Chapter 16 #2
“What about mom?” Harlow said. “And Scarlett?”
“I sent Rome out to watch your mom,” Vander said.
“Thank you, Vander,” she said shakily.
Easton and Vander shared a look. Easton nodded his thanks.
“And Scarlett?” Harlow hugged her sister.
Easton crouched in front of the pair. They didn’t look alike, but they had the same eyes, and the exact same look of worry on their faces.
“I’m sending Scarlett to Gia. Saxon’s house has good security, and they have spare rooms.”
“Gia is Easton’s sister,” Harlow told Scarlett. “She’s great.”
Scarlett swallowed. “I’m sorry. I rushed in here thinking just about me. You always try to protect me.”
“It’s my job as your big sister, Lettie.”
Scarlett squeezed Harlow’s hand. “I’m all grown up, Low. You don’t have to be the one shouldering everything all the time. But I never dreamed that Dad was in this much trouble.”
Harlow nodded and bit her lip.
Scarlett met Easton’s gaze, assessing for a second, before she looked back at Harlow. “I’m glad you have people helping you.”
“We’re going to keep you safe,” Easton said. “And Harlow is staying with me.”
“Really?” Scarlett drawled.
Harlow elbowed her sister. “I need you to stay safe. Let Easton and Vander find Dad.”
“As long as you’re safe, too.”
The sisters hugged each other.
“I’ll call Gia and Saxon,” Vander said. “Give them a heads-up. I can take Scarlett over to their place.” He glanced at Harlow’s sister. “Only problem is that I’m on my bike.”
“Bike?” Scarlett breathed. “Like a motorbike?”
A faint smile crossed Vander’s lips. “Yeah.”
Scarlett jumped up. “Take me, I’m all yours.”
“He’s too old and dangerous for you,” Harlow said. “Be good.”
“You have a hot guy already, so don’t be greedy.” She winked at Vander. “Let a girl dream a little.”
Vander shook his head and opened the door. “Let’s go.”
After they left, Easton pulled Harlow into his arms. “It’s going to be okay.”
“It doesn’t feel like it.”
Easton nuzzled her hair. When she tilted her head back, he took her mouth.
She made a hungry sound, and wound her arms around his neck, then kissed him back.
“Mr. Norcross, I have the report—oh. Oh .”
Harlow jerked back like she’d been electrocuted. Easton held on to her, and looked over at a wide-eyed Gina.
The woman stared at them for a second before her gaze zipped around the room like it didn’t know where to land.
“Thanks, Gina,” he said calmly. “Leave the report on my desk.”
The woman did as requested, and hurried out.
“Harlow—”
“Oh God, this will be all over the office in the next hour.” She squeezed her eyes closed. “Gina is lovely, but she has no filter.”
“So? I was never planning to keep our relationship hidden, like a dirty little secret.”
“It’s different for men. You’ll be the big man tapping his assistant, all sly grins and admiration. I’ll be the one sleeping her way to the top, and people will start to wonder if I’m actually any good at my job. And then I’ll have to dodge sleezy passes from assholes who think I’m an easy lay.”
Black anger roared through him. He tugged her up so her face was inches from his. “If anyone says, or does, anything inappropriate, you tell me.”
“You can’t fight my battles, Easton. Especially once this situation is over, Mrs. Skilton returns as your assistant, and I’m out of your life—”
He growled. He wanted to shake her. “You planning to scrape me off already?”
Her eyes widened. “What?” She shook her head. “I know you…you don’t keep women around.”
Fuck, this pissed him off. “I think you’re keeping a wall up between us, Harlow. You’re too scared to trust me. You’re determined to take care of everything yourself, and not share with anyone.”
She pulled away. “With everything going on, I’m doing my best, Easton.”
“Let me in, Harlow.” Frustration made his voice sharp.
She stared at him, swallowed. “I have. As much as I can.”
“Actually lean on me,” he said.
“Easton—”
His phone rang.
She straightened. “That’s your next video call with Horizon Tech.”
“I don’t give a fuck.”
She headed for the door. “We’ll…talk later.”
“Running away, sweetheart?”
She lifted her chin. “I’ll be right outside.”
He watched her go, then slammed his palm down on the desk.
