Chapter 9
Tyler
Iwatched Harris pace while he talked on the phone while discreetly feeding Cheddar small pieces of my scrambled eggs and toast. Harris caught me at least twice, and though he tried to tell me with his expression to knock it off, his gaze held affection so I figured I wasn’t in too much trouble.
He’d said some very sweet things last night.
That meeting me was the highlight of his year, which, honestly, who said that?
But I could tell he meant it, even if it made me squirm to hear it.
Part of that was because it felt big. The other part was because it pleased me immensely.
Then he’d slipped and called me baby. And not in a tone that meant he used it with everyone.
It felt like more than that. But again, far too soon for something like that. We barely knew each other.
I considered myself a pretty good judge of character.
I could usually tell, based off vibes alone, whether someone was genuine or not.
I’d never been wrong. Even when everyone else said I was crazy, like that time a few years ago when a new recruit had been assigned to our platoon and I instantly knew something was off.
It turned out he was a white supremacist who spouted such racism he’d eventually been tossed out of the Corps for his actions and hatred.
And believe me, it took a lot for that to happen.
So I trusted Harris, and I trusted what he said. It made me want to pull him closer, find out every little thing about him, and forget that in just a few short weeks, I’d been heading back home.
“Yeah, no. Luce, I get it. Don’t worry about it. Take care of Jan and I’ll see you guys when you can make the trip. Yeah, love you too. Bye.” Harris stabbed a finger on his screen, tossed the phone onto the counter, and rubbed his hands on his face.
“Everything okay?” I asked, using the opportunity to give Cheddar a piece of my crust.
Harris dropped his hands and narrowed his gaze. I thought he was going to scold me but instead he said, “Cheddar, go lay down.”
The dog let out a huge huff, like it was such a chore, but he padded to the corner of the kitchen where a fluffy dog bed laid in wait. Cheddar plopped down and placed his head on his paws, his eyebrows downturned.
“Aw you made him sad,” I said with a pout. It made Harris laugh, though the sound was cut off, which is what I’d been aiming for.
“He knows better than to beg.” Harris gathered up his plate, which he’d been in the process of making when he got the call, and joined me at the table. I would bet his eggs were cold by now but Harris didn’t seem to care as he dug in.
“Can I ask what the call was about?”
Harris glanced up, surprise came over his features, as though he forgotten I’d asked before. He nodded as he finished chewing.
“Lucette called to say she and Janice can’t make it to the Winter Ball this year.
Jan’s got pneumonia, so she can’t travel.
And even though it’s still more than a week away, they can’t count on her being well enough by then.
” He let out a sigh. “They usually stay a couple of days too. And they’ve been at my side since Hawley came up with the crazy idea, so it’ll be weird with them not here. ”
“That sucks,” I said, because it did. But I had no idea who these people were and I was missing a big piece of the puzzle. I was trying to figure out how to ask but Harris seemed to realize his faux pax because he grabbed my hand and squeeze.
“Sorry. Lucette and Janice run Honeytree Equine Rescue. It’s in Tennenesse. It’s where I landed when I escaped here.”
That was an interesting word choice. I contemplated it for a second and then just decided to go for it. “Escaped?”
Harris set down his fork and leaned back in his chair. He clasped his hands behind his neck and tilted back just a little, eyes on the ceiling.
“You know, it’s strange,” He began, tone contemplative. “Being in this town, I’m so used to everyone knowing my story that I forgot you wouldn’t. Which is kind of nice, honestly. No preconceived notions or pity from you.”
That made my eyes go wide. “Why would I pity you?”
“Some folks do.” Harris shrugged. After another second or two, he focused his attention on me. “Honestly, I don’t want to get into all of it. It’s not important anymore. But I’ll give you the short version.”
His gaze bore into mine, as though he was waiting to see if I was going to push for the whole story or not. But it wasn’t in me to open old wounds if they didn’t need to be, so I just gave him a smile. “Tell me whatever version you want.”
“My old man is a mean son of a bitch. Always has been. My mom was an angel who died when I was six. After that, there was no one to rein Roger Emery in.” Harris took another bite of food and chewed quickly.
