Beyond Reach Page 5

  “Hello, Garner.”

  “You have my number saved in your contacts?”

  She tried not to think he sounded pleased and failed.

  “Don’t sound so happy about it. Marcella wouldn’t like that.”

  “I heard you had lunch with my parents.”

  “News travels fast.”

  “They didn’t harass you, did they? What did they want?”

  “This and that.”

  “Chanda.”

  “Does it really matter, Garner? Everything’s fine. They just want to do everything they can to support you and your wedding to Marcella.”

  “I know that’s not true.”

  “Huh?”

  “Mom made it clear the day I brought Marcella to meet them. She pulled me aside later and said Marcella isn’t the woman for me.”

  “Wow. That’s shocking, but you’re grown. You can do what you want. And since you’re still getting married, I assume you’re leading your own life on your own terms.”

  He ignored the comment and moved on. “I want to stop by your hotel roo—”

  “Heck no!”

  “I didn’t mean anything by that. I just want to talk.”

  She pressed her lips together. Temptation was strong to meet him anywhere he’d like. She tried to keep memories out of her head about intimacy with him in the past, but they flooded her mind anyway. What in the world should she do? Leave now?

  Temptation grew stronger. “I was planning to leave—”

  “Don’t do that. Meet me.”

  No!

  “Alright fine.”

  When she refused to meet in her hotel room, he gave her the address for one of the city’s many trails, as if she’d forgotten where they were after a decade. The location wasn’t far from where she currently drove, and she suspected Garner knew at which restaurant she’d had lunch with his parents.

  The trail leading into the park was empty except for a lone jogger and someone far ahead, riding a bike in the same direction she walked.

  So often in the past, she’d get on one of the trails when the weather was most tolerable and vow to exercise until her wide hips went down. It never lasted.

  “Chanda.”

  She started at hearing her name and turned around. Garner headed toward her. He offered a friendly smile as if they had never argued. Then again, he did defend her against her uncle. She wondered what went down after she left.

  “The one mild day this summer,” he said when he reached her. “I thought we should take advantage of it. Tomorrow it’ll be one hundred degrees.”

  “Yeah, y’all should have chosen winter for your wedding. I would have loved to be here for that.”

  He eyed her. “Why are you hiding your hands?”

  “I’m not.”

  They fell into step beside each other and walked beneath the overhanging trees. A warm breeze stirred in the leaves. Chanda couldn’t remember when a breeze wasn’t blowing in Texas. The air moved all the time. Maybe it was so much flat land that allowed it.

  “So what did my mom say?”

  “What happened with my uncle?”

  They spoke at the same time. When he realized what she asked, he frowned and stopped walking to face her. “Show me your hands.”

  “Why?”

  “Show me, Chanda.”

  “You’re not my savior, Garner, so stop trying to act like it.”

  His frowned deepened. “I don’t want to hurt you worse by forcing you to show me.”

  “Excuse me?”

  He raised a hand.

  “Okay, okay, jeez. I don’t remember you being so pushy.”

  When she showed him her swollen wrist, the skin was now fully bruised. Garner didn’t say a word. He marched her back to the parking lot and to his car. Assuring her they would get her car later, he drove to the hospital. Before she knew it, she was getting an X-ray.

  “Wow, I never imagined I would get in here so fast,” she murmured to the technician.

  The handsome man about Garner’s age, grinned. “That’s my doing.”

  “You? Why?”

  “I happen to be Garner’s best man. I’m Steven.”

  “You’re kidding?”

  “Nope. My mom said she named me after a kid she liked in elementary. Go figure.”

  Chanda laughed. “I meant that you’re Garner’s best man.”

  “I wasn’t at the rehearsal because I’m here as you can see.” He shrugged broad shoulders, drawing her attention to his solid physique. “So, you’re Chanda.”

  Her mouth fell open. “You know me? I don’t remember Garner mentioning you.”

