Page 2 of Secret of His Soulmate

Normally that would make sense, but with the way my feelings for Miles have been changing lately, I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to be in the same house. But I can’t tell him that. I don’t know what to tell him.

“Um, I don’t want to be in your way, Miles. I’m sure you have plans and stuff that don’t include me.” God, what if he was dating someone I didn’t know about? That was one area we kind of stopped talking to each other about in the last year. On my part, because I haven’t gone on a date, but I’m sure Miles has. No one who looks like him is having any trouble with the ladies.

“Harps, I never have plans that don’t include you unless it’s with my brothers or Clara— and now Clara’s off on her adventures with Ethan.” A look of sadness quickly passes his eyes, but his smile returns just as fast. I know the whole family misses Clara, but they’re also happy for her and Ethan. It’s got to be hard to let go of someone you’ve watched out for your whole life like that even if you trust their new partner. I’m an only child, so there’s no one I have that kind of connection with, and I’ve always envied the St. James siblings.

“Well, I still don’t want to be in your way. I’ll just get a hotel room or something. I’m sure my homeowner’s insurance will help with that if I have to be out of my house completely.”

“For tonight will you stay with me, please? That way we can talk about what needs to be done once we have the water out.”

I can hear the frustration in his voice. He doesn’t understand why I don’t want to stay with him, because he would never be attracted to me. These unusual feelings will never be an issuefor him. I’m the opposite of any woman I’ve ever seen him with. They’ve been blonde, tall, thin, and maybe not the brightest. Which I know is a terrible thing to think about another woman. I’m short, at least a foot shorter than him, although he’s a giant so it’s not that odd, and not thin. I’m what an older woman here in town calls plump. I enjoy visiting my friend Gillian at her bakery and being the guinea pig for her new recipes and there isn’t a size two outfit in the entire world that could get me to give up chocolate, bread, or wine. I know I’m pretty and that men are attracted to me, I have a very healthy ego, but at the same time, I know that I’m just not Miles’s type, which has always been okay.

I think it’s all his family finding their soulmates. I want to know their secret of how they did it and it’s making me look at him differently. I want to find a love like that.

“Okay, Miles, Titan and I will stay at yours tonight and then I’ll find somewhere else more permanent after that.”

He pulls me into his arms against all that warm bare skin. My stomach flips and my nipples get hard. Please, please don’t let him feel that. I’m not strong enough to face him if he knows that I get turned on by him.

Miles smiles down at me. “Thank you for agreeing to stay with me tonight. We’ll talk about the rest later. I turned the power off at the circuit breaker box, so it’s okay for us to walk through quickly to get a few things if you need to or you can give me a list and I’ll bring you stuff tonight.”

“I’ll get a bag for tonight and Titan’s stuff.” There’s no way I’m gonna let Miles go through my drawers and find my vibrator stash or my granny panties amongst the lace.

“Okay, I’ll watch the monster out here so you don’t have to try and do both,” he says, grabbing Titan out of my arms. “Go, I’ll be here waiting when you’re done.”

Chapter 2

Miles

Standingin front of Harper’s house, holding her dog, I wonder how I got here. I mean, not in the literal sense, but in theI’m madly in love with this woman and she has friend-zoned me so hardsense. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her, regardless of my feelings, but it’s a bitch when I have to beg her to spend the night at my house when hers is flooded.

We’ve been friends for more than six years, since our freshman year of college, and she’s always just treated me as a friend. When we first met, she knocked me flat on my ass and I had every intention of asking her out, but she just never let me. Every time I started to have that kind of conversation, she would change the subject or shut it down in some way. If it hadn’t broken my heart, it would have been impressive.

I’ve made my peace with just being her best friend. I’ve tried to date other women who were the opposite of my dream girl, but it never got past the first couple of dates.

Her door opens and she comes out. Red-faced, hair flying everywhere, and so beautiful.

“Sorry I took so long. I had to change into shorts and flip-flops. The wet pants feeling was not it,” she laughs. “I packed everything I’ll need for tonight.”

“Great. Do you want me to help with anything?”

“I’ll just throw it in the backseat and head over to your place, unless you need me to stay for something?” she looks so tired and beat down.

“No, I’ll handle everything.” I follow her over to her car, still carrying Titan. “Just make yourself at home. I’ll be there to talk everything through as soon as the crew gets here and we have a better idea of what we’re looking at in the house.”

She nods and climbs into her car. “I’ll be waiting.”

I watch her drive off and start pulling tools from my truck. There isn’t much I can do until the crew arrives with the fans and the pump to remove the water, but I can take a quick look around and see if there is anything I can do on my own.

I start to walk into the house, but before I take more than a few steps, my phone rings. I freeze, worried that it’s Harper and something else has happened. The display shows that it’s my oldest brother, Wilder. I take a deep breath to try and relax.

“Hey.”

“I heard something happened with Harper. Is she okay?”

“She’s fine, but her house isn’t. I’m here now, and there are several inches of water through most of the house. I think the busted pipe is in the front bath, and with her house having that little step down, the water gathered like a swimming pool.”

“Shit. That’s gonna be a bitch to clean up.” My brother, Captain Obvious. “Is Harper there with you? Have you called a crew out?”

“A crew should be here any minute and Harper is on her way to my place. She’s gonna stay there tonight.”

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