focus. He studied her striking features. There was her very smooth-looking mocha complexion, a pair of full lips, high cheekbones and almond-shaped, brown bedroom eyes. Her glossy, dark brown hair curled at the ends and hung around her shoulders. And he couldn’t dismiss, any more than those other men could, just how good she looked in her jeans and pullover blouse. Regan Fairchild was definitely one delectable package and he wished he hadn’t paid attention to that fact.
When a ping alerted him to a notification from his stock app, Garth stood to pull his phone out of the back pocket of his jeans. He smiled seeing the good news that some of his investments were doing extremely well. After putting his phone back in his pocket, he glanced over to where Regan stood and saw yet another man had approached her.
Garth stiffened when he noticed that unlike the other men, she was pretty damn friendly with this particular guy. She was smiling at whatever he was saying. Why?
Deciding it was time to break up that little party, Garth walked toward her, ignoring the little voice telling him she had a right to talk to whomever she wanted, and it wasn’t his place to interfere. He ignored that same voice when it accused him of acting territorial.
From the man’s accent, which he heard as he came to a stop beside her, Garth guessed this guy was American. “How’s the shopping going, Regan?” Garth asked her.
She smiled up at him. “It’s going fine. Garth, I’d like you to meet someone,” she said, her smile getting even brighter. “This is Lamont Jefferson. Lamont and I attended college together at UCLA.”
She turned to the other man. “Lamont, this is my boss, Garth Outlaw.”
Garth didn’t flinch at the introduction. He wasn’t sure why it had bothered him, when technically he was her boss. As he and Lamont exchanged handshakes, Garth had a feeling Jefferson was probably wondering why a boss would accompany his employee on a shopping trip.
“What brings you to Santa Cruz?” Garth asked Lamont.
“My wife and I came over on a cruise ship. We split up when I wanted to check out some sporting equipment, and she said she was looking for several new outfits. This was the first ladies’ fashion store I came to and figured she’d be in here. While looking around for her, I ran into Regan. Small world.”
Regan beamed. “Yes, it is, isn’t it?”
Lamont then said, “I’d better check out the other shops for Monica. We’ll need to return to the ship in a few hours. It was good seeing you again, Regan, and nice meeting you, Garth.”
“Same here,” Garth said.
When the man walked out of the store, Garth turned to Regan. “He seems like a nice guy.”
“He is. Lamont and I dated for a semester while we attended UCLA.”
Raw venom seeped into his gut. He’d gotten that same reaction when Charm had told him about Harold Anders’s job offer. Garth had no clue why he would be feeling territorial either time. But then maybe the feeling wasn’t territorial but protective. Yes, that had to be it.
“I bet you’re getting bored.”
Her words intruded into his thoughts. Did she think that was the reason he had come over here? “No, I’m not bored.” He glanced down at the outfits slung over her arm. “I see you found several things.”
“Yes. I feel like I hit the jackpot. I just have to pay for them and then I’ll be ready to go.”
He lifted a brow. “Aren’t you going to try them on?”
“There’s no need. I know my size.”
He chuckled. “Charm claims she knows her size, too, but that never stopped her from trying on her clothes. Go ahead. I’ll wait. Otherwise, I’m going to feel as if I rushed you.”
“Please don’t feel that way. I’m sure they’ll fit me.”
“Humor me anyway, or else I’ll think Charm has deliberately taken advantage of my kindness all these years.”
She threw her head back and laughed, having no idea how beautiful her neck looked when she did so. “All right, if you’re sure. It’s your time.”
“Yes,” he agreed. “It’s my time and I have plenty to spare. I’ll grab a seat right here to wait.”
He watched Regan disappear behind the door that led to the fitting room. While working, she wore her pilot uniform, and on occasion, when she doubled as his chauffeur, she wore a chauffeur uniform. Every so often he saw her dressed formally when she accompanied him to events. He rarely saw her