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ChapterTen
Harper gazed out Seth’s passenger seat window at the craftsman house. The crisp surfaces of the winter gray exterior, with its cream-colored detailing, shined fresh in the bright summer sunshine. “Gorgeous looking house.” She glanced back at Seth.
He looked good in the denim shirt that showed off the tanned skin of his throat. There was something about a guy in a working man’s shirt, especially when he had a strong, masculine face and square jaw. Seth could pull off the designer shirt and dress pants like a GQ model, but with his long legs encased in jeans and that wide chest in a tight-fitting tee, his undeniable manliness revved her pulse that little bit faster.
“We painted it, all of us, about a year and a half ago.” A faint smile graced his features before it slid away. “The last time we were all together before Adam left.” Without another word, he exited from the car, effectively ending not only their conversation but any chance of closeness the car’s interior provided.
Harper’s sigh sounded too loud in the Tesla’s interior. Seth’s remote attitude from last night hadn’t gone away with the new day. Had she made a mistake coming? When they’d dropped Mal off at her apartment, she could have made up some excuse to not go to the barbecue. A worker sick at the café? Stuff to do at home since she was working tomorrow? But wouldn’t that be childish? Seth needed people around him, not to be allowed to dive deeper into his pain.
She reached for the car’s door handle, but Seth got there first, opening the door for her. The gesture was welcome but also drove home the point of her concern. The guy could be closed off, but he still did the little things that signified he was aware of her, felt her presence. So his lack of communication wasn’t about being so preoccupied that he didn’t know she was there. He knew and chose not to talk—the exact opposite of how he’d been with her before now.
Once out of the car, she retrieved from the back passenger seat a basket filled with treats she’d baked yesterday. Hopefully, the cupcakes would ease her path with his brothers. What was that saying about a way to a man’s good side was through his stomach?
She headed to the wide front gate in the gray and white picket fence. A handsome cop with a craftsman home at Green Lake. How was Heath still single?
“Harper, wait.” Seth wrapped a hand gently around her forearm and slid his hand down to grasp hers. “I need to apologize.”
She blinked her surprise at his change of mood.
“Last night was difficult for me. I tried to deal with things the best way possible, but I didn’t make it easy on you.” Seth glanced toward his brother’s house and back to her. “Just now, looking at Heath’s place, reminded me you’re here without any allies, apart from Dillon and me.” He stepped closer, spreading his hand into her hair she’d left loose to fall down her back. The sensation of his fingertips on her scalp sent a flurry of tingles down her neck and over her shoulders. “You’re putting yourself in a vulnerable position for me.”
“Yes.” She squeezed his hand. “Because right now, that’s what I need to do. If we’re going to take whatever is growing between us further, I need to get to know those guys, and vice-versa.”
Seth’s lips quirked. “So you’re not asking for space anymore?”
She straightened her shoulders as her nerves dipped and dived in her belly. “You know, all that space can be kind of lonely. Sometimes you want someone close.”
He tugged on her hand, pulling her against his body. “I learned that lesson after last night.” He bent his head and claimed her mouth in a soft kiss and moved their joined hands to rest at the small of her back, molding her to his hard body.
“If you have to twist the lady’s arm to get a kiss, there’s something wrong with your technique, bro.” A voice rang out from the front of the house.
“Christ, my brothers,” Seth muttered as he lifted his head.
Harper’s giggle turned into a squeak when she saw Adam standing in the front doorway. Of all the brothers, it had to be him who caught them. At least he was dressed in jeans and a navy T-shirt and not his black combat gear as if he was about to take down an enemy insurgent at a moment’s notice—namely her.
“Don’t worry, coffee girl. If he’s joking, he’s in a good mood.” Seth chuckled as he led her past the gate and the clipped shapes of shiny green rhododendron and azalea shrubs.
Right. She gripped the handle of her cane basket just that little bit tighter. Smile and take no crap. That had been Jinx’s advice as she dropped Harper off at Seth’s office yesterday. All rightly then.
With each step, she felt Adam’s laser-like gray gaze studying her. Nothing she could do but be herself. Isn’t that what caught Seth’s eye in the first place?
“Hey, Adam.” She greeted Seth’s brother as they reached the bottom step of the front veranda. “Let me assure you, Seth’s technique is off-the-charts fabulous.”
Seth wrapped his arm around her shoulders, his eyes dancing with glee. “Glad to hear it, luv.” He graced Adam with his self-satisfied smirk. “Anytime you need pointers with the ladies, big bro, just shout out.”
Adam made a sound that could have been a laugh, or him just clearing his throat. But Harper could swear she saw a glint of amusement in his eyes. “I could kill you in your sleep and you’d never hear me coming. Remember that.” Adam half turned toward the front door. “Come inside. Heath’s ready to show off his barbecuing skills, and we all want to discuss your recent trip down memory lane with Lincoln.”
Harper wasn’t surprised at Adam’s words. The guys must be anxious despite the phone calls Seth had shared with each of them last night.
Seth guided her up the steps. “You’ve been digging and have something to share?” he asked Adam, who lifted one brow in answer. Seth nodded. “Of course you have.”
Adam turned and disappeared deep into the house while Seth closed the front door behind them.
A large foyer area with waxed floorboards fed into a wide hallway. To the right was a spacious living area with two large sofas, a tiled green fireplace and a large screen TV. A mixture of earth-toned scatter rugs covered some of the floor. Iconic black and white Ansel Adam prints of Yosemite graced the wheat-colored walls. The space looked warm and inviting.
On the left was a bare room, its floor covered in ground sheets. Rollers and unused painting trays were stacked against one wall.
Seth caught her gazing at the unfinished room. “Heath’s been doing up the house since he bought it cheap at a foreclosure sale a few years ago. Place was a dump. Could have paid others to do the work, but he wants to leave his mark.”
