Chapter 15
fifteen
HARLOW
I wake with a start. The leather cushion is stuck to my cheek. I peel my skin away and look over my shoulder. Cal is sitting on a stool, guitar in hand and a notebook filled with his scribbles in front of him. His brow is pinched in concentration. I smile. He looks sexy as hell right now.
Which is why I turn back around and grab my phone. My headphones are still on, keeping me from hearing what he’s working on. I pick it up to pick a new song and see a text from Jo.
Jo
We need to talk.
Are you breaking up with me?
Jo
Kind of?
That was supposed to be a joke. You’re stuck with me forever.
Jo
I like this job. I don’t want to quit. Maybe the podcast can be a part-time thing?
I already told Cal I wasn’t leaving. So I guess we’re on the same page.
Jo
Thanks for telling me, jerk.
I don’t think I want to do the podcast.
Jo
Yeah, I’m having second thoughts too.
Hitting too close to home because you’re banging Mav?
Jo
I am NOT banging Maverick.
That’s too bad. He’s hot.
Jo
So is Cal.
Fair point.
I peek over my shoulder again. Cal is scratching out something he wrote with an aggressive amount of frustration. I smile, hoping he’s letting it all out.
Jo
I’m working with Jon and the label to book the next tour. Are you coming? Are babies on the road a thing?
That seems like something I should know the answer to.
Jo
Ya think?
I’m shrugging.
Jo
Figure it out because I have an idea.
I can’t know the fun idea until I know what the Cora plan is?
Jo
Who said fun?
If it’s not fun, I don’t want to do it. I have had enough of serious and depressing things for now.
Jo
It’s fun.
Ha! Knew it.
Jo
I have a meeting. Let me know when you talk to Cal.
“Talk to me about what?”
I gasp and clutch my phone to my chest. “You sneaky little shit.” I pull my headphones off and glare at him.
Cal throws his head back and laughs. He seems lighter, and I’m glad. That was the whole point of bringing him down here.
“I promise you, Firecracker, nothing about me is little.”
My face heats even as I try to glare. Cal just smiles in victory.
“So. What are we talking about?” he asks, patting my legs to move them so he can sit next to me. I go to sit up, but he just slides under my legs, keeping hold of them and putting them on his lap.
“The Cora plan,” I tell him, trying not to concentrate on the little circles he’s making on my legs with his thumbs.
“The Cora plan?” he asks, brows raised.
“Yeah. Jo’s working on the tour schedule. She wanted to know what the plan for Cora was during that. I told her I’d ask you.”
“Hmm,” he drums his fingers lightly against my calf. “What do you think?”
“Me?” I ask. “You’re her dad.”
Cal smiles, and that twinkle is back in his eyes. “I am, but you’re a huge part of her life too. I’d like to figure it out together.”
It takes me a minute to overcome the shock, but then I really think about it. “Can you give me an idea of what a show day is like versus a travel day?”
Cal explains all their responsibilities. Apparently, it also includes a lot of television and radio appearances too. I knew there would be a few, but not the amount he’s explaining right now.
“Can I go over the schedule with Jo and get back to you with what I think? I don’t want to make any promises without having all the information,” I tell him after mulling it over.
“That sounds fair to me,” Cal says. “Let me make you lunch.” He stands and holds his hand out to me. I take it and let him lead me upstairs.
I escape his grasp the moment we get upstairs, telling him I wanted to call Jo right away in case there’s something she needs to account for on her end if we decide to take Cora on the whole tour.
I dart up the stairs and close myself in my bathroom.
I’m about four seconds away from a panic attack by the time Jo answers her phone.
“Harry, I told you I had a meeting,” she huffs.
“Jo, I need help.” I’m close to tears, and I know she can hear it.
“What the hell happened? You were texting me less than an hour ago.”
“Cal wants my opinion on how much or little Cora travels with them.”
There’s silence and if I couldn’t hear someone talking in the background, I would think she hung up on me.
“That’s making you cry?” she asks. “Are you pregnant?” she whispers harshly.
“No! I haven’t had sex in months.”
“I need you to help me out here, Harlow.”
“I can’t go on tour with them and watch . . .” I pause and take a deep breath. “I can’t watch him with other women, Jo. I can’t do it.”
