Free Dreaming With A Broken Heart (Hollywood Legends Book 1) by Mary J. Williams Page B

Jade.
    “Sorry to hear it. Why don’t you take an early
    lunch?”
    In other words, get out of my office . Garrett kept a
    calm face. He didn’t say anything else. Inside, he was willing his brother to
    leave.
    “Want to join me?”
    “Nope,” Garrett said, his eyes darting towards the
    clock. “I’m stuffed. Pancakes at Mom and Dad’s”
    “You’ve been spending a lot of time in Beverly Hills
    lately.” Wyatt gave him a speculative look. “Any reason?”
    “Other than liking my parents’ company?” Garrett
    shook his head. “Nope.”
    “You’re a good son,” Wyatt said. “One that is
    full of shit.”
    “Hey—”
    “There has to be another reason you’re hanging out in
    Beverly Hills.” Wyatt slowly smiled. “Who is she?”
    Garrett felt his throat tighten. He didn’t need to keep Jade
    a secret from his family. No one would object to him helping her. For some
    reason, he wasn’t ready to share Jade.
    “She?” Answer a question with a question. A great
    avoidance tactic. One Wyatt knew very well.
    “Now I’m certain there’s a woman. You are a
    straight shooter, brother. Colt charms, Nate bulldozes, and I can wheedle a
    deal with the best of them.”
    “What am I?”
    “You tell the truth. You never lied. Not really.”
    Wyatt laughed. “Not that you didn’t try a few times. Usually when you were
    covering for Nate. Even for your twin brother, you couldn’t lie your way out of
    a paper bag.”
    “I can lie.” Wyatt’s look told Garrett he wasn’t
    convinced. “When it’s important. Helping Nate put one over on Mom and Dad
    hit low on the importance scale.”
    “Fine. Keep your secrets.” Wyatt moved towards the
    door. He stopped, looking back at his brother. “Is she married?”
    “Of course not.”
    Fuck. He knew the second the words were out of his mouth he was
    sunk. The grin on Wyatt’s mouth confirmed it.
    “Enjoy your lady, Garrett. If you want to talk, you
    know where to find me.”
    What he wanted to do was kick Wyatt in the ass. He had
    fallen for that particular trick since they were boys. It seemed he never learned.
    He didn’t have long to worry about it. His phone rang. Jade. Right on time.
    “Hi.”
    “Can we meet?”
    Not what he was expecting. Garrett didn’t ask questions. He
    didn’t hesitate.
    “Name the place and time. I’ll be there.”
    Jade’s choice of meeting place was a surprise. To put it
    mildly.
    Garrett didn’t have time to argue. Jade whispered the
    location, told him she would text the rest of the details, then immediately
    hung up. He tried calling her back. He wanted to suggest half a dozen
    alternatives that were out of the way in neighborhoods where you could walk
    alone. Night and day. Unfortunately, Jade turned her phone off. He left
    a message.
    Jade didn’t get back to him. As a result, Garrett found
    himself driving to a seedy motel in Gramercy Park. Wisely, he borrowed Hamish’s
    nondescript car. Brown, dust, dented. He often wondered why a man who could
    afford any model he wanted would drive a rundown piece of crap. Tonight he was
    grateful for his friend’s questionable taste. It wouldn’t draw undue attention
    amidst similar makes and models.
    In the text, Jade asked him to check in, and then text her
    the room number. He was happy to get there first. If the place were a
    vermin-infested hole, he would insist they leave. Surprisingly, the room,
    though shabby, appeared clean.
    Garrett set the key on the scarred table. So far, he was
    following her instructions to a T. What she wanted him to do next had him
    hesitating.
    “Turn off all the lights. Make sure the curtains are
    tightly drawn. Leave the door ajar. Sit as far away from the door as possible.
    Don’t look at me. Please. Not even a glance.”
    He wondered if the gossip was right. Had Jade’s scumbag
    husband cut up her face? Was her body scarred as well as her soul? Why ask to
    meet? Perhaps this was a test. For both of them.
    Not liking it, yet trying to