Page 14 of Forbidden Harmony

The voice drifting over from the aisle nextto her killed her dirty thoughts as quickly as if she’d been doused with abucket of cold water. She stood frozen in the aisle, staring wide-eyed at theyarn in front of her, her fingers squeezing compulsively around the ball ofyarn in her hands.

“I’ve been busy. God, don’t be a bitch. Whydid he dump little Miss Goody Two Shoes anyway?”

Addison didn’t recognize the voices of thetwo women, but it didn’t matter. She dropped the yarn she was holding into thebasket sitting on the shelf in front of her. Her hands were too shaky andclammy to even attempt to hang it in the right spot.

Her ears burning and her heart thumping,she told herself to walk away. Instead, she remained frozen to the spot like herfeet were dipped in concrete.

“Well, I heard from Doris Sindle that Harrisondumped her because Addison has, like, a serious shopping addiction and debtproblem and he didn’t want to be saddled with it. But, Shelly over at theWalgreens said that Harrison dumped her because he caught her in bed with someguy from Willington.”

“No fucking way.” The voice was highpitched with excitement. “Addison Moore is such a prim little good girl, shewould never cheat on Harrison. Hell, I’d be surprised if she even fuckedHarrison.”

The other woman laughed. “You’re telling me.She does have that ‘only missionary position, under the covers, with the lightsoff and showering immediately after’ look to her. Maybe old Harrison dumpedher ‘cause she refused to use that good girl mouth of hers to blow him.”

“That seems more likely than her bangingsome gross dude from Willington. Although, just between you and me, I alwaysthought Harrison could do better than her. He’s, like, good looking and richand apparently about to make partner at his firm. Honestly, she would havejust weighed him down if they’d gotten married.”

Feeling sick to her stomach, unable tostand there a second longer, Addison stumbled down the aisle toward the frontof the store. She weaved around a group of tourists and staggered toward thefront door, tears pricking at her eyes.

“Addie?” Emma was standing by a rack ofbuttons near the front door. “Are you okay?”

“Yes. I have to go.” She pushed her way outof the shop, the hot muggy air slapping her in the face like a wet rag. Sweatprickled along her hairline and she hurried down the street to her car. Sheclimbed in and turned it on, blasting the air conditioning and pressing theheels of her hands against her eyes.

She wouldn’t cry. She would not fuckingcry.

She took a few hitching breaths and threwthe car into reverse before backing out of the parking spot and driving downthe street. She needed to leave. She needed to get out of this stupid town evenif it was only for a few hours.

Chapter Five

“Sorry, hon. It’s gonna be at least a coupleof hours. Wade’s got two other cars he needs to tow before he can get to you.”

Addison banged her hand on the steeringwheel before blowing her breath out. “Okay. I’ll just wait here until -”

“Don’t do that, sweetheart.” Roberta, Wade’swife and co-owner of Wade and Roberta’s Tow Truck Services, popped her gum soloud, Addison could hear it through the phone. “You said you were out on Watkinsroad, right? That road ain’t very busy, even with tourist season, so your carwill be fine until Wade gets there. No point in you sitting and sweltering bythe side of the road. Get a friend to pick you up, and leave your car unlockedwith the keys in the glove box. I’ll get Wade to tow it straight to the Nutsand Bolts shop. Give me your credit card number and I’ll ring it through once hepicks up your car.”

“Um, sure, okay.” She dug her card out ofher purse and recited the number to Roberta before ending the call. She climbedout of her car. Even only a few minutes without air conditioning had made her dressstick to her back.

She kicked the front tire of her car andthen slammed her hand on the hood. She’d driven to Willington before turningthe car around and heading back to Harmony Falls. Her decision to take theback roads, instead of the main highway, seemed like a good one until the tickingnoise grew increasingly louder, and her car made a horrible grinding noise andthen just completely died. She’d steered it to the side of the road and triedto start it a few times before giving up and calling for a tow.

She kicked the tire again then pulled the frontof her dress and fanned herself. God, it was so damn muggy and hot. She waswearing a lightweight button-up skater dress that she rarely wore because it fellto mid-thigh rather than her knee. Harrison always said the short hem made herlook like a prostitute for a second-rate escort agency, but it was the onlydress she owned with a collar. She pulled the collar aside and touched the hickeyon her neck before tucking the collar back into place to hide the dark blotch.

She grabbed her phone and stared at hercontacts. Her parents were in Tokyo, Daniel was working a shift at the fire station,and Kira and Gracie were busy with their boyfriends. She pressed her lips together,a little embarrassed at how weepy she was.

She didn’t have anyone to call.

Call Grace and Kira. They won’t care, Addie.They’ll come pick you up and you can join them at their barbeque and stop feelingso goddamn sorry for yourself.

No, she wouldn’t call them. She would geta ride home from Wade. She needed to realize that she was alone now and starttaking care of her problems herself.

You’re gonna stand at the side of a roadin ninety-degree heat because, why? To prove you’re an independent woman? Don’tbe an idiot. Call your friends and –

The distant roar of a motorcycle made her stiffen.She studied the Harley that was flying down the road toward her, her stomachdropping. It was him. Of course, it was him.

For a moment, she had the stupidest urge torun to the ditch and fling her body into it. To hide and hope he didn’t seeher. Thankfully, it passed quickly. She smoothed her dress down with suddenlytrembling hands and patted her cheeks, hoping like hell her makeup hadn’tcompletely sweated off.

Why did it have to be him? Why couldn’t ithave been anyone else? Her stomach clenched with nerves as the Harley grewcloser. Maybe it wasn’t him, maybe it was some other large, tattoo-covered,motorcycle driving badass.

He slowed down as he approached and pulledthe bike in just behind her car. She leaned against her car and he shut offthe motorcycle. Her ears rang in the sudden silence. He put the kickstand downand swung his leg over the bike with practiced ease. He was wearing anavy-blue t-shirt with a worn leather vest and faded jeans that clung to histhick thighs.

Did his jeans have to be so tight?

---