Page 42 of Small Town Sizzle

I nod slowly. “Are you sure? I mean, I can…I can…”

“You’re clearly in the middle of something,” he chuckles. “You’ve got that look on your face.”

“What look is that?”

“You want a mirror for me to show you?” he teases. “Because I can’t explain it.”

I giggle and glance back at my nephew. He’s got his mom’s green eyes, but that’s where the similarities stop because all the Greenes have red hair, and he has dark brown curly hair and is the height of a giant.

“Thanks for the call out.” I smile back at him. “I need to find something, and then I’ll be home. If you’d let George out and make Jaz take a shower and get her clothes out for school tomorrow, I’d owe you.”

“Done deal,” he says before he starts out the door. “Love you, Aunt Maya!”

“Love you, Mom!” Jaz calls as she pokes her head in the door, and she’s gone just as quickly.

I smile to myself before I start digging through the files again. I hear something at the door.

“Did you forget something, buddy?” I ask, assuming that Alex forgot his phone or something crazy.

“No,” Garrett’s deep voice replies.

My stomach drops and my eyes dart up quickly. The sound of his voice rolls through me, leaving a trail of warmth. “Sorry, I thought you were Alex.”

“Nope, just me. I was told that you had locked yourself in here and that someone might need to force you out.”

“I’m fine,” I say with a roll of my eyes.

“Regardless, I brought you a coffee and a Danish. And then realized it’s six at night.”

“I can drink coffee and fall asleep ten minutes later.” I shrug as I giggle and hold my hand out.

“Good to know,” he laughs as he gives me the drink and food. “What’s happening in here?”

“I want to make sure I have everything in my hand about the deed and land and so on,” I say without looking at him. “I don’t want to take any chances.”

“And you’re looking for them now?”

I nod. He walks over and starts looking with me. I can feel the stress radiating off me, and I’m hopeful that he cannot feel it. I’m usually really good at hiding that from the rest of the world, but something about Garrett makes me think he can see through it all.

We’re quiet for a while as we flip through the various folders in the filing cabinet. Everything in this office has to do with the programs, grants, the land, etc. None of the personal files are here, so it’s safe that he’s looking with me.

I move at the same time he does, and I practically fall into his arms.

He catches me easily, his strong arms supporting me effortlessly. I quickly right myself, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks as I mumble a quick thank you. His gaze lingers on me for a moment before he clears his throat and returns to searching through the files.

As we continue our search in silence, I steal glances at him. His dark hair is tousled from running his hand through it in frustration, and his brow furrowed in concentration. There’s acertain intensity about him that draws me in, and I find myself admiring the way his eyes narrow slightly when he’s focused.

Finally, after what feels like hours but is probably only minutes, Garrett pulls out a thick folder from the bottom of the cabinet. “Is this what you’re looking for?” he asks, holding it out for me to take.

I snatch it eagerly, flipping through the pages. My heart races as I find what I’ve been searching for.

“Oh my God! Yes! Garrett, thank you so much!” I squeal as I launch myself at him for a hug.

He catches me easily, laughing as he does. Something shifts between us, and when I start to pull away, he captures my mouth with his.

I eagerly respond to his kiss, my hands finding their way to his shoulders. He deepens the kiss, his hand moving to cup my cheek gently.

The gesture is so foreign to me that I feel choked up as tears prick at my eyes. It’s been so long since anyone has gently touched me during sex that it’s got me latching on to him tighter than I should.