A minute later, Colson appeared, sleepy-eyed, his hair messy, as if he’d just woken up. Did he have somebody with him? That thought annoyed him.
“Did I interrupt you? I did say I was coming by.”
“No. I was watching something on television and must’ve fallen asleep.”
“Another wild Friday night?” Harper razzed, and Colson flushed and thrust his jaw out. Harper enjoyed teasing Colson—maybe too much.
“You said you had something to show me?”
“Can I come inside at least?”
Colson hesitated, and Harper leaned in closer. “I promise to keep my lips to myself.”
“You’re a better detective than you are a comedian.” With a huff, Colson stepped aside, and Harper passed by him. Their eyes met, and that same sizzle of heat as the time before sprang up between them. Colson met him in the center of the hallway, and Harper gazed around.
“Well, I think I’m good at both. Nice place. Very different from the old homes, like Ms. Johnson’s.”
“I like wide-open spaces.”
“Like your birds and butterflies?” Harper murmured.
Colson’s cheeks reddened. “Haven’t you ever wished you could leave it all behind and just…be free?”
He didn’t know how to answer that. He had no idea what it meant to be free, and yet he wouldn’t have it any other way.
He held out the file. “This is yours, I believe.”
Puzzled, Colson took it and opened it. He pulled out the mangled photograph.
“Oh, my God. You found it. How…I can’t…Harper.” He sank to one of the bottom steps of the staircase. “Thank you,” he whispered. Shiny-eyed and flushed, he blinked. “Thank you so much.”
“I’m sorry it’s in such poor condition.” Harper’s smile was wry. “It took two hours and about two hundred bags of trash until I found it.”
“You’re apologizing?” Colson stared at him as if two heads had popped up between his shoulders. “You’ve found the most precious thing to me. And I know you didn’t have to do it.”Colson redirected his attention to the picture. “You have no idea…”
“I think there are places where you can get damaged photos restored. Hopefully they can help.”
Colson nodded, running his fingertips over the photo. “I’ll look into it.”
“So…I’ll be going.” Harper turned to leave.
“No, wait, please.” Colson sprang to his feet, and Harper stayed still. “I, uh, I was going to order something to eat, but I fell asleep. Would you like to join me?”
Was he hungry? Not at all.
“Sure. I’d love to.”
Colson slipped the photo into the Redweld and set it on the table by the staircase. “How do you feel about sushi?”
He wasn’t a fan.
“Sounds good.”
Colson handed him his phone. “See anything you like?”
Yeah. You.
“I’ll let you pick. I’m easy.”
