Chapter Two
Not So Little Anymore
Draven
Running into Harmony was a little weird, but I can easily remember why I was so fond of her when she was younger. The girl has no filter whatsoever and simply says what is on her mind. It’s refreshing, to say the least. You always know exactly where you stand with Harmony, whether you like it or not.
I wasn’t expecting to find a gorgeous woman in the place of the awkward young woman I remember. Harmony has grown into herself and if she wasn’t my ex-sister-in-law, I would have asked her out. I make pro and con lists in my mind while I shop but I know I won’t track her down to ask. I wouldn’t want anyone in town to think any less of her.
But that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the woman she has become. She is a curvy little thing with thick thighs and large breasts. Her skin is tanned, and her hazel eyes are bright. Long dark hair with sun streaks flows down her back to the curve of her ass. Yeah, not a teenager anymore.
It was nice to talk with her for a bit, though. Knowing she doesn’t hold the utter destruction of my marriage to her sister against me is a relief. You can always count on Harmony to mean what she says. She doesn’t have a single deceptive bone in her body. I hope I get to see her again, perhaps we can have dinner and be friends. I sure as shit need one.
My mind is filled with thoughts of Harmony—I know they shouldn’t be—as I grab the last of my groceries and wait in line at the checkout. I’m so lost in thought, it takes me a moment to realize someone is actually talking to me when they say my name.
“Draven?”
A hand on my elbow grabs my attention and I turn hoping it will be Harmony once more. Wishful thinking. Instead, I am facing my ex-wife, Aurora, and my mood sours instantly.
“Aurora.” I nod before turning back around.
“Oh, don’t be like that.” She laughs, and the sound grates on my nerves. “I haven’t seen you in years. Let’s catch up.”
I glare at her with disdain. “Nothing to catch up on.” My tone is clipped, and I know I am being rude, but this woman tore my heart out and stomped on it for everyone to see.
“Don’t be a prick, Draven,” she hisses, quickly looking around to see if anyone is watching our interaction.
She has always been all about public perception. I pause for a moment to take her in. Perfect blonde hair cut to a straight, sharp bob, gaunt features, pale skin. She is wearing an all-white pantsuit with a thin gold belt around her waist and not for the first time I wonder what happened to the girl I fell in love with. The one who wore cutoff jeans and cowboy boots on our first date.
It took me a while to figure out I wasn’t the reason our marriage failed. Besides the fact that she was sleeping with my best friend behind my back, the reason our marriage failed is that she changed, she wasn’t happy just being a small-town girl married to a small-town boy. She wanted more.
“I thought you moved to New York,” I say.
“Derick’s mother broke her hip. We are here helping.”
She says this like she deserves some kind of award, and I can’t help but snort.
“Good luck with that.”
The line moves forward, and I quickly unpack my cart, hoping to all that is holy that she will back off and leave me the fuck alone.
“We should get together. Catch up,” she says again. She smiles that fake smile she perfected in the last year of our dying marriage. “You, me, and Derick. Just like old times.”
I turn around and scowl at her. “Are you fucking insane? Do you really think I am going to have dinner with my ex-wife and the man she cheated on me with?” Aurora pales. “Grow the fuck up and leave me alone. I’ve been done with you for years, take the damn hint.”
She huffs and turns on her heel before stomping away. The pimply teenager ringing up my purchases holds out his fist toward me. “She’s a total bitch. Everyone knows it.”
With a smile, I childishly bump my fist against his before heading outside and loading my shopping into the bed of my blue Ford pickup truck. Thank God this day is over. Now all I want is a cold beer, a bloody steak, and some peace and quiet.
****
Harmony
Three days after my run-in with Draven at the supermarket I find him standing in front of my counter as I round the corner from the back. My new assistant, Darla—yes, I gave in and hired someone—is flirting up a storm.
“Darla,” I call to grab her attention. “Please take this out to Presley’s car. She’s waiting.”
I hand her the lavender-colored box filled with dark chocolate cupcakes and watch as she walks out.
“You work here?” Draven asks by way of greeting.
“It’s my bakery,” I say with a wide smile, pride infused in every word.
He makes a sound of approval in the back of his throat. “Micheal Meyer brought in croissants yesterday and I thought I died and went to Heaven.”
I blush at his praise. I’ve never been very good at taking a compliment but hearing he likes my sweets is the best compliment ever.
“Michael comes in a couple of times a week to get some pastries for the firehouse.” I’m babbling again but this man brings out the worst in me and I can’t seem to get my verbal diarrhea under control.
“He mentioned that he got them from here,” Draven says with a smile. “He didn’t mention the bakery belonged to you.”
“Do you still have that sweet tooth?” I ask trying to act cool but probably failing miserably.
Draven nods while staring at some of the items I have on display and licking his lips. He could be here forever and still not be able to decide which one he wants.
“Wait here. I’ll be right back,” I say before slipping into the kitchen.
I can’t be around him much longer before I put my foot in my mouth again, so I use the small reprieve to try and get myself under control. Taking a deep breath to settle the worst of my nerves, I quickly pack him a box he can take with him, stuffing it with everything I know he will like. Salted caramel macarons, a death-by-chocolate cupcake, some giant chocolate-chip cookies, and a slice of black cherry bourbon pie.
“Here you go.” I hand him the box. He stares at me in confusion. “You’ll never be able to just pick one, and we both know it. I just put together a couple of my favorites.”
“You didn’t have to—”
But I cut him off with my hand in the air. “I know that. I wanted to do it. I like when people enjoy what I make, and I know you will enjoy these.”
It’s the reason I started the bakery, even though I’ve never said it out loud. My deep-seated need for approval drives me to be perfect in everything I do. Baking is just another way for me to get what I want.
