Page 121 of Redeeming Harmony

Harper nodded, and she and Nora placed the coffee on the shelves behind the counter as the tall, dark haired man approached the counter.

“Ooh,” Nora said under her breath. “That guy is stupidly hot, yeah?”

Harper glanced at the man wearing the business suit that probably cost more than her car. He had light blue eyes with ridiculously long dark lashes. While he was handsome in a cold kind of way, she decided she much preferred Nathan’s beautiful brown eyes and the warmth and kindness that practically radiated from him.

“I think that’s your brother’s new boss, Isaac Stark,” she said in a low voice.

“Oh yeah?” Nora craned her head for another look at him.

“Pretty certain. My friend Kira is a real estate agent, and she helped him find the office building and is currently helping him find a home to buy. He fits her description of him.”

“Hello, Mr. Stark,” Hazel said. “Your usual?”

“Yes, please, Ms. Marsh.” Stark pulled out his wallet as Hazel punched in the order.

“We haven’t seen you for a while,” Hazel said.

“I’ve been in New Cassel for the last month,” Stark said.

Her back turned to Hazel and Stark, Harper almost fell over when she heard him say, “I like your new artwork. Can you tell me more about the artist?”

“She works here actually,” Hazel said. “Harper, do you have a minute?”

Harper glanced at Nora, who gave her two thumbs up and a big grin. Wiping her hands on her apron, Harper turned and joined them at the counter, smiling at the man standing at the register. “Hello, I’m Harper Brandt.”

“Isaac Stark.”

She shook Stark’s hand when he held it out, trying to keep her grip firm even though she had to lock her knees to stop them from trembling. The man intimidated the hell out of her.

“I like your work, Ms. Brandt. I like it a great deal.”

“Thank you,” she said.

“Do you have a website with a gallery of your pieces?”

“I do,” she said. “I could grab you a business card from the back if Hazel is okay with that?”

She glanced at Hazel, who said, “Actually, you’re due for your break. Why don’t you grab your business card and your sketchpad and show Mr. Stark some of your work right now? Mr. Stark, take that table by the window. I’ll bring your coffee out to you.”

“Perfect. I can give you ten minutes, Ms. Brandt,” Stark said.

He turned and walked toward the table as Harper stared at Hazel. “Hazel, I… I’ve already taken both my breaks.”

Hazel laughed and pushed her toward the back. “I know, you dork. Go get your sketchpad and your business card.”

More than a little rattled, Harper grabbed her stuff from her locker and joined Stark at the table. She sank into the chair across from him as Hazel brought his coffee over and a coffee for Harper as well.

“Thank you, Hazel,” Stark said.

Harper could only give Hazel a wide-eyed look of thanks as Stark held out his hand for the sketchpad. She flipped to the first completed one, a sketch of the view from her childhood bedroom, and handed it to Stark. Her window looked out onto the wooded area behind the house, and Stark studied the trees and the coyote that sat almost hidden along the tree line before he flipped to the next page.

Her hands ice cold, Harper sipped at her coffee. It did little to calm her nerves. If anything, the buzz of caffeine made it nearly impossible to sit still as Stark looked through each page of her sketchpad with studious concentration.

Six minutes later, he closed the sketchpad and handed it to her. He took a sip of coffee and adjusted his tie. “You’re very talented.”

“Thank you,” she said.

“Did you bring me a business card?”

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