Not a lie. She would be—eventually.
“Can we talk?” he asked.
“Now isn’t a good time.” She kept her voice steady, even though her insides twisted worse than a silicone fondant rope mold.
“There probably won’t be one.”
She would give him that, but that didn’t mean she had to speak with him.
Callie called Garrett the egotistical attorney, but the doggy daycare owner was proud of her second oldest brother. Taryn had never seen the cocky side of him but hearing him describe his work showed his stubborn streak. He fought relentlessly for his client’s innocence. If Garrett wanted to talk to her, he would keep returning until she agreed.
“If not for me,” he added. “For Callie.”
Guilt coated Taryn’s mouth like icky-tasting cold medicine. She hadn’t considered her friend, who was already stressed about the upcoming wedding. Callie didn’t need anyone else adding to that.
Taryn swiveled in her chair to face him. “Talk.”
“I owe you an apology.” His voice was gruff, and Garrett cleared his throat. “I said I’d call, but I received death threats.”
Six months after ghosting her, this was what he’d come up with. She scoffed. “Sure you did.”
His nostrils flared. “Why would I lie?”
She shrugged. “I’m guessing Callie asked you to talk to me. Death threats sound like a convenient, albeit out-there excuse, even for a lawyer from L.A.”
Garrett blew out a breath. He removed his cell phone from his pocket, tapped on the screen, and held the phone toward her.
A sharp, loud sound made her cringe. Two more quickly followed.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“Gunshots left on my voicemail the day I returned from Silver Falls. A creepy letter arrived at my office the next day. That evening, I came home to a message on my bathroom mirror written in blood. Someone slipped past the doorman and lobby security and broke into my condo.” His nostrils flared again. “Not an excuse.”
“I…” She didn’t know what to say. “This kind of stuff happens on TV.”
“And in real life. At least in mine.” He didn’t miss a beat. “I went dark. That was the only way to keep myself and those close to me safe until the police found who threatened me.”
That was the last thing Taryn expected to hear. “Thanks for thinking of my safety.”
“I should have told you what was going on.”
She would give him the benefit of the doubt. “You had other things on your mind. It must have been scary.”
“It was difficult.” His words came out slow as if he had to force each one. He hadn’t spoken like that in December. “I wouldn’t call threats an occupational hazard as a trial attorney, but this guy didn’t threaten only me. I didn’t want anyone…hurt because of me.”
“Especially your family.”
He nodded once.
“Is everything okay now?” she asked.
“The police arrested him. He was sloppy. Left so many trails of evidence it made the case a slam dunk. But once everything was resolved, so much time had passed. It would have been strange, awkward, to call you then. I’m sorry.”
His apology sounded sincere, and the situation must have been frightening. At least he was safe. His family, too. Though she might have erased the message with the gunshots, not carry it around like evidence or a badge of honor.
Still, holding a grudge made no sense. Other than at Callie and Brandt’s wedding, they wouldn’t see each other. “Apology accepted.”
“Thank you.” Garrett rubbed his neck. “I never meant to lead you on. I thought we agreed about not being interested in a relationship. I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong idea about us.”