“You’re the best.” Draven smiles before leaning over the counter and placing a kiss on my cheek.
“What the hell is going on here?”
My world stops as the words flow over me. I feel like a kid who got caught with her hand in the damn cookie jar even though my brain is screaming that I didn’t do a damn thing wrong.
My gaze drifts over Draven’s shoulder to collide with my sister’s. I can see she is pissed off by the flush of red that spreads across her high cheekbones and I know things are about to escalate quickly. Luckily the lunch rush has passed, and the store is deserted except for the three of us and Darla in the back.
I quickly round the counter, close the door, and flip the sign. “Nothing is going on here, Aurora,” I say softly trying to placate her.
It is easier to stop her before she gets on a roll. I learned years ago that she is more manageable while she is screaming and mid-hissy-fit. Once she calms down the wheels in her head start turning and she becomes somewhat of a psycho. She is easy to cross and feels slighted by the smallest thing, seeking vengeance for the perceived insult. Most times it’s all in her mind but trying to point that out to her will just land me on her shit list as well.
“I saw you kiss my sister!” she yells, pointing a finger in Draven’s direction and completely ignoring my words. The pitch of her voice is enough to have me wishing I was deaf.
Draven stands calmly watching us with his hands in the front pockets of his dark blue uniform paints. “You saw me kiss her cheek,” he corrects as he rolls his eyes.
Draven has never been one to bow to the whims of my older sister. Even when they were dating and then later married, Draven was always the cooler head, the one who let logic prevail while Aurora went off the rails for whatever reason.
“What does it matter anyway? Draven and I are friends.” I try to defend something I know is none of her business anyway.
“He is my ex-husband!” She throws her hands in the air before turning her glare on Draven once more. “You!” She points. “Is this your idea of revenge? Screwing my fat little sister?”
I gasp as if she had physically slapped me. I know we aren’t the closest, but damn, that hurt like a bitch. I may not be stick thin like she is, but I love my curves. I have a great rack and a decent ass. I may need some exercise to flatten my stomach, but it has never really bothered me before and I have never considered myself fat.
“Don’t you dare talk to Harmony like that, you venomous bitch,” Draven threatens as he comes to stand beside me. “I’m not some vindictive asshole out to get you back for being a whore.” His words are harsh, and I see them land on my sister like physical blows.
“For your information,” I chip in. “I was going to ask Draven to dinner.”
“You can’t!” Aurora gasps.
“I’m an adult, Aurora. And I will do as I damn well please.” I am so tired of my sister looking down on me and demeaning me. “He was my friend before he was your ex-husband and I happen to like his company.”
When we were younger, I followed her everywhere, did everything she did, and basically worshipped her. But as we moved into adulthood, I realized that all her backhanded compliments were mean and hurtful, and we slowly drifted apart. I was also seriously pissed off when I found out she cheated on Draven but blamed all their problems on him.
Yes, I was going to ask Draven over for dinner. Eventually. I like him. He’s nice and kind and dear Lord, do I enjoy looking at him. I’m single and I assume he is too. So why the hell not? I didn’t intend to do it right at this moment but sometimes you just take a leap of faith.
Draven puts his hand down the back pocket of my jeans and retrieves my cell phone, sending a bright red blush rushing across my face as his hand inadvertently touches my butt cheek. “Unlock,” he demands, and I turn my face to let the facial recognition do its job. “Here’s my number. Send me your address and I will pick you up at eight.”
“I live above the store.”
The way he looks at me, the sparkle in his eye and the smirk pulling at his lip, has me forgetting we have an audience. For the first time in a long time, I wish a man would just throw caution to the wind and kiss me.
He chuckles before kissing my forehead, which was not what I had in mind, and grabbing his box of treats. Unlocking the door, he walks out into the afternoon sunshine, whistling a tune, and not turning to give my sister a second glance. This is another thing that pisses her off. She isn’t the center of attention.
“You can’t be serious,” Aurora continues as she follows me into the kitchen. I wish there was a door between the front of the bakery and the back that I could slam in her perfectly made-up face.
Darla is standing at the counter, using her finger to eat strawberry icing from a bowl. Her curly red hair frames her face as she scowls at my sister. I shake my head discreetly telling her to stay out of it.
“I am.” I start cleaning up hoping she will take the hint and leave. “Not that it is any of your business.”
“He made me miserable!”
“You made both of you miserable!” I shout, finally saying what I have been holding back for years. “You made everyone around you miserable!” My anger pushes through. Grabbing a plate from the table, I hurl it at the wall beside her head. My chest is heaving with my unfettered rage that this woman, my only sister, thinks she can walk around doing whatever the hell she wants and never taking the blame for her actions.
She stares at me like she suddenly realizes I’m dangerous and not just her little sister. Taking a deep breath, I try to explain what we all know is true. “You changed and we all saw it. You became someone none of us knew anymore. And the sad part is none of us knew why. We still don’t.”
Aurora glares at me, thinking I will go easy on her because she is my sister, but I won’t back down. She is such a pampered little snot that she doesn’t see her own faults. First my parents, then Draven, and now poor, stupid Derick.
“You need to leave,” Darla says stepping up next to me.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” My sister turns her venomous gaze on the poor unsuspecting young woman.
“I’m Harmony’s friend and I think you’ve upset her enough,” Darla replies calmly.
“How dare you…”
“Get out!” I yell, cutting Aurora off. “Or I will call the deputy to forcibly remove you from my building.”
“I’m your sister.”
“Yes. But you’re being a bitch and disrupting my business. Get. Out.” I glare at her as I enunciate the last two words.
“You are going to regret this,” Aurora threatens, and I know she means it. She will find some way to get me back for choosing myself over her. “Mark my words.”