“You sure?”
“Yep. I could use the practice.”
Once again caught unawares, Hope queried, “For...?”
Garrett shrugged happily. “When I have kids.”
* * *
S EVERAL HOURS LATER , her shower completed—and vastly enjoyed—numerous media requests and inquiries regarding the scandal all answered and Max down for another nap, Hope joined Garrett in the kitchen, where he was already making dinner.
She watched him prick two russet potatoes with a fork, coat them with olive oil and sea salt and wrap them in foil. “Did you mean what you said about wanting a family?”
“It’s why I haven’t already accepted the job at Walter Reed in Bethesda.”
She took a seat on the other side of the breakfast bar. “Because it means reenlisting.”
He slid the potatoes into the oven to bake. “And reenlisting means my orders could change at any time. I’d be sent where they need me. As a single guy, with no responsibilities to anyone other than myself, I’ve been happy to comply. As a family man, I’d want more control.”
Hope had never realized just how tantalizing it was to see a man in the kitchen—until now. Or just how much she had come to enjoy just being with him. “Is that why you haven’t married? Because you were on active-duty military?”
“Actually, I was going to get married a few years ago.”
Something in her went very still.
It shouldn’t have been a surprise. And yet it was. “What happened?”
Garrett poured olive oil and lime juice into a glass baking dish then chopped up fresh oregano, garlic and cilantro and added them, as well. A sprinkling of dried chili powder and cumin followed.
“I discovered there are two kinds of women who don’t mind their mates being away for long periods of time.” He paused to look her in the eye. “Those who are truly devoted to their men and understand the patriotic need to serve one’s country. And those who want the respectability and stability of an official relationship, while still enjoying plenty of time and freedom to pursue other romantic interests.”
Ouch.
The sting of betrayal came and went in his eyes.
Heart going out to him, she said, “I’m guessing your engagement fell into the latter category.”
He added a slab of flank steak to the aromatic marinade in the glass dish. “You would guess right.” He turned to wash his hands.
“Care to be more specific?”
His shoulders tensed. “My ex is Leanne Sharp.”
“Chief of staff of Congressman Jared Thiessen?”
His eyes narrowed. “You know her?”
“I know of her.” She was a gorgeous, ambitious Southern belle, from a very well-connected and wealthy Dallas family. Just imagining her with Garrett conjured up a stab of jealousy, which was, Hope knew, completely uncalled for. Whatever they had shared was a one-time thing.
“In my previous job I had a lot of dealings with politicians.”
His mouth thinned. “Thiessen?”
“One of his colleagues—Len Miller—had a pretty messy divorce. We enlisted Thiessen, who’s public reputation is stellar, to vouch for my client’s trustworthiness.”
Garrett’s expression darkened. “I remember that. You-all spun Miller’s infidelity as a domestic dispute, a symptom of the problems in the Miller marriage, instead of the problem.”
Which had been true, as far as Hope could discern, anyway. “Len Miller still lost his next election, but I think that had more to do with his voting record, or lack thereof, than his infidelity.”
Garrett chuckled grimly, shook his head.
Hope wanted to be let in on the joke. “What?”
His mouth tightening, Garrett turned to get a beer from the fridge. He twisted off the cap, took a swig. “I just find it ironic that you would use Jared Thiessen as a moral barometer and character reference.”
“Why?” Hope got up to help herself to another glass of milk. Deciding to live dangerously, she stirred some chocolate syrup into it. “Jared’s got a great reputation as a family man. Plus,
“Yep. I could use the practice.”
Once again caught unawares, Hope queried, “For...?”
Garrett shrugged happily. “When I have kids.”
* * *
S EVERAL HOURS LATER , her shower completed—and vastly enjoyed—numerous media requests and inquiries regarding the scandal all answered and Max down for another nap, Hope joined Garrett in the kitchen, where he was already making dinner.
She watched him prick two russet potatoes with a fork, coat them with olive oil and sea salt and wrap them in foil. “Did you mean what you said about wanting a family?”
“It’s why I haven’t already accepted the job at Walter Reed in Bethesda.”
She took a seat on the other side of the breakfast bar. “Because it means reenlisting.”
He slid the potatoes into the oven to bake. “And reenlisting means my orders could change at any time. I’d be sent where they need me. As a single guy, with no responsibilities to anyone other than myself, I’ve been happy to comply. As a family man, I’d want more control.”
Hope had never realized just how tantalizing it was to see a man in the kitchen—until now. Or just how much she had come to enjoy just being with him. “Is that why you haven’t married? Because you were on active-duty military?”
“Actually, I was going to get married a few years ago.”
Something in her went very still.
It shouldn’t have been a surprise. And yet it was. “What happened?”
Garrett poured olive oil and lime juice into a glass baking dish then chopped up fresh oregano, garlic and cilantro and added them, as well. A sprinkling of dried chili powder and cumin followed.
“I discovered there are two kinds of women who don’t mind their mates being away for long periods of time.” He paused to look her in the eye. “Those who are truly devoted to their men and understand the patriotic need to serve one’s country. And those who want the respectability and stability of an official relationship, while still enjoying plenty of time and freedom to pursue other romantic interests.”
Ouch.
The sting of betrayal came and went in his eyes.
Heart going out to him, she said, “I’m guessing your engagement fell into the latter category.”
He added a slab of flank steak to the aromatic marinade in the glass dish. “You would guess right.” He turned to wash his hands.
“Care to be more specific?”
His shoulders tensed. “My ex is Leanne Sharp.”
“Chief of staff of Congressman Jared Thiessen?”
His eyes narrowed. “You know her?”
“I know of her.” She was a gorgeous, ambitious Southern belle, from a very well-connected and wealthy Dallas family. Just imagining her with Garrett conjured up a stab of jealousy, which was, Hope knew, completely uncalled for. Whatever they had shared was a one-time thing.
“In my previous job I had a lot of dealings with politicians.”
His mouth thinned. “Thiessen?”
“One of his colleagues—Len Miller—had a pretty messy divorce. We enlisted Thiessen, who’s public reputation is stellar, to vouch for my client’s trustworthiness.”
Garrett’s expression darkened. “I remember that. You-all spun Miller’s infidelity as a domestic dispute, a symptom of the problems in the Miller marriage, instead of the problem.”
Which had been true, as far as Hope could discern, anyway. “Len Miller still lost his next election, but I think that had more to do with his voting record, or lack thereof, than his infidelity.”
Garrett chuckled grimly, shook his head.
Hope wanted to be let in on the joke. “What?”
His mouth tightening, Garrett turned to get a beer from the fridge. He twisted off the cap, took a swig. “I just find it ironic that you would use Jared Thiessen as a moral barometer and character reference.”
“Why?” Hope got up to help herself to another glass of milk. Deciding to live dangerously, she stirred some chocolate syrup into it. “Jared’s got a great reputation as a family man. Plus,
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