Chapter 3
Harper
The little bell tinkles over the shop door and my heart jumps into my throat.
Fee huffs next to me. “Good lord!” The disgust in her voice is overwhelming and I grimace.
“What?”
“Stop pacing the floor. Stop staring at the door. Just…stop!”
The shop is spic and span. I spent the afternoon going over every inch of it until it practically sparkles in the bright overhead lights. I’m turning into an absolute nut and I don’t think that I can stop myself. I’m so damn nervous. It feels like forever since I saw Darius.
Yeah, in my head I can call him that. Who’s going to hear me?
Fee sighs. “You’re not helping me feel better about this decision, Harp. This feels a lot like first date territory not business negotiations.”
Straightening my shoulders, I glare at her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She points at me, smirking. “You keep telling yourself that.”
The bell over the door tinkles again and it feels like all the air in the room goes still and quiet. Like the electric way it feels right before a storm. The hair on the back of my neck stands on end and I freeze, the breath in my lungs not moving.
I close my eyes even as his deep, smoky voice, like sex in the dark, whispers to me. “Hello, angel. Are you gonna turn around and look at me?”
Why in the hell did I think was a good idea? Shivers run up and down my arms and spread out until I’m shaking in my floral sneakers. It’s the only thing feminine that I wear. Otherwise you’ll find me wearing t-shirts and jeans anywhere I go.
He moves closer and I can feel the heat from his body against my back. Hiccuping, I draw in a shaky breath. His hot breath fans my ear as he whispers, “I missed you, angel. Turn around and let me get a good look at you.”
Fuck. My whole body melts into a puddle and I can feel my clit throb in my jeans. I’m surprised that nobody sees how wet I am right this second.
Double fuck!
But I stiffen my spine, knowing that Fee is watching and about three seconds from telling me that it’s off and she doesn’t want anything to do with whatever the hell is happening here.
And I can’t let that happen. Right? Darius needs me. I mean…he needs help and I know how to take care of him.
I turn and open my eyes slowly, my spine trying to drop when I look into his deep brown eyes. This close, I can see the emerald green and gold flecks swirling. The corners of his gorgeous eyes crinkle when he smiles.
This was a huge mistake and Fee is never going to let me forget it if she finds out.
Pushing the melting, liquid sensation that’s pooling in my lower belly down I smile slowly. “Hi, Armstrong.”
He rolls his eyes and lifts his hand to run it through his chestnut curls. I’ve never seen a man with a head of hair like his. Thick, wild and untamed curls. Women would kill for it.
He’s tanned and so damn handsome that it hurts to look at him. Like he’s a fallen angel standing there and tempting some poor woman to him. Tempting her until she gives in to the fall from grace with a wicked smile on her face.
A smile that I’m desperately trying to keep from stretching my lips. I draw in a deep breath and my head swims. He smells like leather and forest. Something dark and masculine and dangerously exotic.
Forbidden.
“You still look good, angel.” Those wicked eyes run down my body, trailing fire along my nerve endings.
Straightening up, I slap my hand on my hip, forcing my lips into a thin line. “I’m glad that I don’t look like a dried-up prune yet, Armstrong.”
He chokes and I see his strong throat bob as he grins. “Girl, you can’t help yourself.” His face softens and he smiles sweetly, all fallen angel grace. “I’ve missed you.”
It takes everything I have not to scream at him what the hell does that mean? Why did you leave me then?
But I shove it down and glance over at my cousin, wincing at her narrow-eyed aqua gaze. Yeah, we’re gonna have a talk, I can tell.
“I’ve missed you too.” I glance down awkwardly, my fingers twisting restlessly. “I’m really sorry…”
“Don’t,” he snaps. “I know what you’re going to say and I’ve heard it about a million times lately. I don’t need it from you too,” he hisses.
Nodding, I glance over at Fee helplessly. She grimaces and steps forward. “Hi, Darius. It’s good to see you again. I can’t believe how long it’s been.”
What took you so long?
“Why don’t we head over to the diner and get something to eat and discuss the reno?” she asks, her smile a little forced and a lot suspect.
She glances over and her pretty face breaks into a real smile for the first time today.
I’m not surprised to see Monroe on his way over.
They’re working on the plans for their wedding and it’s been busy as hell here at work especially since they’re working on expanding inside the walls. It’s complicated.
Monroe smirks when he comes up and holds out a hand to Darius even as his other arm slips around my grinning cousin’s waist. He’s practically tattooing his name all over her and she doesn’t give a damn. I think she’d do the same to him.
“It’s nice to meet you, Darius. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
He grins sheepishly. “Youthful hijinks, I swear.”
I can practically feel the manly pheromones flying around the room.
I roll my eyes. “I didn’t tell him anything about you getting busted by the Sheriff for smoking pot when you were sixteen or flipping that tractor you were running out on the highway outside of town, chasing after old Mr. Cummings when he got drunk and flipped me off. ”
Fee groans and hides her face in Monroe’s wide chest. “Please do not start talking about all the things we got up to when we were kids.”
Darius’s eyes shift to me and smoke curls in the dark depths. “I don’t think we were any different than any other small town kids on a weekend.”
They seem like such simple words. But the way his mouth curls? I slip my tongue out and lick my top lip. “Ummm.” I roll my eyes internally. What a conversation! Jesus!
“Let’s go have some food,” Monroe smirks and pulls Fee towards the door, holding it open for Darius and I when we follow them. His dark eyes study me but I can’t read them. He’s got his cop face on.
I make a face at him and he smirks, nodding me through the door.
The night is actually warm tonight but a chill dances along my spine when Darius’s hand brushes the small of my back. Electric shocks sizzle soundlessly and I almost groan out loud.
I hate when Fee’s right. She’s gonna be a real bitch about this when she figures out that I still have feelings for my best friend, my secret crush.
This has all the earmarks of a spectacular shitshow and I don’t even want to think about how bad it’s gonna get.
But when I glance over and see a slight uptick in the corner of Darius’s firm lips…I can’t regret it.
At least not right now.