  “We’ve been friends for about seven years. We met at my brother’s funeral.”

  She gasped. “Your brother, the one who…”

  “Overdosed. Yeah.”

  “I’m so sorry. But how do you know about me?”

  He tapped a few keys on his keyboard before spinning around on his stool to face her. “Because you were the one to get away. And now you’re back.”

  “I’m not back. I’m just attending my cousin’s wedding—to Garner.”

  He shook his head. “No, that’s not what you’re doing.”

  “What am I doing, Mr. Smartypants?” She didn’t mean to snap at him, but he had a lot of nerve claiming her motives weren’t pure.

  “You’re ready to get him back, and my brilliant self am going to help you.”

  Chapter 9

  The look on Garner’s face was priceless when Chanda arrived at his house with his best friend. She hadn’t intended to get involved with Steven’s crazy scheme, but the man wouldn’t be put off. He actually believed he could get Garner to break things off with Marcella and ask Chanda to marry him.

  And I’m nuts for even coming here with him.

  Guilt stirred in her gut of course, and she’d endured a sleepless night. On one hand, she wasn’t doing anything wrong. She wouldn’t flirt with Garner or lie to him or try to make her cousin look bad. In fact, she wouldn’t do anything other than give herself some space by showing up with his best friend.

  Yeah, perfectly innocent, Chanda when you let everyone think you already have a serious man.

  “You two?” Garner said as he stepped back to allow them into his house. “I thought you two just met at the hospital.”

  Steven settled an arm about Chanda’s shoulders and drew her closer to his side. She wanted to smack him. “We hit it off, and I asked her out. She said yes. The rest is history. Before you know it, we’ll be walking down the aisle.”

  Chanda elbowed Steven. “Stop being ridiculous. I love your home, Garner. You’ve done well for yourself, and apparently a drug counselor is a lucrative position.”

  Amused, Garner shook his head. “It’s an inheritance from my grandmother. I’ve considered selling to buy something more affordable.”

  “Don’t listen to him, Chanda.” Steven leaned unnecessarily close to speak to her. “In another life he could have been an accountant. The man is a genius with money.”

  “And everything else, I guess,” she commented without thinking.

  Garner flushed.

  “Stop, his head will get bigger than it already is.”

  “Garner, baby, where are you?” Marcella called. “Oh! More of our guests have arrived. Cuz, welcome to our home.”

  Chanda’s cousin was feeling gracious, playing the kind hostess as she made her way toward them on crutches.

  “Weren’t you supposed to be sitting down?” Garner asked her.

  “Don’t be silly. I’m the woman of the house. I have to attend to my guests. Where’s that maid with the drinks. You should get a butler so he can take coats.”

  “It’s a thousand degrees outside,” Steven snapped at her. His obvious dislike of Marcella took Chanda by surprise. She figured Marcella wasn’t on his friend list, but to see the open hostility shocked her. “We don’t have coats. And when did you get a maid, Garner?”

  “I don’t have a maid. She’s a fri
end of Marcella’s. She felt like she needed help, which she does. And she should sit down.”

  Marcella glowed, looking up into Garner’s eyes. She held onto his arm and stretched on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “You’re so sweet to take care of me. Isn’t he great, Chanda?”

  “Um…”

  “Girl, if he hadn’t left you, I wouldn’t be the happiest woman alive right now.”

  The entire group in the hall grew quiet. Like Chanda, Garner and Steven probably felt awkward at Marcella’s words. When she kissed Garner on the cheek, Chanda could have sworn her cousin peeked at her for her reaction.

  Surely, Marcella wasn’t showing off her conquest to get to Chanda, was she? Marcella genuinely loved Garner, didn’t she? Chanda wasn’t sure. Although she didn’t like to question her cousin’s character, she did so anyway.

  You’re looking for ugliness because of what’s in your own heart.

