Chapter Six
On Thursday evening, Harper checked herself over in the mirror one last time before gathering her purse and keys.
She was looking forward to this evening with the women—her new friends.
She enjoyed their company and was looking forward to getting to know them all better.
She'd been to a couple of these nights out in the past but still felt like the newcomer.
Now, especially after her trip back to New York, she was feeling more and more as though Montana could be home. She wasn't just a visitor, even a long-term one.
She opened the front door but then stopped dead when she saw a black Suburban pulling up outside and grinned when Cash MacFarland climbed out. "Well, if it isn't tall, dark, and rugged himself. How's it going, Cash?"
He chuckled as he came to greet her with a kiss on the cheek. "All the better for seeing you, Harper. How was New York?"
"Yeah, it was good, thanks. I was glad to get back here, though."
"Glad to hear it. But listen, put your keys away, you're coming with me."
She gave him a puzzled smile. "Are you finally abducting me? Have you come to fly me away from all this?"
Cash threw his head back and laughed. "You know better than that, but you're headed out with the girls tonight, aren't you?"
"I am, but you're not invited."
"I know. But since all the guys are going to gather at Deacon's place for a drink while they wait to pick their better halves back up again later, and I'm going to hang out with them, I figured I could bring you."
"Thanks, but I need my truck to get home again."
He gave her a pointed look. "Because you don't want to ride with me, even though I'm coming back here, too?"
"Ah—right, yeah, that makes sense." Cash was living somewhere on Jim's ranch. She only knew that because she was here herself, but she was sworn to secrecy. For some reason, he didn't want most people knowing where he was staying.
"So, what do you say, honey? Want to come with me?" He met her gaze and held it. "I'm not trying to make a move on you, if that's what you're worried about."
That made her laugh. "I know that much." Her smile faded. "And hey, just because I joke around with you, it doesn't mean that I think that there's any... That I’d want…" Her words trailed off.
He winked at her. "I might be an arrogant bastard, honey, but I know that. For all my charming ways and devilish good looks, I'm not your type, am I?"
She looked him up and down, a smile playing on her lips. "Maybe not, but I can see the appeal."
When they reached his Suburban, he opened the passenger door for her, and she climbed in.
After he came around and started the engine, he glanced over at her.
"You should tell me if ever I offend you, you know.
I joke around with you because I feel like we're on the same wavelength.
And besides, even if I wanted to try to win you over, there's someone else who's already caught your eye, am I right? "
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Who's been talking?"
"No one. I doubt anyone knows anything to say it."
"So how do you know?"
He chuckled at that. "It's just my way, honey; I have eyes and ears everywhere."
"Yeah, I can see that about you. But seriously, Cash, don't worry. I'm not going to act on it. I know the situation. He's..." She didn't know how to continue and was surprised by what he had to say when he continued for her.
"Damn, I was hoping you were the kind to wade right on in."
She scowled at him. "I know his situation," she said curtly.
"What, and you believe that situation should never change?"
She shrugged, not knowing how to answer that.
"I'm not trying to give you a hard time, honey. But you have to understand—we’ve all watched him close himself off since Em died. We understand it, but we miss him. He's done a great job with Tanya and Alana. But do you think that's all he deserves in life now?"
"It's not up to me to decide what he deserves, Cash."
"I'm not saying it is." He glanced over at her. "But I hope you won't be the one to deny him the chance at a different future if he wants it."
She folded her arms across her chest. "Do you meddle in everyone's lives?" she asked after a while.
"Pretty much," he said with a shrug.
"Why?"
He glanced over at her again. "Because I like to see my people happy?"
"No, Cash. If you get to talk to me that way, then you owe me some honesty in return. Of course you want to see your people happy—everyone does, but not everyone works so hard to make sure they get there. What's your deal?"
He looked different when he let the facade drop.
He was still a handsome devil, no question about that.
But when he turned to her again, she could see the pain etched into the lines on his face.
The smile came back, but the sadness remained, as he said, "I blew my own chance a long time ago.
I don't like seeing people I care about do the same thing. "
He turned his attention back to the road, and she studied his profile, wondering what his story was. "You know him better than I do," she said after a while. "Far better. If you're saying you think there's a chance there, I'm inclined to believe you. But it's not that simple, is it?"
