Rayne winced. “Yeah, sorry about that.”
Garrett frowned and shook his head. “But you had a boyfriend, that Liam guy you didn’t like that much. Didn’t he respect the fact that you were in a relationship?”
Rayne shook her head. “Liam’s not the most. . .
commanding
of men. He’s pretty quiet, and nerdy and he wasn’t exactly territorial when it came to me. It was all just a set up between our parents anyways. Neither of us was emotionally involved. Graham took one look at him and dismissed him. They even went golfing a few times.”
Garrett blew out a breath in disgust. “Didn’t Liam know how you felt about Graham? Why would he go golfing with him?”
Rayne sighed and looked away. “Liam’s like that. He thought it was all in my head. He thought I was being silly and dramatic. I think he did it just to spite me.”
Garrett closed his eyes and shook his head again. “So you think Graham wants to kill you now? That doesn’t really make sense to me knowing how much he’s pursued you. The impression I got from him was that he’d do anything to have you. Killing you would kind of ruin his own plans.”
Rayne turned her body to face him as she pushed her hair over her shoulder. “He’s the only one who has a motive. He gets rid of my parents, the heirs to my grandmother’s fortune. Ivy and I are the new heirs. Well, if he gets rid of us too, then guess who’s next in line to inherit everything from Grandmother?”
Garrett nodded his head. “Graham I take it. Why wasn’t he an heir to begin with? I mean, why didn’t your grandmother just split everything up evenly between all the remaining kids?”
Rayne pursed her lips and stared at the rain falling softly against the windshield. “There was bad blood between her and Grace. Grace blamed her for abandoning her and refused to have a relationship with her,
ever
. Well, my grandmother gave up and washed her hands of her and wrote her out of the will. I guess she figured if Grace refused to acknowledge her as her mother, then why should she give her an inheritance? So she didn’t. Graham was left out too of course, but it’s not like they’re destitute. Grace’s father owned a huge soap company and it’s made them very wealthy. Not as wealthy as us, but they’re considered rich to most people.”
Garrett made a humming sound in his throat and took the keys out of the ignition. “Well, something’s not adding up to me. I think we’re missing a key piece of information. You said you had investigators looking into the crash and trying to find any evidence that would link Graham to your parents’ death. Have they come up with anything?”
Rayne shook her head. “We have one lead. There was an eyewitness to the crash that was able to give us a partial license plate. If we can find the driver, then we can find out who paid him.”
Garrett leaned over and touched her cheek. “Rayne, what if it was just a tragic accident? What if Graham had nothing to do with it?”
Rayne shrugged, her eyes clouding with pain. “Then I’d be relieved of course. Ivy and I could then relax and stop running and hiding from Graham. But Garrett, my gut is telling me it was murder. The eyewitness said it looked very intentional. I can’t let my parents’ murderer go free. They might not have been the best parents, but I loved them and they didn’t deserve to die like that.”
Garrett stared at her for a long moment and then nodded his head slowly. “I believe you. Well, whatever I can do to help you, you know all you have to do is ask.”
Rayne smiled sadly and nodded. “Thanks Garrett. I’ve never known anyone like you before. You’re so strong and kind. And for some reason, I feel so weightless now that I’ve told you. You should run a therapy business on the side or just add it to your landscaping business. You could call it Green Thumb Therapy.”
Garrett laughed and gestured to his house. “I think I’ll pass on that. So, it’s still pretty early. Would you like to come in? We could talk or watch a movie? If not, I can take you home.”
Rayne bit her lip and looked out at the gently falling rain and felt those familiar butterflies in her stomach begin to dance. She felt like a teenager all over again and here she was twenty-six. Time to be brave.
“Let’s hang out for a little longer,” she said and opened her door, hopping out into the wet night.
She walked around the truck and then paused, lifting her face up and smiling as the rain slipped coolly over her. She lifted her arms to the side and did something she hardly ever did. Enjoyed the moment. She squeaked in surprise though as two strong hands took her by the waist and twisted her around.
“Sorry, but who could resist?” Garrett said in a low voice before lowering his lips to hers.
Rayne had been kissed by very few men in her life. Liam, Graham and a few men throughout the years, but she’d never once been kissed like this. Because if she had, she would have remembered every searing second. Garrett held her firmly with one hand on the small of her back and his other hand behind her neck, holding her securely in place. Not that she had any desire to be anywhere other than where she was right at that second.
And all the butterflies that had been attacking her all day suddenly turned into a warm, melting feeling that had her wrapping her arms around Garrett as he deepened the kiss. And then all thoughts left her head as feelings she hadn’t even known she had filled her with a yearning that was foreign to her. A yearning for kindness and tenderness and love.
