Chapter 7 #2
When I made it to the door, I knocked a couple of times before stepping back and waiting for Harper to come to the door.
I didn’t have to knock again before the door swung open, and she stood in front of me.
Her smooth brown skin looked like those soft caramel candies my mom used to keep on her desk.
The way her curls framed her heart-shaped face made me want to touch her cheeks, but I promised that I would keep my hands to myself tonight.
The way she flashed those pretty brown eyes at me before lowering her gaze made heat rise from my collar.
Hopefully, I could keep the promise I made to myself.
I knew it would be a task. No matter how much time had passed, I still remembered what a good girl she could be.
Harper was unforgettable, and now with a little more meat on her bones, she was downright dangerous.
Harper was so fucking sexy, even when she was all covered up.
She looked delectable dressed in an all-black jumpsuit that hugged her curves, making me jealous that I wasn’t tucked between those warm thighs where I belonged.
My pulse picked up when my eyes fell to the center of her thighs where the thigh-high red boots she wore stopped.
I didn’t know what was tugging at my sanity more, her beauty or her scent. For now, I would focus on the latter.
“You smell good as hell, Harp. You ready to go?”
“I wasn’t expecting you so early. Give me a second. I’m almost ready,” she finally stated.
She held the door open, letting me step inside before she turned and strutted across the room, giving me a view of her perfect ass. Shit! Age, milk, and a few extra pounds had done her body good.
“You look good as fuck, Harp. I wasn’t sure if I would have to come in and physically help you get ready or just persuade you to come. I’m honestly surprised to see you all dressed up and ready to go.”
“Your brother did enough of that right before you came. I see y’all still like to play tag team.”
“Not as much as we used to love it.” I winked.
She rolled her eyes, but I didn’t miss the hint of a smile playing on her lips. “Hmph.”
“I thought that was him I saw leaving. How long was he here?” I asked, trying to hide the jealousy in my voice.
“I don’t know, maybe ten minutes.”
What the fuck did they do for ten minutes if she wouldn’t even talk to him? “What did he want?”
“To make sure that I didn’t stand you up tonight. He thought I needed his permission.”
“You fucked him?” I asked, taking a step closer to her.
“In ten minutes, Jase?”
I grinned. “It doesn’t take but a few minutes to get in a quickie. I can show you if necessary.”
“I’ll pass on the demonstration. Either way, I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”
“It is, and you know damn well it is. Everything you do is my business,” I countered.
“That’s where you’re wrong. I’m not your business nor will I ever be.
I’m only going on this little date because I’m hungry.
I figured with all the bullshit going on in my life these days, the least I could do was get free meal, a long overdue and well-deserved fucking apology, and maybe even some level of closure after all these years. ”
“That’s all I want to give you, Harper.”
“Are you sure about that?” she asked, tilting her head. Her eyelashes fluttered as she raised her eyes to meet mine.
“For now, I’m absolutely sure about that.”
“I don’t have to take you at your word because you already know I got hands,” she said, grabbing a red leather jacket and shrugging it on.
Her sharp words made me grin. I loved this woman. “How could I forget?”
“Good. You ready?”
“Yes, ma’am. Lead the way,” I said, pointing toward the door.
“I made it as a boxer and fought for a couple of years before I became a trainer,” she said, looking over her shoulder as she headed outside to my car.
I opened the door and let her get inside before closing the door and walking around to the driver’s side.
Once I started the car, I continued our conversation.
“I know. I saw a couple of your fights, Harper. I kept an eye on you. I never told bro because I realized it was best if he thought you fell off the face of the earth.”
“But you could handle knowing?”
“I managed. It took a few years for me to run across you. You don’t have a social media presence at all. You literally became a ghost for a while. The name change didn’t help. I didn’t give up, because I had to know that you were happy. At least I thought you were. How are you holding up now?”
She raised her shoulders. “I’m holding.”
“I know you’re a fighter, Harper, but that’s a grown ass man. Do you need us to kick his ass?”
“He’s a fighter too, Jase. I’m not sure you could do that. Plus, you need your hands. I can’t have you busting up your knuckles over my shit and not being able to do surgery. Your mom would kill us both.”
“So, you’ve been keeping up with me too?”
“I spot checked just to make sure neither of you gave up on your dreams.”
“He never gave up on you,” I stated, knowing that mentioning Jordy would create tension between us, but it needed to be said.
“Well, he should have. He had every right to move on. Lord knows I gave up on him a long time ago,” she said with an unconvincing wave of her hand.
“Neither did I, Harp. I couldn’t. You belong to us.”
“I belong to no one,” she protested.
“Yet you’re right here with me.”
She scoffed. “And regretting it more by the second.”
“I’m having someone to come give me an estimate on a new driveway for your grandmother’s house.”
“I’m not worried about that driveway. I don’t have the money to worry about fixing that driveway right now. I’m barely holding it together as it is. I don’t even have a job right now.”
“My gym is looking for trainers. I’ll put in a word for you. I pay five hundred dollars a month for two sessions a week.”
“You find two days a week to work out?”
I chuckled. “I aim for three. If I don’t do anything else, I’ma get in some pussy and some weights.”
She laughed. “Too much information.”
“Ain’t nothing changed but the title in front of my name, Ms. Morgan.”
“Whatever. Where are we headed?” she quizzed, putting her eyes on the road.
I already missed the sound of her laughing, so I kept the radio at a low volume just in case she wanted to bless me again.
“This seafood restaurant that has the best Chilean sea bass around, according to my mom.”
“How is Doctor Lisa anyway?”
I scoffed before answering her question. “She’s dating.”
“Your mom?”
“I think she’s probably been hiding it for a long time, but now she has a man who she brings to family dinners. It’s weird, but she looks happy.”
“Go her. I’m glad she didn’t give up on love.”
“I don’t want you to give up on it either, Harp.”
“See, there you go, ruining the moment.”
“No, ma’am. Don’t do that. My lips are sealed until I get your ass in that seat in the restaurant.”
“Good,” she said, turning her attention back to the road. After a second, she leaned up and turned the radio up.
“Lady, don’t touch my radio.” I warned her.
“Whatever. I love this song.”
“It’s alright.” I agreed before turning the radio up a little more.
I felt like it was a good idea to not say too much more.
I didn’t want to push Harper away before I had the chance to win her back.
For my brother’s sake, this had to work.
To keep the peace, we rode in a comfortable silence, letting the radio create background noise to set the mood for the rest of the ride.