Page 81 of All Tied Down

“Uh-huh.” He wipes his mouth with his napkin, his eyes never leaving mine. “Tell me about your deal in Tennessee.”

“The new properties will allow us to fulfill client requests whether they’re here for business or pleasure. Des will go and oversee some of the initial work, but I’ll be there for a month, maybe two to make sure it’s a seamless transition. We want the properties to reflect the luxury associated with the Andrews International name.”

“When is your trip to oversee the seamless transition?” His words are carefully measured, his expression not quite passing for neutral.

A beat passes before I wave my hand as if I’m swatting a fly away. “Oh, sorry, no…it’ll be…”—looking around, I lift my eyebrows slightly—“after.”

“After.”

“I made sure to check the dates. It won’t interfere in what we have going on.”

“Sure.”

“Garrett.” His name is a sigh because I can’t do this with him every time the end of our arrangement comes up. We’re adults and we agreed to this.

Hell, he proposed it.

He doesn’t get to make me the bad guy because he likes what we have going on—I like it too, but it’s temporary. This only works because he’s not touring and I’m working my ass off to be available for this.

But it’s not real life.

It’s not how our lives operate.

“Sorry, yeah, I just… time got away from me.”

The shift in energy is palpable, the easygoing comradery we shared moments before extinguished by the reality of our timeline.

I know I should be more sympathetic but I just don’t have it in me. I shouldn’t have to feel guilty for sticking to the plan.

Better get another margarita because it’s gonna be a long night.

GARRETT

I killed the mood.

One minute Emerson and I were laughing and talking about our day, and the next I’m watching as her expression becomes something more practiced.

Careful.

The ride home wasn’t much better, both of us unable to break the weird tension as we pulled into the driveway.

My driveway.

Because she had to remind me it’s my house.

Not ours.

And why the fuck do I want it to be ours anyway? I haven’t even known her long enough to even consider something permanent like making mine into ours.

The thoughts warring inside my mind are starting to give me a headache because despite how this whole thing started, I want her to stay. I want this to be the start of something real and lasting.

Because I’d be lying if I said I’m not falling in love with Emerson more each day. I never thought my house was empty when it was just me, but now I don’t know how I’ll manage without her in my space.

Everything seems richer—brighter—with her here.

And I like it.

I more than like it.