CHAPTER FOURTEEN - HARPER
Ashispowerfularmsenwrapped her in his pure masculine strength, Harper exhaled a shuddering breath, her hand on the smooth plane of his chest.
He tucked her head under his chin. “Shh, Kitten. I got you. There was no agreement between us.”
He sounded so sure, and Harper wanted to believe him, but it felt like she had done something wrong with Xander. And she had. She had thrown herself at him even after he told her no. She had stubbornly refused to give up hope. Even when he made it crystal clear there was none.
But remembering what Ares said, a part of her couldn’t give up entirely. She still thought Xander might come around.
God, what was wrong with her? Here she was cuddled in Logan’s powerful arms, breathing in his familiar scent, as he wiped away her tears and her heart still lurched, wishing Xander was nearby. Wishing that he hadn’t closed her out.
She jumped as the volume of the music increased and held on to Logan’s chest tighter. She felt the hot streak of tears and wiped them away.
“Kitten, I’m going to take you home. What do you say?”
When he had walked through the doors of the office on Monday, Harper wanted to launch herself into his arms, but she couldn’t. She didn’t know how he would react. Even though he talked about not being exclusive, Harper feared it was another thing when it came to Xander. Things had seemed tense between those two ever since Xander said she could play with him. And all week, Xander barely muttered a word to her and when he did it was clipped and artic and Harper couldn’t take it.
She feared she wrecked their friendship. The thought of that sent off a fresh wave of tears.
“I got you.”
He kept saying that and she believed him and oddly that made her feel worst.
In her peripheral Harper saw Ella drop off their stuff. Her friend smiled at her and Harper’s head felt so fuzzy, that she couldn’t form words to say anything.
“I’m so proud of you, Kitten.”
She shook her head against his chest.
“I am. You were brave tonight, trying rope. And you were strong tonight, for letting go.”
“This is stupid, I’m sorry.”
“You’re allowed to fall apart, Kitten. It’s okay.”
But she didn’t deserve him. She laid her head against his chest, letting the tears fall.They stayed like that until the music lowered and the noise of the crowd faded. Logan stroked her back, kissing her cheeks, letting her cry.
She came away from his chest, his soaked t-shrit and nodded. “Ready?” “Yes.” Logan helped her dress. She felt a little wobbly on her feet. He took her hand in his, leading her through the hallway out the back exit.
She kept her head down until they were outside, in the fresh air of the parking lot. “
Are you hungry?”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah, who?” The loo he gave her made her squirm uncomfortably.
“Sir.” Harper choked out the word over the tightness in her throat.
Logan opened his Jeep’s door for her, reached across her, drew the buckle, and snapped it in place. Before he pulled out, he punched in a few numbers and ordered Thai food. In silence, they drove to his condo.
“Stay here, one more minute,” he said after he parked.
“Okay,” Harper said.
She watched in the review mirror as Logan tapped on the bodyguard’s car window. After a few minutes, the black car drove off.
“All clear. Come on Kitten, let’s get some food in you,” he said.
