“Ty, you’ll get your reward after your shift.” She tugged him in for a hard kiss on the mouth and grinned up at him. “Don’t forget to pick up eggs on your way home.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he sighed. “I’ll hold you to that reward. Well, I’m gonna run this asshole by the ER on the way to jail.” He winked and headed back to his squad car. Glenn was slumped over in the back seat. Ty slid behind the wheel. “See y’all later.”
He flipped on the lights as he peeled out of the lot to the delight of the crowd.
She tossed her dark curls rolled her eyes heavenward. “That’s my husband,” she sighed. “So, Tough Girl. Got a name?”
“Harper.”
“I’m Sophie. Welcome to Benevolence, Harper. How about some ice for that face?”
CHAPTER TWO
Sophie set Harper up with some Ibuprofen, ice, and an impromptu doctor’s visit in the ladies’ room.
“Okay, Harper, I’m thinking you may have escaped a concussion. You are very lucky,” Trish Dunnigan said, leaning in to check Harper’s pupils one more time. “I’d like to see you tomorrow morning though. I don’t think your arm is broken, but it could be a hairline fracture. Same with the ribs. You need an X-ray.”
“Oh, I won’t be here tomorrow. I’m just passing through.”
“All right, then make sure you see your primary care doctor ASAP.”
Harper nodded, knowing that that wasn’t going to happen.
“Thanks for the house call, doc,” Sophie said, leaning against the vanity.
“No problem. I was in the neighborhood getting some takeout. Happy to help.” She waved on her way out the door.
“Sorry to be so much trouble,” Harper said from under the ice pack.
“Are you kidding? You’re a hero. Glenn has been wailing on that poor Gloria since high school.”
Harper sighed. “What a dick.”
“You got that right.” Sophie leaned towards the mirror to apply a fresh coat of lipgloss. “So what’s your story? I know you’re not from around here.”
Harper sighed. “It’s a long story. Let’s just say I caught my boyfriend-slash-boss in a compromising position with a delivery girl today and stormed off with nothing but my car keys.”
“And then ended up getting punched out by a drunken jack-off in a parking lot?”
“Yep.”
“Wow. That is a bad day.” Sophie studied her for a minute. “So no wallet, no phone, no cash?”
“Nothing. Also, I ran out of gas in your parking lot.”
Sophie threw her head back and laughed. “Kid, it couldn’t have happened in a better place. I’ll take care of everything.” She tucked her gloss into her front pocket. “My shift’s starting, so meet me at the bar. I’ve got a beer and some nachos with your name on them.”
Harper watched as Sophie breezed out through the barn-style door. What she wouldn’t give for that kind of confidence in life.
She dropped the icepack and looked in the mirror. The bruise was nasty all right. It flowed from temple to cheekbone in a mottled purple. What if Luke was still out there?
Harper yanked her hair out of her ponytail and brushed her bangs sideways across her forehead to cover some of the bruising. She let the rest of her hair fall, tousled around her face.
Not great. But it would have to do.
She pushed through the door and into a very lively Friday night. The log cabin theme continued in the main bar with timber beams and a huge stone fireplace off to the side. Twin pool tables drew a crowd in a raised alcove overlooking the outdoor patio.
And there was Luke, standing at the long, rustic bar with a beer, waiting. He nudged an empty stool towards her with his foot. The gesture walked the line between invitation and order.
