Chapter Two #3
Linc had no idea of Harper’s situation. He’d assumed she was the same spoiled girl she’d been back in high school. With tons of clothes, makeup, and other doodads that women and girls seemed to think were so important. Now he flushed slightly, feeling foolish.
Living in her car, being homeless, would’ve made it imperative that she narrow down her belongings to only the bare necessities.
“Right. It doesn’t look like I’ll need Chad’s help after all. I’ll get these moved out to my place, and they’ll be there when you get off work this afternoon.”
“Thank you so much, Linc. I mean it.”
“You’re welcome. And stop thanking me. It’s done. We’re moving on. All right?”
To his surprise, Harper smiled.
“What?” he asked. “What’s funny?”
“You remind me of my dad, that’s all.”
Linc’s eyes widened, which made her actually giggle. The sound was light, a little rusty, as if it had been a long time since she’d found anything to laugh about, which irritated Linc all over again.
“You don’t have to look so appalled,” she told him, still grinning. “Wasn’t it you a moment ago telling me that you thought my dad wasn’t as big a jerk as he shows to the world?”
“I have the right to change my mind,” he muttered.
Which sent Harper into giggles again.
The sound was carefree and happy, and nothing like he’d heard from this woman in the time he’d known her since he’d been back in town. He liked it. Liked even more that he’d been the one to make her feel that way, even if just for a moment.
“I can help you get these to your SUV,” Harper told him.
“I got it,” Linc reassured her, looking down at his watch. “You probably need to get going if you don’t want to be late.”
Harper looked at her own watch and gasped. “Shoot! Time got away from me.”
“You sure there’s nothing else you need me to take over for you?” Linc asked.
“You do have beds . . . right?” Harper asked with a smile, indicating she was making a joke.
But to Linc’s horror, he realized no, he did not, in fact, have beds.
He was an idiot. The invitation for her and Kash to move in had been so impulsive, he hadn’t even thought about where they were going to sleep.
“Of course I do,” he said as impassively as he could. He would never admit that he’d completely forgotten about freaking beds.
“Good. Although honestly, I could sleep anywhere. After you sleep in your car, which is the most uncomfortable place in the world to sleep, you pretty much appreciate any kind of couch or pillow to rest your head on.”
She was wrong. A car wasn’t the most uncomfortable place in the world to sleep. That honor would go to the cold, hard ground of North Korea while on the run from soldiers hunting you, while trying to decide if it would be better to head toward China or Russia.
Linc forcibly shook the memories out of his head. “Well, you don’t have to worry about that now.”
“Th—Right,” she said, catching herself from almost thanking him again.
“Well, I guess I’ll see you after work then.
If something happens with Kash, if he doesn’t get on the right bus or something, I’ll let you know.
And for the record, if you get tired of him, just tell him to go read a book and he’ll get out of your hair. ”
“I’m not going to get tired of him. I like Kash, Harper. He’s funny, and smart, and he keeps me on my toes.”
“Oh, well, yeah. I like him too. But he’s a lot. Sometimes he can be exhausting with his questions.”
“It’ll be fine.”
“All right. If you need anything, just text me. I can bring a rotisserie chicken home from work if you need me to.”
The thought of her spending her money on him when she had so little for herself and her son right now made Linc feel a little sick inside. “I’ve got it. Don’t worry.”
“Okay. But I don’t expect you to pay for our food, Linc. Kash eats like a horse. I’ve never seen a kid eat so much.”
“He’s a growing boy. The two of us will figure out something for dinner, and we’ll have it waiting for you when you get home.”
Harper stared at him for a long moment.
“What? Something wrong?”
“No. It’s just . . . sometimes Kash makes dinner for me, usually just sandwiches or something, but I can’t remember any other time after I went to New York that I came home to a hot meal waiting for me.”
And that was just too heartbreaking to contemplate.
“Well, don’t get too excited. I’m not a chef like Zach. But I’m not as bad as Knox either.”
Harper smiled at that. “I’ve heard he can burn water.”
“He can,” Linc confirmed.
“I’m not picky,” Harper said. “I’ll eat just about anything.”
And that was one more thing Linc had in common with this woman. He supposed when you were dead broke and living out of your car, you couldn’t afford to be picky.
Memories of the last nightmare he had filled his head.
He’d woken up almost able to taste dirt and leaves in his mouth.
He was tired of the nightmares but, sadly, had gotten used to them.
Tired of remembering the terror he’d felt while he’d been on the run.
While he was hunted down like a rabid dog.
He didn’t know why he had such vivid memories of every single nightmare. Memories that crept up on him when he least expected it. It had been years since his crash, and he was more content and settled now than he’d been in a long time.