Garrett pulled back slowly and stared down into her eyes as if he was seeing her for the first time. They stared at each other, both breathing hard, until Garrett lifted his hand and traced her lips. “I knew you were going to be trouble as soon as you told me to get rid of all of my pansies,” he said in a soft, husky voice.
Rayne’s mouth twitched in amusement, grateful he was still holding her tightly against his chest. It was the most amazing feeling in the world. “Why would kissing me mean I’m trouble?”
Garrett grinned and slowly let her go. “Because I know I don’t want to stop.”
Rayne blushed and pushed her wet hair over her shoulder. Garrett grabbed her hand and ran with her up to his front door, unlocking it and pushing through into a warm and inviting entryway. While Garrett went to get a dry towel for her she glanced around and smiled at the understated masculinity of the home. Warm earth tones surrounded her and she appreciated the use of metals and wood.
Garrett walked back and handed her the towel as he used one to dry off his hair. They both slipped off their wet shoes and walked into the family room. Everything else faded as Rayne’s eyes immediately went to the older grand piano in the corner.
“You have a piano,” she said, walking over and running her hand gently over the keys.
Garrett followed her, throwing his towel on the back of the large cream colored leather couch. “Asher picked one up a few years ago and took lessons. He wanted to play the keyboard in his band, but he soon got tired of it and switched to the guitar.”
Rayne’s fingers itched to play and she raised an eyebrow and smiled at him. “Care if I try it out?”
Garrett grinned and shook his head. “I’d love it if you did.”
“I’m having my piano from San Diego shipped but it won’t be here until sometime next week and I’ve been going a little crazy not playing every day,” she admitted.
Rayne closed her eyes and laid her fingers over the keys and sighed at the welcome she felt before beginning Chopin’s Nocturne, one of her favorites and a fitting piece for a rainy night. She kept her eyes closed as she ran through the notes, feeling the music soothe her soul like nothing else could. She smiled as she came to the end and finally looked up.
***
Garrett stared at the woman in front of him as she played the most beautiful piece of music he’d ever heard. It was so soothing and yet passionate and aching at the same time. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest and he wanted to reach out and touch her to make sure she was real. He now understood why the couple in the restaurant had stared at Rayne as if she was more than human. They were right. She was living, breathing art.
When she came to the end, she smiled such a sweet and beautiful smile, his heart twisted in response. She opened her eyes and looked at him as if he’d given her the greatest gift by just letting her play his brother’s piano, when in actuality, he had been given the gift.
“I’ve never in my life felt my heart want to leap out of my chest like that,” he said, still staring at her in awe.
Rayne’s smile turned into a grin as she stood up. “And that’s one of the best compliments I’ve ever received. It’s different playing for experts and music critics. Sometimes it takes the fun out of it. It’s kind of nice to play for someone who knows nothing about music and to see that they feel a little of what I experience.”
Garrett shook his head and held out his hand to her. She took it naturally and laughed as he pulled her in for a hug. “I don’t think I’ll ever be the same again,” he said against her hair.
Rayne patted his back as she leaned back to see his face. “I’ll make a deal with you. You let me come over anytime I want to play your brother’s piano and you can listen if you want to. It’ll be your own private concert, free of charge.”
Garrett pulled her over to the couch and sat down with her. “No, I’d have to do something in return Rayne. What would you like?” he asked, smiling warmly into her eyes.
Rayne lifted her eyebrows and stared at him. “Just a kiss. That’s all the payment I’ll accept.”
Garrett laughed happily and pulled her into his arms again. “Ah Rayne, you could seriously break my heart, you know that?”
Rayne closed her eyes and smiled against his heart. “That’s not on my list of things to do so you don’t have to worry about it.”
Garrett smiled and kissed her still damp hair but frowned when he realized that someday she would go back to her real life. She’d go back to San Diego and her concert tours. She’d leave him.
They all did
.
He looked over her head at the rain sliding down the glass windows and wondered if he could survive loving a woman like Rayne Nyman. She lifted her head, smiling at him and he felt his heart melt.
Whether he could or not, it was too late. He’d take as much time with Rayne as she’d give him.
The next morning Rayne pulled on her garden gloves and grabbed her ugly, floppy hat before heading out to the flower bed she had specified was hers and hers alone. No one was allowed to touch it or plant anything there except her. It was still early at seven o’clock so Cleo and Ivy wouldn’t be up for another hour or so. Which gave her plenty of time to dig her holes, add some mulch and then plant everything she’d been given. It was her first time playing in the dirt, and she didn’t want to go too fast.
She pulled the flat of dahlias over toward her so they were in easy reach and picked up her first plant. Garrett had told her that these were grown from tubers and that they would multiply every year, giving her more and more flowers in every color imaginable. She couldn’t wait to see them show off. She dug her first hole and sprinkled the mulch inside. She gently pulled the plant out of the plastic container and then used her fingers to loosen the roots and dirt on the bottom before placing it carefully in the hole. She filled it in and patted it in place and smiled at her handiwork. One down, one hundred to go.
