Page 72 of Beautiful Harmony

The pastor stared at him. “I beg your pardon?”

“She could be raped and murdered out here, you stupid old goat,” Nix said.

Reverend Norwood’s face turned so red Lucas figured he was about thirty seconds from his head exploding like a cherry bomb.

“How dare you speak to me that way!” he snapped. “How I raise my daughter is none of your business.”

Lucas waited for Nix to simply punch the man in the face, but Nix wasn’t even looking at the Reverend. His gaze was on Nola’s face, and she gave him a scared and pleading look. She looked like she was about to burst into tears. Nix’s face softened before he stepped back from her father, and his tense body relaxed.

“It’s time to go, Nola,” her father said. “Get in the car.”

“Yes, Daddy.” Nola took off Nix’s jacket and handed it to him. Without speaking, she hurried to the car and climbed into the passenger seat.

Reverend Norwood scowled at Nix. “Stay away from my daughter. Do you understand?”

When Nix just stared at him, his face reddened, and he huffed angrily before turning and stalking to the car. He climbed in and drove off in a squeal of tires.

Lucas waited until the car turned the corner before clapping Nix on the back. “You okay?”

“Fine,” Nix said. “Let’s go.”

They started down the sidewalk toward Nix’s car, which miraculously still had all four tires.

“So, you got a thing for the preacher’s daughter, huh?” Lucas said.

“No,” Nix said a little too quickly.

Lucas grinned at him. “You’re in total denial, man. I recognize that look on your face.”

“Why? Because you see it on your face every day?” Nix asked.

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve got a thing for Emma,” Nix said.

“No, I don’t,” Lucas said.

“Right. You spend so much time with her because you love yarn. It has nothing to do with her spectacular tits.”

“Don’t talk about her body,” Lucas snarled.

Nix grinned at him. “Now, who’s in denial?”

Lucas sighed. “Fine, you’re right. I have a thing for Emma, but we’re just friends.”

“Knew it,” Nix said

“This is the part where you admit you have a thing for Nola,” Lucas said.

“Sure, if I did, but I don’t,” Nix said as he unlocked the car. “I just have a white knight complex.”

“Right,” Lucas said, climbing into the passenger seat as Nix slid behind the wheel. “Well, Mr. White Knight, drive me to the Beaver for beer and poppers before I die of starvation.”

CHAPTER19

Emma stepped off the elevator and took a right down the hallway to Lucas’s apartment. She let herself into the apartment, hanging her jacket in the closet and slipping out of her shoes.

Carrying her controller and headset in one hand, she walked into the living room. “Sorry, I’m late.”

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