Page 29 of Tricked in October
“Everything’s done. I just put up the mantle.”
Garrett set the box on the floor and strolled over to the fireplace. He inspected the barn wood mantle Davis had just installed. Part of Davis wished he knew what was going through Garrett’s mind. If he was thinking about the Pattersons’ farm. The barn. Emma.
“It looks great. As always, little bro.” Garrett smacked Davis on the back and spun back around, returning to his box.
The brave face Garrett put on was beginning to grate on Davis. It was as if he wouldn’t allow himself to feel anything at all. Not for Emma. Not for her death. Not even for the demise of their relationship. Instead, he dove into work and women. And not in that order.
Davis wished in that order.
“Wanna stick around and help me decorate this place?” Garrett held out two candlesticks toward Kelsey, brows raised and a bright smile on his face.
“No way, not a chance you’re roping me into doing your work for you.” She crossed the room heading toward the front door, zipping up her jacket before braving the wind. “I gotta get back to the bar. I’ve been gone long enough. Julian could have set the place on fire by now.”
Davis chuckled. Even though she was most likely wrong. Julian knew his way around that bar backward and forward. If Kelsey handed over the reins long enough to trust him to be in charge, she’d know that.
“Hey, will you be at the Halloween costume party?” Garrett asked just as Kelsey gripped the doorknob.
“You mean the one at my bar?” she teased, narrowing her eyes. “Of course I’ll be there.”
“Who’re you going with?”
Davis’s chest tightened. “Garrett,” he hissed.
She dropped her attention to the floor. “I’m not going with anybody. I’m working that night.”
“What about your costume? It’s couples’ costumes.”
“Garrett,” Davis snapped, louder this time.
“What? She knows I don’t mean anything by it, right, Kels?”
Her jaw ticked and Davis wanted to punch Garrett for being so insensitive.
“The party is at my bar, I don’t have to follow any dumb rules. I don’t have to dress up at all.” She opened the door and stepped outside.
“Oh, come on. Where’s your Halloween spirit? I bet you’d make one sexy witch,” Garrett retorted.
Davis shot his brother a glare as heat crept up his neck. He was sure that Kelsey having tiny humans who called herMomwas a turn off for Garrett. Maybe he’d been wrong, and if so…well if so, they would have a problem.
Davis met her in the open doorway. “Don’t listen to him. You don’t have to dress up.”
She cocked a brow. “What, you don’t think I’d make a sexy witch?”
“Foot in mouth, bro,” Garrett said from behind him. “Foot. In. Mouth.”
More heat rose from beneath his collar. His face had to be ten shades of red by now. He rested a shoulder against the doorframe and folded his arms across his chest. “I didn’t say that. All I’m saying is…do what you want.”
Kelsey winked at him but leaned to the side, her gaze finding Garrett. “Guess you’re both gonna have to wait and see. Bye, boys.” She fluttered her fingers and sauntered down the walkway.
After she’d climbed inside her minivan and closed the door behind her, Davis whirled around.
“Just because you’re heartless doesn’t mean you can treat people like that,” he said.
“Like what? And I’m not heartless. Kelsey gets me. It’s fine. We’re cool.” Garrett placed the two candlesticks on top of the mantle, stepping back with hands rested on his hips to admire them.
“Reminding her the party’s a couples thing doesn’t help. You’re only reminding her she’s alone.”
“Kelsey is tough. I doubt she’s still pining after Ricky. He’s gone. Just like Emma. She needs to do herself a favor and learn from the pro.”
