“She’s got Alzheimer’s,” he said softly as he ran his fingers through her snowy white hair.
Hailey darted her gaze from Goldie to Helen, then back to Goldie. “I’m sorry. She thinks you’re Garth.”
He leaned against the windowsill behind the recliner. “I am, or at least I was. No one calls me Garth except for my grandma.” He pursed his lips.
A hand flew over her mouth as she took him in, her stomach twisting in knots.Goldie’s Garth? The guy I kissed last night is Garth!“I had no idea. You’ve really changed.”
“I fuckin’ hope so. You grew up nicely.” His gaze dropped from her eyes to her shoulders, then to her breasts.
An unwelcome surge of excitement coursed through her, and she moved farther away from him. “I can’t believe you’re Garth. I mean, you gave me a tattoo.”
“On your ass. And an incredible kiss on your lips.”
She groaned and threw her head back. “I can’t believe this. Did you know it was me?”
“When you came into the tattoo parlor, I had no clue it was you. I thought you were just another hot-looking chick. Ryan never mentioned you moved back to Alina. When did you get here?”
“About eight months ago. My aunt Patty shattered her left femur and needed help with the shop. She’s here for rehab. That’s why I’m here. I was visiting her earlier. I just happened to see your grandma’s name on the door. I don’t know why I didn’t notice it before.”
“They just put them on the door. Before, they were just on the charts inside the rooms. This is a small world. I wonder why Ryan didn’t tell me you’re in town.”
“I think he was trying to protect me. He did tell me you joined a biker gang—I mean club. I don’t know. Sometimes he acts like I’m still a child.”
Cocking his head to the side, he slid his gaze over her again. “He knows me too well.”
“This is kinda awkward.” Hailey rubbed the back of her neck.
“Why’s that?”
“Because of last night and the tattoo and all that.”
“I bet you wouldn’t have done any of that if you knew it was me.”
“No, I wouldn’t have.”
“But you were attracted to me.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t know it was you, Garth. I mean, the whole thing is weird. You’re my brother’s best friend. We’ve known each other since I can remember.”
His face hardened. “You’re right. Ryan would be pissed, and we can’t do that shit to him. We’ll forget last night ever happened, and I’ll try to forget your cute ass.”
Before she could answer, several personnel ran past. She poked her head out into the hallway and saw a bunch of people go into one of the rooms. A few residents stood in the hall trying to peek inside.
“I wonder what’s going on,” she said.
He came up behind her, pressing against her back as he looked over her head and down the hallway. Static charges jumped through her as the heat radiating from him hugged her. Her body became alert and she felt his heat radiating off him. When he placed his hand on her shoulder, it set off an inferno inside her, and she leaned back against his solid chest. A subtle scent of leather, pine, and earth infused her senses, and her arousal screamed for his touch, for his lips on her skin.
“Looks like a problem in Mrs. Heller’s room.” His breath fanned over her shoulders and she fell farther back into him. His finger caressed her cheek. “Be careful what you’re doing. You might wake the beast in me, and he doesn’t play nice.” The way he ground his hips forward, rubbing his hard dick against her, made her want to wake up the beast and more.
Shelly ran by, then stopped and came back to the door. Tension etched her face, and she glared at Hailey before looking at Goldie. “I didn’t know you’d come in.”
“What’s going on down there?”
“Mrs. Heller’s passed.”
“Damn. That’s too bad.”
“Yeah. She was old. When you get past eighty, you never know.”