"I never said it was simple, honey."
She let out a short laugh at that. "Oh good, you're not just a blind cheerleader then."
"Hell no. Call me an optimistic realist."
"Well, I appreciate our little chat," she said as he turned off East River Road, headed toward the highway. "But I'm not sure that it'll make any difference."
"Neither am I, but I'm hopeful. And I had to say my piece." He shot her a quick smile. "I knew you might not want to hear it. But you'd think less of me if I held back."
"You're right about that. And thanks, I think. For being honest, if nothing else."
He nodded.
"But consider yourself warned: you just left yourself open to me interfering. Interfering's probably the wrong word. But I will meddle for you, on your behalf. Fair's fair."
"Well shit, I didn't think about it that way. But..."
"Oh no, no buts, mister. You waded in before you considered the consequences."
He chuckled. "You know what? I've given this a lot of consideration. I thought I’d covered all the angles. But..."
She laughed. "But you didn't take the Harper factor into account, did you?"
"I didn't. SEALs train for a lot of scenarios, but unpredictable women who'll meddle right back? That's not in the manual."
She reached across and patted his arm. "It's okay. I'd never go against your wishes in anything. But I will speak my mind. And this little chat has opened the door for me to do just that."
"I guess it has, hasn't it."
"Yep. You're not going to get mad at me, are you?"
"I can't promise I won't. But it won't last long. I'm not one to hold a grudge unless it’s warranted."
"Glad to hear it. I'd hate to get on the wrong side of you."
"I doubt you'd do that. Oh, I know you'll meddle. But I know how that goes; I understand it."
They were almost to the restaurant now, and he jerked his chin toward the vehicle ahead of them. "That's Ace and Ari up there. I'll bet the others are here by now. You good with all the women?"
"I am. I'm looking forward to this."
As he slowed the Suburban to turn off the highway, she asked, "So you're going to hang out with the guys at Deacon's place and come pick me up when they come to get the others?"
"I'll be here."
She laughed. "From what I understand, I won't need to send you a text, will I?"
He chuckled at that. "Nope. The guys all sit there with their phones at the ready, waiting for the texts to come in saying it's time. I'll get the idea."
"Awesome. I'll see you later then," she said as he brought his Suburban to a stop in the parking lot next to Travis's truck.
"I'll see ya later, honey."
~ ~ ~
When Emmett arrived at Deacon's place, he was surprised to see only Deacon's truck and Cash's Suburban parked outside.
He'd expected that all the guys would be here by now, since he'd hung around at home, making sure the girls were okay before he came out.
He didn't mind leaving them, not really, and he knew that Alana at least appreciated it.
As she so often reminded him, they weren't little girls anymore, and she was perfectly capable. He climbed out of the truck and headed to the door. Since he was here, he might as well make the most of his time with the guys instead of sitting in the truck thinking about it.
The front door opened before he reached it, and Deacon greeted him with a smile. "Come on in. I was starting to think you'd changed your mind."
"There was no reason for me to come too early. I'm only here to give Lib a ride home later."
"You’re here to hang out with everyone," said Deacon. "We want to make the most of you while we have the chance. Do you want a drink? Everyone else has one."
"Everyone else?" Emmett asked.
Emmett had thought that Deacon and Cash were the only ones here, but when Deacon swung the door open, he laughed when he stepped into the living room. Travis, Trip, and Ace were already there.
Trip greeted him with a smile. Ace called, "How you doing, bud?" And Travis got to his feet. Emmett tried to dodge him, but there was nowhere to run. Travis wrapped him in a bear hug. "Glad you're here, buddy."
Emmett slapped his back. "Thanks. I am, too. How is everyone?"
"Everything's peachy in my world," said Travis.
"And mine," said Trip.
"Things are good for me too," said Ace.
Cash smiled at him from his spot in the corner. "Yep, things are going well for me, too. My life's a little easier now that Mav and Blane are back here."
"And they're not coming tonight?" Emmett asked.
"Hell no," said Cash.
Travis chuckled. "You know how sociable Blane is. We'll get him out for special occasions, but that's about it—not a regular night out like this."
"Yeah, and why would he come?" asked Ace. "We're only here while we wait to go pick up our women."