  She moved away from Steven and headed toward the gentle music playing somewhere in the house. A large open-space family room was jam-packed with guests. The dark wood furniture looked like good quality, but Chanda would have chosen less clunky styles and colors to bring more light to the space.

  “Hello, everyone.” She nodded to the group. Some people nodded, others spoke, and a few ignored her altogether to go back to their conversations.

  The woman Chanda assumed was Marcella’s friend zipped over with a tray of glasses filled with champagne. A few almost toppled over. Good help was hard to find.

  “Would you like a drink?” the ‘maid’ offered.

  “Thanks.” Chanda took one of the glasses and drank a few sips of the beverage. The bubbles tickled her throat, but the flavor was good and refreshing.

  Lanae joined her. “You show your face tonight?”

  “I was invited. Back off.”

  Marcella’s best friend glared. “You know what you did.”

  “No, I don’t, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”

  Lanae settled a hand on her rounded hip. Tonight she’d dressed in an outfit that hugged her generous curves a bit too much. Her boobs looked like they fought each other for position. She probably thought she looked hot.

  “You made Marcella look bad by getting her fiancé to fight for you.”

  “I don’t remember asking my uncle to manhandle me.”

  “I bet you did.”

  “Woman, you are crazy. You see this bandage, right? I’m not a masochist.”

  Lanae sniffed in disgust. “It’s probably fake.”

  “A fake bandage?”

  “You know what I mean. You acted like the damsel in distress, knowing what kind of man Garner is. He can’t help running to save a woman from the bad guy. That’s who he is.”

  “I agree.”

  She pointed a finger in Chanda’s face, her voice rising as she spoke. Several heads turned in their direction. “So you admit it!”

  “God, leave me alone. If you want to be hateful, go do it in the corner. I’m not interested in playing along.”

  Marcella, Garner, and Steven walked into the room. Marcella was the first to speak. “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing,” both Chanda and Lanae asserted.

  Lanae ran to Marcella and dragged her farther into the room. “Come on, girl. Everyone has been waiting on pins and needles for you to share how you met Garner. They want to hear all the juicy romantic details.”

  Marcella giggled happily as her guests focused on her. Chanda moved to one corner of the room and found a wall to lean against. While she watched Marcella hold court in the center of the room, she was half aware of the delicious scent of something familiar. She wondered what was on the menu tonight.

  “You have to admit she cleans up good,” Steven said at her side.

  She jumped and looked up at him. “That old rag?” she teased, insinuating Marcella had probably spent a month’s worth of income on her new dress.

  Unlike Lanae, Marcella wearing a form fitting dress worked. The delicate material highlighted her curvy figure and drew the eyes of one and all. She could rival a pop star in presence—that is, if she could sing. Musical talents didn’t matter since Marcella captured everyone’s attention with her embellished story about how she had met Garner. Marcella told Chanda a different story over the phone before she came back to town.

  “I didn’t realize you disliked her so much,” she said.

  “Dislike is a weak sort of word.”

  “Don’t people usually say hate is a strong word?”

  “They do.”

  She studied Steven’s handsome face and noticed just beyond him Garner watched the two of them rather than his fiancée.

  “Shouldn’t you act like you can get along with her for Garner’s sake?”

  Steven’s mouth tightened. “Garner knows me. I smile and joke a lot, but I’m always myself.”

  “Sounds contradictory.”

  He shrugged. “I won’t pretend. She’s a gold digger, and I apologize if that hurts your feelings because she’s your cousin.”

  Chanda said nothing. A light of mischief entered Steven’s eyes. He excused himself but only stepped a few feet away and turned his back. Marcella’s story seemed to enthrall Steven. His chosen position cut off Chanda’s view of her cousin and vice versa. Chanda wondered what his game was until Garner took the place of his best friend at her side.

  “Tell me honestly why you’re with him, Chanda. I thought you were already seeing someone.”

  “I don’t think it’s any of your business.”

  “I’m concerned.”

