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I break away from her challenging stare and put the truck in drive, pulling away from the curb like my ass is on fire. I can’t stop thinking about her pretty coral lips smiling at me, then the sapphire flames that overtook her shy gaze when she stood toe to toe with me. She doesn’t know what my sister’s doing so I don’t really care what she thinks about that.
What I do care about is that I can’t have these feelings. I don’t have time for them. I can’t afford to think about anything but my sister. Can’t deal with anything else while I’m trying to make sure she doesn’t fuck up what’s meant to be a good life.
I didn’t have a chance to go to college. I went into the army after high school, trying to help my parents out. They struggled for so long that it felt almost like a relief when they passed.
Except for Heather. She’s angry and hurt and she doesn’t express it very well. Big surprise. She’s an angry, emotional teenager. She just wants to have a good time and make life as miserable for me as she can.
I pull into the driveway and sit in the dark after I turn off the truck. Heather isn’t home yet and I’m glad. I need a minute. Or two or three.
I need to clear my head for yet another argument with my baby sister and hope that maybe she’ll finally understand what’s going on.
I snort and pull the keys out of the truck before I grab my bag and climb down into the driveway. I really wish that I could believe that she was going to finally see sense. But I seriously doubt it.
Speaking of seeing sense. What was up with the little firecracker in the pottery studio? And why can’t I stop thinking about her?
I need to keep my wits about me and when I see my sister coming down the sidewalk, I push all thoughts of the gorgeous blond right out of my head.
My life is such a mess right now. I can’t drag someone else into it. No one else should have to deal with the mess that I’ve made out of my life. Least of all a beautiful woman like that one.
CHAPTER3
Harrison
“I’m telling you that I wasn’t planning anything, Harrison! He just happened to be there!”
I shoot my sister a skeptical look. “Do I look like I was just born yesterday?”
“No,” she huffs. “But it’s the truth. I didn’t actually plan on meeting him there. It just happened.”
My lips twist. “Just a happy coincidence. Right. And I’m happily married and a duke.”
“Well, you’re lordship, it’s the truth,” she growls and stalks off to her room.”
“Just stay the hell away from him, Heather!” She slams her door and I groan, pulling the fridge open and yanking out a cold beer, twisting the top and taking a long drink.
“I don’t know why she thinks she can pull the wool over on me but I’m not that dumb,” I growl, stomping over to flop into my armchair.
The doorbells rings and I growl. As soon as my ass hits the damn cushions!Who the hell could be out there now?
I open the door and groan when I see my new little‘friend’standing outside the door. I lean against the door jamb and grunt, trying to make myself look as unfriendly as possible. I didn’t want to do this now. I just wanted my beer and some quiet time before I went to bed.
“What the hell are you doing here, princess? Are you a stalker as well as a pain in the ass?”
She shoots me a smug look and holds up my sister’s purse. “I am neither of those things. The second one, however, might be true for you. You dragged your poor sister out of there so fast that she didn’t even get a chance to grab her purse.”
She slams it into my chest and pushes off with her hand to turn and walk away. I drop it to the ground and then grab her arm, pulling her around to face me again. Her pouty lip curls and she glares daggers at me.
“Excuse me, buddy, but I’m in a hurry. I’ve got a bed calling my name and I have to be up early in the morning. Sooo…”. She gives me a hard look and then stares at my hand like she actually expects me to do what she tells me to.
“I bet all the little boys in your little art classes fall into line real well there, princess. But I’m no boy and I don’t take orders from someone who just shows up and throws things at me at my front door. Especially ones with enough attitude to get their ass spanked if they’re not careful!”
She hisses and pulls at her arm, glaring at my hand. “What exactly do you want, neanderthal?”
“I want you to come in so my sister can tell you thank you for returning her purse. I want you to attempt to act like a civilized person for five minutes and say thank you to her for thanking you.”
Her lips curl again and her blue eyes sparkle like sapphires in the dim light on the front porch. “Wow! An invitation over your threshold, neanderthal. It’s a good thing I’m not a vampire or you might regret it!”
I let go of her arm and shove my hands into my hair, tugging at it like it’s going to fix the anxious, unnerved feeling I seem to get every time I’m around this woman. “I’m not so sure about that. I just met you and yet you seem to suck all the life out of me!”
