father, and work pressures, my sister didn’t cross my mind. Shitty for sure.
“How did you find out?” I ask, turning to sit at my desk once again.
“Seriously?” She plunks down into her seat and crosses her arms in front of her chest. “That’s all you have to say?”
“Well?” I raise an eyebrow.
She drops her arms to her side. “Fine, I heard it from Asher.”
I lean forward in my chair. “What the hell are you doing hanging around Asher?”
Harper rolls her hazel eyes. “Please, I’m not hanging around Asher. I ran into him at a coffee place downtown and stopped to say hi. Imagine my surprise when he told me that my only brother had gotten engaged and I didn’t even know he was seeing anyone seriously enough to consider marrying them.”
“Things happened quickly.” I lean back and smooth my tie down my chest.
“No shit, Sherlock.” She waves her hands in the air. “Who is it?”
“Isla Flores. I went to Forest View Academy with her. She just recently returned to Cherry Creek.”
“Hmm, I don’t know her, but the name sounds familiar.” She tilts her head.
“Like I said, she just returned to town. She hasn’t lived here since high school.”
She nods absentmindedly. She’s trying to make the connection in her head like she’s scanning through yearbooks in her mind. Then the moment happens, and her eyes widen and her mouth drops open. “Isn’t that the girl who was in the sex tape with Asher?” Her face screws up in disgust
I fist my hands on my chair. “Yes, but that was a long time ago. And it’s not like she knew she was being filmed.”
“I guess…” Harper looks across the desk at me with uncertainly. “So… you love her?”
I raise an eyebrow. “I’m marrying her, aren’t I?”
She shakes her head. “That doesn’t answer my question.”
“Yes, I love her.”
A huge smile transforms her face, and she brings her hands together, clapping. “I didn’t think I’d ever see the day.”
“You figured I wasn’t capable of love?”
Does she see me how I see my father?
“Please. That’s not it at all. You looked out for me after Mom died. Who knows how messed up I’d be from Dad if it weren’t for you? I just didn’t think you’d ever let anyone else see that side of you. She must be pretty special.”
I smile, thinking of Isla. “She is.”
Harper sits up ramrod straight in her seat. “When do I get to meet her?”
“I don’t know. I’ll arrange something.”
She frowns and her eyebrows draw together. “Garrin,” she says, in a tone like I’m going to call Isla right now and schedule a dinner.
“If that’s everything, I still have a lot of work to do.”
“Fine.” She stands and arranges her purse. “When you guys start having babies, I’d better not hear about it from someone else, though.”
Her comment causes my heart to stutter in my chest. Isla and I haven’t discussed kids. Does she want them? I didn’t after my own experience growing up, but it doesn’t take a genius to know that Isla would make an extraordinary mother.
“Whatever.”
My sister gives me a cheeky grin and heads to my office door.
“Have you given any more thought to what you want to do with your life?” I ask when her hand wraps around the door handle.
“Ugh, I knew I should’ve just called you.”
She leaves, closing the door behind her while I grin.
Maybe I need to talk to Isla about putting our engagement announcement out in the paper so I can cut down on the number of people showing up here wanting to know about my lucky bride-to-be.
37
Chapter Thirty-seven
Isla
I meet Everly at Haven, a restaurant that specializes in “California cuisine with a twist.” She’s already seated when I arrive, and I do a good job of hiding my engagement ring below the table until after our drinks have arrived—red wine for me, gin and tonic for her. I asked her here so I can tell her about my engagement, but I’d rather lead into it myself than have her discover the ring on my finger, because the truth is, I have no idea how she’ll react.
“How was your weekend away?” she asks. “Based on the smile you’ve worn since you arrived, I’m gonna say things went well. Did you even ski?”
I chuckle. “Not the whole time.”
She throws her head back with a groan, her chin-length platinum hair swaying with her movements. “Jesus, I’m so jealous. I forget what it’s like getting dick on the regular.”
“You’re gorgeous, intelligent and accomplished. There’s no way