  “Worry about Marcella.”

  “Steven has never been serious about any woman. He likes to go from woman to woman, and he’s never to my knowledge had a serious or long term relationship.”

  “Thanks for the info.” She started to move away from him, but he touched her arm. The second they made contact he snatched his hand away. Chanda raised her glass to her lips and sipped while checking out the guests in the room. No one appeared to pay them any mind.

  “Please,” he whispered. “Let’s not fight.”

  “I don’t want to either.” She made a quick decision. “There’s something I want to talk to you about. Can we meet tomorrow?”

  “We can talk now if you like. In my office.”

  “We’re in the middle of your celebration dinner. I don’t think Marcella would like us going off together while she tells her story about your ‘romantic’ meeting—or should I say re-meeting?”

  He agreed, but she had the feeling he wanted to do just that.

  Putting space between them in case she got notions, she moved away. After Marcella’s millionth giggle and gush over her good fortune, Chanda needed to leave the room. She decided to explore Garner’s home. He wouldn’t mind. They were family after all.

  She snorted in amusement as she strolled down the hall. The clang of pots and pans informed her of the kitchen’s direction, so she took a different route. With rooms everywhere on the first floor, the place was a mansion. Just how much space did one man need? She could understand if he and Marcella planned to have lots of children.

  Distaste stirred in her gut, and she pushed the thought aside. A shut door at the end of the hall drew her curiosity, and she listened outside it. No sounds emitted, so she tried the knob and found it unlocked. A mini-museum met her startled gaze.

  “Oh wow.” She stepped into the room and shut the door behind her.

  Wall after wall was covered with amateur paintings in every medium. Not that the art wasn’t good. It was definitely done by a skilled artist. The vivid colors and depictions of landscapes took her breath away. Everything from realistic to impressionistic pieces covered the space.

  She explored, studying paintings at her leisure. “You’re kidding. He did all these?”

  “Yes.”

  She jumped a mile and spun around. “Garner, what are you doing here?”

  He grinned, and his eyebrows rose. “I thought this was my house.”
r />   “Funny. I mean…um…sorry, I didn’t mean to be nosy.”

  “Didn’t you?” He seemed happy to find her in his special room and shut them in together.

  She chewed the inside of her cheek, fighting between running to escape and taking the time to talk to him. “You painted all these? I don’t remember you being an artist. I mean you doodled a little back then.”

  “It was my way to deal with a difficult time.”

  She lowered her gaze. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t. I didn’t come here for an apology.” He approached her, and she took a step in reverse.

  Rushing to the nearest aisle, she pointed. “What motivated you to do this one?”

  He arrived behind her, closer than she liked. Every inch of her body was aware of his nearness. The air around them was charged with energy, and the thought to escape came again. She steeled herself not to move.

  “You.”

  “Huh?” She glanced at him over her shoulder. His gaze was on her rather than the painting. So full of warmth, his eyes drew her in, wanting to consume her until there was nothing left.

  “It’s not the best because I did it near the beginning.” He raised his hand like he would touch her face but didn’t. “I apologize. I sound like I’m trying to make you feel guilty. That’s not my intent.”

  “Could have fooled me.” She walked along the aisle and realized rolling wall panels had been brought into the room to offer more spaces to hang paintings. Why weren’t they just distributed all over the house, or maybe given to a gallery to sell?

  “This one too,” he said.

  She looked and was shocked again at what she saw. It was a portrait of her, the only portrait in the room from what she could see. “That’s me.”

  She studied the painting. So Garner wasn’t perfect. He wasn’t nearly as good at drawing people as he was creating trees and buildings and the ocean. Her features were recognizable but so distorted to almost be comical. Maybe he’d done it on purpose.

  “I hide this one back here because it’s terrible. I can’t do people,” he said, confirming her initial thought. “Or maybe it’s because I didn’t want you to be too perfect.”

  They were both silent for several moments.