"Cullen's a good man. He's already shown that."
"He's the best. But when he's not working, or with Tyler, he's on his laptop ‘til two in the morning digging into Tamara's new boyfriend, Graham and his dad."
"Dumb question," Juniper said. "If you're not an item, how do you know he's doing this at all hours of the night?" Juniper would get to whoever this Graham character was in a minute, but she was more concerned about her friend's obsessive behavior.
"He lives right next to me."
Juniper knew that, but she thought there might be more to it. "Why does Cullen dislike this man?"
"Graham's a spoiled trust fund asshole from Marco Island who barely has a job, and Cullen doesn't like the way he tosses money at his ex or his kid."
"Sounds like you've got a bug up your butt about him, too."
"More than a bug." Harley turned in the chair and leaned forward. "I was married to that prick."
Juniper tilted her head. "That's interesting."
"Not sure I'd use that term to describe the fact that my ex-husband is sleeping over at my friend's ex-wife's place and getting cozy with her little boy." Harley grimaced. "Small world likes to kick you when it can."
Juniper set down her mug on the table. "I take it Cullen knows Graham is your ex-husband?"
"That's the worst part of it." Harley dropped her gaze to the floor. "When Tamara first mentioned she'd met somebody, it worried Cullen. But I told him it would be okay. That it might help. It might allow him to have more time with Tyler. But then Cullen picked Tyler up one Sunday and there was my ex in the doorway, hand on Tamara's back like he'd already moved in." Harley wiped a couple of tears from her cheek. "Cullen called me from the car. Couldn't even get the words out at first. Just—'Harley, it's him. It's your Graham.' I collapsed to my kitchen floor."
"I'm sorry if I'm being unsympathetic, but why? I don't understand why it's so damning."
Harley lifted her gaze toward the sky. "Have you noticed I'm not around Cullen anymore when Tyler's around?"
Juniper thought about that for a second, and she honestly wasn't sure she'd paid attention to it. "I suppose so."
"When Graham filed for divorce, he did so the night I spent a few hours in lockup."
"Excuse me?" Juniper blinked. This had to be the best kept secret in Calusa Cove. She knew there were some. Audra,Dawson's wife, said the Everglades would keep a few good mysteries until it was good and ready to spit them back out. But no skeleton stays buried forever in the Everglades.
"It happened five years ago on Marco Island. I assaulted Graham. I don't make excuses for it. Graham tried to make it more than it was, and I spent a year on probation."
"I'm so sorry." Juniper was speechless. She'd seen and heard some shit in her day. But this, she never expected. And certainly not from Harley. Granted, the girl was a tough read. But that didn't make her a bad person. Introverted. Sure. Trust issues. Definitely. But criminal. No.
"I don't regret hitting Graham. I only regret when I did it," Harley said. "Graham gets to be the victim. He's good at it. Right up until he isn't."
"Tell me about him," Juniper said. "Your version of Graham Mavis."
"Oh, it's not Mavis," Harley said. "I changed back to my maiden name when we divorced. That asshole's name is Graham Halloran."
Juniper swallowed her breath. That complicated the shit out of things for Cullen. It also made Juniper want to hear more. Need to hear more. But she couldn't push too hard because she didn't know what Cullen had told her about Aegis, and Juniper wasn't about to toss Cullen under the bus. "I'm listening."
"Graham can be charming as hell. And nobody warns you about a man like him," Harley said. "All sunshine and unicorns at the start. Treated me like I'd been put on the earth for him to spoil. Gave me things I hadn't even worked up the nerve to want yet. I spent that first year thinking I'd won some lottery I never bought a ticket for." She snapped her fingers, one sharp crack. "Then one day. Just like that. The man I married walked out of his own body and somebody colder climbed in behind his eyes.And when the charm quit getting him what he wanted, he found other ways."
She didn't sayfists. She didn't have to. It was in the way her hand had gone tight around the tumbler, knuckles pale.
Juniper leaned forward, elbows on her knees, but didn't reach for her. "What happened? How'd you end up getting arrested."
"It was at a family party on the main property. His father had invited half the island." Harley swiped at her eyes. "Graham stands up with a drink in his hand and tells everyone I'm too simple to be trusted with easy tasks. He made fun of my outfit. Said it cost a fortune, but that he'd told me to get one designer, but I botched it and got an out of season off brand. Told everyone I made a better cleaning lady than a wife. Said I put new meaning into the wrong side of the tracks. Silly him for thinking he could elevate me."
"He actually used the word elevate?"
"Not only does Graham believe he's above most people, but he also takes it upon himself to educate the world on how to do things. He'd walk right into your bar and tell you how you're not doing it right and then explain how it should be done."
"Oh, he'd be hauled out by his balls if he tried that." Juniper raised her coffee.
