Chapter 30
CHAPTER THIRTY
HARMONY
Harmony took care getting ready for her final meeting with Travis, putting on a light bit of makeup and her electric blue dress. She wouldn’t put it past him to have the sheriff’s office on speed dial and have her hauled into a holding cell before the day was over. It might be her last chance to look this good for a while.
Although, as she’d reassured Alice when she’d been begging her to leave town, she looked great in orange. And she’d always loved a jumpsuit.
Her hand didn’t wobble at all as she traced on her eyeliner. She was going to be absolutely fine. She always was. No matter how alone or how far life shoved her down the stairs.
Besides, this had been her own doing. She’d hurt people—Preston was only the start. She’d used the town’s enthusiasm for her own ends, and the little she’d done to help with the library didn’t even begin to pay them back for all that.
Time to face the consequences of her actions.
As it turned out, Travis was an even bigger asshole than she’d believed her whole life and had a sheriff’s deputy actually in his office with him, along with several men she recognized as members of the Brookville Business Association, all ranged around the conference table at one side of the room. Oh, yeah, very intimidating.
She left the door ajar (some instincts for quick escapes die hard) and took a seat at the far end from Travis. “Afternoon, gentlemen.” They nodded hello.
“Harmony,” Travis said with an obnoxious familiarity.
She grinned. “Travis.” She was making amends, but she never said anything about showing this dipstick any undeserved respect.
He gestured to the others. “The heads of the business association wanted to be here, in light of the information that has arisen calling into doubt your ability to deliver on your end of the bargain.” Harmony had been lying low but monitoring things online, and she’d seen him riling everyone up about the festival falling through.
“Rumors are such nasty things.” She raised her brows. “Imagine, I heard one recently that you came by your success through no genius of your own but by coopting the work of others without proper compensation!” She sighed with a smile and shook her head. “Gossip!”
But Travis knew he was untouchable, and he had her dead to rights. “People are always jealous of success. Now, to the matter at hand.” He glanced at the empty table before Harmony. No folio. No bag. “I am very concerned about seeing if, per your agreement with the town, you’ve brought the signed contract to register on file here today.”
Harmony’s throat stoppered up with a decade of sharply watching out for herself, a lifetime of scrabbling to survive. Her thoughts chased around inside her, her instincts shouting while she stared back at Travis and avoided looking at the deputy. Lie. Run.
The only way out of this—to the Harmony she wanted to be, to a Harmony who might be worthy of someone like Preston someday—was through. She swallowed hard. “I have not.”
Shoulders deflated. A few of the business owners shot grim looks at each other. Travis tapped his pen with an admonishing clatter. “So—” he began darkly.
A knock came at the door, which was immediately swung fully open by Preston.
Harmony gaped, officially speechless. What was he doing here? She’d heard his library inquiry had gone in his favor; he should be off enjoying that, not showing up to witness her arrest. Maybe he wanted to yell at her some more. She deserved that. It would complete this whole amends thing she was trying. She didn’t even really mind—it was so good to see him, tweed jacket and pressed shirt and stupid perfectly curling hair she was never going to run her hands through again.
“I have, though,” Preston said. “Brought the contract.” He set a packet of papers in the center of the table. “Sorry I’m late.”
Travis stared at the papers like they were a dead fish Preston had dropped into the middle of the meeting. “This is the headliner contract?”
“Signed and ready to go.” He wasn’t looking at Harmony or the what the fuck look she was very subtly giving him.
The silver-haired owner of a small local chain of coffee shops leaned forward with interest. “Who’s the headliner?”
Preston braced his hands on the back of an empty chair. “Legend Watts.”
No, he couldn’t be doing this. If he’d faked the paperwork or something, he’d be abetting fraud. What the hell was he thinking, he had Lacey to take care of—
“Forgive me,” Travis said, spreading a hand toward the papers, “but what with the rumors going around about the festival, what assurance does the town have that these are legitimate?”
Preston nodded. “I thought you might have concerns. Luckily, while we could have taken care of all this with electronic signatures, my roommate from music school had been looking for an excuse to visit.” He called into the hallway. “Will?”
With varying levels of confusion about what this had to do with anything, Harmony and the others all turned to look at the door, and some old friend of Preston’s, apparently.
But it was Legend Watts who walked into the room.
Excitement crackled through the office as everyone realized. A large man, Legend Watts wore a white T-shirt, faded jeans, and a haircut that all screamed how expensive they were, and a shy smile on his pale face. And Alice of all people was standing behind him in the doorway, looking like a professional assistant in black slacks and a ponytail, tapping away on her phone. Legend Watts gave a casual wave. “Been far too long since I came back to Northern California. Glad to stop by on my way back from my Asia tour and check up on Preston.”
What was happening ? But if there was one thing Harmony was going to do, it was roll with the unexpected. She leaned forward on crossed arms. “I know he’s a huge fan of yours. He has all your albums favorited on his playlist.”
Legend Watts turned a gleeful look on Preston. “He does, does he? Aw, mate, and here I thought you were too much of a classical snob to care about my little career.” He winked at Harmony and jerked his head at Preston. “Won’t even use my stage name.”
