Page 28 of Redeeming Harmony

“Thank you,” Harper said.

Harper didn’t look thrilled about working at the coffee shop. Nathan told himself it wasn’t guilt he felt. Even if he looked past the fact that she’d tried to sabotage the clinic sale, there wasn’t an open spot at the clinic for Nathan to hire her.

“Well, we should probably find an empty table before they all disappear,” Addison said.

Harper’s grateful look at Addison fell off her face with an almost audible crash when Connor said, “I think it’s too late for that. You should just hang out with us. Right, guys?”

He stared expectantly at Nathan and the others. Lucas and Wyatt looked at Nathan, and when he stayed silent, Harper’s face turned red again.

“What?” Connor said. “What did I say?”

“Nothing,” Kira said. “It’s all good, honey. I’ll talk to you later.” She pressed a kiss against his mouth, and Connor watched in confusion as she and Harper and Addison walked away.

“Why do I feel like I just said something stupid?” he asked. He massaged the fresh scar running along the back of his right hand.

“It’s nothing,” Nathan said.

“Oh, it’s something,” Connor said. “Lucas, spill it.”

Lucas took a sip of his beer. “Harper tried to convince her dad not to sell the clinic to Nathan.”

“Oh, shit.” Connor glanced at Nathan. “Sorry, man, I didn’t know.”

“It’s fine,” Nathan said.

“She only did it because she thought Nathan was forcing her old man into selling,” Wyatt said. “Which, obviously, he wasn’t. And as soon as she realized it, she apologized.”

“Are you actually defending her right now?” Nathan asked.

“No, I’m explaining the facts. I know you want to think of Harper as some spoiled little brat, but -”

“That’s exactly what she is, and since we’re here celebrating my accomplishment, I’d prefer if we didn’t talk about Harper Brandt,” Nathan said.

“It’s your night. We’ll do whatever you want,” Wyatt said.

Chapter 8

“Oh my God, Kira, why didn’t you mention that Connor knew Nathan?” Harper said.

“I didn’t know,” Kira said. “Connor’s never mentioned a Nathan to me. He had to have met him through Lucas. The real mystery is how Lucas knows Nathan.”

“Why don’t we go somewhere else to find you a,” Addison paused, “bedtime friend. We can try the Charming Lime or go to the Thirsty Beaver.”

“A bedtime friend?” Despite her embarrassment over Nathan’s incredibly obvious disgust at the idea of her hanging out with him, Harper couldn’t help but laugh. “Addie, you bang a super hot tattoo artist every single night who’s even convinced you to talk dirty to him. I think you can call it what it is… a fuck buddy.”

“Wait, you talk dirty to Preacher?” Kira said.

Addie turned a fiery shade of red. “No, of course not.”

“She’s fibbing,” Harper said.

Kira laughed as Addie gave Harper a pointed look. “You were told that in confidence, Harper.”

Kira nudged Addison. “I think it’s adorable that you talk dirty to him. What do you say?”

“I am not telling you that,” Addison said as her blush deepened. They had managed to find one of the few empty tables left, and she set her small handbag on top of it before grabbing her phone out of it.

“Are you sending dirty texts to Preacher right now?” Harper asked.

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