“Oh, Harlow,” she says, her voice sympathetic. “I don’t think he would do that to you.”
“I don’t think what the nanny thinks about his sex life is something he even thinks about,” I mutter.
“You’re not just the nanny. I see the way you look at each other. You just won’t let yourselves go there. And I get it, I really do.”
“But?”
Jo laughs softly. “But you’re both close to snapping and when you do, Harlow, it’s going to be epic.”
I snort. “You’ve been reading too many romance novels.”
“I’ve been reading dragon smut. Get it right.”
“My sincerest apologies,” I say with a laugh.
“Better?”
“No idea.”
“I need to get back to my meeting.”
“Thanks, Joey.”
“Anytime, Harry.”
Lunch with Cal was nice. We just ate sandwiches and talked. I really liked it.
But I couldn’t help the way my conversation with Jo was bouncing around my head the whole time. Could she be right? Are Cal and I epic? I still think that was a really dramatic word to use, but maybe it’s not dramatic enough.
I like him. I really like him. He hasn’t touched me, other than little caresses here and there, since that night in the kitchen. And I want him to. I want his hands all over me.
My phone vibrating interrupts my thoughts.
Callahan Elizabeth
Are you up?
I snort. I changed Cal’s name in my phone this morning.
Really? Booty calling the nanny?
Callahan Elizabeth
No!
Never mind.
I’ll talk to you tomorrow.
I’m just kidding. What’s up?
Callahan Elizabeth
Meet me in the living room. Please.
Ooh! I like when you beg.
Callahan Elizabeth
Firecracker…
Will there be popcorn?
Callahan Elizabeth
I need you down here.
Okay. That’s not playful Cal. Something’s up.
Give me ten minutes. I’m in the tub.
I watch as the three little dots dance on the screen before disappearing completely. I can’t help laughing. Cal is so easy to get riled up.
I get out of the tub and dry off quickly, throwing on the first thing I see. Well, the second thing. The first thing is my PJs, but they’re pretty revealing.
Actually?
No. Cal sounded serious. Sexually frustrating both of us seems like a bad plan.
My phone vibrates again, and I’m about to ignore it and just head downstairs, but then I see it’s from an unknown number.
Unknown
Are you the baby mama?
Great. Did a reporter get my number somehow?
Unknown
Watch your back.
Oh. Threats. Cool.
I block the number. I’ll bring it up with my dad later. It’s probably nothing. Even if I was Cora’s mom, where is the threat there? I’m not in the public eye and threatening me isn’t going to do anything.
People are so annoying.
The living room is full when I make my way down there. I’m glad I opted for leggings and a sweatshirt instead of just going to see what Cal wanted in my PJs.
“Ten pm on a Thursday is a weird time for a party,” I say as I sit down next to Jo. I look around and realize everyone looks somber. “What’s going on?”
“Your dad figured out who was trying to hack into his system,” Belle says, looking apologetic. I know I look as confused as I feel because she smiles sadly before explaining. “My ex, Brad. Apparently, he was released on parole.”
“Which is bullshit for an attempted murder charge,” Kai says, holding on to Belle, who is sitting in his lap.
“He’s trying to get into my dad’s system?” I ask, still very confused. I know who Brad is. I know he was stalking Belle and tried to hurt her. I also know he was found guilty of attempted murder only a few months ago. My dad was looking into him just in case he somehow had any connection to Ezra. He didn’t, but this seems suspicious. “How did he get parole so early? It takes people with his charges years to even qualify.”
“What are you thinking, Firecracker?” Cal asks, watching me from where he’s leaning against the wall.
“Well, first of all, Brad clearly has some powerful connections, which we kind of already guessed, but this proves it. Second, my dad doesn’t believe in coincidences, which I’m sure he’s told you.” Cal nods. “He didn’t find any connections between Ezra and Brad before, but he also said that whoever is behind everything is powerful enough to erase records.”
“So Brad could be working for this person, and we would never know because a record wouldn’t exist,” Willa states from her seat on the couch next to Mav. I glance at him and debate how to phrase my next question.
“Maverick, your dad. He’s pretty powerful, right?” I ask as gently as I can. Senator Wolfe is on the list of suspects. He has been for a while, which is why Mav is setting up a meeting with his mom. But there is some sort of connection here I’m missing. It’s right on the edge of my brain.