He was fucking falling in love with Harlow Carlson, yet she felt like water in his hands. He couldn’t get a good grip.
And he was afraid that once she was safe, she’d disappear.
He reached for the phone.
Well, there was one thing he was good at, it was closing a deal. He’d get her where he wanted her.
Where he needed her.
The rest of the day was a blur of work. Harlow made an effort to avoid him. His lunch appeared on his desk while he was in the restroom. And she only brought reports in when he was busy talking on calls.
Every time he went to her desk, she had to take a call, or pop over to talk with a colleague.
Late in the afternoon, Vander called. “Got a lead on Carlson. Gregor Howard has been helping him out.”
“Bring him in, Vander.”
“Yeah. I have to dodge Armand and Pierce’s goons while I’m doing it. Those two have made it a contest to bring Carlson in first.”
Shit . “Scarlett?”
“She and Gia are as thick as thieves. Scarlett has announced that she may never move out of Saxon’s gorgeous house, that Saxon is mighty fine, and if we have a hot guy for her, she’s ready and willing.” Vander’s voice was dry and amused.
Easton’s lips twitched. “Okay.”
“How’s Harlow holding up?”
Easton squeezed on the phone harder with his fingers. “On the surface she’s acting fine, but she’s stressed and scared.”
“You’ll get her through this.”
“If she ever truly lets me in. She thinks that when this is over, I’ll be done with her.”
Vander was silent for a moment. “Well, she has no evidence to make her believe otherwise. You’ve dated, but you’ve never kept a woman long.”
“Because none of them were her.”
“She know that?”
“I moved her into my place, I’m helping her every way I can, I introduced her to Dad and Ma—”
“Easton, I think it takes more than that. You have to tell her what she means to you.”
“How the hell did you get good at giving relationship advice?”
“I’m a private investigator. I watch, I gather intel…all so I can avoid this particular trap.”
Easton laughed. “The tougher they are, the harder they crash and burn.”
Vander grunted. “Not me.”
Easton hoped his brother met someone who cracked through that tough shell of his. Someone who gave him hell, because Vander thrived on a challenge, but who gave him peace, as well. If anyone had seen and done too much, it was Vander.
“Thanks, Vander. Let me know as soon as you find Carlson.”
“Will do, bro.”
Easton glanced out the window and saw the sun was setting. It was time to go home. He realized he’d usually stay at least another hour, but he was excited to go home with Harlow.
He grabbed his jacket and strode out of his office.
She was sitting at her desk, looking so fucking beautiful.
“Let’s go home.”
She spun. “Keep your voice down. People might think you mean together.”
He looked at the ceiling. “I do mean together.” He did understand her concerns, even if he didn’t like them. But he wasn’t hiding how he felt for her for long. “Fine. Can I give you a ride home, Harlow?”
“Sure.” She packed her gear and grabbed her handbag.
In the elevator, she stood with two feet between them.
The doors closed.
“Vander has a lead on your father.”
She released a breath. “That’s good.”
Easton wanted to reach for her but curled his fingers into his palms. “Let’s get home. You need a glass of wine, and I’m going to make risotto.”
She turned toward him. “You’re angry with me. About not wanting people to know that we’re…that I’m…”
“Living with me? Sleeping with me? Having sex with me?” Mine .
She nodded.
“I do understand not wanting people gossiping about you, Harlow. And I’m actually aware that I’m the man in charge, and that gives me a lot of power. I just…hate that you want to hide it.”
Her face changed, then she moved to him and wrapped her arms around him. “Let’s go home.”
He smiled. Just having her close helped. “Can I kiss you?”
“Yes,” she murmured.
He kissed her until they reached the parking garage. He helped her into the Aston, and soon, he was pulling out onto the street.
They hadn’t gone far when he stiffened. “You buckled in?”
She frowned. “Of course, why?”
He glanced in the rearview mirror. “We’re being followed.”
She stiffened. “What do we do?”
“We lose them. Hang on.” He accelerated and yanked the wheel.
Harlow cried out, and the tires screeched. The Aston Martin shot down a side street.
Behind them, a dark SUV sped up, cutting through traffic and setting horns honking.
Easton thrust his foot on the accelerator.