When Darkness Falls (9 page)

Chloe angled herself so that she was facing away from him. Date or no date, he had no right to treat her like his plaything. If she had any hope of gaining her co-workers’ respect, she would have to distance herself from Garrett.

Hank turned to Kate. “How’s the Weslyn project coming?”

Kate opened a file and pulled out a series of sketches. She placed them in the center of the table for all to see. Kate pointed to the first sketch, which depicted a majestic antebellum home with six columns across the front of a spacious porch. “The first phase—the exterior—is now complete. Phase two will consist of a remodel of the main level, including a complete rebuild of the kitchen. The client wants to maintain the traditional style of the home but yet give it a fresh appeal that’s more of a transitional nature. As it is now, the kitchen is too small.” She pointed. “We’ll remove the wall between the kitchen and adjoining room, creating a larger, more functional space. Of course, we’ll add all of the modern updates, including double gas ovens and two dishwashers. Mr. Weslyn is a weekend chef, and he and his wife love to entertain.”

“Do you have the contractors lined up?”

“Yes, I’ve contracted with Chet Mathewson to do the work. His crew is planning on starting this coming Monday.”

“How are we on the budget?”

“So far so good. The Weslyns understand that we didn’t originally account for the upgraded appliances, and they’re willing to pay the additional cost.”

Chloe looked at the sketches of the home. Her eye caught on a photograph, and she pulled it closer to get a better look. The home was in a historical section, and it was even more impressive in the photograph than in the sketches.
Talk about good bones!
What she would give to get her hands on that house.

As if reading her mind, Hank looked at Chloe. “I would like for you to work with Kate on this project.”

“That sounds great,” she said enthusiastically, smiling at Kate who looked anything but pleased.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Garrett said.

All eyes turned to him.

“Why not?” Annoyance was written over Hank’s face.

“I have a couple of projects that I could use Chloe’s expertise on. From looking at her portfolio, I can tell that she’s an expert on color and textiles, which is precisely what is needed on the Hampton’s project. We’re pushing that tight deadline, and with my upcoming travel schedule, I don’t think I can do it alone.”

Chloe’s heart sank as she looked at Hank, waiting for his answer. The last thing she wanted was to work closely with Garrett. He was starting to tick her off!

“Fine, I’ll work with Kate on the Weslyn project, and you can keep Chloe busy,” Hank said.

The way Hank said it made Chloe feel like a piece of meat. Heat scorched over her as she lifted her chin in the air. “I can work with Kate and Garrett.”

Hank looked doubtful. “Are you sure? These are some demanding projects, and the work has to be pristine—no detail left undone.”

Her eyes cut into Hank’s, and she didn’t back down one inch. “Contrary to what you might think, this isn’t my first rodeo. I’m perfectly capable of doing both projects and anything else you want to throw at me.”

She heard Butch suppress a chuckle.

Hank met her gaze full on. “Okay, then. Let’s see what you’re made of.”

S
usan placed
a basket of hot bread in the center of the table and sat down. “Okay, tell us all about it.”

Shortly after Chloe had arrived home from work, Susan announced that she was baking lasagna, which she would bring over, so they could have a celebratory dinner for Chloe on completing her first day on the job. Even though Chloe was mentally exhausted and wanted nothing more than to eat a quick dinner and go to bed early, she was touched by the gesture. And as she looked around the small table where she, Susan, and Darbie were gathered, she suddenly felt grateful that she was surrounded by people who cared.

Chloe reached for a roll and spread a generous slice of butter over it, trying to formulate her thoughts to give a full report. “It went about like you would expect for the first day.” She went through the list, naming things that had happened, leaving out the parts about Garrett. “I’ve been assigned some great projects, and I’m excited to be able to prove myself.” She finished by telling them about the Weslyn project and how she was thrilled to be working on a historical home.

“How exciting,” Susan said, helping herself to a second slice of lasagna. “I would love to tour the home when you’re done.”

“Yes, I’m sure we can work something out. I mean, I haven’t met the owners yet, but most people are excited to show off their finished homes.”

Susan looked at Darbie. “How was your day?”

“We finished up a segment on serial killers. My professor was debunking the myth that there are no black serial killers.”

Chloe nearly laughed out loud at the contrast between her work and Darbie’s schooling. She managed to keep a straight face by focusing on her food rather than the conversation. The lasagna was not the best she’d had, but thankfully, it was leaps better than the chicken casserole Susan had made a few days go.

“Yeah, I’ve heard that,” Susan said.

“Well, it’s not true. Have you heard of Anthony Sowell, Wayne Williams, Andre Crawford?” Darbie began telling about the murders in graphic detail—to the point where Chloe lost her appetite. She looked at Susan’s horrified expression and knew she’d better say something to change the conversation.

“You said you’d just finished up that segment. What are you studying now?”

