Page 17 of Redeeming Harmony

“I did not,” Harper said. “Addie, tell them.”

“Harper’s right,” Addison said. “It was only sixty-five times.”

Grace and Kira laughed as Harper pretended she’d been stabbed in the back. Addison grinned at her and said, “Hey, I’m not the one who can’t stop talking about how sexy his mouth is.”

“It is incredibly sexy,” Harper said sadly. “Which is a complete waste because he’s a jerk who I will never, ever want to kiss. Ever.”

“Fifty bucks says she kisses him in the next two weeks,” Grace said.

“Gracie!” Harper said.

“I’ll take that bet,” Kira said.

The two women shook hands as Addison laughed and slid out of the booth. “I have to use the loo, and then I need to get going. I’m starting the kids on their science projects tomorrow, and it’s gonna be a long day.”

As she walked away, Harper scowled playfully at Grace and Kira. “The two of you are the worst, and I hate you.”

“No,” Kira said. “You love us, and you missed us terribly. Admit it.”

“I might have missed you a teeny bit,” Harper said.

“Knew it,” Grace said. “Now,” she pointed to Harper’s bag, “pull out your sketchpad and show us what you’ve been working on lately before we leave. I’ve missed seeing your art.”

Chapter 5

“Idon’t see it, Addison.”

“Crap! Maybe I dropped it in the pub,” Addison said.

Harper shone her phone’s flashlight along the ground near the SUV. “What’s the big deal? It’s a friendship bracelet. It’s supposed to fall off eventually, right?”

“Yes, but…”

Harper could hear the embarrassment in Addie’s voice.

“But what?” she asked, continuing to sweep her light along the ground.

“It’s my matching one to Preacher, and it’s special.”

“That’s adorable,” Harper said. “But it’s starting to get cold, and you can make yourself another matchy-match bracelet with Preacher, so get your cute butt in your car so I can get my cute butt in my piece of shit car, and we can both go home.”

“Just give me one more minute - found it!” Addie said in relief. “Oh, I’m so -”

“Addison?”

Crouched next to the driver’s side of Addison’s SUV, Harper froze when she heard the familiar voice. It couldn’t be him. He didn’t know Addison from a damn hole in the ground.

“Yes?” Addison paused. “Oh, hey! Nathan, right?”

“That’s right. It’s good to see you again.”

“You too.”

Part of Harper wanted to stay right where she was until Nathan left. But a bigger, stronger part of her needed to know how Addie knew him. She stood up, smoothing her hair and straightening her jacket before joining Addie on the other side of the vehicle.

Addison stood with Nathan and Wyatt Martin, the foreman for the Whitaker Ranch. Addie smiled at Harper. “Harper, this is Nathan… I’m sorry, I don’t know your last name.”

“Henshaw,” Harper said. “Dr. Nathan Henshaw.”

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