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“Yes!” I said, almost in a panic. If she stayed there, I could keep my eye on her and would know if Sharp tried to talk to her. “Um, just have a seat and I’ll be right back.”
Reaching for the cap’s hand again, Harmony shook it and said, “It was nice seeing you again.”
“It was my pleasure, Harmony.” Cap turned and walked toward his office as I followed. Glancing over my shoulder, I smiled when I saw Harmony watching us walk away.
“Shut the door, Ward, and have a seat.”
Fuck.
Doing as he asked, I sat down and held my breath, waiting for the unexpected.
Cap sat and leaned back in his chair. He rested his elbows on the arms of the chair and tented his fingers under his chin. “Want to tell me what you’re doing, son?”
Sitting up straight, I gave him a confused look. “What do you mean, Cap?”
Glancing over my shoulder at Harmony, he looked back at me and straight into my eyes.
“Preston, you’ll never be able to ease her pain. The loss of her child was not your fault and by becoming her friend you’re not making it easier on either one of you.”
Anger built up in my veins as I gripped the armrests. “I’m not being her friend out of sympathy. I enjoy her company and it has nothing to do with her son. I know, Cap, it wasn’t my fault. I’ve moved on from it.”
Raising his eyebrows, he said, “Have you? Why are you always taking off, Preston? You’re damn near out of vacation time and you never took vacation before that accident. Ever.”
Shrugging my shoulders, I looked into his eyes. “I’m over it, sir. I’m fine.”
Nodding, he looked at his desk and said, “I’m going to ask you one question. And this is not me being your boss asking it. It’s me, a longtime family friend asking. Do you have feelings for her?”
There was one thing I would never do, and that was lie to the man sitting across from me. “Honestly, sir, I’m not sure. I’ve been having some confusing thoughts going through my mind. I keep telling myself we’re just friends. That’s all we are…friends…just friends. I enjoy her company and I think she enjoys mine. I mean, is that so bad?”
Smiling slightly, he shook his head. “No, that’s not bad at all. Just remember what she’s been through, Preston. I don’t want to see you get hurt. What about Sherry?”
Moving nervously in my seat, I looked away as I said, “We broke up.”
“Really? Why?”
Looking back at him, I caught his eyes. “Cap, I’ve told you my feelings for Sherry weren’t what I first thought they were. It was a long time coming.”
Standing up, he pushed his hands through his hair and said, “Preston, I want you to take things slow. Whether this is a friendship or something more…take it slow.” Cap’s eyes moved to the window and he frowned for just a brief second. But it was long enough to cause me to look over my shoulder back at Harmony.
That fucking bastard. Sharp was sitting next to Harmony with his arm draped on the sofa behind her.
Standing up, I looked back at Cap. “Okay, well, I guess we ought to be going.”
When Cap grabbed my arm and stopped me, I closed my eyes and waited for what was coming.
“I see the way you look at her, Preston. And the way you just reacted when you saw Sharp sitting next to her.”
Smiling, I turned around and said, “Cap, it’s nothing. If anything I’m probably just being protective, like a big-brother kind of thing.”
“Uh-huh. I don’t ever remember you looking at Sherry like that once in the two years you dated her, son.”
My smile dropped and I quickly spun around and headed to the door. Opening it up, I stepped outside the office and inhaled deeply to try to compose myself before walking over to Harmony and Sharp.
—
After leaving the fire station, Harmony asked if we could stop in a few stores. She was still trying to decorate her new place and needed some things to add life to the condo. I’d never had so much fun shopping in my life. The best part was, Harmony couldn’t make a decision to save her life so we only had two bags to carry.
“Are you getting hungry?” I asked as we walked out of one store.
