Page 34 of Sweet Harmony

“I hadn’tbeen,” he admitted. “But Grant took a chance on me. I accepted hisoffer and moved to Harmony Falls. It’s been two years now and theclinic is doing well.”

“I know thatGrace has nothing but good things to say about working with you andDr. Henderson,” Kira said. “She’s the reason I switched to yourclinic from the Dental Centre. Hey, do you even remember me as aclient?”

He nodded.“Yes. You have all your wisdom teeth still and only onecavity.”

“Is that howyou remember all your clients? By their teeth?” she asked withanother giggle.

“Pretty much,”he replied. He couldn’t believe that he had never even looked twiceat Kira before. She was gorgeous and sweet and why had he not seenthat when she was in the clinic?

Maybe becausefor the last two years, you’ve been wrapped up in regret and shameover losing Lisa?

He sighedinwardly. He had been pretty obsessed with her for a while there.It was partially the reason he’d accepted the partnership withGrant. If he’d stayed in Willington, his love for Lisa would havecontinued to burn bright. The distance, the long hours as he andGrant both worked hard to get the clinic up and running had been awelcoming distraction.

“Connor?”

He had slowedto a stop in the middle of the path and he stared blankly at Kira.“What?”

“I asked whyyou and Lisa broke up.”

Sweat startedto break out on his forehead and between his shoulder blades. Heand Kira might be faking this relationship thing, but it didn’tmean he wanted her knowing what a fuck up he was. Besides, it wasthe past, and he wanted nothing more than to move on from hismistakes and his regrets. “We wanted different things.”

“Like what?”she asked.

He startedwalking again, his voice rough with annoyance. “None of yourbusiness, Kira. I’m not discussing my relationship or my break upwith Lisa with you. It’s off limits.”

“Because you’restill in love with her?”

“If I was stillin love with her, why would I be bringing a fake girlfriend to mycousin’s wedding?” He scowled at her. “I am not talking to youabout her. Understood?”

“Understood,”she said.

They walked insilence for a few minutes. He was walking fast, his anger andfrustration quickening his pace and she was almost jogging to keepup with him. Guilt washing over him, he slowed down and squeezedher hand. “Sorry. I’m being a dick.”

“I shouldn’thave pried,” she replied.

“You didn’t. Ijust – it’s the past and I don’t want to focus on that.”

“Fair enough,”she said. “So, what’s your favourite meal, vacation spot, andmovie.”

He was moregrateful than he could say that she was changing the subject.“Popcorn, Hawaii, andTerminator.”

“Popcorn isn’ta meal,” she said.

“It is whenyou’re a bachelor who works long hours.”

Her look ofdisapproval was weirdly adorable. “You don’t work weekends. Take aSunday and make a bunch of casseroles and stuff to freeze for theweek.”

“Is that whatyou do?”

She nodded.“Yeah. I’m not that great of a cook, to be honest, but I’ve gotsome casserole recipes that I don’t mess up too much, and my momtaught me how to make her grandmother’s lasagne. It’s delicious andfreezes well. She was going to teach me other recipes but thenshe…”

He squeezed herhand again. “You must miss her a lot.”

“I do,” shesaid. “But I have Gideon – sorry again for his behaviour thismorning – and I have Grace and Addison and Harper. Grace stayedwith me for weeks after my parents died, just moved into the houseand upended her entire routine and life to help me through thegrieving process. I don’t know what I would have done withouther.”

She studied herfeet for a moment as they walked slowly down the trail. “Even withGrace, I was still pretty depressed. Which is why Gideon eventuallymoved home.”

She lapsed intosilence and he waited patiently. He had the feeling that there wasmore to the story and he was intensely curious, but he had justchastised her for asking questions about his past.

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