Page 32 of Relentless

“She’s doing really well, Harper. She’s on a good path.” Maeve finally looked up, making her opinion loud and clear. “I’m sure you want to make sure it stays that way.”

Harper raised an eyebrow, giving Maeve a glassy stare.

“It’s what we all want,” Harper shrugged. “Not just you, Maeve.”

Maeve took another long drink of her coffee before setting it down on the rustic tabletop. “You’re welcome to stay at the ranch with a few conditions.”

“Here we go,” Harper said. Crossing her arms, her gaze flicked upward.

“No drinking in my home,” Maeve stated.

“You’re such a prude,” Harper scoffed. “You really haven’t changed at all, Maeve.”

Maeve sat back in her chair. “Then I guess this conversation is over.”

“Fine, no drinking,” Harper echoed, rolling her eyes.

It was a theatrical reaction Maeve recognized well from their teenage years.

“And that’s another thing,” Maeve added. “If you don’t have anything nice to say—“

“You know, despite abandoning Mom for decades,” Harper goaded. “You sure turned out just like her.”

“What’s it going to be?” Maeve challenged.

Harper offered the quickest of shrugs, turning her gaze out the window and onto the street where a line was forming ofbundled-up young people, shivering in the quickening snowfall.

“What are those idiots doing in this weather?” Harper asked, swiftly changing the subject. “They’re going to freeze out there.”

“It is a little late in the evening,” Maeve observed. Beaming with a bit of pride, she gently swirled the last of the coffee in her mug. “They’re going to be sorely disappointed today.”

“With the coffee?” Harper quipped. “I have to agree.”

“They’re here for Oakleigh,” Maeve corrected. “It is odd, though.” There was always a steady flow of fans, but it tended to slow during winter — especially since she wasn’t posting in town anymore.

Maeve rose to her feet and squeezed through the crowd of incoming customers. Harper followed closely on her heels, putting her hand in front of each phone camera as though they were solely recording to catch her in the moment.

Stepping past the register, she noticed Audrey was frantically fielding orders.

“Everything okay?” Maeve asked.

“I’m fine,” Audrey answered. “It’s just been a lot lately.” She stopped herself, slamming the cash register closed. “Please don’t tell Oakleigh I said anything.”

“I won’t,” Maeve replied. “But I want you to speak up if you’re overwhelmed.”

Audrey gave her an unconvincing nod.

Maeve pushed open the door, feeling the snap of icy air. She climbed into the truck, taking a moment to process what life at the ranch would look like with her sister now in the picture.

Harper struggled into the passenger seat, her high heels slipping on the slick pavement. Running her palms over the truck’s new leather seats, she flipped down the mirror to check her makeup, grimacing before slamming it back in place.

“This truck is actually not entirely terrible,” Harper admitted. “Where’s that old, blue clunker you used to drive?” she needled, expertly camouflaging her underhanded jab. “At the dump, I hope.”

Maeve inhaled deeply. Keeping her tone even, she refused to take the bait.

“I wrecked it.”

Chapter 10

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