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Swallowing over the lump in my throat, I nod. “I hope so,” I finally reply.
He grabs my shoulder and gives it a light squeeze. “Have faith, boy. Just have faith.”
And then he’s gone, heading down the sidewalk, past Harper’s store and to the bank on the corner. I lock up behind him, make sure everything is shut down, and make my way out the back. I bypass the stairs leading up to my apartment, since there’s nothing up there for me anyway except a week’s worth of dirty clothes and some moldy leftovers.
Outside, I spy her car still in the lot beside the alley. It takes everything I have not to go pound on her door and force her to talk to me. But if my dad has taught me anything, it’s that actions speak louder than words. I just pray she sees my actions as a positive, rather than a negative.
Ignoring the pull to go to her, I head into the building where our lumber is stored. It’s a tight fit in here, but Dad was able to keep a small area open for cutting wood and small projects. For the last few nights, I’ve been out here making new shelving units for the addition. I didn’t want your typical metal storage systems for the entire space, though we are using it for the back area that’ll house chainsaws, leaf blowers, and hedge trimmers.
Leaving the big door open to let the warm August air blow through, I head to the corner of the shop and grab the sander. The two large pieces are done, but I’m working on a small unit that’ll fit directly under the front window. It has cubical bins for merchandise and a padded bench for sitting. I’ve never had a seating area in the store before, but I can definitely see the benefits. How many times has a man brought his wife along into the hardware store, and while he browsed for his purchases, she looked bored out of her mind, like she’d rather be anywhere else but there? When I told my mom about the idea, she volunteered to make the cushions.
My mom’s the best.
I finish sanding the entire unit and get ready to apply the second coat of stain. Once it’s dry, I’ll add a few coats of polyurethane, to make sure it’s well protected and sealed, and then figure out how to haul it inside. I’ve got a few buddies I could probably call, but most of them I haven’t talked to yet since I returned. My mind instantly goes to Jensen and Samuel, who would probably rather drop the wooden units on my dead body than actually help me carry them inside the new space.
Headlights fill the alleyway, but I don’t look up. It’s probably Harper leaving for the night, and I don’t really want to see her ignoring me (not that I blame her). A car door opens and closes, which tells me it’s probably my dad. Mom has been sending him over with extra food lately, ever since I fucked everything up with Harper.
Dad steps into the doorway, but doesn’t say a word. I’m not really in the mood for a lecture, so I keep on stirring the stain as if it’s the most fascinating thing in the world.
“You just going to pretend I’m not here?”
I know that voice, and it definitely doesn’t belong to my father.
Glancing up, my eyes connect with those of Harper’s oldest brother. He’s wearing a charcoal gray suit, and his black shoes look like they cost my last paycheck. “Samuel,” I state, standing up straight and setting down the stain.
Neither of us speaks as we continue to stare at each other. I have no clue why he’s here, but he clearly has something to say. Hell, he probably wouldn’t mind taking a swing at me, not that I’d blame him. Not that I’d fight him off, either. I deserve any punches thrown my way.
“Was it an act?”
My throat tightens. “No.”
“No?” he asks, stepping inside the warehouse and walking my way.
“Not one moment of being with your sister was an act.”
He crosses his arms and continues to watch me. “I have a hard time believing that, especially after she outright asked you about it, and you didn’t deny it.”
I come around the table and lean back against it. He’s only a few feet in front of me now, his dark blue eyes boring into me. “I admit, I didn’t handle things right where Harper is concerned, but I did try to talk to her. She just wouldn’t hear it. I had planned to tell her about the building that afternoon, but she got the call from her realtor before I could.”
“You were going to tell her you were the bidder or that you had won?”
The air thickens around me. “Both.”
“Why did you start seeing her?” he asks, taking another step forward.
“Why?” I ask with a humorous laugh. Sobering, I tell him exactly why. “Because she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known, inside and out. She’s fiery and bossy. She knows how to get under my skin faster than anyone ever has before. She doesn’t put up with my crap, and doesn’t expect me to put up with hers either. She’s cagey when it comes to men, mostly because the ones in her past have jerked her around, but when she finally gives you her heart, it’s the most glorious thing I’ve ever experienced.”
“Yet you fucked it up.”
I hold his stare. “Yeah, I did. I didn’t get a chance to tell her about it at the party because she was already so pissed off and hurt, nothing I said would have mattered. I was a fucking idiot. I thought if I let her cool down a little, we’d be able to talk, like reasonable adults.”
Samuel snorts. “When have you ever known Harper to be reasonable?”
The corners of my mouth curl upward for the first time in ages. “True.” I stand up straight and face her brother. “I fucked up, I know. I love your sister, and have for pretty much my entire adult life. If I could go back in time and redo it all, I would, but I can’t. So now I’m trying to right my fucking wrong, trying to undo the pain and hurt I caused her. I’m going to explain and make her realize how much I love her.”
He watches me for several long seconds, and I’ll admit, I start to sweat a little. Not that I need Samuel’s approval on anything, but it would definitely make it easier in the future. A future I hope to have with Harper.
“You love her?”