Preston’s tweed-clad shoulders bristled. “I’m not calling you that.”
Legend waved a hand between them. “You gave me this nickname.”
“As a joke, because you were always talking until three A.M. about how you were going to be a star.”
“And was I wrong?” He turned back to everyone around the table. “I ask you!”
Delighted smiles and laughs came from everyone but Travis, who only looked shocked.
“Anyway,” Legend said, “I’m very excited about kicking off this festival. Been looking for something just like this back home, honestly, so this came at the perfect time.” He nodded toward the papers in front of Preston. “I assume everything you need is there. Preston’s always so particular about details, so if that takes care of business—”
“Oh,” Preston said, with studious innocence. “Nice of you to offer. I’m sure everyone would love if we could take a few minutes for an autograph or photo or two.”
Legend looked for a second like he was considering murdering his old friend, then scratched at one eyebrow. “Right. Let’s do it.”
After that, the meeting was clearly over. Harmony rose slowly from her seat, still not quite sure what had happened, as a real estate agent and the deputy posed smiling on either side of Legend.
But Preston finally turned to her. And suddenly she felt more scared than when she’d been about to go to jail. Which maybe she wasn’t doing after all? Because of Preston.
“Hey,” he said. “Sorry for interrupting, but you seemed to have gotten into a tiny bit of trouble.”
“Always a possibility.” She made a small, tense shrug. “That’s working without a net for you.”
His eyes searched over her face. “Hope you don’t mind I caught you.” It was a question. He pressed his lips together, watchful, waiting.
Harmony fiddled her ring up and down her knuckles. He’d done it, what she’d been trying to do to wash away the lies between them. He’d also told her to leave town. “Why did you?”
“Why’d you make sure half the town showed up to my inquiry?” He glanced at Legend. “Alice has got him. She’ll help him escape in a minute. Can we go talk?”
Harmony looked down the table where she’d been about to confess to her crimes. Travis had grabbed the paperwork and was flipping through its pages. The café chain owner was giving him a stern look. “Thank god you didn’t tank this for the town. Spreading those rumors could have cost a lot of people a huge opportunity.”
“Speaking of that,” Alice said, stepping forward, edging behind the radio station owner snapping pictures of the others.
“And who are you?” Travis asked Alice. “Lady Gaga?” Leave it to him not to recognize Melissa from Indiana now that she was back to being an assistant.
“Alice Burrows, assistant festival manager, Rhythmic Events,” she answered in a clipped tone. “I’m afraid we’ve had to amend the vendor list. We’re trimming your VR tent and your wife’s business from the merch booths.” She pulled out a folder she’d had tucked under one arm and showed him the updated paperwork.
Travis thumped a palm on the table, making the pages flutter. “You can’t do that. If there really is a festival, then we deserve to benefit—”
“Sorry, we can.”
“Then I’ll be expecting our fees back. You can’t have your cake and get a free lunch too.”
Holy shit. Harmony squeezed past the photo op to tell Travis, “All agreements include strict co-promotional clauses.” Her next words came with a rush of satisfaction, a memory flashing through her vision of Iggie Greene throwing his arms up and spinning in his chair after nailing a tricky bit of code. “Including nondefamation clauses.”
Alice nodded, paging through printouts in the folder. “And we have on file you and your wife’s statements in several public forums online defaming Rhythmic, Ms. Hale, and this specific event. All fees are forfeit in such a case.”
Harmony tsked. “Gossip.” It wasn’t all his millions, or anything like what he owed her dad, but Travis’s fee for that big tent was a serious chunk of change. Goodbye, franchise dreams. Maybe even the entire arcade, unless Travis liquidated other assets. The cash would be enough to fund a local grant program, it occurred to Harmony, her mind working as fast as her mouth ever did. She bet Jordan and Nina would have some great ideas for deserving recipients. And helping to run something like that would look great on college and scholarship applications.
Harmony leaned nearer Travis to murmur, “Really should have read the contract more carefully.” The idea of making amends was nice, but that felt fucking fantastic. She straightened and told Preston, “Let’s go.”
They slipped down a hallway and out to the edge of the town square. The sun was still high, the sky a clear blue, and people were spread over the benches and blankets, enjoying the warm day. The statue was dressed in a party hat with a banner slung between its hands wishing someone a happy birthday. They walked along away from the town hall steps, gradually slowing, and finally facing each other.
“So.” The triumph drained out of her. Harmony wanted to ask again why he’d done this for her. If it was only his noble impulse for taking care of everyone, even if her lies had ruined things between them for good. “That was … quite the show.”
“Yeah, well, it’s not on my résumé, but distracting business owners with pop stars is one of my secret talents.” Preston’s hands flexed at his sides. “Now it’s up to you to put on the festival.”
She let out a little helpless laugh. “I don’t actually know how to do that.”
The corners of Preston’s lips curled up. “How many times do I have to say it? You’re good at everything. You can do it. And you’ll have help. Alice is all in. Plus Will, whose ego rivals yours.”
