Chapter Three
Harper was swaying to a Luke Bryan song in the arms of a car salesman, wishing her best friend wasn’t chatting up her long-time crush, so she could get the hell out of Dodge. This night had been a train-wreck from the time Deke told her their relationship had been a lost cause, and she was just ready for it to be over.
She’d faked her way through the rest of the night, catching up with old friends, laughing it up every time she caught Deke looking her way, like he hadn’t just ripped her heart out. Again.
It was obvious from the way Deke watched her that he wasn’t done talking. But she was so done with him. There was nothing left to say. Those words, lost cause, echoed in her head, and she had to admit maybe he was right. Maybe they had been doomed to fail from the very beginning.
“You mind if I cut in?”
She’s been so lost in her thoughts she hadn’t heard Deke sneak up on them. Not that a guy who was over six feet tall and two hundred plus pounds of muscle could be accused of being light on his feet.
Her dance partner stammered, his eyes grazing her ex’s bulging biceps and tatted up arms. Deke had a scowl on his face and his dark eyes were narrowed, like he might be bracing for a fight. Poor guy. Deke wasn’t really giving him a choice.
“Uh sure.” He looked down at Harper. “I’ll catch up with you later, okay?”
She smiled sympathetically. “It was nice meeting you, Mark.”
He braved one more look at Deke before he said, “You too,” and ran-walked in the opposite direction.
Deke was frowning at him before Harper grabbed the sexy brute’s chin and turned his attention her way. “He’s gone now. You can stop with the intimidation.”
He rolled his eyes. “Please, you think I have to try to intimidate losers like that? I just have to look in their general direction and they piss themselves.”
She couldn’t help but laugh as she smacked his rock-solid chest. “Shut up.”
His grin was brief, but just as potent as she remembered. “What? I’m being serious.”
“I know you are.” She bit the inside of her cheek as she looped her arms around his neck. “That’s the problem. Everyone’s afraid of you.” Her eyes caressed his face. “But I’m not. Because I know you.” It had been a long time, but a person’s heart didn’t change and the fact that Deke had stepped up to take care of his nephew proved that.
“Yeah, you do.” His hands were skimming her ribs, his thumbs brushing the underside of her breasts.
“There was a time you knew me better than anyone.” His lips brushed her ear when he whispered, “intimately.”
This wasn’t the time or place for getting caught up in dirty fantasies about their time together. Deke may have been the best she’d ever had, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of admitting it. Especially after he’d knocked some sense into her with his announcement he’d considered their relationship a lost cause.
“That was a long time ago.”
She looked over his shoulder, trying to make eye contact with her best friend, who was dancing in the arms of a guy she’d been crushing on since their senior year. He was recently divorced and Jude believed she was finally getting her chance. Harper hoped she wasn’t in for a nasty fall.
“You ever think about me over the years?”
Too many times. “Once in a while, I guess.”
He chuckled, “You’re lying your sweet ass off.”
He’d always been able to read her in a way her ex-fiancée never had, which could be dangerous if he figured out she was trying to beat her old feelings for him into submission. “Think what you want.”
“Hey, guys,” Jude said, grinning from ear to ear as she held Jason’s hand. “We’re gonna head out now.” Her eyes were pleading as they locked with Harper’s. “If that’s okay?”
It’s not like Harper could object, knowing how long her friend had been waiting for an opportunity like this one. “Sure, I’ll find a ride home. Don’t worry about it.”
Jude squeezed her arm. “You’re the best! I’ll see you at home.” She winked at Deke. “You take good care of my girl here.”
“Always.”
Harper considered letting him have it, but decided it wasn’t worth the effort. “It was nice catching up, but I should go beg for a ride before everyone starts to leave.”
“One more dance.” He smiled. “I’ll take you home.”
