Chapter 39
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
The rain pelts against the truck’s window, and I swear it’s raining even harder than when we left his house.
This morning started almost perfectly, and I’ve never started a morning like that, all wrapped up and safe in someone’s arms. I could’ve stayed in his bed all day snuggled in and been perfectly happy.
Until Walker’s text popped the blissful bubble, letting me know his plans to interview a suspect from yesterday. I was already getting ready when an unwanted phone call ruined any hope I had of enjoying this morning.
I really don’t like where this morning unexpectedly ended up, but I should have known better—nothing good ever comes from her phone calls.
“Honestly, Harlow, you’re being ridiculous.
Stuart has been incredibly generous and gracious after the way you behaved, making accusations against his family.
While I may no longer be encouraging a union between the two of you—” That’s nauseating.
“I am demanding that you save face for our reputation,” my mother preaches to me, but I’m well-versed in Astor’s tirades.
She had high hopes of what her daughter would be like in terms of elegance and beauty, and she loves to remind me of how I’ve fallen short of those expectations.
I put the phone on speaker and set it down so I can do my makeup before I go meet Walker at the hospital to join him in the interview.
“Are you even listening to me? You owe me for how you ran out of the last event you deemed worthy of your attendance. We came home to an empty penthouse, like a thief in the night. What if someone saw you running off like that? What would they think? I still don’t know how you got out of the city so fast.”
“I had a friend pick me up.” I shouldn’t have said that. I don’t want her to touch Ryan or the happy bubble I have with him.
“A friend? And who is this friend? Obviously not someone decent enough to escort you to the event, nor proper enough to come and introduce himself to your parents before practically kidnapping you.”
An involuntary huff escapes me. “He did not kidnap me, and I didn’t want to introduce him to you.”
A sharp inhale echoes through the phone. “Is he untoward?”
I roll my eyes at her. “No one says that, Mother. He is the opposite of that, in fact. He has a wonderful job, is a successful man, and has his MBA from one of the best programs in the region.” The pride in my chest swells at the thought of the wonderful things that make Ryan fantastic, and none of my favorite things have anything to do with what I just spouted off to my mother.
“If he is so wonderful, darling, then what is he doing with you?”
“Excuse me?” I rear my head back at that statement. I can simultaneously believe and not believe what she just said to me—her own daughter.
“You shall be excused when you come to the event I am co-hosting with Stuart’s mother in April.
My name is on this, Harlow, which extends as a reflection on you as well.
You are well-versed in the responsibilities of being a member of this family.
I refuse to take no as an answer. You owe me this for embarrassing me in December.
You go to D.C. all the time for work, why couldn’t you make it work to come to this gala?
Everyone in my social circle will be there and that should very well include my only daughter. ”
“I—I don’t know that I can make that commitment right now.”
“Oh, hog posh, you make commitments to symposiums and traipsing around playing doctor to the crazy criminals. It’s bad enough that you’re a federal employee like some commoner. You can and will make this commitment, Harlow, I am not accepting no as an answer here.”
I roll my eyes as I check the time. I literally don’t have time for this, and it’s too damn early in the morning for her bullshit.
“Bunny and I are holding it at The Pemberley Club, which you know is very exclusive.” Bunny Lockwood. A walking waspy cliché. “You can bring this … friend, and I can properly assess his suitability for you, although I highly doubt he’s a proper match for the Morgan-Lane heir.”
“I would not ask him to be tortured in such a way, Mother. I need to go. I will add your event to my calendar.”
“Wonderful. And if he spends time with you, I’m sure he can handle one little evening with society.
It’s black tie, dear, so be sure to purchase something appropriate.
We want to minimize the embarrassment as much as possible.
” She hangs up and I drop my head, taking a slow breath.
As I raise my head, my eyes meet Ryan’s gaze in the mirror.
Shit. How long was he standing there?
“I think it’s a bad idea, and I don’t understand why you would even entertain it.
I’m not telling you what to do here—it’s entirely your call.
” He huffs in frustration, gripping his steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles are turning white as he pulls into a parking spot on the far edge of the lot.
I understand his intention, but his argument doesn’t change anything.
“Well, that sounds exactly like what you’re trying to do.” I nod toward the front entrance of the hospital. “I can’t do this right now; Walker is waiting for me.”
“I don’t want to end this conversation on a sour note. We need to talk about this.” He reaches for my hand, and for the first time since whatever this is between us started, I pull my hand away, tucking it into my pocket instead.
A tired sigh escapes me. “I’m not sure we actually do need to talk about this, but I am quite sure that Walker is waiting for me, and I need to go. Will you please just drop me off?”
“Harlow, please. It’s not okay how that woman treats you. I know you didn’t mean for me to hear it, but I can’t forget what she said to you.”
“I’m well aware of her shortcomings both clinically and personally.
Are you going to drop me off, or do I need to walk the rest of the way in the rain?
” The heat is rising in my cheeks, and I need to be focused on the subject we are about to interview—not the embarrassing reality of what my relationship with my mother looks like to an outsider.
He rears his head back as though my words physically hurt him. “You are not walking in this monsoon!”
I look over at him and his dark tousled hair, still messy from when I was running my hands through it just an hour ago. He drags a hand down his face, but I don’t think he’s going to budge.
The splattering of the rain pelts against his windshield. It’s not actually a monsoon, but I would be soaked if I made a run for it.
But I will be left completely bare if we have an honest conversation about all of this and that is terrifying.
Ryan Callahan’s heart is in the right place—I know this—but I don’t want to get into this right now with him. Exposing all of it means showing a part of my life I prefer not to focus or dwell on.
But it’s been fifteen minutes since we left his house, and I don’t think he’s going to let it go.
Am I really going to run away from this man and this conversation?
Before I allow myself to be logical, or he can say another word, I hit the unlock button, open the door, and make a run for it in the rain as Ryan hollers after me.
I guess I’ll find out after the interview if he waits for me … or if I just ran away and ruined the best thing that’s ever happened to me.