“What are you going to do?” she taunted, though the way her eyes dilated told me she was turned on.
Oh, the things I wanted to do to Audrey. I was certain they’d shut her up or have her singing my praises. Either option was a win for me. I stared at her a moment longer, leaning in so my breath caressed her skin. If either of us had moved an inch, we’d be kissing. My mind and body were at war, desire battling rage.
“Don’t tempt me,” I growled.
I’d never felt such anger toward a woman, mixed with longing. It was…confusing. And maddening.Shewas maddening.
“Let me go.”
I released her and took a step back. This woman was trouble. I just needed to bide my time and avoid her. Soon, she’d be gone, and she’d stop spreading lies.
Chapter Five
The doorbell rang, and I groaned. It was too early. Too bright. I’d drunk too much.
After surviving the “celebration of life” and another argument with Ethan, I’d let Emerson convince me to go with her to Dylan’s she shed. There—with all the Malone wives and Desi, I’d consumed glass after glass of wine until I couldn’t stand. Grant had been kind enough to drive me home, but I was nursing the hangover from hell.
A hangover that was not being helped by whoever was knocking on the door. It felt as if they were pounding on my skull. I turned over and buried my head beneath my pillow, hoping they’d take the hint and leave.
But then the bell rang again, rattling my bones. I held my breath and waited a minute, but whoever it was wasn’t giving up. I threw on a robe and headed downstairs, holding my head all the while. I peered through the glass to see Doc Allen standing on the porch, rocking on his heels.
“Hey, Doc.” I leaned against the door, feeling as if it were the only thing keeping me upright. “Everything okay?”
“I didn’t get a chance to talk to you yesterday, but I’m supposed to deliver this.” He held out a white envelope, and I frowned, suspecting it contained legal documents. “Your father’s will.”
“I have his will,” I said, glaring at the envelope while refusing to accept it.
“I’d be surprised if the version you have is more current. This one is dated a few months ago.”
“Why don’t you come in?” I opened the door wider before leading him toward the kitchen. I needed coffee. I brewed some and filled two mugs before sliding one across the table toward him.
“I’m sorry I didn’t get it to you sooner,” he said. “I only just made it back for the funeral. We were in Italy with my daughter and her family.”
“Harper?” I asked, pressing a hand to my lower back when the muscle cramped. She’d always seemed so much older than Chase and me.
“Yeah.” His warm smile spoke of love and pride, and I wondered if my dad ever lit up like that when talking about me. I pushed away the thought. “You okay?”
I forced a smile. “I’m fine. Thank you.” I remembered Ben’s warning about stress but told myself there was nothing to worry about. My back hadn’t gone out in years, even though I’d been operating under a lot of stress at work.
“Anyway…here it is,” Doc Allen said, a look of sadness marring his features.
“Thank you.” We sat there a moment, awkward silence descending on the house. I was dying to peek at the will, but I didn’t want to do so with an audience.
He spoke about my dad, about how much the town would miss him—everything I’d heard the night before. Snippets of my conversation with Ethan filtered back to me, and I groaned to myself. I’d sounded like a bitch, acted like one too. Ethan seemed like a good guy, but the fact that he was close to my dad made me automatically dislike him. Distrust him.
“Anyway—” Doc Allen stood, the scrape of his chair interrupting my thoughts. “I won’t keep you. Besides, I have some Christmas shopping to do.”
I smiled, but then my expression soured.Ugh. Christmas.I should’ve been hitting the slopes in Vermont with Ben and his family, not wading through my father’s law practice.
“Hey.” Doc Allen paused at the door as if a thought had just occurred to him. “Would you like to join us? You’d be more than welcome, and I know Chase would love to see you.”
I shook my head. I liked Chase—as a friend. But I wasn’t in the mood to do the whole Christmas family thing; I didn’t want to crash their family time.
“Thanks, but I, um, have other plans,” I lied.
“Sure. Okay. Well, you know where we are if you change your mind.”
“Thanks, Doc.”
