My stomach dropped a little. “What did you hear?”
“That they were best friends once upon a time. Back in high school.” His eyes took on a faraway haze, but he blinked it away. “Sterling said they had a huge falling out, but he doesn’t know why.”
I leaned against the counter beside him, turning to face him fully. “That’s it? He didn’t give you any details?”
He shook his head and let out a deep breath through his nostrils. “It didn’t sound like he knew anything else about it, which is weird. Mom usually talks to him about everything. She talks to everyone about everything, actually.”
I looked into his eyes, wondering if he was holding back on me, but deep down, I already knew that he wasn’t. “What about your other brothers?”
“Jameson has met your dad a couple times, but that’s it. I didn’t even bother asking Callum, because if Sterling and Jamiedon’t know, he won’t know either. What about you? Has your mom said anything else?”
“Not a word.” I sighed, my gaze acting of its own accord to drink him in again. “Where did you come from? I only just realized you’re in a suit and it’s almost midnight.”
He chuckled. “Wow. You’re extremely observant. Did it really take you this long to realize what I’m wearing? Because I noticed what you were wearing straight away. It just didn’t seem appropriate to mention it.”
My cheeks warmed. “I noticed. I just didn’t ask. Were you on a date or something?”
I didn’t know how I would feel about it if he had been. On the one hand, we were engaged. On the other, it was only a business arrangement. We hadn’t actually spoken about the finer details, like whether he could keepseeingpeople.
Harrison scoffed, though. Instantly, his expression became hard and he shook his head. “Of course I wasn’t on a fucking date. It was Sterling and Laney’s Christmas party. I would’ve invited you if we were public.”
“Right,” I said, not wanting him to realize how incredibly relieved I was about his reaction. I cleared my throat. “Okay, so, that’s all you learned about our moms?”
It looked like he wanted to say something else, but finally, he just let out a heavy sigh and nodded. “Yeah, that’s it.”
“So we’re still in the dark.” I blew out a deep breath. “That’s just great. Shit, I really thought your brothers might know. I’m not sure how we’re going to find out if not from them.”
He nodded and a silent moment passed between us, both of us trying to come up with a plan, but I knew I came up empty. It seemed like it was the same for him.
Even so, my heart was beating a little faster merely for being in such close proximity to him. Part of me wanted to tell him to stay the night. I could use brainstorming our next steps as anexcuse, but the truth was that I just didn’t want him to walk him out of my apartment tonight.
Being near him like this just felt too easy, like he was meant to be in my space, but before I could grow the pair I needed to ask if he wanted to stay, he straightened up. “We’ll figure it out, but it’ll have to be tomorrow. I doubt we’re going to get anywhere tonight. We should meet up again in the morning. Shop talk first, then maybe wedding talk after?”
Instantly, I froze, the word ricocheting through my brain like an out of control bouncy ball.Wedding.
He’d actually said it out loud, casual as anything, and it made me realize that this was real. He and I wereengaged. He’d proposed to me with a ring and everything. A wedding was the next obvious step, but right until this very moment, I hadn’t thought about it realistically at all.
My phone slipped right out of my hand, clattering to the floor between us. I bent to snatch it up, hoping he couldn’t see how hot my cheeks had gotten, but Harrison bent over at the same time I did and our foreheads collided with a sharp thud.
“Ow!” I winced, clapping a hand to my head.
“Damn, sorry,” he said, wincing too, but then he chuckled, the sound warm and easy, wrapping around me like a hug. “We’re a menace together.”
“You’re the menace,” I shot back, rubbing the aching spot on my forehead.
Before I could straighten up, his hand was brushing mine away. His palm cupped the side of my face. His fingers parted as they carefully slid through my damp hair like he was searching for damage. His touch was gentle and tender, as if he was genuinely concerned that he’d actually hurt me.
Suddenly, my lungs weren’t working the way they were supposed to. He was too close.Way, way too close.
I could see every fleck of gold in his hazel eyes, smell the faint spice of his cologne mingling with the sweet scent of my shampoo. My heart was sprinting wildly and recklessly. My lips parted as my eyes hooked on his.
Harrison’s thumb grazed the curve of my temple. He held my gaze for another beat before his eyes flicked to my mouth. It was only for a single, devastating second, but the air thickened between us until it was crackling with so much tension I wasn’t sure I could breathe through it.
And then, he kissed me. It wasn’t hesitant. More like he just wasn’t able to stop himself from doing it. Like he’d been holding back and slipped. His mouth slammed into mine, his lips soft but firm.
My entire body jolted, heat flashing everywhere at once. The press of his mouth against mine made the ground beneath my feet unsteady, like the whole world was flipping upside down, but then, just as quickly as he’d leaned in, he pulled back.
His eyes were wide, like he hadn’t expected that was going to happen either. When he spoke, his voice was rough and throaty, almost strangled. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Aurelia. Good night.”
