“You don’t believe in luck?”
“Nope. We work for what we have. I work really hard to be your best customer, and you must work really hard at being so beautiful.”
“You’re gonna make me blush, Archie.”
“You hitting on my staff, Archie?” Cody’s arm curved around her waist, causing her to jump.
Archie lifted his beer again. “Just trying to figure out how you got her to work in this dump.”
“Must be the Walker charm.”
Archie scoffed. “Keep dreaming.”
Harper shook her head with a smile as she moved down the bar.
Over the next half hour, the crowd finally thinned out. She glanced at Cody from beneath lowered lashes, already anticipating sliding into bed with him. He was still talking to Archie, that lopsided, dimpled grin on his face. Her heart thumped. It was almost criminal how easy he was to look at.
Doubts still crept into her mind every so often. Doubts from past hurts that she had little to no control over. Was it dangerous how quickly they’d entered into this relationship? Could you really know a person in such a short amount of time? And what if this was all just because of heightened emotions from the danger around her?
Stop, Harper. Don’t overthink the one good thing in your life.
Blowing out a breath, she grabbed a tray, then collected glasses and dirty napkins from tables. In the kitchen, she set the glasses in the sink. She was just rinsing them when heat pressed against her back.
“I cannot wait to be in bed with you tonight.”
Her breath caught at Cody’s words. At the way his hands slid around her body, his mouth touching her neck.
She bit her lip to stop the groan. “Cody, there are still customers out there.”
He pressed a kiss behind her ear. “You’re right. Let’s get these people out first.”
This time shedidgroan when he stepped away from her.
They returned to the front, and as Cody started to clear the last customers, Barry rounded the bar and stopped at her side. “How are you doing?”
She lifted a shoulder. “As good as I can be, I guess. I’m grateful for Cody and you and this town, but after the few incidents, I’m still a bit rattled.”
“As anyone would be. But you know, even though I give Cody his fair share of shit, he protects those he cares about.”
She glanced at Barry, a soft smile on her face. “I’ve seen that. I’m lucky he cares about me.”
“He’s lucky too. Trust me.” Barry reached for something beneath the bar, then set a small box with the Sugar and Spice logo on the surface. “Here. I picked this up for you today.”
Her lips pulled into a smile. “You got me a cupcake?”
“Yeah, but don’t tell boss man. I like him to believe I’m a tough nut.”
She didn’t hesitate, she just pulled Barry into a hug.Thiswas the type of kindness she was grateful for. This was what got her through the hard times. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Harper.”
He stepped into the kitchen just as Cody moved back behind the bar. He spotted the box immediately. “What’s that?”
“Nothing.”
She slipped it off the counter and moved it behind her back. Cody, of course, didn’t let it drop. He moved over to her, his steps slow. “Is it a cupcake from Sugar and Spice?”
“Maybe.”
