to Dylan last night. Let’s not perpetuate that rumor.”
“Calm down, bro.” Harlan wiped up the coffee that sloshed onto the table. “No need to get all defensive. I’m just telling you what Dylan told me. But if you enjoy being around one another, why not see where it goes.”
“Because I’m married.” Garrett hated that people automatically assumed that because his wife died the marriage was over. Maybe it was in the eyes of the law, but it wasn’t for him. He’d always hated the phrase “’til death do us part.” He didn’t believe in it and had asked the minister to remove it from their wedding vows fifteen years ago. They vowed to love each other for all eternity instead, and he would never break that promise, even though she had told him she hoped he would find someone new one day. There wasn’t room in his heart to love another woman. “We’re just friends.”
“Okay, fine.” Harlan shrugged at Belle. “Just make sure she knows that.”
“Of course she does.” Garrett shook his head. “I didn’t even know she would be at the Iron Horse when I went there. I saw her at the bar, and we ate a meal together. It’s not like I asked her out.” Garrett froze, remembering his earlier conversation with Delta. “Oh, no.”
“What’s wrong?” Belle asked.
“I think I accidentally asked Delta out to dinner.”
Harlan slapped his brother on the back and laughed. “The heart wants what the heart wants.”
Garrett closed his eyes. This couldn’t be happening. How could he have been so cavalier with his dinner invite? Maybe she hadn’t taken it that way. He replayed the conversation in his mind. What exactly had he said? Something along the lines of wanting to take her to dinner. Shit! He had asked her out and hadn’t even realized it. He scrubbed his hands down his face. He needed to straighten that out and fast.
“Why do I get the feeling you’re avoiding me?” Garrett startled her as she exited Lightning Bug’s stall.
“Good Lord.” Delta flattened herself against the wall before realizing who it was. “You would have been in for the surprise of your life if I’d been carrying a hot shoe.”
“I knew you weren’t since your truck is outside and the back was shut.” He crossed his arms in front of his chest. “No forger, no hot shoes. I also saw Jake waiting patiently behind the wheel for you.”
Okay, so he was observant. “I’ve been here almost every day to check on Lightning Bug, except for Sunday when I visited my family. I was only stopping in for a minute.”
“I know you’ve been here.” He widened his stance and tilted his hat back. “I got your notes, Delta. It’s just I haven’t seen you in a week.”
Five days, but who was counting. But he was right. She had been avoiding him. Luckily for her Garrett was a creature of habit and it didn’t take long to figure out his routine. She’d been able to get in and out without running into him, except for today, when he beat her at her own game.
“Listen I think we should—”
“I have to tell you—” they both said at the same time.
“Ladies first.” Garrett removed his hat and bowed slightly before her. The gesture, however goofy, was actually charming in a Garrett Slade sort of way.
“Look, I—I like you,” she began, trying to find the words to let him down easy.
“Okay.” Garrett quickly donned his hat. “Let me stop you there. I gave you the wrong impression the other day. I think you’re very nice but I don’t want to date you.”
Delta started to laugh. “Oh, thank God for small favors.”
“Excuse me?” Garrett stepped back and frowned slightly. She hadn’t meant to wound his ego, but those were the best words she’d heard all week.
“I don’t want to date you either.” Delta patted her chest in relief. “I’ve been wracking my brains trying to find a way to tell you. I mean you’re good-looking and all that, but I refuse to date anyone I work with or for.”
Garrett began to smile, seemingly satisfied with her explanation. “I still would like to take you to dinner, though. But it would be strictly platonic. Just friends. Nothing more.”
“Yeah, about that.” Delta gnawed on her bottom lip. “Don’t get offended, but I kind of make a point not to hang with anyone I work with either. If the friendship goes south, it affects my business. If you don’t mind, I’d like to keep that part of my life separate. Unless you need someone impartial to talk to about your wife or something like that.”
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