Page 18 of Forbidden Harmony

Lord, she sounded like such an idiot.

Her nerves were getting the best of her.She couldn’t stop talking. “I really like the building. It’s quiet and myneighbours are friendly. I live in apartment 427.”

He stared at her and oh my God, why did shesay that?

“Anyway, thank you again,” she said. “Ireally appreciate your help.”

He nodded and she hesitated a moment longerbefore saying, “Well, I’ll see you around, okay?”

“Bye.”

“Okay, bye,” she said.

“Bye.”

Cursing herself for being an idiot, sheturned and walked up the pathway to her apartment building, pulling her keysout of her purse. Before opening the door, she looked behind her. Preacherwas back on his bike, but he hadn’t started it yet.

She waved, he nodded, and she shoved thekey in the lock and opened the door. She peeked again at Preacher. He wasstill sitting on his bike and staring at her. Ignoring her urge to return tohim, she shut the door and headed for the stairs.

Chapter Six

“You look terrible, pinky-pie, what’swrong?” Harper’s face stared out at Addison from the screen of her iPad.

Addison grimaced. “I talked to the mechanictoday about my car and it’s toast. Totally toast. Preacher was right, I needa new engine, which will cost more than the car is worth. So, now I have tobuy a new car, and I seriously do not have the money for that right now.”

“Wait, wait, back up… what do you mean Preacherwas right?” Harper raised one perfectly manicured brow.

“Oh, um, Preacher happened to drive by onhis motorcycle yesterday while I was stranded on the side of the road and he,um, he gave me a ride to my place because Wade was going to be a few hours.”

“Are you fucking kidding me right now?”Harper gave her the hairy eyeball. “Bitch, you did not text that part of the ‘mycar broke down’ story to me last night. What the hell?”

Addison couldn’t help but laugh. “I didn’t…I mean…it wasn’t that big of a deal.”

“Fucking hell it wasn’t that big of a deal,”Harper said. “You rode Preacher’s Harley. What else aren’t you telling me? Wasit just his bike you rode, or did you take a spin on his dick too?”

“Harper!” Addison propped the iPad on thetable before grabbing some juice from the fridge. “Don’t be crude.”

“Well?” Harper leaned forward until allAddison could see was her nose and mouth. “Did you or did you not bangPreacher like a screen door yesterday?”

“No, of course I didn’t. He just gave me aride back to my place. It was no big deal, all right?”

“What were you wearing? What was he wearing?Did he do that totally sexy thing where the guy rests his hand on the woman’sthigh while he steers his big ole’ hog with one hand?”

“Oh my God, what is up with you tonight?”Addison said.

Harper laughed. “Sorry, honey. I went outwith Angie and Pooja, and I might still be a teensy bit high.”

Addison stared at her watch. “It’s, like,five thirty. I don’t think you’re supposed to smoke weed until after seven.”

Harper laughed so hard that she dropped herphone and Addison was treated to a view of the ceiling until Harper scooped itback up and pointed it at her face again. “There’s no appointed time for weed,you dork. It can be weed time anytime.”

“Until you get arrested for it,” Addisonsaid.

“Okay, Mom,” Harper said. “Anyway, whydidn’t you mention that it was Preacher who rescued you.”

“I don’t know. I think because I suddenlyfeel like I’m obsessed with him and it’s ridiculous. He’s not attracted to meand half the time I end up looking and sounding like a fool when I’m around him.”

“One, he’s attracted to you – all guys areattracted to you. You’re a hot and sexy little number, and you’re sweet andyou’re smart. You’re the perfect package. I get why Gracie-Lou isdiscouraging you from picking Preacher as your casual sex partner, but Idisagree. You’re both adults and it doesn’t have to be weird unless you makeit weird, right? You find him sexy as hell, why not fuck his brains out?”

---