By the time she’d finished in the shower, Harper had basically convinced herself that Codyhad notbeen looking at her like he wanted to kiss her, and hedid notfeel that way about her.
She wrapped a towel around her body and glanced at herself in the mirror. The bruise on her left eye had almost faded, but the memory of how she’d gotten it certainly had not.
“We’re family. What’s yours is mine, right?”
She shuddered and turned away at the memory of her brother’s words. Lifting her phone, she saw two missed calls and a text, all from an unknown number. She didn’t bother to read the text, instead just deleting it, knowing it was Ross telling her to answer his calls because he had something to discuss.
Did he really think she was interested inanythinghe had to say after their mother had wiped out Harper’s savings and he’d struck her?
She wasn’t surprised her mother hadn’t tried to contact her. The woman had been emotionally absent most of her life,finding more meaning at the bottom of a bottle than she had in her daughter.
Harper was walking out of the bathroom when another text came through, this one from her old boss, Ivy.
Ivy had always been good to her, giving her a job when she’d never been in an office in her life, and allowing her to work her way up to executive assistant. And then Harper had just…left her, with nothing more than a text to say she was quitting.
She cringed.
Ivy: Hey, Harper. I just wanted to check in and see how you’re doing. You left in such a rush. I’m not angry, just worried.
Harper: I’m so sorry I left like I did. I’m doing okay.
Ivy didn’t know about the mess that was her family. Harper had always been careful to keep that information locked away.
Ivy: I care about YOU, not that you left in a rush. Are you safe?
Harper: I am. I promise.
Ivy: Okay. Well, your last paycheck is going into your account this week. I wish you all the best.
Her last paycheck? She’d almost forgotten. And God, she could use that money. But she still hadn’t opened a new account, and if her work deposited the money into her old account, and her mother saw it before she did…
Harper: I’m sorry to ask, but could you mail a check for me to cash instead? I know it’s old school but there’s an issue with my account that I haven’t sorted out yet, and I haven’t opened a new one.
The three dots popped up, then disappeared before Ivy’s response came through.
Ivy: Sure. We can do that. Just let me know where to send it.
She nibbled her bottom lip, a part of her not wanting to disclose that information, but she really did need the money. And Ivy wasn’t associated with her family.
Harper: Meridian—it’s a bar in Misty Peak. Thank you so much.
She included the mailing address, then put the phone on the dresser. As she pulled on her avocado nightshirt, her phone vibrated again. She expected to find another message from Ivy.
Cody: Hey. I just wanted to make sure you got home safely.
Her mouth went dry. She’d given him her number on her first shift, just in case they needed to get in contact with each other, but this was the first time he’d used it.
She nibbled her bottom lip and started typing a message, only to delete it. Then she tried again.
Oh, for Christ’s sake, he’s just your boss.
Harper: Home safe and sound. Thanks for checking in.
Send. There. Done. She’d kept her cool. Hadn’t given away that she’d been thinking nonstop about him and the almost-kiss that couldn’t possibly have been an almost-kiss.
Her phone vibrated.
Cody: So…tomorrow. Any plans?
