Trust by Design (Colorado Trust 2)

“Are you kidding? I’d love to watch that sweet little guy of yours.”

“You’re sure? I know it’s last minute, and a Saturday night…”

“Positive. I’d planned on working, so it’ll give me a break from my life. What time?”

After agreeing to be at their place by six p.m., Gina hung up and slipped her phone back into her purse.

“Looks nice.”

She spun around at the sound of Liz’s voice from the doorway. “Thanks. There are a few more things I want to do, but it’s almost done.” After one final glance around the room, she scooped up her purse and the light jacket she’d needed that morning. “As for me, I am done for the day, so I’m going to h

ead out. Um, by chance is Dean in his office?”

Liz shook her head as they walked down the hall. “He left a little while ago for a meeting in Boulder.”

“Oh.”

No, she didn’t care that he hadn’t even taken a moment to say bye before leaving. And so what if he’d been shut in his office when she’d arrived so she hadn’t gotten a chance to say good morning, either. She was better off keeping her distance.

“I guess I’ll see him on Monday, then.” Maybe.

“I’ll let him know.”

“Thanks.”

The redhead had been a lot friendlier ever since that initial meeting when Gina had assumed she was Dean’s jealous girlfriend. The little interaction she’d seen between the two had been more like a brother-sister relationship, so maybe she’d read her wrong that night.

“Any exciting plans for the weekend?” Liz asked as they came to a stop at the front door.

“Babysitting for a friend, and working.” She laughed at the other woman’s raised eyebrows. “Hey, right now, that’s all the excitement I need in my life.”

She couldn’t help a glance through the kitchen, toward Dean’s study. Realizing the direction of her thoughts, she quickly pulled her gaze back. “How about you?”

“Nothing tonight, but tomorrow I’m going with the guys to a client dinner party. I don’t get to dress up much, and I found this great outfit the other day, so it should be fun.”

“Do you have a boyfriend to go with you?” Gina asked before she could help herself.

The redhead’s gaze shifted away as she shrugged. “The guy I’m seeing can’t make it, so I’m acting as Dean’s date.”

She kept her smile in place. She shouldn’t care one bit, and hadn’t she just thought that Liz and Dean treated each other like siblings? “Have a good time. I’ll see you on Monday, too.”

On her way to her car, she couldn’t help but think with a frown, Now who’s jealous?

* * *

Gina gathered the packages out of the trunk of her car after shopping on her way home. Not that she’d have admitted it to Dean, but at night there were times she didn’t feel entirely safe in her new neighborhood. And she certainly didn’t trust purchases made with his money to be left in her car all weekend.

At the top of the second set of stairs, her step faltered at the sight of Jackson lounging against the wall next to her door. In his tailored suit and polished exterior, he looked completely out of place amidst the dim light and peeling paint.

What the heck is he doing here? She hadn’t given him her new address.

He straightened when he saw her, even smiled as he lowered his hand to slip his phone in his pocket.

Taking a deep breath, she started forward again. “What do you want?”

“I stopped by to see how you’re doing.”

He offered another smile. Probably going for charming, but now that her eyes were wide open where he was concerned, she saw it contained a strange combination of smarmy and condescending. Made her want to knee him in the balls. Even when she knew Dean had ulterior motives, he pulled off the charm ten times better.