Page 126 of Reckless Harmony

Stark didn’t reply, and his father left the kitchen. Rayna waited until they heard the elevator doors close before turning to him. “You are not responsible for taking care of his employees, honey. Don’t believe that, okay?”

“I know,” he said.

“I can’t believe he even said that,” Rayna said angrily. “Is there no low he won’t stoop to?”

“Obviously not,” Stark said.

She stood and paced angrily back and forth. “I know you said your dad was an asshole, but my God, Isaac, that’s honestly just sugarcoating it. I hate him. I’m sorry. I know he’s your dad, but I seriously hate him.”

He stood and pulled her into his arms, kissing her until her body melted against his. She clung to his hips, giving him a dazed look when he finally pulled back. “Wow.”

“Thank you,” he said hoarsely. “Thank you for staying with me and for standing up for me. You… you were incredible, Rayna.”

She hugged him hard, her beautiful face warm and full of kindness. “Isaac, I meant every word I said, and I will always be your biggest cheerleader and supporter. I mean that.”

He swallowed hard, giving in to his overwhelming urge to tell her that he loved her. “Rayna, I -”

Her phone rang, and she grimaced before pulling it out of her pocket. “Shit, it’s Reba, my medical coordinator. She only calls if there’s something wrong. I have to take this.”

“Okay,” he said.

She bit her lip indecisively as her phone rang again. “What were you going to say?”

“Nothing that can’t wait,” he said.

CHAPTER 42

“I’m being ridiculous, Bea.”

The beagle stared at her, tail thumping happily before rolling to her side on the couch for a belly rub.

Rayna rubbed Bea’s belly, combing her fingers through the dog’s short, coarse hair. “We’ve been apart less than five hours, and I miss him like crazy. But I don’t think he’s in the mood for company. I can’t text him to come over, right?”

Bea cracked open one eye, and Rayna said hastily, “Not for sex. I’m worried about him. His father was such a dick to him, and I don’t know if Isaac would prefer to be left alone or if he wants company, you know? I want to support him, but it’s not like we’re dating.”

Bea’s eyes closed, and she made a contented sigh before shifting so that Rayna could scratch along her ribcage. Rayna rested her head on the back of the couch and stared at the ceiling.

The drive home to Harmony Falls had been quiet and a little tense. Reba had been calling about a foster dog who had eaten some chocolate and been taken to Harmony Falls Vet Clinic, and the foster was freaking out. Rayna’s guilt over not being at the clinic to support the foster and Isaac’s obvious stress over his father’s visit meant neither of them was in the mood to talk.

She dropped Isaac at his house before heading to the vet clinic. Thankfully, the dog would make a full recovery, and Rayna had spent some time with the foster before driving to Emma’s house to pick up Bea.

Emma had been working at the store, but Rayna let herself in using her key and texted Emma that she’d grabbed Bea before she drove home. Isaac’s car hadn’t been in the driveway when she’d returned home. Feeling tense and uneasy, she’d busied herself with setting up her new laptop, her ears straining to hear the sound of Isaac’s car. Despite actively listening, she didn’t hear him return home and only realized he was back when she’d finally peeked out one of the windows facing his house.

“It’s just a bit of light stalking,” she told Bea. “Nothing to be concerned about. I’m not being weird about him.”

Bea snorted and let out a loud fart. Rayna immediately jumped up and made her escape to the kitchen. Freddie sat on the counter, and he growled lightly at her before jumping down and stalking out of the room.

She opened her text to Stark’s name, her thumbs hovering over the keyboard. She should text him, right? She didn’t have to invite him over, but it wouldn’t hurt to check on him. It was something a casual sex partner would do, right?

The doorbell app chimed, and she opened the camera. Her pulse skyrocketed, and undeniable happiness washed over her when she saw Isaac standing on the porch. She shoved her phone into her pocket, nearly ran to the front door, and yanked it open.

“Hi!” She sounded like a teenage girl greeting her prom date.

“Hey.” Isaac held up a large paper bag with ‘Nan’s Diner’ stamped on it. “Have you eaten dinner yet?”

“I haven’t,” she said. “Come inside before you freeze to death.”

He joined her in the hallway, and she took the bag of food. He took off his jacket and boots and followed her into the kitchen. He studied the open laptop. “Sorry, are you busy? I should have texted first to see if you wanted company.”

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