black dog.
âDo you need something, Garrett?â Jill looked up from the stack of folders sheâd been shuffling through on his desk.
âUh . . .â He looked back toward the door. He couldnât leave Gracie out there upset, no matter what Ms. Harrisâ problem was. Sheâd just have to wait. âNo, not yet, Jill. Thank you. I have to talk to Gracie first. Sheâs upset I couldnât take her trick-or-treating.â
Jill shrugged. âSheâll get over it. Kids are surprisingly resilient.â She shot him a flirtatious smile. âCan I do something for you now?â
âThatâs okay. Maybe later.â He headed back toward the door, but when he pulled it open, he stopped short. Olivia had squatted in front of Gracieâs chair, bringing herself to eye level with the little girl. Gracie still sulked, but curiosity tinged her expression as well.
âWhatâs the matter, honey? Why do you look so sad?â
Gracie sniffed. A pang of guilt stabbed him in the gut. Heâd made her cry.
âItâs just . . .â She hesitated. âAll my friends get to go trick-or-treating.â The words blurted out in a rush. âI want to go, too, but Daddy canât take me.â
âWhere is Daddy?â
âWorking.â She gestured toward Garrettâs office without looking up. âIn there.â
âIs Garrett your daddy?â
Gracie nodded.
âWell, I know he has a very important meeting this afternoon, and he has to be at a work party tonight.â
Gracieâs lip quivered.
âBut . . . that doesnât mean you shouldnât get to go trick-or-treating.â
âReally?â Gracie swiped at her eyes.
Olivia stood and reached out a hand. âSure. Iâm Olivia. Iâm your dadâs personal assistant.â
Gracie shook her hand.
âMy job is to help him out when he needs it. So, how about if I take you trick-or-treating?â A huge grin lit Gracieâs face. âThere are a lot of offices in this building, you know. We could go to all of them. I bet youâll get a ton of candy.â
âBut . . .â
âWhat?â Olivia encouraged her.
Gracie shrugged. âI donât have a costume.â
âHmmm . . . well, then. I guess weâll just have to make one.â
Gracieâs laughter warmed Garrettâs heart. He studied Olivia as she and Gracie chatted about different costume ideas and realized what was so special about her. She was, no doubt, beautiful, but it wasnât only on the outside. Her warmth and compassion were reflected in those big blue eyes every time she looked at him.
Olivia dug through her enormous pocketbook and pulled out a brush and a few other things and spread them out on the chair beside Gracie. Gracie turned happily and knelt on the chair facing the wall as Olivia began running a brush gently through her hair.
He slowly eased the door shut and headed toward his desk with a smile. A few minutes later he lifted the receiver to his ear but paused at a knock on the door. Olivia poked her head in. âSorry to interruptââ
Gracie burst through the door from beneath her arm. âTrick or treat!â She jumped up and down, vibrating with excitement. Her hair was wrapped in a bun, and a pair of way-too-big glasses slid down her nose. She shoved them back up. She held a clipboard in one hand and a paper bag in the other.
Garrett dug through his desk. He looked up. Olivia leaned against his desk with her back to him. Her hands were behind her back, and a chocolate bar waved discreetly back and forth.
He took it, went around the desk, and dropped it into Gracieâs bag. Then he scooped her up in a giant bear hug. âYou look great. I love you, sugar.â
âLove you, too, Daddy.â She squeezed him with all her might, the clipboard and bag hanging over his back. He glanced up at