And then she felt it again.
Alive
. She was starting to get addicted to the feeling. Before, she’d felt the buzz of adrenaline and the rush of performing live in front of an audience, but she’d never felt it when she’d just been by herself doing something simple. It was an eye opening experience to know that she could step away from the role she’d been molded to play and instead choose to do things that made her happy. Be with people that made her happy. Date men that made her happy.
Very happy
.
She thought back to last night and the moment when Garrett had pulled her into his arms and kissed her senseless and sighed all the way down to her toes. She’d seen movies, she’d read the books, but actually having it happen to her?
Mind-blowing
.
Rayne paused and wondered if she’d see him later on. When she’d dated Liam they could go days without talking or texting each other and she had been completely fine with that. But she wouldn’t mind seeing Garrett’s face as much as possible. It wasn’t just that he was gorgeous and didn’t even seem to know it. It was the way his eyes warmed when he looked at her. She’d been desired before. She knew what lust looked and felt liked. But to be genuinely liked by someone she respected and was attracted to and who seemed to be attracted to her was a completely new experience and one she was thoroughly enjoying.
“Hey! There you are. I was worried you’d been kidnapped,” came a sleepy voice behind her.
Rayne pushed her hat up and turned to stare at her sister who was wearing Oscar the Grouch sleep pants and yawning so wide she could see back to her tonsils.
“What are you doing up so early? I didn’t expect to see you for another hour,” she said and then began to dig her next hole.
Ivy knelt down beside her and glanced over the flat of flowers. “I couldn’t sleep anymore. I’m too excited. I can’t believe I’m twenty-three and I’m just now getting a dog,” she said, sounding very young and happy.
Rayne looked over at her sister and grinned. “That was my dream growing up. I just wanted a dog. Someone to love me no matter what, you know?”
Ivy frowned and picked up a plant. “I know,” she said softly. “My therapist has been working with me on my issues with mom and dad. In my mind, I never felt like mom and dad really loved me. I was never good enough, smart enough or talented enough. I guess I felt unworthy of their love because I could never be perfect. Probably because I could never be you.”
Rayne flinched as if she’d been punched in the stomach and turned to look at Ivy. “No one wanted you to be me.
I
never wanted that for you. Trust me Ivy, you wouldn’t want to be me. It was very lonely and so hard. And no matter how hard I worked, or how many concerts I performed at, it was never enough for them. And in the end, when I refused to marry Liam, they were furious with me for disappointing them.”
Ivy nodded and looked away. “I was there that night. I heard everything they said to you Rayne. I told my therapist what they said to you and she was horrified and she’s a professional. I think you should start seeing a therapist too. It would be good for you to talk to someone normal so you know that the way we grew up wasn’t right. I’m just now starting to realize that I’m okay and that I’m enough. And that means you are too.”
Rayne lowered her chin and blinked back a few tears and jumped in surprise when she felt two thin arms wrap around her. Growing up her whole life with an almost complete lack of physical affection meant she was always surprised when someone touched her. She sighed and gingerly hugged her sister back.
“You’re right Ivy. We’re both okay. We’re better than okay, we’re freaking awesome. I’m now a gardener and you’re a singer and very soon, we’re going to be dog owners. Can you get better than that?” she asked with a watery laugh.
Ivy grinned at her and shook her head. “I want to be a gardener too. Hand me that other hand shovel.”
Rayne laughed and handed her sister the hand shovel and they worked together companionably in the early morning light.
“Oh and by the way . . . I need to add another title to my esteemed list of accomplishments,” Rayne said casually as she placed another plant in a hole.
Ivy looked at her and rolled her eyes. “I’m aware you play the piano Rayne,” she said dryly.
Rayne smiled to herself and bit her lip before giggling. Ivy stared at her with big eyes and put the plant in her hand down. “
Are you kidding me?
Did you kiss Garrett last night?” she demanded, grabbing Rayne’s shoulders as she grinned at her.
Rayne let herself fall back onto the soft, green grass and smiled up at the pale morning sky. “You better believe I kissed him. Well, to be exact,
he
kissed
me
, but Ivy . . .” she paused, closing her eyes at the memory. “It was earth shattering. Mind blowing. The best kiss of my life,” she said, flinging her arms out to her side as Ivy jumped up and did the worst cartwheel Rayne had ever seen.
“The
best
you’ve ever had?”
Rayne squealed and flipped over on her stomach as she stared up into Garrett’s grinning face. Rayne moaned and covered her face with her dirty garden gloves. She. Was. Mortified.
Forget it.
She was out of here. She jumped up as Ivy erupted into hoots of laughter and sprinted for the house. She couldn’t face Garrett after he’d just heard her very personal and very private confession to her sister. She was never showing her face again.