“Oh, we’re starting into theft. My professor is an aficionado of jewel thieves. Have you guys heard of Bill Mason?” She went on to tell them all about the heists. When Darbie got to talking, there was no shutting her up. Her mouth started moving at warp speed, and all she and Susan had to do was to supply the perfunctory
uh, huh
or
wow
in the appropriate places. This went on for about twenty minutes until someone knocked at the backdoor. Before they could open it, Lila rushed in.

“Hey, girls.” Breathless excitement tinged her voice. “I have something I want to show you.” She placed a box on the table and then looked at the food. “Looks good.”

Susan gave Chloe a knowing smile. “Why don’t you have dinner with us while you’re here?”

“I think I will. First, let me show you what I’ve got.” She opened the box that was full of earrings and necklaces. “Pete brought back a bunch of odds and ends from the jewelry show. He’s willing to sell them for a song.”

Lila fixed herself a plate while Susan took the pieces out of the box and laid them on the table. She and Darbie acted like children in a candy store, picking up each piece and holding it up to them.

“Speaking of jewelry, we were just talking about all of the heists that have been taking place lately.”

“I know. Pete said that was the talk of the show.”

Susan handed Chloe a pair of ruby earrings set in a cluster of diamonds. “These would be beautiful on you with your dark hair and eyes.”

Chloe held the earrings up and admired how they caught the light and reflected it back in sparkles. “Are they real?”

Lila chuckled. “I wish.” She waved a hand. “Mostly cut glass, but it’s still quality stuff.”

“How much do you want for them?” It would be at least two weeks before Chloe got her first paycheck, and her funds were running low. Moving across country had cost her more than she thought it would.

“How does six dollars sound?”

“Amazing!” Darbie interjected. “I saw a pair of earrings like them in the mall for forty bucks.” She reached for a pair of emerald earrings. “How about these?”

“The same.”

“I’ll take these,” Chloe said. “How much for the matching necklace?”

Lila pursed her lips. “Tell you what—I’ll sell them both to you for ten dollars.”

“Thank you, that’s very generous.” Chloe could think of at least three outfits that would go well with the jewelry. She had a few nice clothes but would need to buy more now that she was working full time. In the meantime, she would have to think of clever ways to stretch her existing wardrobe until she could afford to buy new things.

The doorbell rang. Darbie looked at Chloe. “Who could that be? Are you expecting anyone?”

“No.”

Darbie went to answer it. A second later, she came back, a mischievous grin on her face. “It’s for you.”

“Really? Who is it?” Chloe wrinkled her nose. “Not another delivery.”
Please let it not be another delivery!
She couldn’t handle that tonight. After the staff meeting, Chloe had made a hasty exit so she wouldn’t have to talk to Garrett. She’d successfully managed to avoid him the remainder of the day. Surely he’d not sent her something else.

“Delivery? I didn’t realize you got a delivery,” Susan said, interest lighting her eyes.

Chloe stood. “Who is it?”

Darbie flashed a mysterious smile. “Go and see for yourself.”

As Chloe left the kitchen, Darbie began wagging her tongue again, telling Susan and Lila all about how Garrett had given her the shoes. She figured at the rate Darbie was going, she would have Chloe’s entire life history spelled out by the time she returned to the kitchen.

When she stepped into the living room, she was stunned to see Garrett, standing by the front door, holding a single red rose in his hand. She stopped in her tracks. “Hey.”

He gave her a hesitant smile. “Hey.” He held out the rose. “This is for you. I know I brought you one last time, but I couldn’t resist doing it again.”

She took it. “Thanks.”

He motioned to the couch. “May I sit down?”

She thought fast. The last thing she wanted was for everyone to come into the living room and see Garrett.
Or worse!
What if he overheard them talking about him? “Um, let’s go outside and sit on the front porch.”

“Okay, or we could go for a drive.”

“Yes, let’s do that.” While she didn’t relish the thought of being alone with Garrett, it would give her a chance to talk to him uninterrupted, without anyone looking on. “Hold on. Let me tell my roommate I’m going out.” She made sure to place the rose on the table in the hall before she went back into the kitchen.

When Chloe stepped into the room, Darbie was at the point in her narrative where Chloe learned that Garrett was Hank’s brother. The instant she saw Chloe, she stopped talking and gave her a sheepish grin. “Were your ears burning? I was just filling these guys in on your day.”

Susan lifted an eyebrow, a coy expression on her face. “When you told me about your first day, you left out all of the juicy parts.”

Chloe shot Darbie a withering look. “No, just the humiliating parts.” She’d made the mistake of confiding in Darbie about the day’s events right after she got home from work. That would certainly never happen again.

Darbie’s face turned cherry red as she tucked both sides of her hair behind her ears.

“Oh, don’t get miffed at Darbie,” Lila said, patting Darbie’s hand. “Susan and I had to practically beat the information out of her.”

“Yeah, I can tell.” Chloe rolled her eyes.

Darbie smirked. “Geez, sorry, I didn’t realize you’d be so touché about it.”

There was so much more she could’ve said at that moment, but she decided to take the high road instead. “I’m going for a drive with Garrett. I’ll be back after while. Susan, thanks for dinner. And Lila, I’ll get you some money for that jewelry tomorrow.”

