AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Maybe,” Emma hedged. She placed her hand on the side of the cart. “But I doubt it.”
Thoughts threatened to rise about Chase and all the emotions between them, but Harper hastily shut that door. She left for Las Vegas in a week. They’d agreed to a week of fun. That’s it. Besides, Chase was right—a fling worked between them. Anything more would complicate everything. She grabbed a bag of puppy food that she’d seen at the clinic, then placed the bag into the cart and moved along. “I named the puppy Houdini.”
“Cute name.” Emma smiled.
“You should come see him. He’s so friggin’ sweet. I’m really hoping the clinic finds him a foster family soon, but until they do, we’ll take care of him.” She nearly asked Emma to take him. That was her thing. She was raising abused animals at the farm she inherited from her grandmother, but Houdini’s diabetes made him an expensive puppy to take on. She would not put Emma in the position of having to say no.
Staying on task, Harper strode forward, mentally making a checklist of all the things she needed for Houdini.
“Oh, yeah right, girl.” Emma snagged Harper’s arm and barked a loud laugh. “As if you can say something like that, then just stroll on by like you never said that at all.” When Harper looked back over her shoulder, Emma added, “What do you mean we, because I thought Chase was the thing that shouldn’t ever be mentioned?”
Which had been exactly what Harper had said to Emma not that long ago. Truth was, Harper thought it was cruel to talk about how much she wanted Chase and then having to list all the reasons they could never be together. Why put her heart through that? “Chase found out I’m moving to Vegas last night.” She smiled at the person behind the register then headed down the next aisle full of dog toys. “I guess Brody told him.”
When Harper grabbed some chewable toys, Emma said from behind her, “Okay, got that. But how does Chase knowing you’re leaving end up with you being at his house last night?”
“I think he realizes this is it. If it’s not now, it’s never. I don’t think never was an option for him, and I know it wasn’t for me either. I don’t want to go to Vegas wishing we had our moment. I can only assume Chase feels that same way.”
Emma hesitated, her eyes probing Harper’s for some answer she obviously couldn’t find. “But what does this all mean for you two?”
“It means what you think it means.” Harper tossed a couple more dog toys into the cart. “We’ve got until next Saturday to have our fun, to enjoy each other in the way we’ve wanted to, without anything or anyone interfering.”
“Then you’ll leave?”
Harper nodded. “Then I’ll get on the plane and chase my dreams.” She was aware of the tightening of her throat when she turned down the next aisle, spotting the dog crates. She grabbed a medium-sized one, awkwardly placing it sideways in the cart.
“Okay, wait,” Emma sputtered behind her. “I know I don’t need to worry about you. You’re probably the most put together person I know, but not long ago you told me that you couldn’t acknowledge what you felt fo
r Chase because it was very complicated.”
Harper nodded, aware how fast things had changed. “Before things with Chase were complicated. Now it’s all clear, and there’s nothing in our way anymore.” She grabbed a rectangular dog bed for the crate from the top shelf before addressing Emma again. “I get him, Emma, for a week with no worries of Brody shutting things down. No worries that I’m going to cause a huge rift in Brody and Chase’s friendship. We promised to give each other this one week. Just us, in the way we’ve wanted but have never been able to have because of Brody.”
Emma’s expression became pinched, and she nibbled her lip.
Harper smiled softly. “And what about that has got you so worried?”
Emma reached out, squeezing Harper’s arm. “What has me worried is that life is complicated and messy. Your heart, Harper, is not cold enough to withstand this arrangement. And, yeah, as a friend who loves you like crazy, that concerns me.”
“I’ll be okay. Promise.” Harper patted Emma’s hand, then she spoke straight from the heart. “I’d rather leave here after a week of being in his arms and maybe a little sad at the end than leave without ever knowing what it was like to be in those arms.”
Emma cast her eyes downward. “But you’re not the only one I’m worried about.”
“You’re worried about Chase?” At Emma’s slow nod, Harper shook her head. Emma simply didn’t understand. How could she? She had Shep, and no complications between them. “This is sex and fun, not love and forever. We’re good, Emma. Our understanding is clear. Promise.”
“For both your sakes”—Emma stepped forward, wrapping Harper in one of her incredibly warm hugs—“I hope you’re right.”
Chapter 5
Later that afternoon, with the windows rolled down and the warm breeze brushing across Chase’s face bringing a plethora of summer scents, he drove down the road toward River Rock’s downtown. Nestled in the Colorado mountains, the town was situated not far from Pikes Peak. With a picturesque landscape to enjoy in the warmer weather, the town was often found on some popular magazines’ lists of the most desirable cities to live in in the United States.
When he turned his truck onto Main Street, he hit a wall of traffic. Amid the specialized boutiques, vintage-looking streetlights, and trees scattered throughout the area, the crowd downtown belonged to the twenty-somethings coming from the Colorado College and the tourists who came for the views of the sweeping plains, serene lakes, and the Rocky Mountains. For residents in River Rock, if you weren’t a farmer, Main Street was your livelihood.
The lights up ahead turned green, and Chase eased the truck forward, pressing his foot against the gas. He drove by a couple shops on the left, then his gaze fell to the black awning above a red-brick storefront with the sign in bold yellow writing that read: BLACKSHAW CATTLE CO., with PRIME QUALITY MEATS in small letters beneath. Above the store was Blackshaw Cattle’s headquarters, where Colin ran the show. He smiled, glad that store and Colin would stay around a little longer, ensuring that the employees who had been loyal to his father for years stayed employed.
When he finally reached the animal hospital, he pulled over to the curb, cutting the ignition of his rumbling truck. That was the thing about small towns. Everything was all on one street. He hurried out of his truck, entering the clinic a moment later, spotting someone familiar behind the reception desk.
“I see you have a new friend,” he said.
The young receptionist behind the desk laughed, her rosy cheeks turning a shade darker. “I’m a sucker for Labs, and this little guy could not get any cuter.”
