Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“Get up off that floor! I didn’t raise you two to fight with each other like this. And you’re grown men, for crying out loud!”
I pushed off of Sean and stood, straightening my shirt. Sean did the same, then ran a hand through his precious hair, which was never out of place.
“What in the world is going on?” Mom asked Dad.
Holding his hands up again, he replied, “I’m not getting involved.”
Sean cleared his throat. “It’s nothing, Mom.”
“It’s nothing?” I repeated, still just as angry as before. “You don’t deserve her, Sean. Not one bit!”
Confused, my mother looked between us. “Doesn’t deserve who?”
I turned and started toward the door. Without looking back, I barked, “Harper.”
I sat in my truck in the back parking lot of Memory Lane Toys, trying to figure out how in the hell I’d snapped like I had with my brother. Dropping my head back, I closed my eyes and breathed deeply.
A knock on my window caused me to jerk my head up. To my surprise, Harper was standing there, a smile on her face. I grabbed my keys and opened the door.
“Is everything okay?” she asked, a look of concern on her beautiful face.
“Yeah, it’s been a long day.”
She nodded. “Listen, are you busy?”
Smiling slightly, I leaned against my truck. “Why? Do you need help making arrangements?”
Laughing, she shook her head. “No, I just wanted to talk to you for a few minutes. Maybe invite you up for a glass of wine or a beer.”
“A beer sounds really fucking good right about now.”
Her eyes drifted down to my chin, and she frowned. “Is your chin bruised?”
I reached up and winced. Fucking asshole got in a good one. “Yeah, but I’m fine.”
This time, Harper’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Well, let’s head up to my place, then we can make our way up to the rooftop. Sound good?”
Nodding, I motioned with my hand. “Lead the way.”
I followed Harper as we walked to the back door of the flower shop, then through the back area and up the steps to her apartment. She unlocked the door…and my heart started to pound in my chest. I wasn’t sure why I was so nervous to be in her home.
That was a lie. I did know why I was nervous. I’d had a thing for this woman for far too long, and now I was alone with her in her apartment, and all I wanted to do was kiss her.
But first, I needed to know what in the hell was going on with her and Sean.
Harper dropped her purse and keys on the table and went to the refrigerator. I glanced around the large, open space. It was decorated in soft shades of green, blue, and gray. The furniture looked comfortable, like Harper was more concerned about having cozy places to sit rather than pieces that made a statement. There was a sofa and a giant chair that looked like it could easily fit four people. The latter sat next to windows that faced Main Street.
A small orange and white, long-haired cat was curled up on the massive seat cushion, and I walked over to it. The moment it saw me, she stretched and started to purr.
“I didn’t know you had a cat.”
Harper laughed. “Neither did I until yesterday when she followed me up the steps and into my apartment. She’s been in that chair ever since. Well, I did take her to the vet this morning. She’s young, just a few months old. No chip or anything and a bit underweight.”
“You’re going to keep her?” I asked, stroking the little kitten and smiling when her purr grew louder.
“I think so. It’s kind of lonely living by myself, and I don’t really have time for a dog. I didn’t think I was a cat person until she snuggled up with me in bed last night.”
Lucky kitten.
“What’s her name?”
Harper handed me the beer and looked at the little furball. “I’ve been calling her Kitten. That’s what the vet put down as well. I’m a terrible fur mom already.”
I laughed and picked up the kitten with my free hand. Her little blue eyes looked into mine, and I smiled. “What about Daisy?”
Harper tilted her head and studied the little cat. “I like that name. It fits her and the situation.”
Kissing the little bugger on the head, I set her back down. She turned in a circle and laid back down.
“Guess that was it for introductions,” Harper laughed. “Do you want to head up to the roof?”
“Sure.”
We walked up the steps in silence. A large open area held an oversized chair and bookcases, all filled with books.
“My room is down this short hall, and the other rooms are down that way. The bathroom’s there, as well, if you need to use it.”
I nodded. “Sounds good.”
Harper headed to the short set of steps that led to the roof, and I followed. Once we were outside, she went to the sofa and sat down. I headed to the edge of the roof and looked down over Main Street. “They’re getting ready for the block party, I see.”