Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
H arrison gripped the steering wheel tightly enough to break it as he stared straight ahead. First, he screwed up and kissed Nyla before thinking about what he was doing. Now each time he glanced at her, flashes of their heated kiss sent warmth shooting to every cell in his body.
If that weren’t enough, after the most amazing kiss he’d experience in like forever, he offered her a ride home. In doing so, he failed to remember he’d be in a confined space with her. That was a problem because she smelled incredible, like lavender and vanilla. He not only wanted to bury his nose into the crook of her neck for a better whiff, but he wanted to explore the rest of her body.
Now this.
He never meant to say anything about his stint in prison. Hell, he never slipped up regarding that time in his life, and he couldn’t figure out how he’d done it now. One minute, he was hearing the self-deprecating tone in her voice as she told him about her loser ex. The next? He was telling her he’d been in prison for murder.
Harrison shook his head. He could feel Nyla’s heated gaze on him, and it was the oddest sensation. In one sense, it was as if her soft hands were on him, caressing his skin and comforting him in some way. But it also felt as if large hands were squeezing his neck and cutting off his air supply.
His heart was beating hard enough to beat right out of his chest, and the last thing he intended to discuss was that horrible time in his life. Yet, he knew he had to say something. Anything. But what could he say after dropping that bomb?
“I shouldn’t have admitted to that,” he said, his mind scrambling as he maneuvered his SUV through her neighborhood.
“So, it’s not true?”
After a slight hesitation, he said, “It is, but Nyla it’s not something I can discuss right now. All I can tell you is that I didn’t kill anyone.”
“I know,” she said quietly.
He glanced at her. “What do you mean you know? How do you know?”
“Because Jamie thinks very highly of you, and he wouldn’t have tried to push us together if he thought you’d be a danger to me. Also, though I don’t trust my intuitions as much as I used to, I honestly don’t believe you’re capable of murder. Remember, I’ve worked with you for a couple of months. You don’t give off killer vibes.”
Harrison nodded and released a slow breath as his heart rate slowly settled down. If only his mother and ex-fiancée had given him that same benefit of doubt when he’d been accused.
He wanted more than anything to get to know Nyla better, but it was a bad idea no matter how he looked at it.
Yeah, he needed to stay clear of the beautiful Nyla.
A few minutes later, he pulled into the circular drive of her apartment complex and stopped just past the front entrance.
Part of him wanted to tell her everything. The other part of him wanted to keep his mouth shut. He had vowed to never mention those days ever again. He almost didn’t survive the experience, and as the memories filled his mind, the anxiety was there too.
Nope, this wasn’t something he could discuss.
Harrison startled when Nyla laid a hand on his forearm and squeezed.
“I’m sorry if I stirred up bad memories. Are you going to be okay to drive home? Do you want to come in?”
This woman…
This sweet, gorgeous, kind woman. If only he could’ve met her years ago. Maybe his life would’ve taken a different route. Then again, maybe it wouldn’t have, but deep down, he knew if he allowed Nyla into his life, his world would change for the better.
I’m not ready, the words blared through his mind.
Instead of telling her that, he said, “Thank you for understanding.” He squeezed her hand. “I’m fine to drive, and I’m sorry about…everything.”
She nodded and gave him a smile as she removed her hand from his arm.
Harrison immediately felt the loss, and he hated the chill that flowed through his veins. He knew this was goodbye, at least on his end. Tonight let him know he wasn’t ready to put himself out there again.
“No apology necessary,” Nyla said as she unfastened her seatbelt. “Just know if you ever want to talk, I’m a good listener. As a matter of fact, give me your phone.”
Instead of overthinking the request, Harrison pulled the device from his pants pocket and unlocked it. Then he handed it to her and watched as she added her telephone number.
“Now you have no excuse if you want to give me a call outside of work,” she said, returning his cell phone. “Take care, Harrison. See you in the morning.”
She started to open the door, but he stopped her. “Hold on, let me get that for you.”
He climbed out, shivering as the brisk air whipped around him as he hurried around to the passenger side. When he opened the door, he reached for Nyla’s gloved hand and helped her out.
“Thanks again for the ride.”
“My pleasure,” he said, and was caught off guard when she placed a soft kiss on his lips. “Drive safely.”
Harrison waited until she was inside before he climbed back into his SUV. On his way home, thoughts of Nyla and how he’d handled everything tonight played on loop inside his head.
If ever he got himself emotionally together, and was ready for a relationship, he’d choose her in a heartbeat.
Too bad he may never be ready.
Damn him for avoiding her! Nyla never thought of Harrison as a wimp, but this morning she knew better. All night she’d been worried about him, hoping he was okay.
She had even considered calling Jamie to get him to check on Harrison, but she hadn’t. Instead, she figured she’d see him this morning at work, except when she arrived at Telecom Solutions, Harrison was a no show. He was working from home.
That rat! He knew I’d have questions.
She should call and curse him out for not being man enough to face her. She wouldn’t, but she should.
The only thing stopping her was that he didn’t owe her anything. Not an explanation. Nothing. His secrets were his. Well, she also wouldn’t call him because she didn’t have his phone number. Yes, she had given him hers, but she hadn’t thought to text or call herself while she had his phone in hand.
Then again, that probably wouldn’t have been a good idea anyway. He’d seemed to be in a state of shock after dropping his bomb. He might’ve freaked if he knew she had his phone number.
“I should’ve done it anyway,” she grumbled as the office phone rang.
She answered and then directed the call to the tech support department, all the while still contemplating what to do about Harrison.
It wasn’t his fault that she suddenly wanted to know everything about him. She had even considered googling him but shot that idea down. Anything she learned about him, Nyla wanted the information to come from him directly. Or maybe Jamie, but she knew her friend wouldn’t betray Harrison’s trust by spilling his secrets.
I was engaged once, but when I went to prison for first-degree murder, she dumped me.
Nyla dropped back in her seat and rocked in the chair. Never in a million years did she think she’d hear anything like that come out of anyone’s mouth. Let alone Harrison’s. A fiancée? Prison? Good Lord . She could only imagine what that was all about. It was no wonder he hadn’t wanted to discuss it last night. There was a lot to unpack in just that one sentence.
The desk phone rang again, and Nyla answered. “Good morning. Thank you for calling Telecom Solutions. How may I help you?”
There was a slight hesitation before the caller said, “May I speak with Harrison Grant?”
Nyla immediately went on alert. It was the same woman who’d called the day before. Harrison’s mother.
“I’m sorry, he isn’t in. May I take a message?” Nyla asked instead of sending her to voicemail. She grabbed her notepad and pen, poised to write down the message.
“Do you know when he’ll be in?”
“I do not,” Nyla said.
The woman huffed out a frustrated breath. “That’s okay. I’ll try back another time.” She disconnected the call before Nyla could respond.
Nyla replaced the headset and growled under her breath. What the hell had his mother done to him to warrant Harrison ignoring her calls? And did she have anything to do with the ex-fiancée… or worse, him going to prison?
“ Ughhh ,” Nyla grumbled under her breath.
Harrison Grant, what the hell is your story?