His warm mouth presses against my forehead before he releases me.
Grant kisses my bare shoulder with a little pat on my ass. “I mean it. Back to bed.”
Oliver’s grip tightens around my waist when I hesitate, his hand low over my stomach as he reels me back against him. Mouth at my ear, he whispers, “Do as you’re told, Harper.”
At least I don’t have to drop this bomb on them. It’s already detonated.
They lure me back to the bed, surrounding me once again with their heat. Trent has me splayed over his body, my headtucked under his chin, but Oliver and Grant aren’t far. They keep their hands on me, reinforcing their presence.
Grant’s hand is on my stomach now. Oliver plays with the bit of flesh between my fingers. Trent has an arm across my shoulders as if he has to keep me there by force.
None of them seem to be preparing a punishment for this. And I certainly deserve one.
I might even feel better if they did deliver one. Even something as simple as a set of swats.
But maybe, just maybe, this isn’t going to destroy us. Maybe we’ll be okay.
We have options.
Trent murmurs against my temple like he can read my thoughts. “You know we’ll support you no matter what you decide…just don’t think we’re going to take it easy on you either way.”
36
OLIVER
Harper is in place at the Willow Cafe. She’s sitting in plain sight on the patio with her hot chocolate.
I’m on a nearby bench monitoring her phone from my laptop as we wait for this traitor to call.
Trent is nearby in an armored car, and Grant is two tables behind Harper reading a newspaper.
No one flinches when her phone rings, and the nonchalance on her face when she swipes it open and lifts it to her ear is perfection.
I tap into her call, listening with the earbud in place.
“Hello?”
“Harper. I’m happy to see you following directions, especially since I understand you’re one to deviate from protocol and direct commands.” That taunting voice is back, and I hate the small part of me whoknowsthis voice yet can’t place it.
She sighs over the line. “Cut the shit. Tell me where I’m meeting you and when, so we can get this done.”
His laugh is hauntingly amused. “So eager. I’m not surprised those three haven’t whipped that out of you yet. It’s quite endearing.”
“So glad you think so.”
Her never-wavering attitude tweaks the edges of my mouth into a smile. I’m glad last night hasn’t deflated her confidence.
It’s doubled the worry in Trent and Grant, but until Harper tells me otherwise, I trust her to know herself and her body. If she says she’s up for this, I believe her.
That doesn’t mean I won’t be a few steps behind her at any given moment.
She yawns into the phone. “So, are we playing twenty questions, or do you have an actual plan?”
“Patience, sweetheart. Patience. Don’t you know the anticipation is half the fun?”
Harper rolls her eyes, the movement is big enough for me to see from where I’m sitting. “All of this supposed suspense is turning into tedium. Tell me where.”
“You’ve got what I asked for?”