He’d ended up agreeing to fly out to Los Angeles to meet Michael, Dred, and other members of the team to check for “on-screen chemistry” —words he never thought he’d hear in a sentence with his own name.All expenses would be paid, he’d be able to visit some buddies, and he’d maybe take a bike ride up the coast and check out some West Coast studios along the way.
He sent the nondisclosure document to the printer.The rattle of the paper as it loaded into the machine was loud in the quiet of the room.
Life was certainly taking an interesting turn.Well, two.He hadn’t planned on kissing Harper last night.Hell, he hadn’t even intended to see her.
Anyone else would have already been in his bed for her one and only visit, but the thought of doing that with Harper didn’t sit right.She deserved better.And just one night wasn’t—for the first time in so long—what he wanted either.He’d been as excited as a teenager when she’d returned his kiss last night with more passion than he could imagine.
The way her lips had moved over his, how they’d opened for him.And that tentative tongue—it made him groan all over again thinking of it.Like he was a teenage girl or something, he’d gone to bed without brushing his teeth so he could continue to appreciate her sweet flavor, wondering how the rest of her would taste.
Rearranging his jeans to bring himself some relief, he grabbed his phone, deciding to call her before he went over to Cujo’s to talk to him about the show, nondisclosure be damned.He wasn’t making a decision this big without talking to his best friend.As for Harper, there was no point getting her hopes up until the ink was dry.He’d wait until the deal was done and surprise her.Maybe it was wishful thinking that they’d be a couple by then, but he wanted to make sure he had more to offer her before he put his heart on the line again.
***
For the second night in a row, Harper found herself standing in her shoe box of a bedroom, getting ready to do something she wasn’t quite sure how she’d been talked into.Trent had called her, and despite her attempts to say no, she’d found herself agreeing.She cursed herself as she stood helplessly looking into her narrow closet for inspiration.
One drink wouldn’t be so bad.She’d politely tell him that she just needed him to finish the tattoo.And that they could be friends, butjustfriends.Anything more was more than she wanted.Or needed.
With a loud huff she threw herself onto her white herringbone comforter and punched her pillow.Who was she trying to kid?No matter how many times she’d said that to herself, she eventually went back to thinking about how his lips had felt on hers.Grabbing the pillow, she pulled it over her head, using it to deaden a frustrated scream.
The phone rang, making her jump.
“Hey, Harper, what’s happenin’?”Drea could be so damn cheery.
“I’m throwing a pity party and no one is invited.”
“Is it going to be an all-nighter?Are ice cream, pajamas, and a made-for-TV movie involved?”
“Funny, Drea.I’m serious.”
“I thought you’d be in your happy place, given the lip lock you and the tattoo dude got into last night.”
“Can you stop calling him the tattoo dude?His name is Trent.And this is me not in my happy place.”
“Okay.So you’re ignoring the lip lock part.Wanna come over and have dinner with me?We can hang out.I’ll share my ice cream and cable; you can bring your own PJs.”
Harper sighed.She didn’t even know who she was frustrated with anymore.
“Thanks for the offer, but it appears I have a date whether I want it or not.”The screech that came through the line nearly blew Harper’s eardrum.
“How in heck are you in a pissy mood when you have a date with a hot guy?This is a good thing, right?”
“I’m hot and cold on the idea.”
“Yeah.I’m getting that, but why?”
“I’m confused.Last night I made out with a cute guy outside a pool hall, and then today I spent my day off editing my victim impact statement before talking to my lawyer who said my not showing up in person would work in Nathan’s favor.I feel seasick thinking about it.”
“Ah honey.I can’t say I know what natural is for someone who’s gone through what you have, but I’ve got to believe this is it.Why didn’t you tell me?I’d have asked for the day off and just hung out with you.”
Harper sighed.Drea always managed to settle her.
“I think you need to really start living again, Harper.Take a leap.It’s only a date.And he seems like a nice guy.”
“That’s where I get stuck.Nathan was a nice guy when I met him.”For their first date, he’d taken her to Jackson Park on a balmy Sunday afternoon.They’d strolled around the gardens holding hands and found a spot on the wooded island to set up the picnic he’d prepared.
“From what you told me, drugs and circumstance changed him.By the end of all that, he wasn’t even the guy you fell in love with.”
Harper propped a pillow against the headboard, and sat up to lean against it.“At some point I know I’m going to have to get over this.But it’s like ivy.Every time I try to chop part of it off, another branch wraps around and threatens to suffocate me.”
