One Night In Reno by Rogenna Brewer Read Free Book Online Page B

himself up.  “What time is it?”
    The little boy shrugged.  Garrett looked at his phone.  Just after 4 o’clock in the morning.  Which meant he’d had exactly two hours of sleep.
    “I can’t find Buster.”
    “I’m sure she’s around.  Probably just off exploring her new surroundings.”
    Josh shook his head.  “I checked everywhere.  Even the backyard.”
    “The backyard?” 
    Josh pointed to the doggie door.
    Wide-awake now, Garrett sat up and threw off his covers.  He heard Jenny padding down the hall toward them in her bare feet and turned to look.  She wore low-slung pajama pants and a midriff revealing tank top. 
    “What’s going on?” she asked in a quiet voice.
    “Josh can’t find Buster.”
    She crossed her arms over her breasts.
    “Really wasn’t staring.  I’m just not awake yet.”  He rubbed his eyes.  Okay, maybe he hadn’t been staring, but even half asleep he had noticed her perky breasts. 
    “Josh.”  She spoke to the boy in a loud whisper.  “Leave Garrett alone.  Buster climbed into bed with me.  You can, too.  If you promise not to get up before the sun.”
    Garrett lay back down and pulled the covers over his head while everyone else went back bed.  His bed.  Birdsong kept him awake and wrestling with a point Tess had brought up.  Why a man who couldn’t commit to his fiancée had married a complete stranger.  But Jenny didn’t feel like a stranger.  She felt like…home. 
    Even if he was sleeping on the couch.
    I’m not your plus one anymore, Itch.  You’re now a plus two.
    Plus three.  I’m now a plus three. 
    Buster counts.

 
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER ELEVEN
     
    Later that morning, Garrett held her hand while Jenny recounted her story to investigators.  She felt like a walk on character in a bad TV drama.  There was so much more going on behind the scenes.  Her mild mannered boss was suspected of international sex trafficking, among other things.
    Peeper was bad enough. 
    To think what might have happened to them sent chills up her spine.  
    It was likely Jenny would never know Barry’s true intent or if there had been other cameras in their trailer home.  The sooner he was caught the better.  Hopefully, the evidence she’d turned over helped convict the creep. The Eagle County Sheriff’s department was reopening five missing person cases, including a co-worker of Jenny’s who’d dated Barry for a short time.
    Once the interview was over Jenny was free to go.  
    In the days that followed, she felt as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders and placed right onto Garrett’s.  He’d been put on stand down after he returned from leave, pending a review of his security clearance.  He told her not to worry, that his XO was just being cautious until his CO could review the situation.   
    On the plus side, it meant the three of them could look forward to spending some time together, checking off items from a long to do list.  Between practical matters such as dealing with the claims adjuster, the auto body shop and car rental agency, there was the fun stuff--like getting their first military dependent ID cards and shopping on base.
    They walked the beach and went to the pool every day, where Garrett taught her how to swim.  She was not as adept as Josh, but she was learning.  Swimming and walking were great exercise.  She’d never been so toned and tanned. 
    Or well fed.
    “Taste.”  Garrett extended a wooden spoon for a taste of his chili con carne.
    “Mmm, that is good.” 
    “I’ll get the bowls.”
    “I’ll get Josh.”  As they brushed past each other, a little thrill shot through her.  Her husband appeared to be wooing her the old fashioned way.
    She and Josh sat at the counter while Garrett stood for their afternoon break from the chaos of redecorating.  He didn’t own a dining room set.  Or it had belonged to Tess.  He didn’t talk about his ex fiancée much, but he did talk to her every day.