“Now he is. Your dad asked the same question. He was a judge at the time Ezra went missing. He didn’t have the power he does now as a senator. Definitely not the record erasing type of power.”
“But he’s not a good guy, right?” Jo asks.
Mav looks at her with annoyance and affection. Which is honestly kind of how I look at her most days and if the topic wasn’t serious, I would probably be laughing.
“No. He’s not a good guy, but I don’t see why he would want Ezra gone,” Mav says, looking down at his hands. He’s sick of this conversation, and I think we’re honestly all sick of having it. Everyone in this room wants Ezra found and this all to be over and done with.
“He runs a very conservative campaign, and his son was dating another man,” Jo says. I elbow her. “What?”
“There’s no way my dad hasn’t asked these questions, and you don’t need to upset everyone by asking them again,” I tell her.
“I’m not trying to. I’m just hoping there’s something your dad missed that can help. Especially if there’s a crazy person who tried to murder Belle out there.”
Mav sighs and leans forward, grabbing Jo’s hand and squeezing. My eyes are locked on the action, and I wouldn’t be surprised if everyone else’s were too. Jo isn’t a physical affection type of person. I think we’ve hugged maybe twice in all our years of friendship. The fact that she’s not only letting Mav touch her, but also squeezing his hand back is alarming.
“It’s ok. Really,” Mav says. “My dad wasn’t thrilled about me dating Ezra, but he also hadn’t started his campaign to run for senator. He never asked me to break things off or anything, so I don’t see why he would go to extremes. He could’ve easily threatened me.” Mav scratches his jaw. “If he threatened Ezra, I would have left. If it was his safety at risk because of me,” Mav says, choking up. “I would have put Ezra first. I will always put Ezra first.”
I watch Jo’s eyes dim as she slowly pulls her hand back from Mav. Definitely asking her about what’s going on there later.
“Do we know where Brad is now?” I ask Belle.
“Yeah, uh,” she stutters, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. “He asked to see me.”
“Fuck no. Absolutely not. Not happening.” Kai exclaims, standing and then pacing the room.
“I’m going with you,” Cal says, then turns to me. “Are you okay staying with Cora for a few days? I refuse to bring her anywhere near that psycho, but I can’t let my sister go without me either.”
“Of course,” I say immediately.
“No one is going!” Kai yells.
“Oh yeah? Try telling her that,” Cal says, gesturing to his sister.
“I’m going,” Belle tells Kai gently.
“Mo chridhe,” he pleads, his hand over his heart.
“I have to, Kai. He’s in a jail cell in Bangor right now for breaking his parole. He can’t hurt me from there, but maybe he’ll give me some answers. Answers that can help us find Ez.”
“We can leave in the morning. Just the three of us. Willa and Mav can stay here in case Harlow needs help with Cora. Dad will be here too,” Cal says, seemingly ending the meeting since everyone nods and stands to leave.
“Are you okay?” I whisper to Jo while everyone says their goodbyes.
“Yeah, just tired.”
I accept her answer, but I’ll be keeping a closer eye on her. Something is going on with her and Mav, and I don’t want her to get hurt.
I shut the door behind Jo, but when I turn around, I step face first into a solid chest.
“Cal?” I ask, looking up into those soft brown eyes and seeing fire behind them.
He walks closer as I back up into the door, but he doesn’t stop until he’s pressed against me, and I can feel every hard line of his body.
“Cal?” I ask again, but this time it sounds more like a squeak.
He places his hand around my throat. His grip is gentle, barely there, but the heat from his palm sets my body on fire. Cal leans close, his breath hot against my ear.
“I don’t beg, Firecracker. I lick and nip and suck and kiss until you’re the one on your knees begging for me. Begging for me to touch you, to fuck you.” My breath hitches in my throat as my pulse races. I know he can feel how fast my heart is beating at his words. “Be careful, baby. You have no idea who you’re playing with.”
With that, he lets me go and heads for the stairs, taking two at a time. I watch him go, trying to calm my heart rate and wrap my mind around what had just happened. I was questioning sending that text to him, but not anymore. He’s right though. I had no idea who I was playing with.
But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to find out.