She gave a mock gasp. “Impossible.”
“It’s true. Antarctica-sized, at least .”
She shook her head, still taking it all in. “Your college roommate was Legend Watts.”
Preston laughed, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. “I honestly thought I’d told you. Sometimes I forget people don’t know everything running through my head.”
She looked down at her heels and his loafers, biting her lip. But she’d been as brave as she’d ever been coming here today, so why stop now? “Like what else?”
He lifted her chin with a gentle finger. His eyes were bluer than the sky, the feeling in them deeper. “Like how I really missed you.” Her pulse sped, and she needed to know if that meant she hadn’t ruined things, if he could forgive her someday, but she couldn’t think of any words at all, not even to tell him how much she’d missed him too. His hand moved to her shoulder, running down her arm, holding on to her. “And how I’m sorry. For getting so upset and not listening.”
Harmony swallowed, trying not to get too distracted by how his touch set longing chasing through her blood. She still had so much to tell him. “I know you need time to process stuff. And it’s understandable. I’m sorry.” She took a deep breath. “I lied to you.”
“I know. Alice explained some things to me. Your cons. Your dad.”
Harmony fought down the old panic skittering over her skin at the thought of someone knowing her whole deal. She could trust Preston with anything. His saving her ass proved that. “I suppose, because she clearly helped get you and Legend here today, I won’t hold that against her.” She definitely wouldn’t go command Evan to ask Alice out just to get back at her, or thank her, one or the other.
She took Preston’s big hand in hers and ran her thumb over his knuckles. “I came to Brookville for one reason, and that’s where all the lies came from, but then I chose something different.” I chose you . Why was it still so hard to say? She kept going, talking her way around to it. “I gave up the revenge for it. What I can give my dad is being better and being happy. I was trying to figure it out, how to undo all the lies so that nothing would be in the way of us—” Everything she felt made her breath hitch. She was going to murder her feelings later, but for now, there was no helping how they made her voice waver, caught up with hope and fear.
She had come here today to tell the truth. So that was what she did. “I love you.”
Preston’s own breath went a little uneven, his hand clenching hers. He murmured, “I love you too,” and actually, Harmony decided for once and all, feelings were pretty spectacular, because those words sent fireworks of joy shooting through her. “I was so stupid not to tell you,” Preston said. “And so scared, because you were leaving, and you make everything better, and brighter, and I was really an asshole to doubt you.”
“No, you weren’t.” She reached up with her free hand and brushed back a lock of his dark hair that had fallen forward as he bent to meet her eyes. “I like how careful you are.”
His hand skated back up her arm, pulling her just a little nearer, almost by accident. “I like how reckless you make me want to be.”
Harmony looked up into Preston’s intent gaze. “Oh, really? Like what? You spend the last week zip-lining or race driving or something?”
His lips pursed in a gentle scowl, but his eyes fell to her own mouth. “More like thinking about kissing a wanted criminal.”
She gave his hand a playful shake. “Hey, I’m not wanted, I’ve always covered my tracks. And you took care of this last job for me very neatly.”
“Oh,” said Preston, voice dropping to that rumble that Harmony could feel in her chest, where her heart was kicking like a goddamn chorus girl, “I think I can say with some certainty that you are very much wanted.”
His hand lifted to cradle her head, and he dipped his to brush a sweet kiss against her mouth.
“Please stay.” His words were mere breath against her lips between light kisses but carried an iron conviction. “I want you to stay. Not only for the festival. For me.”
She answered him wordlessly, falling into a kiss with Preston that felt like an overture to so much more than even Harmony could have dreamed up.
“Hey!”
Preston barely pulled away and didn’t break his gaze from Harmony’s.
“Let’s go, lovebirds!” Harmony grudgingly looked to see where Alice, with international pop star Legend Watts in tow, was shaking her keys from the steps of town hall. “Before the Brookville paparazzi arrive. We’re going to an undisclosed location to get drinks to celebrate.”
Preston made a little growl into Harmony’s hair.
Harmony leaned back and quirked a brow at him. “Such a bully. I can tell her off if you want. I need like eleventy more of those kisses to make up for the past week. Maybe at an undisclosed location rather than the town square.”
A heady look cast through his eyes just at those words, but he shrugged and smiled with a dawning sort of delight. “We have plenty of time.”
He kept Harmony’s hand in his as they walked over. “Is the undisclosed location my house?”
“Maybe,” Legend admitted. “You owe me at least a bottle of wine for using me as a distraction to get your girlfriend out of there without any more questions.” He smirked. “Besides, it’s easier than braving the public trying to hide this renowned face.”
“It’s a good face,” Alice said with an appreciative nod, and she listened, rapt, as Legend began telling her about visiting Preston’s house back in college when he couldn’t go home over the holidays. Good thing Harmony wasn’t going to jail, because Alice was never going to be done needing her help staying out of trouble.
Preston leaned in to kiss Harmony’s temple and gave her hand a squeeze. “Let’s go home, sweetheart.”