Page 6 of Queen of Blades

Taking up Dwight’s case would definitely get her some sideways glances, but her father practically begged her. Which was something he wasn’t prone to doing. He preferred to get his way by force. Usually, just the fear of what he could do was enough to persuade anyone.

Harper wasn’t just anyone, though. She was his daughter. Dad had to pull out the big guns. He wasnice.

She tilted her glass up, the last drops of wine filling her mouth, and internally rolled her eyes at herself. She was such a softy. She’d allowed her dad to guilt her into taking this case and get her back to Oklahoma after she’d sworn she wouldn’t return.

There was nothing for her here. She left it behind for a reason. It sucked that it meant leaving her family, but it was best for her.

“Ladies.” One of the few servers at Phil’s Tavern interrupted her thoughts and Remi’s story and drew their attention. “A very intriguing gentleman has sent over your next round.”

Harper furrowed her brow when the martini glass filled with a yellow mixed drink landed in front of her. “What is this?”

Remi snickered as she reached for the light beer in front of her. “At least he got mine right.”

“A honeybee,” the server answered.

Stunned, Harper’s eyes widened.

“Yeah. I’ve never heard of it either.” The server shrugged. “But he told the bartender what was in it. I’m not gonna lie. There was some left in the shaker after he made it and I tasted it. Seriously, it is delicious.”

Confused, Harper examined the drink for a few more seconds and then turned. Looking past the bar worker, she scanned the patrons.

“Didn’t we used to drink those back in the day?” Remi asked. “When one guy was banging a lady who had bees. There was so much honey.”

Still searching, Harper nodded briefly. “Yeah. I haven’t had one in ages.” It had to have been ten, maybe even eleven years ago. No one knew how to make them. They were such an obscure drink. Bars rarely had honey.

“Yeah, I’m shocked we even had the ingredients. I guess having honey barbeque wings on the menu did the trick,” the server commented. “Let me just clear these empties. Speaking of wings, do you ladies want anything from the kitchen?”

“Those wings sound fabulous. Harper, you wanna split them?” Remi asked.

Harper’s jaw nearly hit the floor when she locked eyes with his hypnotic glacial blues.

How had she not noticed him before? Wearing a charcoal suit and crisp white shirt, he stuck out like a sore thumb among all the jeans and raggedy T-shirts. Granted, he’d kept his collar open and hadn’t worn a tie, but Paul definitely wasn’t a regular at Phil’s Tavern. Tall, lean, with short pale-blond hair, he hadn’t changed one iota since she’d last seen him. How was that possible?

What thehellwas he doing here?

“Harper?” Remi snapped her fingers.

Swallowing down her shock, Harper tore her eyes off the most beautiful man in a suit she’d ever seen and faced Remi. “Yeah?”

The server and her sister stared at her expectantly.

She’d missed something. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Do you want wings?” Remi asked with a touch of annoyance.

“We have buffalo, honey barbeque, and lemon garlic,” the server offered.

Nothing made sense. Harper couldn’t pay attention. His fiery gaze bore into her soul. She didn’t even have to look in his direction to know he continued to stare at her.

Shifting in her seat, she cleared her throat, fighting back the memories. Nervously, she fidgeted with the chunky gold chain bracelet around her wrist.

“Yeah, sure. A basket of each.” She forced a smile. “We’re celebrating, after all.”

Remi peered at her as though she’d just suggested they eat stewed cats. “Three dozen wings is a lot of chicken.”

“I’ll do a sampler platter,” the server suggested.

Nodding, Harper took a sip of the most divine beverage. Sweet and tangy. It was like drinking summer. She rolled it around in her mouth, her taste buds exploding as the sharp flavors delighted her tongue. Once she swallowed, she nodded again. “Sounds great.”

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