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When he didn’t elaborate, she huffed. He was seriously testing her patience. Showing up without any warning, when she was feeling emotionally and physically drained, was just beyond bearing. She wanted him gone right now, and she needed to call Libby to find out how she was coping with the emotional shit storm that Greyson had probably just landed at her doorstep.
“You should leave—I’m knackered and not in the mood to deal with this insanity right now.”
“I’m trying to tell you that I rented the place next to yours,” he snapped, his patience clearly wearing thin, and Tina felt her jaw drop as she stared at him uncomprehendingly.
What?
“I don’t . . . what do you mean?” she stuttered, not sure she had heard him properly. Praying she hadn’t heard him properly.
“I reckoned it would take some time for Greyson to admit defeat, and I’d need a place to stay in the meantime, so I rented this place.”
Was he serious? What the hell?
The notion of Harris living in the other half of the split house was so completely outlandish that Tina could do nothing but stare at his tall figure for a long moment while her mind tried to process his words.
“That’s ridiculous!” she said, hoping he could hear the contempt in her delayed response.
“It’s the only place available for short-term rental,” he said.
“You won’t be here that long. You should have rented a room from the motel.”
“I tried. They’re full. There are few other options in this tiny town—just a limited number of guesthouses and boutique hotels. All full, before you ask,” he added hastily when she opened her mouth to ask him why he wasn’t staying at one of those places. “I rented this place for three months—the shortest lease term available—but that doesn’t mean I’ll be staying here for that long.”
“And you couldn’t find any other rentals?” she asked dubiously. It seemed unlikely that there would be absolutely no vacancies anywhere. It was the middle of July: not exactly peak tourism season.
“I told you I couldn’t. Apparently, there’s a cheese festival the next town over, and everything is fully booked this weekend.”
Of course, the cheese festival. One of the reasons Tina had chosen this as her opening weekend—she’d hoped that the out-of-town visitors would boost business. But tourists couldn’t very well eat at an establishment they didn’t even know existed. That thought just made the entire disaster of a night feel much worse.
“And you knew I was renting the place next door?”
“No.”
She tilted her head as she considered that short, curt response. He looked pissed off. Harris was always at his most honest when he was angry.
“Big coincidence.” She still couldn’t keep the disbelief from her voice, and he made a fierce gesture with his hands, obviously frustrated with her.
“I thought so too,” he said through gritted teeth. “Hard though this may be for you to believe, Tina, my world does not revolve around you. I have my reasons for being here, and those reasons have next to nothing to do with you.”
Ouch. Like she needed that pointed out to her. But she supposed the slight was largely her fault. She had been responding to all his comments with blatant suspicion and disbelief. Still, she hated being put in her place by Harrison Chapman; it felt unjust. She should have him on the back foot, not vice versa.
“The landlord told me that my neighbor was the new owner of the local eatery, and I put two and two together.”
“How can you and Greyson both just up and leave work like this?”
“We can run the company from anywhere—just need a laptop and a phone, really. And a dedicated team of people who are amazing at their jobs.”
“Nice work if you can get it,” she groused, thinking of the dismal evening she’d just had.
“How was the relaunch?” he asked, seeming to read her mind.
“Why do you know so much about what I’ve been up to?” she asked, irritated that he seemed so up to speed on her comings and goings.
“Smith and Libby.”
Of course. Tina was a little annoyed with the other woman for divulging so much of her private business to Harris, but at the same time she knew her friend didn’t have any reason not to. Libby likely wanted her conversations with Harris to remain neutral and Greyson-free. It was inevitable she would keep her chats with him limited to Clara, Tina, and work. Of course, Libby knew Tina and Harris didn’t get along, but she didn’t know the extent of it. Some wounds were too painful to discuss.
“Also, Greyson,” Harris admitted, and Tina’s eyes widened. Now that was more than a little unexpected.
“What?”
“He’s been keeping tabs on Libby.”
“Oh my God, she’s going to be furious.” Tina gasped. “I’m furious!”
“I was too,” Harris said while Tina surveyed his strong, handsome features pensively. The only source of light came from the porch, and it highlighted the stark angles and planes of his face dramatically, casting shadows and giving him a vaguely sinister look.
