and knew she was gifted. He wasn’t surprised, since her mother had also been a gifted pianist. It then dawned on him how many things Regan was capable of doing well.
“Thanks again for inviting me to join you.”
He smiled over at her. “No problem. It’s important to me that you enjoy yourself.”
She lifted a brow. “Oh, why?”
There was no way he could tell her what Charm had shared with him about that job offer from Harold Anders, so he said, “It can’t be easy flying me all over the place. And this year has been an extremely busy one. I appreciate all you’ve done.”
What he’d said was true. The company had brought on a number of new clients, which had required flying all over the country for negotiations. Once Bart retired, Garth had begun expanding globally. Sloan was put in charge of international sales and Maverick’s job was overseeing the company’s expansion into states like Texas, Florida and the Carolinas, for starters. Cash was Garth’s right-hand man in the Alaska office, and Charm...well, they were still trying to figure out exactly what her duties were. For now, they involved anything that made her feel useful, and she seemed to be satisfied with that.
And because he didn’t want Regan to assume her being here was nothing more than a job perk, he added, “Let me add that my appreciation for you goes beyond your duties to the company, Regan. I would not have issued this sort of invitation to any other employee. I consider our relationship special, mainly because of our family history and friendship. You are someone I trust explicitly.”
“Thank you, Garth.”
There was a quiet moment between them. Too quiet. He wasn’t sure if she felt the sexual chemistry flowing between them, but he certainly did. He felt it to the point he took a step back so he could stay in control and not do anything he would later regret. He checked his watch. “Paulo will be here in a minute.”
“Paulo?”
“Yes, he’s the chef I told you about. He’s on call for the entire two weeks. Because I enjoy cooking, I intend to whip up a few meals for us on my own.”
“Like your pancakes?”
Garth chuckled. “Yes, like my pancakes.”
During her teen years, when she would spend the weekend with Charm, he had cooked breakfast for everyone. Roberta, who’d been the Outlaws’ cook for years, had made use of him in the kitchen when he’d been a kid and gotten underfoot. As a result, he’d discovered that cooking was something he liked, and he had a few signature dishes. After Roberta died, Bart had hired Maddie to take her place, but she wasn’t Roberta in the kitchen. So on Maddie’s off days Garth had enjoyed feeding his family.
After the tour of the outdoors, they returned to the kitchen to find Paulo had arrived. Introductions were made, and when Regan began speaking to the man in his native tongue, Garth recalled that like him, she was fluent in several languages.
Garth knew Paulo was in his fifties, married, the father of five kids and one grandchild. He had come highly recommended from Garth’s cousin Jared Westmoreland. Jared, an attorney living in Atlanta, had brought his wife, Dana, to Santa Cruz last year for their wedding anniversary.
While Paulo was telling them what he would be preparing for dinner, Garth noticed Regan licking her lips. Need sprang to life in the pit of his stomach.
He needed to get a grip.
“I have several activities planned for the next two weeks, but don’t let me tire you out. If at any time you prefer doing your own thing, just let me know.”
“Okay, I will.”
He glanced at a clock on the wall and saw they had a couple of hours before dinner. “I have an idea,” he said.
“What?”
“I haven’t heard you play piano in years. What do I have to do to get my own private recital?”
She smiled up at him in a way that warmed his insides. “Just ask. I would love to play something for you, Garth.”
Regan ended up playing several pieces for him. Each time she finished one and glanced over at him, the look on his face made her insides tingle. It was obvious he liked listening to her play. And she liked looking at him.
Every so often she would find him staring at her. The first time, the sight of him had made her breath catch on a surge of yearning so abrupt it felt like pain. She had to force