Page 110 of Reckless Harmony

Stark groaned, blinking blearily as the shrill ring of the phone permeated the room. He was the little spoon to Rayna’s big spoon, and he patted her hand resting against his stomach. “Baby, your phone is ringing.”

“Not mine,” she mumbled before turning away from him and burying her head under the covers. He groaned and leaned out of the bed, snagging his pants from the floor and fumbling his phone out of his pocket.

He squinted at the screen and sighed loudly before hitting the answer button and collapsing on his back on the bed. “What?”

“Hello to you, too,” Jasper said.

Anger washed over Stark just hearing his cousin’s voice. He hadn’t spoken to or seen Jasper since his cousin’s disastrous date with Rayna. He rubbed a hand over his jaw. “It’s seven o’clock on a Saturday morning. What the fuck do you want?”

Rayna rolled over at his tone, giving him a worried look. He shook his head, rubbing her smooth thigh as Jasper said, “It’s your father.”

“What about him?”

“I told you - he wants to meet with you,” Jasper said. “In person. He’s willing to come to Harmony Falls this week.”

“And I told you that I won’t meet with him. If my father wants to talk to me, he can call the office and book a phone meeting.”

“You’re being an asshole about this, Isaac.”

“You’re one to talk,” Stark snapped.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jasper asked.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” Stark said. “You think I wouldn’t find out what you did to her?”

“I didn’t do jackshit to that bitch,” Jasper said. “Whatever she told you is a fucking lie.”

Stark glanced at Rayna. She sat up, the worry on her face returning.

Another surge of anger washed over him, deep enough to make him wish he could throttle Jasper through the phone. “Lose my fucking number, Jasper.”

He ended the call before Jasper could reply, and Rayna immediately said, “I’m sorry.”

He scrubbed his hand through his hair. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“You’re fighting with your cousin because of me,” she said.

He leaned over and pressed a hard kiss against her mouth. “I’m fighting with my cousin because of what he did to you. Big difference.”

“How do you know what happened?”

He hesitated. “I overheard Emma telling Lucas about it at the office.”

“Oh.” She chewed at her bottom lip. “Isaac, I don’t want you to destroy a family relationship because of me. It’s no big deal and -”

“It is a big deal,” he said fiercely. “What he said and what he did to you was wrong, Rayna, and I don’t care if he’s my fucking cousin. I don’t want someone like that in my life. Okay?”

“Okay,” she said.

He sighed. “Shit. Sorry. I didn’t mean to yell.”

“I know.” She studied him carefully. “It was you who paid off the rescue’s bill to Harmony Falls Vet Clinic after Jasper demanded his donation be returned.”

He looked away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She cupped his face and turned him to face her, giving him a quick kiss before resting her forehead against his. “Thank you, Isaac.”

He rubbed her quilt-covered thigh. “Sorry to wake you so early.”

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