina’s a fabulous cook.’ Garrett leaned against the stone wall of the patio drinking Mirror Pond ale and watching the stars come out over the open field behind Ellis’s house.
‘She’s the best,’ Dee replied. ‘Without her, I think Ellis would be reduced to take-outs and peanut butter sandwiches. Afraid I’m not much help either in the cooking department. If I can slap it on the grill I can cook it, otherwise I can’t be bothered.’
‘Besides, when do either of you have time?’ Garrett asked.
Galina had laid on a fabulous spread of Mexican food New Mexican style because she knew that was Garrett’s favorite. And nobody in the whole world made tres leches cake better than Galina. The meal had been served on Ellis’s fabulous patio with the view of Mount Hood fading beneath a fiery sunset, making it easy to believe that the mountain, like all of the Cascade Range, was once, and could very easily be again, an active volcano.
The conversation had been light and easy, and there was not the usual rush Garrett so often had felt with his brother in the past. This was a leisurely meal, something Garrett was sure, until Dee came along, his brother had not experienced in a lot of years.
Now Ellis was in his study finishing up last-minute details for a meeting in Denver tomorrow, and Kendra was settled in the atrium working on PR in K. Ryde mode. He figured a lot of that involved calming Don down. K. Ryde Agency still existed and was now owned by several of Kendra’s former employees who were very talented. Kendra still had plenty of connections and she knew how to use them. Garrett could see her profile at the table amid the ferns and vines that filled the sunroom. She was still convinced there needed to be another press conference to see if they could flush Razor Sharp. Garrett would be happy if they never had to have anything to do with the press again.
Dee followed his gaze and sipped at her own beer. ‘She’s a force of nature, Kendra.’
He smiled at the woman hard at work. ‘Don’t I know it?’ Then the smile disappeared and he felt the familiar fist-like clench at his heart. ‘I’m sorry this happened, Dee. I’m so sorry. You have to believe I would have never ever done anything to put her in harm’s way.’
‘Hey.’ Dee took his hand and gave it a squeeze. ‘It’s Kendra we’re talking about here. She makes her own choices. She makes her own rules. You’re not to blame for any of this. No one is.’
‘If I had just let her walk away when she found out it was me, that Tess is … If I’d only just let her walk away. She wanted to. I’m so sorry.’
She guided him to a heavy pine lawn chair and sat down in one next to him. ‘I’m not.’
He caught his breath and looked up at her.
‘I mean yes, of course I’m sorry about everything that’s happened, about this nutcase, Razor Sharp, about the press fiasco, but I’m not sorry you came into her life.’ Her smile became mischievous, and she chuckled softly. ‘I mean after I got over the fear of her sending you to the hospital in traction, that is. Garrett –’ She scooted closer. ‘You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to her. You’re the first man I know that she’s ever let in. That’s huge. You can’t imagine how huge.’
‘Why, Dee? Why am I the first? The woman’s amazing, she’s talented, she’s funny, she’s sexy, she’s … she’s so strong. She could have any man she wants. Why? Why doesn’t she let anyone in?’
‘And why are you so damn nosy?’
Both Garrett and Dee turned to find Kendra standing in the door with a Diet Pepsi clenched in her hand.
‘And why are you always sneaking up on people?’ he asked.
‘I didn’t sneak. You two were just so caught up in gossiping that you didn’t hear me, that’s all.’ She was smiling that wonderful smile that he always wanted to kiss until it evolved into something more demanding. He reached out his hand to her and she came onto the patio and settled on his lap.
Dee looked down at her watch. ‘It’s an early morning for Ellis and me tomorrow, so I’m going to hunt him down and coax him off to bed.’ She glanced up at the two of them and then at the darkening sky. ‘Should be good sky-watching tonight. The moon’s just past new. I bet you could get Galina to fix you a Thermos of hot chocolate, and if I’m not mistaken, she made ginger snaps yesterday. She knows Ellis loves them. That should give you the strength for some serious stargazing.’ Garrett was sure Dee knew it wasn’t stargazing they’d need strength for.