Chapter 11
The email with the subject line “URGENT” came through while Harper was typing up a report at her desk. A colleague from a professional organization she was a member of had sent it to her, asking if she could attend a conference and be a keynote speaker in two weeks. Turns out, the scheduled speaker could not attend.
When Harper read the location of the conference, she smiled. Boston, MA. Her fingers flew over the keyboard as she responded, letting them know she would be happy to fill in. If her geography was right, her cousin Camille was less than an hour from there. She could not only do something for her career, but take that trip to see her cousin and her new family.
The smile on her lips would blind anyone who looked at her.
Heart racing, Harper’s first thought was about Anders. She couldn’t wait to share the news with him. With a sense of urgency, she hastily gathered her belongings and headed out of the office, eager to see his reaction.
Once she arrived at her apartment, she parked her car in the building garage. She took a moment to drop off her briefcase and remove her heels. Her work clothes would have to do for now, but she slipped on a pair of canvas slide-ons just before she left her apartment.
A grin spread across her face as she opened the door to Callahan’s and saw Anders behind the bar. He was wiping down glasses with a rag. “Hey, you,” she greeted.
“Hey, beautiful. What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at the office right now?”
As soon as Harper walked through the door, she saw her seat had a reserved sign in front of it. She stopped and pointed at the sign as a spark of warmth ignited inside her. “For me?”
He motioned toward the chair. “Sit down. Yeah, that’s your spot now. I don’t want anyone but you sitting your pretty ass in that chair. Now, tell me why you’re here in the middle of the day.” He pulled out a glass and poured some soda inside before sitting it in front of her. “Hungry?”
Harper shook her head, too excited about her news to eat anything. “Thanks.” She tipped the glass at him and took a swallow. “No, I’m okay. Not hungry right now, but maybe later.”
Anders’ piercing blue eyes swept over Harper’s form, taking in her short black dress and the way her braids fell loosely around her face. “Okay, so what’s this good news you couldn’t wait to tell me?” he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.
“You know that trip I wanted to make up to Providence?” Harper nodded eagerly, excitement bubbling within her. “Well, I got an email today asking if I could speak at a conference in two weeks. It’s in Boston!” Her smile widened as she explained, feeling relieved after all the stress she had been through with her family recently.
But Anders’ first reaction was not positive. He didn’t want Harper leaving town for any reason, even though he knew it was important for her career as a lawyer. His protective instincts kicked in, and he couldn’t help but worry about her being alone in a strange city.
As they continued to talk, Anders realized he had forgotten Harper had mentioned her cousin getting married, and that there was something unusual about her husband. All he could focus on was the thought of Harper being away from him and needing him while he couldn’t be there for her.
It wasn’t until Harper reminded him of how important reconnecting with family was for her that Anders realized how selfish he was being. He reluctantly gave his support for her trip, although his tone was still somewhat snarky. “Then you need to go.”
Harper looked down at her glass of soda, trying to hide the disappointment she felt from Anders’ lack of enthusiasm. She really needed this trip, and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. They were trying to build something together. It was only for a couple of days. A week at most. But she understood where he was coming from and appreciated his honesty.
“Did you hear me?” she asked, bringing his attention back to her. “I really need this, Anders. That email came at the perfect time.”
With a sigh, Anders finally gave her a small smile and nodded his head. “Yeah, I guess it did,” he said, trying to hide the snarkiness in his tone. He knew he shouldn’t stop her from going, and he didn’t want to be the reason she missed out on this opportunity.
“So, what do you think?” Harper asked, looking down at her glass as she twirled the straw nervously.
He realized he had heard nothing she said. He needed to stop going off on tangents in his own damn mind. Pausing, he tried to recapture what she said, but knew he had missed something important. “What do I think? I’m not sure.” Anders drummed his fingers on the top of the bar, trying to act nonchalant as he waited for her answer. He knew he should have been paying more attention to her words earlier, but now he had to fix it, and fast.
Her eyes lifted to his, and her mouth was turned down. “You don’t know if you should go with me to see my cousin? Even though I’m asking you to?”
“The question is,” he said, forcing a smile, “do you want me there? I know you asked, but I don’t want you to feel obligated to have me tag along.”
In truth, Anders desperately wanted to go with her. Not just because he wanted to support her during her big speech, but because she had invited him to meet her family for the first time. They had been dating for three months now and she still hadn’t introduced him to her parents or brother.
But, deep down, he didn’t really care. He knew how her family treated her. Anders didn’t give a damn if they ever accepted him. He also couldn’t shake off the memory of last week when she called him in tears after leaving their house. She had been secretive about what happened that night, and it made Anders’ blood boil just thinking about it.
He watched Harper’s head nod up and down. “I do. I want you with me when I go see her. When I meet her family. You’re important to me, Anders. And I want the most important person in my life with me when I start down this new path.”
“Then that’s where I’ll be. With you. Just tell me when we need to leave and where you need to be. I’ll make all the arrangements.”
She smiled at him. “Thank you, but you don’t need to do that. My cousin’s husband has a private plane. We only need to get to Dulles Airport, and he’ll take care of everything else from there. A car and driver have also been arranged for us. My cousin definitely married the right man.” The smirk on her face caught him off guard.
“What’s your cousin’s husband’s name again?” He didn’t know how he felt about taking another man’s private plane. Was that a stupid thought? Probably. But right now, the potential of having Harper away from him for more than a week did not put him in the best mood.
