Page 10 of Perfect Harmony

“Have you seen him since the fight?”

Connor shook his head. “Not really. He’stexted Kira a couple of times and called her once when he was drunk, but she’spretty firm with him that she doesn’t want to be his friend right now.”

“He had his chance,” Grace said dismissively.“Kira had a crush on him for years and he took advantage of that. He deservesto suffer a little now. Besides, you and Kira are the perfect couple, andeveryone can see how happy you make each other.”

“Speaking of crushes – there seemed to besome tension between you and Gideon,” Connor said.

She glanced at the open doorway to thesunroom. “No more than usual.”

“You sure about that?”

“I’m sure.” She wasn’t regrettingconfessing her crush on Gideon to Connor a few months ago – she considered himnot just her boss but a friend as well – but she didn’t want to talk to himabout it right now. Not with Gideon and Kira possibly overhearing, and notwhen she was so damn exhausted.

“Hey, you haven’t, um, mentioned my crushto Kira, right?” she said.

Connor shook his head immediately. “No.You told me that in confidence, Grace, and I won’t betray your trust. Ihaven’t told Kira and I’m not going to.”

“Okay. Sorry, I know you wouldn’t dothat. I shouldn’t have said anything,” she said.

“Are you okay?” Connor said. “You look…”

“Awful?”

“Tired.”

“I’m good.” She opened the patio doors.“C’mon, let’s get this barbeque started.”

Chapter Two

“Okay, wait… let me see if I have thisstraight.” Lucas was sitting next to Kira in a purple striped lawn chair, a beerin one hand and an empty paper plate in the other.

“You and Gideon are brother and sister. Gideonis the sheriff of this second-best town. Your best friend is Grace.” Lucaswinked at Grace and Gideon had to control the urge to curl his lip at the man.“Grace works as a hygienist at Connor’s dental clinic. So far so good?”

“Yep,” Kira took a swig of her cooler.“Keep going. You’re doing great.”

“Thanks. The giant scary guy with thetattoos,” Lucas pointed his beer bottle at Preacher who was sitting next toGideon, “is Preacher. However, he is not, in fact, a man of God as his namewould suggest, but a tattoo artist.”

“An amazing tattoo artist.” Kira beamed atPreacher. “He has a huge waiting list of clients.”

“Right. You grew up in Harmony Falls?”Lucas said to Preacher.

“No.” Preacher took a drink of beer.

When he didn’t elaborate, Kira said,“Gideon and Preacher met in New Cassel when Gideon lived there. Preacher movedto Harmony Falls about a year after Gideon moved home.”

“Ah,” Lucas said.

“Something I’ve always wondered,” Harrisonwas sitting on the other side of Gideon, “is what Preacher’s actual name is.”

“None of your fucking business,” Preachersaid.

The red flush travelled up Harrison’s neckand into his cheeks. After a moment of awkward silence, Lucas continued. “So,the lovely lady in the pearls and her – I’m not afraid to say it – handsome ashell fiancé, are Addison and Harrison. Harrison, you grew up in Harmony Fallsand you work for a law firm here in town, and Addison -”

“I’ll make partner by the end of the year,”Harrison said. “Youngest partner at Wilford and Associates in the history ofthe firm.”

“Congratulations,” Lucas said.

Addison smiled at Harrison. “We’re veryproud of him.”

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