The thing is, I know this girl, and I know she won’t do it. One of the most endearing things about Harper St. James is that she is all bark and no bite. She’s sassy and salty; determined, but not a risk taker. She’s a good girl, and good girls don’t belong with men like Daniel Colby.
“One night,” I tell her, placing my hands on her shoulders. “One night, and then we fly back to Colorado, and you can do whatever you want.”
“How do you know I won’t just go to the courthouse with Daniel? You can’t stop us forever, you know.”
I know because I know Daniel.
I know why Daniel wants to marry her.
Harper is a proclaimed virgin.
She accepts dates and drinks from guys, but before things can get past first base, she puts up barriers. Without a ring on her finger, they’re not getting an inch more. She’s got a reputation for being one of the biggest teases in downtown Denver.
To Daniel Colby, she’s a challenge.
His intention was to put a ring on it, take the V-card, and end the whole thing. He plans to win the game and do a post touchdown victory dance in front of me and Jaylen.
But that’s not all.
Daniel is also seeing Angie, the head bartender at the restaurant Harper waitresses at. If I had to guess, Angie isn’t a virgin.
If you think about it, Harper is the side-chick.
The whole thing has me seething.
Seething enough to sabotage it all.
“Like I said, you can do anything your heart desiresafterwe get back to the States. In the meantime, you should really think about what it is your heart desires. I’m making kebabs.”
I slip out from behind her and walk over to the bedroom to put on regular clothes. It’s fun watching the color of her face change from blush to deep pink every time I move, but I’m starting to chafe.
To my surprise, she follows me to the bedroom, but stands in the doorway.
“What is that supposed to mean?” she demands. “I know you and Jaylen have some sort of boyish rivalry with Daniel, but he’s not who you think.”
I smile at that. “Are you insinuating that you know Daniel better than I do?”
“Yes. I am.”
I appear in the doorway wearing only black boxer briefs and, guessing from the look on her face, it’s as risqué as the towel.“I have known Daniel for ten years, and for ten years, he’s been nothing but a snake. There’s nothing he won’t do to get what he wants, no matter how shady.”
“See, that’s where you’re wrong. He–God, can you put some clothes on!?” she says, covering her eyes again.
“I’m trying, but someone won’t leave me alone,” I tease, grabbing a pair of gym pants.
With the heels of her palms pressed to her eyes, Harper says, “Daniel might seem like this cocky, tough guy on the outside, but on the inside he’s–”
“Slimy?” I cut her off.
“No!” she snaps. “He’s sweet, and I really like him. Regardless of whether you and my brother believe it.”
“Like?” I raise my eyebrows as I question her. It’s entertaining to see the effect I have on her when I tower over her.
“I meant love. I love him. And I am going to marry him whether or not you two like him.”
I make my way to the kitchen and start making dinner. After a six-hour flight that provided nothing more than a package of stale cookies and two stiff drinks, I am starved. I think it’s making me more sarcastic, which doesn’t seem to be helping our situation, even if it is amusing.
“Tell me something,” I say as I start chopping peppers, onions, and pineapple. “How long have you two known each other?”