Once he swallowed, he continued. “He hit me, but really, it was nothing worse than what was acceptable at the time. Which it shouldn’t have been but…
Anyway, it was mostly verbal. I couldn’t do anything right.
I was stupid and lazy, that sort of thing.
And I won’t repeat what he said when he accidentally found out I’m bi. ”
“Fucker,” I muttered, angry that that had been his childhood. No kid deserved that. Hell, no human deserved that.
Harris’s lips quirked up. “Yeah. But see, I wanted to run this place one day so I put up with it for a lot longer than I should have. At least I knew the animals were taken care of if I was doing it. About ten years ago, I had enough, so I left. Landed with Luce and Jan and learned a shit ton about equine rescue. Then five years ago, Steve tracked me down. He’s one of the hands.
He told me things had gotten worse, that Roger was abusing his own animals, and I couldn’t stand for it.
So I came back, offered to buy him out for far more than the place is worth, and sent him packing. Haven’t heard from him since.”
That was a lot to unpack, but I was pretty sure Harris didn’t want me to do that.
I was glad he’d told me his background though, because it made me understand him even more.
That being said, I wasn’t sure exactly what I should say in this situation.
Agree that he’s better off without the asshole?
Point out the success he’s made of things?
In the end, I skipped any and all platitudes, even if they were true, and just said, “Thanks for sharing that. I’m glad you have what you wanted now.”
If Harris had been expecting me to say something else, he didn’t show it. He smiled and nodded, then went back to his breakfast. He ate quickly, and when he was done, he held his coffee mug in both hands and watched me over the rim.
“You got plans for today?”
Changing the subject. Got it. “I was gonna head over to the market and see what kind of help Morgan needs. Vendors are arriving today and I know he and Barrett will be run ragged.” At Harris’s nod, I continued.
“So yeah, I was going to check that out. And Morgan wants me to do the House Lights Tour, but that doesn’t have to be tonight. ”
Harris’s eyes lit up. “I’m not one to get involved with all the shenanigans Hawley and Barrett put on, but Candy Cane Lane is worth it. I wonder what the story is this year?”
I cocked my head to the side. “What now?”
Harris launched into an explanation about the cul-de-sac in the West End which was renamed Candy Cane Lane during the Winter Festival and how the residents got together and put on a lights display that told a story.
Apparently an animatronic tree named Bruce the Spruce told the story, which changed from year to year.
“Oh, I want to check that out!”
Harris laughed. “How about this? I’ll meet you over there tonight, we can do the tour and check out Bruce’s story and then head back here.”
“Why Harris? Are you asking me out on a date?” I batted my eyelashes and pursed my lips, so he would know I was playing. Harris smiled at that, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes, which were serious. I dropped the act.
“Look.” Harris blew out a breath, took a second to gather his words, and then faced me directly. “I like you. I like spending time with you. I want to do more of it. So if it’s all right with you, I’d like to do that until you go.”
Gah. He was going to kill me with his pretty eyes and his earnestness.
Always in the past, I’d been the pursuer and that was fine.
I liked the chase, the dance of getting to know someone and asking them out.
But being on the receiving end of that was a heady thing.
So much so that I had to lean forward and kiss him, soft and sweet.
“I’d like that a lot.”
Harris’s wide grin made my heart swell.
Harris had suggested the lot would be packed, and I might want to find somewhere else to park, but I thought he’d been exaggerating.
He hadn’t been. The building Morgan had built was large, I knew the market was a huge draw with a lot of vendors, but I hadn’t quite expected this many.
Cars, trucks, and vans filled every available spot and lined part of the street as well.
I had to circle around but then I found a spot on the next street over.
It was sunny, but cold, and I had to squint as the sun glinted off the snow piles, which were mostly still pristine white.
It made for a pretty picture at least. I donned the hat I’d bought from Carrington, shoved my aviators on my face, and double-timed it over to the Market.
So many people were rushing around, carrying and carting things back and forth as they set up.