Wise but dangerous words. Because although I married one woman and we had a life until she blew it up, I never stopped wondering how Harper was doing.
And wishing I could talk to her about some of my troubles. Even though some of them had a lot to do with her.
“I don’t know. But you might be right, Harp. How about I meet you at the shop tonight and we go have a bite to eat and talk about this?”
“I think that sounds like a great idea. I’ll see you in a little bit.”
Hanging up the phone, I stare at it, wondering if I’m really going to stay here and if I do, will I be able to just be friends with Harper.
I know I have to but she’s always been a dangerous addiction for me. And one that I have no damn business getting close to again.
I’ve already lost so much. I can’t lose her too. Even if that means that we can only talk to each other over the phone.
I can’t risk breathing the same air as her…without risking letting a secret that I’ve kept buried for years out to torture both of us with what might have been.
And I don’t have it in me to risk like that again.
CHAPTER 3
Harper
The little bell tinkles over the shop door and my heart jumps into my throat.
Fee huffs next to me. “Good lord!” The disgust in her voice is overwhelming and I grimace.
“What?”
“Stop pacing the floor. Stop staring at the door. Just…stop!”
The shop is spic and span. I spent the afternoon going over every inch of it until it practically sparkles in the bright overhead lights. I’m turning into an absolute nut and I don’t think that I can stop myself. I’m so damn nervous. It feels like forever since I saw Darius.
Yeah, in my head I can call him that. Who’s going to hear me?
Fee sighs. “You’re not helping me feel better about this decision, Harp. This feels a lot like first date territory not business negotiations.”
Straightening my shoulders, I glare at her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She points at me, smirking. “You keep telling yourself that.”
The bell over the door tinkles again and it feels like all the air in the room goes still and quiet. Like the electric way it feels rightbefore a storm. The hair on the back of my neck stands on end and I freeze, the breath in my lungs not moving.
I close my eyes even as his deep, smoky voice, like sex in the dark, whispers to me. “Hello, angel. Are you gonna turn around and look at me?”
Why in the hell did I think was a good idea?Shivers run up and down my arms and spread out until I’m shaking in my floral sneakers. It’s the only thing feminine that I wear. Otherwise you’ll find me wearing t-shirts and jeans anywhere I go.
He moves closer and I can feel the heat from his body against my back. Hiccuping, I draw in a shaky breath. His hot breath fans my ear as he whispers, “I missed you, angel. Turn around and let me get a good look at you.”
Fuck. My whole body melts into a puddle and I can feel my clit throb in my jeans. I’m surprised that nobody sees how wet I am right this second.
Double fuck!
But I stiffen my spine, knowing that Fee is watching and about three seconds from telling me that it’s off and she doesn’t want anything to do with whatever the hell is happening here.
And I can’t let that happen. Right? Darius needs me. I mean…he needs help and I know how to take care of him.
I turn and open my eyes slowly, my spine trying to drop when I look into his deep brown eyes. This close, I can see the emerald green and gold flecks swirling. The corners of his gorgeous eyes crinkle when he smiles.
This was a huge mistake and Fee is never going to let me forget it if she finds out.
