“Yeah. Did you know the females do the hunting?” His breathing quickened.
“Uh-huh.” I pulled his T-shirt over his head and dropped it to the floor.
“The males sleep most of the day and eat what the females bring them.”
“Harlan.”
“Yeah?”
I circled his nipples with my fingertips and watched his eyes brighten with desire. “You really want to talk about this, or you want to go to bed?”
“Let’s go.” He pushed past me, leaving me to scramble after him.
I caught him at the entrance to the bedroom.
“You’re in trouble now.” I pushed him up against the doorway and kissed him until he gasped for breath.
“That’s what I’m counting on, cowboy. Now shut up and kiss me again.”
Race had managedto schedule his surgery for the end of the month, which meant he needed to go for tons of tests beforehand. Harlan and I were in charge, alone together in the store, and it was the first chance I’d had to see him in a professional environment, interacting with customers. We agreed he’d work the register while I’d circulate on the floor, helping customers. Harlan needed to work on his interpersonal skills.
“I talked to my counselor last night when you were at work.” Harlan handed the shopping bag to the customer he’d rung up. “Thanks.”
“Oh yeah? How’d that go?”
While he busied himself making a cup of coffee, I studied his back, noticing how he’d gained weight since I’d first met him. How much stronger and healthier he looked. Would he stay after he got his life together? The thought of him leaving sent a sharp pain through me.
“Well. When I told him I was staying with you and that I’d gotten this job, he cautioned me about getting too complacent. Not everything will fall into place so neatly.” He held up the pot, and I nodded. He made me a cup and handed it to me.
“That’s true. What’d you say?” The aftereffects of what he’d done, to both himself and others, wouldn’t allow themselves to be swept away that easily. I knew Harlan had a long haul in front of him. I took a sip.
“I quoted Jane Austen to him.” That cocky grin had me almost spewing my coffee across the desk.
“Uh, what?”
“FromPride and Prejudice, you know?” He set his cup down on the desk and struck a pose. “‘There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.’”
“You’re outta your mind.” But I laughed along with him, thinking how nice it was to have him with me, working side-by-side. We had a steady stream of customers, and though a few times he needed my help, Harlan ended up impressing me.
I’d finished helping a group of book-club ladies select their next read when Austin, Rhoades, Frankie, and Aaron came into the store.
“What’re y’all doing here?”
Frankie gave me a hug. “Last I heard, this was a bookstore. What do you think we’re looking for?”
“Smartass.” I greeted the others. “You didn’t tell me you were comin’, is all.”
“Well,” Austin said, glancing around. “We’ve heard you talk so much about the place, and we were all hanging out and thought why not come by and check out the store since we knew both of you would be working.”
“Glad you did.”
Rhoades had picked up several newspapers and settled in one of the armchairs while Aaron wandered about until he found a gardening magazine and sat across from him, leaving me with Austin and Frankie. I had a feeling that was the plan all along.
“So everything’s working out okay?” Austin tipped his head a fraction to the side. “I mean with Harlan here.”
“Yeah. He’s working out great. And the customers love him.”
As if to prove my point, the three of us watched as he helped a little boy and his mother decide between the birthday cards stacked on a rack in front of the desk. If ever there was a man who had nothing in common with children, it was Harlan, yet he seemed to be having fun.
