Frankie pointed out various bits of equipment and some of the exercises he thought would help.They discussed what Harper needed, and when the sessions would start.
“So, at our first session we’ll focus on basic tactics to fend off an attacker,” Frankie said after she told him an abbreviated version of her story.He leaned back in his chair.“But so you’re prepared, we’ll try to work on someone coming up behind you in every session.Unacknowledged fear is a weakness, and you’re being brave to address it.”
“I appreciate this, Frankie, I really do.”
A young boy waved at them through the window.Slouching under the weight of a large backpack, he walked toward a series of small tables.
“My son, Anton.”They both looked over as he pulled out a textbook, puzzled by whatever it was he was reading.
“He struggles.Well, in anything he has to write in.Math, he’s great at.I guess seventh grade is tough.We all set for starting next week then?”
Harper nodded and picked up her purse.“I would say I can’t wait… but…”
Frankie smiled, “It’s okay, I get it.We’ll get through this.”
As she was leaving, she saw Anton tug a hand through his hair in frustration, his shoulders rounding in defeat.
“Hey, Anton.”Harper walked toward him.He looked up at her curiously.“I’m Harper.What are you working on?”
He looked over toward his dad before answering.“Stupid essay on the sea.”
“Can I see it?I can help if you want.”His eyebrows furrowed, and he bit his lip in thought.He moved his backpack out of the way and created space for her to sit.
“Hmm.‘Take a quote about the sea from literature and discuss what the author was trying to express.’Wow.That’s a doozy of a question.What were you thinking?”
“I dunno.I don’t know many quotes.”
“Well, we could maybe use your dad’s computer, but here’s one quote offhand: Did you know that Franz Kafka once wrote that a book should serve as ‘the axe for the frozen sea within us’?”
“What, like books make us feel warm?”He looked at her hopefully.
“Definitely.You are one smart cookie,” Harper answered, warmed by the first genuine smile she had seen on Anton’s face.“I’m sure we can come up with more.”
***
The sun coming in through the main windows haloed Harper’s silhouette when she walked in a bit later that afternoon.There was a deep red in the darkness of her hair that he’d never noticed before.He leaned against the hallway wall and watched her talking animatedly to Pixie.
She wore a black strapless sundress that skimmed the floor and silver sandals that showed off the bright pink of her toes.A halter-neck bikini poked over the top, and now that he knew what it was encasing, he found it increasingly hard to keep his dick in check.
The Harper he was looking at now, standing on tiptoe to look over the desk at whatever was on Pixie’s laptop, was so different from the Harper who’d approached him on the street that night.She’d seemed so fragile back then; even her skin had felt like ice to the touch.
Seeming to sense him, she turned her head to look straight at him, her eyes hooded with emotions he couldn’t or didn’t want to fully acknowledge.Her tongue licked her upper lip before her teeth claimed the lower one.
Neither of them moved.They just stood, staring as electricity charged between the two of them.He pushed off the wall.Christ, he was done for.
Without saying a word, he came to stand right before her, practically toe to toe.He knew his height gave him a huge advantage, and he grinned as she leaned backward to look up at him.
“Just kiss her already!”Pixie called with a whoop.
Harper laughed, the sweetest freakin’ sound, and Trent couldn’t hold out any longer.Bending, he wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her until their faces were close to level, her legs still dangling down.
As his lips touched hers, the burning he had for her flamed hotter.Without stopping, he reversed them out of the main studio toward his office, flicking the bird at Cujo, who was staring at them with his mouth open.
Pushing up her dress, he wrapped Harper’s legs up around his waist, backed her into the door of his office, and locked it.
The music was blasting loud, vibrating the pictures on the wall with the heavy beat and disguising the sounds of them making out like teenagers in his office.
“How was Frankie?”he managed to ask before his lips reclaimed hers.
