4. Paul
4
Paul
A s Harper slowly turned toward Paul, he couldn’t help but grin in the face of her total and complete shock. Her deep brown eyes were wide, her cheeks tinged a shade of pink. Absolutely gorgeous.
She stuttered. The shock slipped away to a massive smile on her face as she stood. “Paul!” She opened her arms, inviting him in for a hug. “Oh my God. It’s been ages.”
Dipping his chin, he accepted her embrace and enveloped her in warm affection.
After a gentle squeeze, she stepped back.
He ran his fingers along his chin, and his gaze drifted down when something shiny caught his attention.
Now it was his turn to be surprised.
Around her neck, a chunky gold chain toggle necklace hung loosely. Immediately, his eyes went farther south, and he was hit with a double whammy. Adorning her wrist was the matching bracelet.
Holy fucking shit. She still had it.
Not only had she kept it, but she actively wore it! It wasn’t even dulled. She took care of it.
The simple little gift he’d given her, a small gesture to congratulate her on passing her LSATs, and she’d held on to it. His chest tightened. He moistened his bottom lip and forced his attention back to her eyes. He needed to regain his composure and remember his purpose.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” he said.
Returning to her seat, she scooted over. “Shut the hell up,” she snickered. “Join us. Have you met my sister, Remi?”
The elation fluttering through him at the invitation was completely unnecessary. They had been friends for a few short months years ago. Yes, they had a brief little tryst, for which he suffered the consequences. He had no business being so excited about joining her for drinks. Especially considering why he was here.
Either way, he took a seat and glanced toward the woman opposite him with the spiky brown hair, brown eyes, and glasses, wearing a red collared polo shirt and an intrigued expression.
“I do not believe I’ve had the pleasure,” he said.
For half a second, Remi narrowed her eyes.
“Remi, this is Paul,” Harper continued her introductions as she patted his forearm with familiarity. “We worked together ages ago when Dad forced me—”
“Where?” Remi asked before she sipped at her beer.
Sighing, Harper sat back but kept contact with him.
His skin heated under her touch. Why did she still have that effect on him?
“This rinky-dink laundromat. It wasn’t for very long.” She waved a hand dismissively.
“There were complications,” Paul added. His shoulder twinged at the memory of getting shot by Harper’s ex-boyfriend and recent client.
In his brief research, he’d surmised that the two of them weren’t currently romantically linked. Which begged the question of why she defended him in court. What hold did he still have on her?
“Hmm,” Remi said. “I don’t remember that at all.”
The skepticism in her tone bristled over Paul’s skin. Keeping a neutral and friendly expression, he held her gaze. Not to challenge her but to reassure her he was harmless.
Which, of course, was a complete and total lie.
“It was before that babysitting gig,” Harper explained. “Either way, it doesn’t matter.” She squeezed his forearm and lifted her drink. “He’s a friend , and it’s good to see him again.”
“Yeah,” Paul agreed. “I never thought you’d come back to Oklahoma.”
When she took a sip of her honeybee, he didn’t miss the way the mirth in her eyes dimmed ever so slightly.
“Just as good as I remember,” she murmured.
Her words tickled his brain as he recalled how things had gotten complicated when they worked together. The memory tightened his trousers as his dick swelled ever so slightly. Would she be as good as he recalled her to be?
“Well, you’ll have to blame our dad for that,” Remi grumped.
He arched a brow. What did Snoopy, their father and the current president of the Roughneck Riders’ Oklahoma chapter, have to do with anything?
Rolling her eyes, Harper swirled her drink. “It’s the last favor I’m doing for him.”
Remaining quiet, Paul figured that if he didn’t interfere, the women would continue, and he’d get answers to his questions without even asking them.
“I don’t even know why you bothered. It was fucking Diesel,” Remi sneered. “He’s an absolute douche.”
“Believe me, I’m well aware.” Harper swirled her drink.
“Exactly. Of all the people who could use your expertise, Dad calls in the favor for friggin’ Diesel.”
Lifting her chin and making her spine rigid, Harper sat straighter. “It’s the last time. I’m officially done acting as a defense attorney for the Roughneck Riders. As a prosecutor, I can’t keep running down here to bail him out. It’ll sully my name.”
To that, Paul nodded. It made no sense for her to come down here to begin with, but he wouldn’t question it. He may have known her for a short time, but he learned a lot about her. Of all her marvelous traits, her loyalty intrigued him the most.
Despite her career choices, and her aspirations, Harper still came through for her family when they asked. Diesel, her jackass of an ex, showed her no such respect. Yet she stuck to her word and came to his rescue. He didn’t deserve her. He never did.
“So.” Harper intruded on his thoughts and turned her body toward him. “What have you been up to?”
Again, distrust decorated Remi’s face. “Yeah.”
Fiddling with the edge of a napkin, Paul considered his words. “The family business is doing well.”
“I bet,” Remi snorted.
Harper glared across the table. “Stop it.”
He ignored her. “We’ve expanded quite a bit.”
“You’re out of the laundromat?” Harper asked.
Paul couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yes.”
“You’re a Ricci, right?” Remi asked.
He lifted his gaze and met hers.
“Remi,” Harper warned. “Don’t start.”
Holding his stare, her eyes, the same color as Harper’s, went cold. “Related to Eddie?”
“My brother.”
With a slight bob of a nod, Remi shifted her jaw left and right. “Chloe, my ex-girlfriend, worked for him for a while.”
Well, that was interesting. The perks of living in such a small town was that everyone seemed to be tied to everyone else.
He shifted in his seat, bracing himself for some bullshit.
“Honestly, I’ve dated a shit ton of strippers,” Remi admitted.
“My sister has a type.” Harper sighed, falling back into the booth and taking another gulp of her drink.
Remi lifted her shoulder in a half shrug. “I like my women sexy and outgoing. Sue me.”
Paul couldn’t argue with that logic. He liked his the same way, and Harper fit that bill to a T.
When Harper’s sister didn’t say any more, just lifted her beer for a hearty swig, Paul picked up on the message. Remi knew of his family. It wasn’t a secret.
“You two stop it,” Harper demanded. “The staring contest is completely unnecessary.”
Paul sat back and grinned.
Remi’s expression was completely unreadable.
“What are you drinking, Paul?” Harper stroked his arm, drawing his focus. “Let me get it for you.”
“Cutty and water,” he said.
“So gangster,” Remi muttered.