She had her foot on the step of the porch when two arms grabbed her and swung her around setting her down on the concrete path. She cleared her throat and refused to look at Garrett who was trying to look down into her eyes.
“Good morning Garrett, I was just having a
private
conversation with my sister. Looks like you guys are ready to work. I’ll try and keep out of your way,” she said with as much dignity as she could muster.
Garrett tilted her chin up so she was forced to look in his eyes and she turned bright red as she saw the amusement there.
“Please don’t be embarrassed. Hearing you describe the kiss I gave you last night just made my life. As a matter of fact, it made me so happy, I want to kiss you again,” he said, no longer looking so amused as his eyes turned dark and he leaned down so their lips were almost touching.
Rayne swallowed and realized she was playing with the buttons on his shirt. “That would probably be okay,” she said in a croaky voice just before he closed the distance between them and touched her lips so lightly she barely felt it. She kept her eyes open and was surprised to see that he was looking right back at her. She slowly smiled at him and his eyes warmed, right before she was dipped over his arm and kissed with just as much passion as she had been kissed the night before.
A few minutes later as Garrett gently set her upright, she was aware of three things. Her hat was on the ground, Ivy was no longer cackling like a mad-woman and that kissing was now her favorite thing to do.
“
Amazing
,” she whispered, touching her lips as Garrett picked up her hat and placed it on her head crookedly. “You’re a virtuoso at kissing.”
Garrett grinned in amusement. “Kissing you just reminded me of something. Do you have plans tonight? My friend Rob and his wife Wren want me to go to some concert with them. I’ve been trying to get out of it but it might be fun if you were with me.”
Rayne cleared her throat and tried to get her mind to work. Garrett had an amazing talent for removing every intelligent thought from her head. Concert. Date.
Yes
. “I’d love to.”
Garrett grinned and touched her cheek, wiping some dirt off with his hand. “I love having a girlfriend,” he said and kissed her lightly one more time before saying hi to Ivy and sauntering off, whistling happily.
“
Girlfriend
?” Ivy squawked loudly, making Garrett look back over his shoulder and wink at her.
Rayne laughed as she watched Garrett walk away from her and enjoyed the way his t-shirt stretched over his shoulders. She sighed and nodded her head. “That’s what I was trying to tell you. Garrett and I decided to start dating. I still can’t believe it.
Me
. Dating someone like
him
. Did you know he was a Marine?” she asked, leaning up against the porch railing and sighing.
Ivy grinned at her and stood beside her as they watched the men begin unloading flats of all different kinds of flowers. And not one pansy in the bunch.
“You always were a sucker for a guy in uniform. I can just see mom and dad peeking down from Heaven right now. They’d probably order you to your room for a month and buy off Garrett.”
Rayne frowned and glanced at her sister. “Yeah, they were kind of controlling when it came to our social lives. But at least I had one.”
Ivy snorted. “I don’t call dating Liam a social life. I’d call it torture. The man refused to wear anything but RalphLauren. I still remember those plaid pants he wore with that pink sweater.
Ick
.”
Rayne smiled and shrugged it off. “Liam was very fashion conscious that’s for sure.”
Ivy made a loud gagging sound and Rayne sighed, walking back to her plants. “Come on. Let’s finish up these plants and then we’ll have breakfast and go get our dog.”
Ivy smiled and joined her. “You know, I did date sometimes. My French tutor would tell mom and dad that she was taking me on field trips to different museums but she really just wanted to go shopping. I’d always ditch her and end up walking through Barnes and Noble. I met a guy there who worked at the café. His name was Anthony and he was Italian,” she said, sounding nostalgic.
Rayne lifted her eyebrows in surprise. “You dated an Italian guy who worked at Barnes and Noble?
No way
.”
Ivy smiled and dug a new hole. “Well if you count flirting for two hours every Wednesday between four and six dating, then
yes
, I dated like crazy.”
Rayne laughed lightly and bumped shoulders with her sister. “I think it’s about time you and I began to experience life. We haven’t done much of that lately.
Or ever
. So I’m going to date Garrett, we’re going to plant flowers and finally you and I will get a dog. We’re going to spend as much time as possible this summer at the beach and we’re going to figure out what we want to do with our lives. It’s up to us now Ivy. There’s no one to tell us what to do anymore.”
Ivy stared at her pensively and picked up another plant. “That’s kind of the scary part. To go from having no freedom to having nothing but freedom kind of freaks me out,” she admitted.
Rayne nodded her head, in total agreement. “I’m freaked out too. But I’m doing things I never thought I would. And I’m suddenly kissing a man that I’d
never
in my life expect to be kissing. And it’s exciting and fun. I’ve never felt so alive or . . .
happy
,” she said frowning at her flower bed.