“Got pics?”
She shook her head. “I deleted them.”
That didn’t surprise him. Taryn threw her entire self into every project, whether for the bakery, a friend, or even a stranger. “You don’t like to fail.”
“Does anyone?”
“No, but we learn from our mistakes.” Garrett had.
“I learned plenty.” She held up her hand and counted off on her fingers. “Never trust an image. Double-check the instructions. Make a prototype first. String art is overrated.”
He laughed. “I take it you never tried again.”
“Nope. I ended up not decorating, and no one noticed.”
His alarm beeped. He shut it off. “The time went fast.”
Taryn shrugged. “You know what they say about having fun.”
“This has been fun.” He glanced at his phone in case he had more time. “I wish I could stay and do more.”
“You need to be at Callie’s with your family.”
He did. They were discussing the wedding and assigning jobs. Since he was here, he would have some say. Flynn and Keaton would be told what to do, having no input. Still, Garrett hated leaving Taryn on her own. “How late will you work tonight?”
“However long it takes.” If Taryn wanted to sound lighthearted, she failed. Not only her tone, but the lines on her forehead. “Not all night.”
He wasn’t sure he believed her. If he returned, that might not happen. The patio had a light. Perhaps that would illuminate the area enough tonight. “I’ll stop by after dinner and see if you’re still at it.”
“I’d appreciate that.” She motioned to the side of the house. “Don’t ring the doorbell. I won’t hear it if I’m out here. Come through the gate.”
He could do that. “What’s the keycode or combination?”
“It’s open.”
“You should have a lock at the minimum. Some type of security device or anyone can enter your backyard without permission.”
She laughed. “Silver Falls is nothing like the big city.”
No place was immune to troublemakers. “Even small towns have crime. Drug issues. Thefts.”
“This place has had all three and more, but I’m safe here.”
Her confidence might backfire someday, but he wasn’t her keeper. Still… “Please tell me you lock your front door.”
“I do, and my slider, too.”
That was a relief. “Callie and Margot have locks on their side gates.”
“They have dogs.” Taryn’s matter-of-fact tone didn’t loosen the tightness across his chest.
He wanted her to be safe. “It could be for other reasons, too.”
“Look up the crime rate in Silver Falls. You’ll be surprised.”
Been there, done that. “I did when Callie moved here.”
“She mentioned her brothers were overprotective.”
