Sophie smacked Ty in the chest. “What are you waiting for, Mr. Law and Order?” Get in there and break it up.”
“Soph, I just ate three plates of turkey. I can’t bend over.”
“For the love of —” Aldo charged into the fray and dragged Luke off of James. “Knock it off,” he ordered pushing Luke over to the patio. “Cool off before you make a bigger ass of yourself.”
“What’s your problem?” James looked more confused than pissed off.
Harper crossed her arms against the November chill. “He’s been drinking. A lot,” she said. “I don’t know what’s going on with him.”
Sophie shook her head. “You better find out before Mom catches wind of this. She’ll want to hook him up with a therapist next.”
“That’s way worse than a spanking,” Aldo said.
Harper sighed and crossed the yard to Luke. He was sitting on the picnic table examining a cut on the back of his right hand. He stared as a trickle of blood rolled off his hand onto the brick of the patio.
“Come on inside. I’ll clean that up for you,” she said, reaching for him.
He pulled back. “I can take care of it.”
Harper leaned in. “Don’t be an asshole. You’ve got two choices. You either go upstairs with me now to get this cleaned up, or I let Sophie tell your mom you just tried to tear your brother’s head off at Thanksgiving because his team was beating yours.”
“He had his hands all over you.”
“That’s bullshit and it’s not going to go over any better with Claire. Let’s go.”
The muscle in his jaw ticked, but he got up and followed her inside.
In their bathroom upstairs, she gently cleaned the cut with soap and water. “I can do this myself,” he grumbled.
Harper ignored him and taped a piece of gauze over the wound.
“What? So now you’re pissed at me?”
“Now? More like still,” she said coolly.
“What the hell do you have to be pissed about? You got everything you wanted.”
He stood up, towering over her. Hands on hips, Harper went toe to toe with him.
“I don’t know what is going on in that head of yours, but I’m guessing the beer and wine didn’t help. I’m pissed because once again you can’t be bothered to talk to me. What is going on with you? Is it coming home? Joni? Me? I’m not a freaking mind reader.” She poked him in the chest.
“You’re upset about something and it’s probably valid. But instead of talking to me about it, you just want to wallow in it and lash out.That’swhat I’m pissed off about.”
She wiped her hands on the towel and threw it back on the counter. “So either go find someone to talk to or find some way to deal with it. Don’t take it out on everyone else.”
Harper made a move to brush past him but found herself caged against the vanity and between Luke’s arms.
She lifted her chin and stared him in the eye. For a second, she caught a glimpse of something beyond sadness. And then it was gone and he was crushing his mouth to hers with a need so intense it stole her breath.
“Goddamnit. Why do you do this to me?” Luke asked as his lips roamed her face. His hands streaked under her sweater. Busy fingers cruised to the front closure of her bra and flicked it open.
He filled his hands with her breasts and brought his mouth to hers.
They moaned together.
He slid a hand into the waistband of her yoga pants, fingers sliding over her slick folds and into her heat.
“I hate how much I want you.” His fingers drove into her tight center and she gasped at the invasion. His erection begged to be released.
