Nylah sighed. “The day Kayden settles down will be the day the moon turns purple.”
Cody laughed.
“What about Avery? Is she okay after her motherlefther? I still can’t believe that. I mean, I never liked Jaime, especially because she barely let me see my niece, but I never thought she’d leave Avery.”
“She’s strong. And Eastern’s doing a great job of filling the role of both parents, even while being town sheriff.”
“I’m not surprised.” They spoke for another few minutes before Nylah sighed. “Well, I’ve got some studying to do, so I’ll let you get back to the bar.”
“Okay. Love you, Ny.”
“Love you too, Cody. Look after yourself and Harper.”
“Will do.”
When he hung up, he couldn’t hold off any longer. He headed up the stairs and into the apartment to find Harper standing by the window, her back to him. She wasn’t on the phone anymore, but she also didn’t move as he stepped into the room. Had she not heard him?
Slowly, he crossed the space between them and slipped his arms around her waist. She jolted at his touch, but then her gaze shot up and she softened back into him. “Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Are you okay?”
“Not really…my mom’s in the hospital after my dad beat her.”
The muscles in Cody’s arms tightened. The fucking asshole. “Did she file a report?”
“Nope. Apparently, she doesn’t want to get him into trouble.”
“What the fuck?”
“I know,” Harper said softly. “It doesn’t make sense. But then, not many of my family’s decisions do.”
Slowly, she turned, her hands slipping up his chest and cupping his cheeks. “Have I mentioned how grateful I am to have you?”
“I’m grateful to have you too.”
She shook her head. “No, I meanreallygrateful. If I hadn’t stumbled across this town, upon you, in the middle of that storm—”
“But you did. And I have a feeling you were always going to.”
The corners of her mouth lifted a fraction. “Kind of like fate?”
“Exactly like fate.” He lowered his head, and he kissed her.
CHAPTER 22
Harper moved quickly and efficiently behind the bar. She couldn’t believe she’d only been working here a month and she already felt so confident serving drinks. Of course, the customers made it easier. The majority were locals, and by now she knew most by name. There were the occasional rude people, usually tourists, but you got that anywhere, and somehow Cody seemed to have eyes in the back of his head, always ready to swoop in.
Not that she needed saving from rude customers, something she’d told Cody more than once. Although, it did feel good to have someone on her side.
“I have a question, Harper.”
She glanced up at Archie as she ran a dishcloth over a clean glass. He was probably the first customer Harper had learned the name of just based on his frequency here. “Yes, Archie?”
“How did Walker get such a pretty bartender to work for him?”
He was also a sweet talker. “He just got really lucky, I guess.”
“Nah. No such thing as luck.” He lifted his beer to his mouth.