“No rush,” Lila said.

Susan winked. “Have fun with your man.”

“Thanks,” she mumbled as heat crept up her neck.

C
hloe watched
as Garrett took his napkin and thoroughly cleaned each piece of silverware before arranging it beside his plate so that it was equally spaced. He’d already sent his pie back because it wasn’t hot enough for his taste. His car was immaculate, and even though it was getting late and they’d had a busy day at work he still looked as neat and fresh as he had when she first saw him earlier in the day. Now that she thought about it, his office was perfect too. There was not a single thing—not even a sheet of paper—out of place. She was a neat freak herself, but Garrett took things to a new level. He had a set idea of how things were supposed to be, and he expected everyone, including her, to get in line with those expectations. Well, he would have to get used to disappointment where she was concerned because she certainly wasn’t going to jump on command. She picked back up on the discussion they had begun when they got into his car.

“It’s like I told you earlier. I don’t feel comfortable getting involved with someone that I work with. If we didn’t work together then maybe things would be different, but as it is …” She let the words dwindle out.

He leaned back against the booth and gave her a casual smile, but she could tell he was getting agitated from the way he kept drumming his fingers on the table. “And I told you, it’s not a big deal.”

“Well, it’s a big deal to me!”

He shrugged. “If you’re that worried about it, I could always talk to Hank and get him to let you go. Then we could date, and you wouldn’t have to worry about it.”

She went stiff as her heart began to race. “What?” Her throat felt tight, and she swallowed hard. “How could you say something like that?” She blinked rapidly to stay the tears.

“I’m just joking. I would never do that. I’m trying to lighten up the mood a little.” He looked apologetic. “Hey, I was just kidding. Honest!”

She clasped her hands tightly in her lap and looked away.

“I shouldn’t have said that. I didn’t realize it would upset you. I truly am sorry.” He touched her arm.

He looked sincere, but how could she be sure? Now that the words had been spoken, she would always have that fear hanging over her head. She got the feeling if she ended things here and now that he would cause her serious problems. And she needed this job! It was like trying to dance around a land mine without getting her foot blown off.

“I give you my word that our relationship has nothing whatsoever to do with your job.”

She still didn’t fully trust him, but she relaxed a little. “Okay.” She had to try and make him understand where she was coming from. “Garrett, my reservations about a relationship have nothing to do with you. You’re fantastic!” He beamed, but she wasn’t finished. “I’m just not ready for a serious commitment right now. I’m still dealing with some things from a past relationship that went terribly wrong.”

He gave her a sympathetic smile. “Who isn’t?” He sat up and rubbed a hand across his forehead. “We don’t have to rush things.”

He peered into her eyes, and she was struck by how incredibly handsome he was. And she could tell from his confident expression that he knew it! He thought that if he kept looking at her with those puppy-dog eyes that she would melt and give him whatever he wanted. It was tempting. He was so captivating and charismatic. And he obviously liked her. Maybe she should be more like Darbie and throw caution to the wind.

“Let’s just take things slow and see where they end up. No pressure.” He reached for her hands.

“What about you and Yvette?”

She knew she’d hit a nerve when she saw him tense. He let go of her hands. “What did she tell you?”

“Only that you are the most eligible bachelor in Salt Lake—a real lady-killer.”

He scoffed. “Yvette doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Really? Because I kind of got the impression that the two of you dated and that you broke up with her.”

The corners of his lips turned down. “We only went out on a couple of dates. That’s it. I never led her on or pretended that it was anything more than it was.”

“Oh, you mean
dates
like what we’re on right now?”

“It’s not like that,” he said quickly, giving her a pleading look. “This is different.”

She cocked her head. “How so?”

He looked flustered for a minute until a sly smile stole across his lips. “You’re baiting me, aren’t you?”

Her eyes turned to saucers. “No! I’m just trying to figure you out.”

Amusement twinkled in his eyes. “Oh, you want to know more about me.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Well, I think I can handle that,” he said with a sure smile. And just like that, he was in control of the conversation once more as the charm oozed out. He talked about his love for cars and extreme sports like rock climbing, bungee jumping, skydiving and even snow kiting (whatever the heck that was). The more he talked, the more uncomfortable Chloe became. She and Garrett had nothing in common, making her wonder what it was that he saw in her.

“Tell me about your childhood,” she said when the conversation lagged.

He rested his arm on the back of the booth. “I grew up in The Valley. My father left when I was three, leaving my mom to take care of Hank and me.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.”

He shrugged. “I don’t remember much about him. We grew up in an apartment building. My mom was a saint who did everything she could to put a roof over our heads and food on the table. She worked as a sales clerk in a department store and did laundry and ironing for the neighbors.”

“Is Hank your only sibling?”

“Yes.” He paused as a pained expression came over his face. “It’s just the two of us now. Our mom passed away from leukemia five years ago.” He picked up his glass and swirled around the ice before lifting it to his lips. She got the impression that he was swallowing down his emotion along with the drink.