"Hi, Harper," she says with a little wave.
“Hey.”
Well, she does remember me, I guess.
And then her attention snaps back to Ace. She barely reaches his chest. She doesn't seem to give a shit. She prods him square in the sternum.
"I text you. I told you I was going to be late. You, Ace Sterling, never replied."
My stomach tightens. I have no right to be jealous. No right to care about other women knowing Ace, about who he's spent time with, about who makes him laugh. I chew on my lip, watching as he takes a step back. Creating distance.
"You get one more shot, Violet. Otherwise, Jett can teach you how to ride a horse. Okay?" He holds up a finger. "But jab me in the chest again, I'll put you on a mare that needs breaking in."
Violet bursts into laughter. "I'm messin’ with you, Ace. Are you scared of me?"
"Yeah." He runs a hand through his dark hair. "I was concerned something was going to come flying at my head."
I don't even notice Lola approaching until she's beside me, her voice low enough that only I can hear.
"They're just friends, Harper. Violet has her attention very much elsewhere on a certain cousin."
"It's none of my business," I say.
She grins. "I'm not dumb. I know you'reher."
I suck in a breath.Her.The one they talk about. The one who left. The ghost in the room every time Ace's name comes up.
"Just give them another shot, Harper." Lola squeezes my arm. "These men will do anything to protect you."
I nod. I don't know what else to say. Because suddenly I'm nervous as hell to come face-to-face with Hunter Sterling.
Mafia boss. Ranch owner. The man whose family I've been investigating. And I have to sit across from him and tell him another mafia family is paying me to dig up information on their enemies. Information that's buried in his backyard.
"Do you want some water? You look really pale," Colten says to me from across the room.
I blink up at him. "Uh. Yeah. Please."
He nods and heads for the kitchen. Colten sees everything and says very little, and I'm starting to understand that's what makes him the most dangerous person in the room.
Hunter jogs down the stairs. The first person he looks at is Lola. Exactly the way a man should—like she's the center of his entire world. He crosses to her, wraps his arm around her waist, and kisses the top of her head. She leans into him. Two people who fit.
Then his dark eyes find mine.
"Harper." He nods.
"Hi Hunter."
He's bigger than I remember. Broader. Harder in the face. Covered from head to toe in tattoos by the looks of it. But his eyes are steady. The eyes of a man who's deciding if he should trust me and hasn't made up his mind yet.
I get it. I hurt his brother. He knows I’m investigating his family, his legacy. But I’m hoping my information was right and that he’s starting to see he can trust me.
"Look. We ain't gotta do this like a formal meeting." He scans the room. "Let's head in the dining room, grab a beer, and discuss what the fuck is going on in LA and how we can help you, Harper."
The pit of dread in my stomach loosens. I smile.
"Thank you."
Ace nudges into my side. His arm brushes mine. "See? We got you."
