“Sure. Do you always have balloons and cakes at work luncheons?”
“We’re a fun company, and it also happens to be two people in the office’s birthdays. I’m trying to make a good impression.”Her gaze shifted around the bar. “I notice Harper isn’t here. It’s just you and Barry?”
The words had just left her lips when the door to the bar opened and Harper stepped in.
His world fucking stopped when he saw her. Every. Damn. Time. Even just in jeans and a tight black tee, the woman looked so damn beautiful she took all his attention.
Since their day in the mountains a week ago, something had shifted between them. Their gazes held for a beat longer than they used to. Conversations felt more meaningful.
Harper crossed the bar, her gaze moving around the room. “This looks great.”
Vanessa gave her a tight smile. “Thank you.” She turned back to Cody. “Snacks?”
“I’ll get on it.”
“Thank you.”
As Vanessa walked away, Harper put her bag in the office, then rounded the bar. “Sorry I’m late,” she said quietly.
“That’s okay. Is everything all right?”
“Yeah. Everything’s fine.”
He traced the shadows under her eyes with his gaze. “You look tired.”
“I just didn’t sleep well last night.”
He reached out and grazed her arm. “If you’re not okay, you can—”
“Cody, I’m okay.”
He opened his mouth to tell her that he wasn’t sure that was true, but Vanessa’s voice cut through the quiet.
“Cody—please. Ireallyneed those snacks.”
“Go,” Harper said quietly. “I’ll get started on drinks.”
Before he could respond, she slipped around him, and fuck if he didn’t want to just tug her back. He grabbed the platters offood from the kitchen. They also had some hot food prepped and waiting in the oven.
He set the first platter in the center of the table, and when he turned, an older woman who had way too much filler in her lips stood in front of him. “Hi, Cody. I’m Olivia. It’s so nice of you to host this luncheon for us.”
“Happy to help.”
He went to step around her, but she touched his arm. “Before you go, my daughter Jenny has just returned home from college. She’s single.”
Jesus Christ. “I’ve really got to get back to the food, Olivia.” He glanced up to see Harper watching him, a ghost of a smile on her face.
He tried to step away again, but for the second time, the woman blocked his way. “She’s a nurse and loves animals, especially birds. She has two blue jays and a mourning dove. I could give you her number?”
“Thanks, but I’m not looking to date.”
This time he stepped to the side so quickly the woman didn’t have time to stop him. When he returned to the bar, Harper looked a second away from dropping to the floor in a fit of laughter.
“You think that was funny?” he asked.
“It’s notnotfunny.” She grinned at him. “It’s a shame you’re not looking to date, because Jenny sounds great. You could have built quite the aviary.”
“I’m not looking to dateJenny. Someone else could convince me.”
