Page 37 of The Billionaire Who Saved My Cat From The Mafia

It would be wonderful to put a period at the end of this miserable sentence.It would be wonderful to finally heal.

Suddenly, my mind’s eye is flooded with images of Boots.It’s a relief to see her instead of Harper.Boots is a stranger.I don’t even know her name.But she pleases me.

She’s incredibly pleasing.

And not only to the eye.She’s got a sense of humor.I enjoy our conversations.She’s smart.And I want more of her.More conversation.More kissing.

That kiss was off the charts.The way she tasted.Her scent.The feel of her outrageous curves against me.That kiss was rocket fuel to my body and soul.

That’swhat I want more of.I’ve been itching all day to get back up to the ridge.Harper’s fucked that all up, since my brothers will now be all over me like sauce on ribs, trying to get the lowdown on why she’s here.And if we’re getting back together.

I literally shudder at the thought.

I hear Harper’s shoes on the path as she starts walking again.We’re halfway back to her car, and I’m counting the footsteps, eager to see the back of her.But it’s not meant to be.Evander and Phoebe are coming up the lane in our direction.Evander cocks an eyebrow at me, and Phoebe looks concerned.

Harper catches up to me, just as Phoebe decides to ramp up her hospitality.I toss Evander a look to stop it, but it’s too late.

“Why don’t you stay with us tonight?”Phoebe offers my ex.

It’s a natural inclination for Phoebe to be sweet and kind.She has no clue how little Harper deserves either.Evander offers me a barely detectable nod of his head in solidarity with me.He may not know why Harper and I broke up, but he can tell I want nothing to do with her or why we broke up

“That’s incredibly generous,” Harper says.

I expect her to finish her statement with a polite,but I really should be goingor something similar, because she really does need to go.But Harper surprises me, and not for the better.

“Thank you.”I hear it come out of her mouth, and I turn to her to make sure she really just said that.What the ever-loving fuck?Why would she agree to stay?How far is she going to push this thing?

“I’ll make up the guest room for you,” Phoebe says, and Evander and I watch them walk off together like the fast friends they’ve just become.

“Sorry,” Evander tells me.“Phoebe insisted.She always sees the best in people and goes out of her way to help.”

“Shit.”

“What the fuck’s Harper doing here?”Evander asks me.

“No idea.”

“She wasn’t happy to see me in London, I know that for damn sure.And she gave no indication that she missed the MacLaines.I think I made her nervous.”

“Could be.”

“I was under the impression it was a crash-and-burn ending between you two.”

“Yeah.”

“Then why is she…?”

“Gotta go,” I say, cutting him off.I don’t want to talk about Harper.Or think about her.Or look at her.

I double-time it to my house and once I’m inside, I lock my front door.It’s the first time I’ve ever done that.

An hour later, I’m in my kitchen, drinking beer from a bottle over the sink.I hear someone try the front door but stop when it’s obvious it’s locked.Then, there’s a soft, tentative knock, which I ignore.Since it could be Harper.

Five minutes later, Cal’s face appears at my kitchen window.I figure I better open the sash before he decides to blow it open with C-4.

“Is she up for promotion?”he asks.

“Probably.”