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The sincerity in her tone tells me she means that.
Sage joins us on the sofa. “We know how you feel about Harlem, and we also know how he feels about you. We were only trying to help.”
“I know you two think there is something between me and Harlem, but I can assure you, he doesn’t feel anything for me. Shoot, he couldn’t wait to get away from me this morning. He probably finds me repulsive after seeing me in my granny panties,” I toss out. Then I realized what just fell out of my big mouth. “Um…any chance we can pretend you didn’t just hear that?”
Juniper gapes at me. “Oh, hell no.”
I close my eyes and groan. “Please.”
“No way.” Sage clutches my arm.
“Don’t you two have clients coming in any minute or something?”
Juniper looks at her watch. “Not for forty-five minutes. Now spill, heifer.”
“And start at what happened yesterday between you and Harlem at the clubhouse before you get to the part about him seeing you in your granny panties,” Sage adds. “Because I feel like there are some juicy details in between.”
Knowing there is no way I’m getting out of telling them about my humiliating debacle, I give them a rundown of yesterday’s events before telling them how Harlem showed up at my house early this morning to fix my window and how I didn’t know he was there, then everything that followed.
“Wow,” Juniper says, like Harlem beating the crap out of a man is something to swoon over. Sage, however, looks ready to spit nails.
“Why didn’t you tell anyone about the vandalism, Sukie?” Sage asks.
I shrug. “I did at first. I called the police the first couple of times it happened, but they never did anything about it. Eventually, I stopped calling them.”
“That’s such bullshit,” Sage seethes.
I shrug again, because even though she’s right, being shunned by this town and having the police ignore my problems is something I’m used to. “It’s no secret what my mom was in prison for. You go away for murdering a well-respected and loved cop; you’re going to be subject to that kind of treatment,” I say quietly.
Sage grabs my hand, and her face softens. “You’ve never spoken of what happened with your mom, and we had never wanted to push, knowing you’d tell us that story if and when you were ready, but no matter what the story is, you and your mom do not deserve that kind of treatment from your community, and you sure as hell don’t deserve to be ignored by the police when you are facing harassment and home vandalism.”
I give Sage a small smile. “Thanks. And you’re right, but I feel so helpless.”
“You’re not helpless anymore,” Juniper says with conviction.
“She’s right,” Sage agrees. “You have us, and you have the club. I’m sure Harlem has filled Salem in on what’s been happening by now. That kind of shit won’t stand. We won’t let it.”
I choke back the emotion clogging my throat. “Thanks, guys. I’m lucky to have you two in my life. I’d gone so long without friends; I forgot what it was like.”
“We will always have your back, Sukie,” Juniper says softly.
“Damn straight,” Sage adds, making me giggle, and the three of us hug.
A minute later, Juniper changes the subject. “Now, I want to talk more about Harlem seeing you in your granny panties.”
7
HARLEM
As I hit the open road, I twist the throttle, rev the engine, and increase my speed, trying to drown the conflicting thoughts in my head. Sukie is getting under my skin. To make matters worse, I can’t shake the image of her wearing nothing but a stained t-shirt and panties, looking utterly disheveled by my presence. I drank in the sight of her like a man dying of thirst. She couldn’t have been more beautiful at that moment.
I’m also aware I’m a dick for leaving the way I did, but I had no choice. I felt my resolve wavering. I had to put distance between myself and temptation. I don’t pine after no woman. I’m a fucking killer. I come from a long line of deviant, heartless men. Between my past and present, there is no room for wanting more. It’s too fucking risky, and her safety means more than my wants. I’m not a man to love or be loved. But Sukie is unknowingly penetrating my armor, making me wonder if it’s possible to have more. She’s making me feel things I don’t want to feel. I need to find a way to get her out of my fucking head.
I try to find calm in the storm by getting lost in the freedom of my wheels turning against the blacktop, with the wind on my face and the sun’s warmth on my skin. But no matter how fast I go or how far I travel, I’m still consumed by thoughts of her.
After a few hours, I stop at the edge of a small rocky cliff overlooking the ocean. I close my eyes, listening to the waves crashing against the shoreline below, hoping the rhythmic sound will wash away my stress. But the thoughts and emotions plaguing me remain.
I let out a deep, frustrated breath. “Sukie has me all kinds of fucked up,” I mutter, my voice low and tinged with anger and confusion.
