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He looked at his phone. “It’s Joel.”
At this point, she feared what news might come.
FORTY-FIVE
HARPER FLIPPED A SWITCHon the hallway wall, and light flooded her home.
“Come on in,” she said, leading him down the short foyer hall and into what could only be described as a greenhouse with potted plants lining the perimeter of the space. Windows, two stories high, surrounded them. His gaze followed them up to the vaulted ceiling and a loft overhead. A jungle’s worth of flowering plants sat on the loft’s wide ledge, vines spiraling down.
A U-shaped sectional sofa sat flanked by two armchairs with those fluff-ball ottomans Riley loved. An area rug covered the tile floor, and a cool old trunk sat in the center of the seating arrangement. He smiled. Harper Grace hadn’t ceased to surprise him. She was one cool chick, and if things were different, ifhewere different, he’d definitely pursue getting to know her on a deeper level. “Nice place,” he said, following her in as she turned on more lights, strategically placed throughout the living space.
She looked up at him, her blonde hair spilling over her shoulder. “Thanks. I moved in a couple years ago, and I love it. You’ll see it in the morning, but I have the best view of the sunrise. If you’re up that early.”
“I’m always up for the sunrise. I don’t need much sleep.” It’d come from never really being able to securely fall asleep at night—always needing to be somewhat alert for what might come. A last-minutedash to a “safer” motel. A drive to a middle-of-nowhere town to hide from the last man they should have conned. It’d cost his dad’s life, landed his mom in jail, but thankfully hadn’t touched them. Though that fear always weighed in the back of his mind—that someone would harm his siblings.
“Cool,” Harper said, thankfully having no idea of the hardened memories streaking through his mind. “I’ll set the coffeemaker to go off at five.”
He chuckled. How did she manage that? To bring light into his darkness so easily. “I’m not up quitethatearly.” He rolled out of bed just before daybreak.
“Gotcha. Well, coffee will be waiting when you get up.”
“Thanks. Where should I put my pack?” he asked. Packing light was a safety measure he’d held on to since childhood.Be packed and on the road in under two minutes.
“Come on,” she said, moving for the back hall. “I’ll show you to the guest bedroom.” She opened the first door on the left and flipped on the light switch. “Here we are.”
A queen-sized bed with pink flowers across the comforter and white pillows that looked like shag carpeting covered the bed. He arched a brow and looked back at her.
“Sorry for the girly decoration. My niece comes to stay with me for a while in the summer, so I let her decorate the room.”
“Nice aunt.”
“I’ve got to be the favorite one, you know.” She winked.
He smiled. “Do you have a big family?”
“Five of us. Four girls and one poor guy who has to put up with all of us.” She chuckled. “Well ...” She remained standing close to him, fiddling with a strand of her hair. “I guess I should let you get settled. It’s late.”
He swallowed, attraction sifting through him. “Sounds good,” he managed, not wanting her to leave. “I’ll see you at 0600.”
She nodded. “Sleep tight.”
A smile tugged at his lips at the expression. “Thanks. You too.”
It took her a moment, but she turned and headed back for the living room.
Entering the bedroom, he set his pack on the frilly bed and chuckled. If Riley saw where he was sleeping, she’d never stop razzing him.
He pulled his lounge pants out of the pack and set the bag aside.
Sliding his shirt over his head, he took the sniff test. It smelled like the firepit. He glanced to the adjacent bathroom. Best wash it out and save his second T-shirt for another day as he imagined they’d be hunkered here a while.
He pulled the sink plug, turned the water on, and pumped some of the hand soap in. Once it filled halfway, he shut off the warm water spewing in and stuck his shirt in, scrunching it about.
A knock sounded on the door.
“Come in,” he called over his shoulder.
“I forgot to give you some towels for the morn—” She stopped short.