“Tristan Lucarelli. Apparently, he’s some big businessman in Providence.” Harper knew there was so much more to Tristan than she was letting on. But, then again, she didn’t care. As long as he treated her cousin well, that was most important. Now that she knew the truth, she realized Camille wasn’t related to her by blood. Since they were cousins on her father’s side, that blood tie was now out the window. None of that mattered to her anymore. Family was who you chose for yourself. Blood was not always thicker than water.
“Alright,” he said noncommittally, filing away the name for later. He would do his own thing and check out this guy. Something was off about him, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.
As he worked, their conversation continued, filling the room with an easy banter. Every so often, he would lean in towards her, motioning for a kiss with his finger. Each touch, whether it was a smile or a gentle caress against her skin, only drew her further under his spell. She knew she was completely captivated by him, and she didn’t mind one bit.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Harper knew it was time to retreat to her cozy apartment and tackle some work. With a heavy heart, she bid farewell to Anders, her hand reaching out to deliver a small token of appreciation. His eyes widened in surprise as he glanced down at the key resting in his palm.
“You’re giving me a key?” he exclaimed with an incredulous smile.
She nodded, a shy grin spreading across her face. “You gave me one last week. I’m just returning the favor.” Standing on tiptoe, she pressed a tender kiss to his lips before pulling away.
A roguish sparkle lit up Anders’ eyes, and he teased, “If you keep treating me this well, I’ll never be able to leave. You’ve already got me completely addicted to you.”
Harper’s hand playfully tapped his chest. “Well, my master plan has clearly worked then. Now off to work. I’ll see you later tonight.”
Alone in her apartment once again, Harper threw herself into her work while anxiously awaiting Anders’ arrival. Despite her troubled family situation weighing heavily on her mind, she was grateful for someone like Anders in her life—someone who accepted her for exactly who she was without judgement or expectations.
But thoughts of her parents and their strained relationship crept into her mind, causing a dull ache in her chest. She hadn’t heard from them in weeks, but her brother RJ had reached out recently. She hadn’t mustered up the courage to respond yet, still not ready to confront the toxicity of their family dynamic. For now, all her focus was on building and nurturing her relationship with Anders, and that brought a sense of comfort and peace amidst the chaos.
The evening drew in, pulling a blanket of darkness through Harper’s windows. She tidied up, the clinks and clatters of her movements echoing softly in the otherwise quiet apartment. Every once in a while, her phone buzzed with a message from RJ, each one slipping into her ignored notifications like stones into a pond. He could wait until she was ready.
When Anders finally arrived later that night, his presence filled the space with an immediate warmth. After he kicked off his shoes and pulled Harper into his arms, the day’s fatigue melted away while they embraced. She breathed him in, the smell of his cologne mixed with the faint scent of the bar. It was comfortable; it was home.
“I missed this. I missed you,” Anders murmured against her hair, planting a gentle kiss on her forehead.
“You just saw me a few hours ago,” she said and laughed into his chest.
“Doesn’t matter.” He leaned his head down and captured her lips with his. After a few moments, he pulled back. “Now that’s what I call a sweet treat.”
The smile on Harper’s face dropped, and she pulled back slightly to look at him, her hands resting against his chest. “I’ve been thinking,” she began hesitantly. “Maybe it’s time I sorted things out with my family. It’s just…” Her voice trailed off as uncertainty flickered across her face.
Anders cupped her cheek, thumb brushing lightly across her skin. “I know it’s tough, Harper, but I’m right here. Whatever you need. Whenever you’re ready.”
She nodded, leaning into his touch. Maybe not right now. Her family could wait a few more days or weeks. Hell, maybe even months. She had years of resentment to work through. They would be fine for a while longer.
“Are you hungry? Thirsty?” she asked. The wicked part of her hoped he would say no. She had other plans for him tonight.
He stepped back before using his hands to grasp her ass in his tight grip. “Sweetheart, you know I’m never hungry for food when I’m with you. But I know something I can nibble and eat on.” He leaned down to kiss her softly on the neck. “Something that’s like the sweetest ambrosia I’ve ever tasted.” His tongue licked her skin. “A taste so damn good. It’s like having my favorite dessert wrapped inside my favorite person.”
A giggle bubbled up. “You can’t always talk about eating me up.”
“Yes, I can. What did those old hats used to say? Look so damn good, I’d sop you up with a biscuit. Speaking of, maybe I need to see what you have in your kitchen. By the time I’m done with you, I may need some biscuits for your honey.”
Harper’s mouth dropped open in shock. “Oh, my God. You’re so damn nasty, Anders. But I kinda love it.” Her hands went to his shoulders and gripped him tight.
“Yeah, I know you do.” Anders lifted her so that the V of her legs rested on top of his waist. His dick was hard from the moment he walked through the door.
Harper’s heart thundered like it was trying to break free from her chest as Anders carried her towards the bedroom, his intent clear in his heated gaze. The hallway seemed impossibly long. Every step he took was charged with an electric anticipation that sizzled through the air between them.
The dim light filtering through the curtains cast shadows that danced upon the walls, mirroring the wild tumult of emotions swirling within her. Anders set her down gently on the bed, his hands roaming over her body with a familiarity that spoke of many nights spent learning every curve and hollow. His lips trailed fiery kisses down her neck, sending shivers racing down her spine. Harper arched towards him, desperate for more contact, for more of the exquisite pressure of his body against hers.
“I’ve been thinking about this all day,” Anders murmured against her skin, his breath hot and heavy with desire. “Thinking about how perfect you feel under me.”
Harper’s response was a moan, low and needy. She wrapped her legs around him, pulling him closer. “Stop thinking,” she whispered back, her voice thick with longing. “Start doing.”