Chapter 7
Harper
“Stop pacing. He went to get some supplies for goodness sakes. If I knew you were going to be this crazy I never would have hired him for this job.”
I snort. “You knew. That’s why you didn’t want him here.”
“And yet I let you talk me into it. I’m obviously a big damn softie and I need to get a backbone before you stomp all over me.”
It’s my turn to snort. “Please. Monroe is scared to death of you.”
She grins and it’s an evil sight to behold. “As he should be.”
“Okay.”
“I can’t believe that all that stuff was Angela. I mean, really…I don’t know how any man can let himself be used and abused like he did with her.”
“Because of the baby.”
“I think a court would have gone in his favor,” she snorts.
“That’s if she didn’t get rid of the baby.”
Fee’s lips tighten. “I can’t believe she really said that to him.”
“I can,” I mutter under my breath. The woman was always two sandwiches short of a picnic.
“Hey…” The banging at the door wakes the two of us up and Fee groans when she sees Monroe standing there with Darius. Both of them are chatting with their arms loaded down with mysterious bags and stuff.
“Ugh. Monroe has been so excited about this. He’s driving me crazy.”
“That little store room isn’t that much space.”
“I know it isn’t. But it’s the principal of the thing. The feud is over and he can’t wait to get rid of the last wall standing between our families.”
“Awww.” I pull the door open. “I knew Monroe was just a big softie.”
He glares at me. “I still have a gun.”
“Which is under lock and key,” Fee huffs.
“Right.” He winces. “I forgot about that.”
I grin. “I’m glad that the big bad man is not scare of his itty bitty girlfriend.”
“I’m not scared of Fee,” he huffs.
“That’s not what you told me the other night.”
“That was private,” Monroe hisses at Darius. My eyes slide over to Fee and her lips quiver.
“Let’s get this party started.”
“This is going to be a long day.”
Monroe nods at his cashier. “I got someone to help temporarily. I want to keep a close eye on this project.”
Fee groans. “Translation…he wants to play with power tools and he’s getting off on it.”
Choking, I groan dismally. “You need to stop saying that kind of stuff in front of me. Especially after what you did last night. I know what you guys were doing,” I hiss.
She giggles. “I wasn’t trying to hide it.”
“Ugh.” I walk away. “You guys are sick.”
Both of them laugh out loud and Darius grins at me. “Sounds like a story.”
“Not one I want to tell,” I huff. “I’ve got class this morning anyway. I’ll catch you guys later.”
I nod over at Darius and he smiles back at me. “Stay safe, angel. I’ll see you later.”
It’s actually hard to leave. But this is my day away from the shop and I only really showed up to see Darius.
“I’ll see you, Dare.”
Just two old friends saying good-bye.
So why does the air hum with all these electric feelings that sizzle like they’re about to explode.
I can’t help looking back at him and catching his dark eyes. He grins and salutes me with a finger on his brow.
I pull out and drive to the next town over where my classes are held this morning.
But the whole way there, I can’t help wondering why his eyes sparkled a little more this morning.
* * *
By the time I come back that afternoon, I’m exhausted. I didn’t sleep well last night and the class was a hard one on art history. We’re deep in the impressionist period and it’s not my favorite. I’m much more a romanticism girl.
And then there’s Byron. He’s been following me around and I am having a hard time convincing him that I’m not interested.
Which is why when I walk into the diner, I wince and almost turn around.
I’m so damn hungry though.
So I square my shoulders and stomp over to a small table in the corner. I sit down and almost sigh in relief when the waitress comes over. “The usual, Harper?”
“Yep. You guys make the best cheese sandwiches.”
I know it’s a little juvenile but it’s my favorite thing on this earth. My mom made them for me all the time. We’d sit and munch them and watch tv, laughing, on rare nights when she didn’t have to work. I treasure those memories.
My heart jerks and I fight the sting of tears. I cannot cry over grilled cheese! I’ll never live that down.
She walks away and before I can blink, Byron is standing in front of me and grinning. “I had a feeling you’d end up here tonight. Seems like the perfect time to talk about that date.”
He slides into the other side of the table and I groan silently, wanting to slam my head off the table.
I’m not sure grilled cheese is even worth this.
l settle into the booth and fight the urge to run.
“You look really pretty tonight, Harp.”
“It’s Harper.”
He pauses but then he laughs…loudly. “You’re so funny.”
I’m not sure how funny I am. Cause I am not laughing right now.
He reaches out and grabs my hand, ignoring when I pull at my hand and tightening his fingers until I wince.
“Let’s talk, Harper.” His dark eyes go blank. Like a shark. Or a psycho.
My belly lurches and for the first time in a long time, a frisson of fear crawls up my spine.