Page 1 of Secret of His Soulmate

Chapter 1

Harper

I openmy front door after a very long day at work and confront utter chaos. My dog, Titan, is standing on the kitchen table barking like the house is falling down around him— and it kind of is. One step past the threshold I feel cold water seeping into my jeans and look down at the standing water, at least four inches, that is filling my kitchen and beyond. What the hell happened here today?

First, I need to look for the water valve to turn off the water. That can’t be too difficult. Surely, it’s under the sink or by the water heater. The anxiety is building in my body as the water penetrates my clothes, skin, and seemingly my bones. My breath comes out harsh and shallow as I begin to panic. I can’t find the water shut-off valve and Titan is barking so loud that I can’t even think.

I pride myself on being an independent woman who can take care of herself, but this is one of those times that I was waving the white flag and calling my best friend.

The phone rings three times and my heart thumps hard in my chest at the idea that he might not answer, but Miles is always there for me. He obviously doesn’t sit around waiting forme to call, but I need him, so he just has to answer. Finally, on the fourth ring, he does.

“Hey, Harps,” his joyful voice comes across my speaker phone and instantly calms something deep inside me.

“Miles, I need some help.” I just manage to keep the tears out of my voice.

“What’s happened, Harper? Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine, but my house isn’t. It’s flooded and I can’t find the water shut-off.” This time I don’t manage to stop the tears and I start to cry. Miles hates it when I cry, so I just ask that he come help and hang up the phone.

I grab Titan and walk outside. I’m sure there’s something else I should be doing. Working to save furniture, keep trying to turn off the water, and who knows what else, but I just shut down. Miles is on the way, and he will take care of everything. He’s been taking care of me since we met during our freshman year of college.

We are an unlikely duo, but I can’t imagine my life without Miles. He was there when my parents died, and we’ve been there for each other through heartbreak and watching friends and siblings fall in love. I feel like his brothers and sister are mine. And if sometimes I dream about there being something more between Miles and me…well, that’s just for me.

In less than five minutes, Miles drives up in his huge work truck. He jumps out and all six and a half feet of him rushes up to me and pulls me into a giant hug. Miles is a huge man, tall and muscular, but his hugs are so gentle and perfect. I could stay in his arms for the rest of my life.

“Tell me again what’s happening, Harps.” His growly voice says close to my ear.

“Um.” I back up a little so I can catch my breath. “I came home and found Titan on the table barking. The house is flooded, like really flooded, and I don’t know how to turn off thewater. I tried to find the water shut-off valve, but I couldn’t and then I started to have a panic attack. I just couldn’t breathe. So, I called you.” I word vomit all over him and he just looks at me with concern in his gorgeous green eyes.

“I’ll go shut off the water and then we’ll figure all of this out. I promise it’s all going to be okay,” he says in such a reassuring no-nonsense tone that I can’t do anything but believe the man. He smiles as he walks away, and I take my first real breath since coming home. Titan barks as I hold him tight.

“I know, Miles will fix it all,” I tell my tiny, high-strung dog.

Miles and I are complete opposites in most ways but there isn’t anyone else I would want in my corner. He is the one person I know will be there for me no matter what. My adorable cottage home, which I bought and fixed up with Miles’s help, will need a lot more work, and my savings are gone. I’m not even sure if the house is habitable at the moment. I didn’t make it much further than the hallway and with all that water, I’m afraid to know just how far it reached into the rest of the house. There aren’t a lot of square feet for the water to cover and do some real damage. What could have happened? Almost everything in the house has been replaced. I have one bathroom left to do, but Miles and his plumbing guy said that everything was fine in there and that I didn’t have to worry about the pipes.

I’m pacing along the line of rose bushes that mark the border between my house and my next-door neighbor, who happens to be Miles’s brother, Hunter. I should have checked to see if he was home and could turn off my water, it would have been faster, but my first instinct is always to call for Miles. His car isn’t in his driveway anyway, so he’s probably still at work.

I’m just about to turn to make another lap around my yard when Miles comes out the front door. His jeans are plastered to his legs and he’s taken his T-shirt off. Holy hot best friend, Batman! I know this isn’t the time or the place, but I always geta little jolt when I see him without a shirt. The man is gorgeous. Six-pack abs, just a slight amount of chest hair, and so many damn muscles— that’s why his hugs feel so good.

“Harper?”

Shit, he’s probably been trying to get my attention and I’m drooling over his biceps and that V-thing that should be illegal. “Um, yeah?”

He chuckles as if he knows exactly what I was thinking, “I got the water off, but it’s a big mess in there.” His voice and face take on a serious expression. “I’ve called a crew so we can get this water out and set up fans to start drying things. You are looking at new walls and carpet at the very least.”

“I imagine it will be much worse in the end.” I hug Titan tight. “Thank you for coming so quick. You’ll have to show me how to turn the water off so I’m not helpless like this again.”

“I can do that, but don’t feel down on yourself, Harps. It was in the main bathroom and that’s just not where they are normally. I remembered once I walked in and was able to get it shut off fast, but that water had been running for hours. How long were you gone?”

“I went to work around eight. I met with a client at Gillian’s bakery and then stayed to work on their proposal. I was getting a lot done, so I just decided to work there for the afternoon instead of coming back to work in my office here. That worked out well, huh?”

He steps closer and I can feel the heat coming off his body. Why am I so focused on his body? My house is falling apart and all I can think is that I want to lay my head on his chest and take a nap.

Miles places a finger under my chin and lifts my gaze to his. “I’m a little worried you’re in shock, Harps. Do you feel like you can drive? I can call Hunter to come get you and you can go to my place. I’ll take care of things here. I’ll pack up what I can ofyours and bring it back with me when I come home later, and we can go from there.”

“Your house?”

“Of course.” He genuinely looks confused. “I don’t mean to assume, but I thought you could stay with me while we fix all of this.”

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