Tears welled behind her eyelids. She blinked them away.
“But Callie is my priority,” he added.
The words pierced Taryn’s heart with bull’s-eye precision. Someday, she wanted to be someone’s priority. “I know. And that’s how it should be.”
“But I’ll do as much as I can between now and Friday.”
“I appreciate it.”
As she stacked the pages, her hand bumped against his. Tingles shot up her arm. Taryn needed to avoid him as she did the hammer. “I’ll give you my address.”
His eyebrow creased. “I remember where you live.”
Oh, right.He hadn’t forgotten. “See you there.”
“It won’t take me long. I need to run to Margot’s and change into shorts and a T-shirt.”
Taryn nodded.
“This doesn’t have to be so awkward.” He brushed his hand through his hair. “I’m a friend helping another friend.”
She’d never thought of him that way, but if it made things more comfortable when they were together, she would give “friends” a try. “That’ll work.”
“If it doesn’t, I have a feeling we’ll be so busy we don’t notice,” he teased.
His grin brightened his face, showing off sun-kissed skin that intensified the color of his eyes. So handsome.
Her heart kicked up a notch.
Uh-oh.Taryn’s breath caught. Maybe she should have asked Rachelle’s paramedic friend for help instead.
Chapter Seven
An hour later,Garrett stood on Taryn’s porch, his finger hovering in front of the doorbell. The welcome sign hanging on the door mocked him. The hair on his neck lifted as if agreeing that he shouldn’t be there.
He wanted to make up for what he’d done, but he’d forgotten sometimes that wasn’t possible. He was older and wiser than he’d been as a summer intern, but would his wanting to help Taryn turn out the same way that experience had?
Garrett hoped not, but doubts grew, swamping his desire to make amends, and he lowered his hand. Except…
Taryn had appeared to be on the verge of tears at the bakery.
Walking away wasn’t an option.
Not after saying he’d help and knowing she needed something to go right when everything else had gone wrong. Whether or not he proved himself was no longer the point. This was about Taryn.
Sure, the image of being a knight in shining armor out to rescue her appealed to him at a gut level. Who didn’t want to be someone’s hero? But his armor was tarnished in her eyes. Besides, Taryn Lawson was more than capable of rescuing herself. She just needed a hand—any hand—and his was, well, handy.
Time to stop with the theatrics, even if they were only in his mind. He wasn’t being paid to stand in front of a jury, who would rather be at the grocery store or sitting in a dental chair having their teeth cleaned than in a courtroom. He was there to help someone in need.
You’re all she’s got.
At least based on what he’d heard from Margot when he’d asked if she knew others who might be able to help with Taryn’s booth this week.
His cell phone buzzed. His sister’s name showed on the screen. Perfect timing. Garrett had asked if she knew anyone, too.
Lil’ Sis:I called a few people to see if anyone else can help Taryn, but no luck.
Lil’ Sis:Rumor has it Mr. Jones from the hardware store is so behind he’s dropping out.
