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“Shall we Google that?”
“Is that necessary?”
But Harper was already on his phone. “Huh. You’re right. I’m only getting things about sports. Well, crap.”
A laugh bubbled up out of her.
His head snapped up, and he grinned at her. “There she is. That’s the laugh I’m looking for.”
Robin covered her mouth and leaned her elbows on the bar.
Harper leaned toward her. “You are beautiful. You’re really beautiful when you laugh.”
She knew it was a line. She’d barely known him for a day and already she knew he was the king of suave one-liners. And yet, she needed to hear that. To hear that she wasn’t just wallpaper.
His gaze slid down to her lips, and she held her breath.
He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
Her lungs began to burn, but she remained silent.
A beeping sound broke the tense moment. Harper blinked and straightened.
“That would be the tea,” he said.
Robin blew out a breath and silently cursed the damn timer.
Harper removed the tea bags from the mugs then set about adding other things. Whiskey, lemon juice, and honey she recognized.
She peered at the straw-like thing jutting out of the cups. “Is that a cinnamon stick?”
“She knows her spices.” He dropped two rounds of lemon into both mugs then offered one to her. “Here you are.”
She cradled the mug between her hands and sniffed the steam coming off the beverage. It was spicy and sweet and oh so tempting.
Harper circled the bar and sat on the stool next to her. He studied her over the steaming mug.
Maybe she needed a little liquid courage right now. He was charming and different from the people in her life. Unlike her family, he saw her. She didn’t fade into the background for him. She’d forgotten what it was like to be around normal people.
This business with her uncle was taking up her whole mind, body, and soul. She needed to end it and move on with her life, finally put Mom to rest once and for all. But to do that, Robin needed Harper, which put her right back where she’d begun.
Robin lifted the mug to her lips and sipped. The liquid was just under scalding, so hot it sent waves of warmth through her body. She swallowed, and the heat intensified all down through her chest and stomach. The tang of the lemon combined with the cinnamon and whiskey on her tongue. The tea added a bit of after-taste that was familiar and pleasant.
“Wow,” she muttered.
“Good? Put a little hair on your chest.”
“Yeah, I’d say.”
He regarded her with an unusually serious face. “I think we’re going to have to do tonight over again.”
She blinked at him. “What?”
Harper leaned toward her. “I thought tonight was my thank you dinner, only I didn’t get to really spend time with you. I think we should do it again.”
“Oh.” She shifted on the stool and smiled. “I think I can squeeze you into my schedule.”
“I’d appreciate that. A woman like you must be very busy.”
