Page 19 of Caramel Apple Cupcake

Anders’ voice broke through her thoughts, filled with urgency. “Harper! If you don’t tell me where you are, I’ll tear up this damn town looking for you.” After a brief pause, his tone softened. “I swear to God I’m going to spank your ass until it’s red.”

Surprisingly, Harper smiled at his words. His protectiveness and love for her during all this chaos made her feel comforted in a way she hadn’t felt in a long time. It reminded her that she wasn’t alone.

“I’m at Jim Barnett Park. Do you know where that is?”

It was one of the largest recreational parks in the area. When she was younger, the live-in nanny would bring her and RJ here to spend time at the playground. There was a lake for fishing, ducks that begged for bread, and trails for hiking. It was funny that this was the place she stopped at when having her little meltdown.

“Yes, I know where it is. I’m on my way.” He hung up, his voice sharp and full of anger.

Anders was beyond livid. Every word he had spoken to her dripped with frustration and disappointment. Any other time, Harper would have told him to go kick rocks, unbothered by his attitude. But tonight, as she sat alone in the dark parking lot, she felt grateful for someone showing a glimmer of concern.

She leaned against her car, the metal cool against her skin. She didn’t want to get inside, feeling closed in and suffocated. Yet, being behind the wheel might have saved her from receiving an earful from Anders when he arrived. The park was quiet and deserted at this late hour, not exactly the safest place to be, but she hadn’t been thinking about that earlier.

As she walked around to the passenger side, Harper’s hand went straight for the glove compartment. She opened it and reached inside, her fingers closing around the grip of her 9mm Glock. Memories flooded her mind as she remembered the close call she had while at college, leaving the law library late one night.

A man had appeared out of nowhere and grabbed her, trying to drag her into an alleyway. Harper fought back ferociously, using every tactic in her arsenal—nails clawing at his skin, kicking back on his shins, yelling for help. In a moment of desperation, Harper remembered the advice she had heard once upon a time… drop like dead weight. And it worked.

The man cursed in surprise, giving her enough time to punch him in the face and grab onto his most vulnerable area—his dick and balls. She pulled and twisted, causing him to scream out in pain.

The adrenaline rush faded when others came running to her aid, and the man was apprehended by the police. The next day, Harper went out and bought her first gun. She now owned multiple weapons and knew how to use each one.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the familiar sound of Anders’ truck engine approaching. She stood up from her position and waited for him to exit the vehicle. But when he didn’t immediately appear, she grew worried. Was he okay? What was he doing?

Stepping closer to the truck, Harper could see that Anders had his eyes closed and seemed to take a deep breath. After a few moments, he opened the door and got out. His usually calm demeanor was replaced with anger as he stalked towards her.

But even with that fierce expression on his face, Harper couldn’t feel afraid of him. It was Anders after all—the man who made her feel safe and protected.

When he neared her, his hands gripped her face and pulled her in for a passionate kiss. His breathing was heavy, and his words were stern as he scolded her for worrying him. “Never do that again. Do you know what I was ready to do to find you? I didn’t know if you’d been hurt or in an accident. Woman, you drive me crazy.”

Harper smiled at his concern. She promised herself she would keep her parents’ secret for now, not wanting to add any more stress to Anders’ plate. But she knew she wouldn’t be able to hide it from him for long.

As Harper lifted her gaze to meet Anders’ blue eyes, a genuine smile spread across her face. He was her confidant, the singular person she could trust with her innermost thoughts and fears. She knew he would never break her trust or betray her. The way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled back at her comforted her. In that moment, she felt completely safe and understood, knowing that no matter what secrets she shared with him, he would always be there for her.

“I’m okay. It’s just that…”

“It’s just what?” he prodded gently, sensing there was something more behind her words.

A small sigh escaped Harper’s lips as she shook her head, her eyes showing the weight of her emotions. “Dealing with my parents is always a struggle for me,” she said softly to Anders. “Tonight was more difficult than usual. I just needed some time to process everything.”

Anders listened intently, knowing there was more that Harper wasn’t telling him. But for now, he was just grateful that she was safe and by his side. He made a mental note to revisit this conversation later when she was ready to talk.

“Do you need more time, or can we leave now?” Anders asked, wanting nothing more than to take her back to his home and into his bed.

“We can leave,” Harper replied gratefully, leaning into him as they walked back to her car. “Thank you for coming for me.”

Anders pulled her closer into his arms, a gentle smile on his face as he spoke. “Was there ever any doubt? Listen, princess. No matter what happens or how much you drive me crazy, I will always be here for you. You mean everything to me.”

He glanced up at the dark sky before locking eyes with Harper again. “There’s so much I want to say to you, but this isn’t the right place. Follow me back to my house.”

Harper climbed into her car and started the engine as Anders rapped his knuckles on the roof before walking back to his truck. “Do you want me to follow you?” she called out.

Shaking his head with a playful grin, Anders replied, “No need. I’ll follow you this time. You know, just in case you decide to make any unexpected stops.”

Harper rolled her eyes playfully as she started driving toward Anders’ house. “Always the funny guy,” she teased. “Don’t worry. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

“Good.” Anders chuckled before walking over to his truck and climbing inside. That’s exactly what he needed to hear.

As Harper drove, she couldn’t shake off the heaviness in her chest. The new information about her family weighed on her mind. But for tonight, she just wanted to be held by her man. Deep down, she still feared his reaction to the truth. Would it change how he felt about her?

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