Rogue Beast (The Rourkes #12) - Kylie Gilmore Page 0,54
aim to go.”
My grandmother blinks a few times, probably trying to decide if she’s been bested or if he’s being sincere. After all, he didn’t say he’d never take me on his bike. He said he’d do what I’m comfortable with. And he neatly sidestepped the crotch reference. Points for Garrett!
“Grandmom, would you like me to make tea or fetch a drink for anyone?” I don’t expect her to wait on us with the pain in her hip. She says pain is easy to deal with, and she doesn’t trust a doctor to make her “bionic” with a hip replacement.
“I’ll get it,” she says, getting up from her chair after a bit of struggle. She should use a cane, but sees it as a sign of weakness. She refuses to believe she’s old and rejects the senior-citizen label and all available discounts that go with it. Hardheaded to her own detriment.
I check in with Garrett to see what he’d like to drink and follow her through the archway into the kitchen to help. He can’t see us in here, but I’m sure he can hear us since we’re right next to the living room. I just pray my grandmother doesn’t say anything insulting about him.
“It’s good to see you,” I say, reaching out for a hug.
She gives me a one-armed pat-on-the-back hug and murmurs, “Been too long. I know it’s no fun to hang out with your old granny.”
I get out two teacups and a glass for Garrett while she fills the kettle with water. “I thought you weren’t old, just mature.”
“Just an expression to make my point. I’ve still got all my marbles.” She turns on the flame under the kettle, presses the button for the noisy stovetop vent over it, and faces me, arms crossed. “How long have you been seeing this guy?” She pitches her voice over the noise.
I’d love to turn off the vent so she’d keep her voice down, but I know she’d freak out that the propane gas will lead to an explosion if it’s not vented properly. I decide to answer quickly and honestly without revealing too much to Garrett’s ears. “Not long. We just met three weeks ago.”
“Is he really in construction?”
“Yes. Why do you ask?”
She gestures toward the living room. “How could you have met when you’re working on a TV show and he’s on a construction site? Something doesn’t add up.”
I fill her in on the Josie connection.
She nods once. “Construction is better than acting.” She goes for her tin of tea bags. “All those actors you date are just full of themselves.”
I clench my teeth. It might be true that I’ve dated some guys with big egos, but I’m also an actor, and there’s a jab in there at me too. She thinks it’s ridiculous that I get treated special and paid a lot to pretend to be someone else. She never understood it’s a craft. Besides, people need entertainment.
“Garrett respects acting,” I say. “In fact, he just did a commercial.”
Her eyes narrow as she glares in the direction of the living room. “After he met you?”
“Yeah,” I say with a sinking feeling.
“That’s worse,” she says. “Cut him loose before he rides your coattails to the top. You won’t be smiling when he surpasses you.”
“Why would he surpass me?”
“Have you looked at him? He reminds me of Gary Cooper, movie-star potential with that swagger and handsome looks. You know, Gary Cooper started as a stunt rider like your motorcycle man.” I’m well versed in the old-time movie stars she likes. Gary had the handsome, everyman appeal.
I take a deep breath, reaching for patience. “He’s not my motorcycle man.”
“Whatever you call it. God forbid anyone commit to each other or say out loud that they’re boyfriend and girlfriend. You kids make everything so complicated.”
I fill the water glass, needing to check in on poor Garrett. “Be right back.” I step out to offer him the drink.
He takes it with a grin. “Thanks. Who’s Gary Cooper?”
“An actor most famous in the golden age of Hollywood, circa nineteen forties.” I lower my voice. “Seriously, don’t listen to a word she says.”
He hides a smile behind the rim of his glass. “Now I see where you get your paranoia.”
“I’m not paranoid.”
He gets serious. “You weren’t happy to hear I got an agent.”
“I’m over it. Besides, it’s not like I haven’t had a long line of users before you. There’s some basis in fact. I’m trying to be more trusting for you.”