Knowing they needed to clear the air, Colson took a stool next to him. “Look, I was completely wrong to accuse you of using your position to take advantage of people. And I apologize.”
“It was. I’ve never stepped out of line performing my job. An accusation like that could damage my career.” Harper grew more agitated by the moment. “I could lose my job.”
“Whoa, Harper, wait a second. Slow down.” Colson scrambled away from him and put the span of the island between them. “How did one little, stupid remark become this mess?” He gentled his voice. “I’m sorry. It was mean and nasty, and I apologize. I don’t believe you’re like that. And what I said was in the privacy of my home, with only the two of us around. How could anyone possibly find out?”
Harper ran a hand through his hair. “Maybe you’d talk about it with your friends. I don’t know. You have a habit of saying things in public that shock people. Did you forget those ladies in the coffee house?”
“Oh, Christ.” He groaned. “Come on, Harper. That wasonce, and specifically for their benefit. I knew they were being nosy, and I wanted to have some fun with them. I was playing a game.”
Obviously, he and Harper had a different idea of fun, because Harper wasn’t smiling.
“I can’t afford to take my job lightly. I shouldn’t have kissed you. It just happened.”
There was something Harper wasn’t saying, but he didn’t elaborate, remaining tight-lipped.
“I understand you’re very dedicated. I’d never tell anyone what happened while the case was being investigated.” Colson didn’t want this—whatever “this” was that he and Harper had growing between them—to end before it had a chance to be explored further. “But the case is over.” He waited.
The darkness in Harper’s face lightened. “So it is. And the night is young.”
Colson grinned. “And I’m hungry. So you may not like sushi, but I’m going to have some of this.”
“Not to worry. I can watch television while you eat your raw fish.” He wrinkled his nose, and Colson laughed.
“What do you have against sushi?”
Harper shuddered. “I don’t like eating raw things. Food is meant to be cooked.”
“What about veggies?” Colson popped a salmon-avocado roll into his mouth.
Harper rolled his eyes. “That’s not food. That’s grazing. Totally different.” He turned on the set and found an old black-and-white romantic comedy, which to Colson’s surprise, he settled in to watch.
“You like classic movies?”
Harper’s smile was wistful. “Yeah. My mom used to watch them.”
Colson slowed his chewing. This was the first time Harper had mentioned his family or anything personal. He swallowed.
“My grandparents did too. Bette Davis was their favorite.”
Harper’s eyes glowed. “She was the greatest.Dark Victory,The Little Foxes,Jezebel. People would say my mother looked like her when she was young.” He shrugged, as if suddenly aware how much he’d revealed. “Anyway, yeah. I’ll just sit here while you eat.”
Dammit. Every time he thought he was getting a bit closer to the enigma that was Harper Rose, the man threw the walls up.
Colson finished a roll, and though he was still hungry, he decided not to waste time eating sushi when he could have Harper Rose in his mouth.
“Are you sure you don’t want to try?”
He plopped himself next to Harper on the large sectional sofa.
“I told you—mmph.”
His mouth hit Harper’s. “Taste me.” Harper sucked his tongue, and Colson wondered if he could come from a simple kiss. He was beginning to realize, though, that nothing about Harper Rose was simple.
“That wasn’t so bad.” Harper licked his lips. “A little salty and a little sweet.”
“Like you.” Colson nudged Harper’s cheek with his nose and trailed kisses along his jaw. “But this is ginger and soy sauce. They play well together.”
“Like us. How about we take this off,” Harper whispered in a husky voice that sent a thrill up his spine. He tugged at the hem of Colson’s shirt. “I’d rather play with you.”
