Page 75 of To Bring You Back
He swung the luggage, letting it thud too hard into the vehicle.
Harper sucked in a breath and glared at him as he stepped back so Tim could shut the tailgate again. “What?”
“My dad? Really?” He shook his head and forced a deep breath.
Harper followed him around the side of the SUV, her towering sandals grinding stones against the asphalt. He opened the door for her to get in.
She drew a ragged breath as if he’d given her a second black eye. “Tonight has been awful, so whatever chip you’ve got on your shoulder … Look, I’m sorry about the flat. I’m sorry I’m here. I’m sorry I’m such a burden to you, that I didn’t know who to go to after Rob attacked me. I thought this would be safe. And then I hit something in the road in the dark in the middle of nowhere, and I’ll never be good enough for you. I’m sorry, okay? Leave me here with the luggage and the car. I’ll go with the tow driver. You’ll never see me again.” She stomped to the tailgate.
So there was a man.
Gannon held a deep breath, then pushed it out. Body suddenly heavy, he joined her at the back corner of the vehicle. “Come to the cabin. We’ll get you set up for the night and figure everything out tomorrow. Okay?”
“You hate me.”
“I don’t hate you. I’m sorry I lost my temper. My dad left before I was born.” And Gannon couldn’t blame Harper for the part about Fitz. It was his own fault a question about changing a tire brought on guilt like this.
“Oh.” She tucked her hair back. “I forgot.”
A true friend wouldn’t have. But this wasn’t about a friendship. This was about being a decent human being to someone in need. This was about all the people watching Harper who needed to know there was a better way, people who would listen to her testimony when they wouldn’t listen to anyone else.
But first, he’d have to stick this out long enough for her to change.
“Let’s get going.”
She slid her glasses on again and followed him, head down, into the backseat of the SUV. Tim steered toward Havenridge, but Gannon couldn’t shake the horror-movie feeling that said he was still walking into a trap.
20
Adeline made out the shape of people standing next to the dark country road.
Something tapped her arm, and she found John holding his sunglasses toward her, even though it was dark out. “Might be best if they don’t get a clear view.”
As he slowed the car to turn toward the waiting people, she slid them on. When the first flash went off, she lowered her head and lifted her hands to block her face. The car muffled the photographer’s calls, but as John steered through the fray, it sounded like they crowded close to the windows.
Had the car stopped? She peeked to see an iron gate suspended between massive posts, each made of a trio of logs. Bruce, whom they’d finally found fifteen minutes ago, whined from his spot in the backseat. John let the car crawl forward, advancing as quickly as the gates’ slow-motion movement would allow. A man in black pants and a gray polo stood nearby, making sure no trespassers dashed onto the property.
Once the photographers were behind them, Adeline removed the sunglasses and glanced in the side mirror. Tegan’s vehicle hovered behind them, apparently unscathed.
Now on the private drive, John accelerated. Two minutes later, they rounded a bend, and Havenridge came into view.
The material proof of Awestruck’s success left her craning her neck. The house towered three stories high and was made of thick logs and stretching windows. The drive split, offering the option of stopping under a hotel-like carport by the front door or pulling into the six-car garage. Lights shone onto the house and washed the front door in golden, welcoming light.
John hit the button to open one of the garage doors. He parked between a fancy red sports car and a black sedan like the one they rode in. She got out of the car and spotted Gannon’s motorcycle parked nearby, as well as another car.
Bruce scrambled up from the backseat and vaulted out. Tegan, who must’ve parked outside the garage, entered with her bag slung over her shoulder, expression marked with a mix of awe and uncertainty.
“Don’t let the money fool you.” John retrieved Adeline’s bag and shouldered Tegan’s too.
“Fool us?” Adeline asked.
“Into thinking we’re more than just some guys with guitars and drums.” He whistled, and Bruce followed him to the door leading inside. John pulled it open, and Bruce trekked in, sniffing along the hardwood floor of the hall toward whatever lay ahead.
“Who’s Rob?”Gannon crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe as Harper opened one of her suitcases. To keep her away from his own room, he’d brought her luggage here, to a room along the great room balcony. Though he longed for sleep, what she’d told him ought to be dealt with.
“A fling. It wasn’t supposed to be anything serious, but he saw it differently.” She withdrew a smaller bag from her suitcase and set it on the bed. “I stopped by his place, and when I tried to leave …” She chewed her lip for a moment, frozen, then shook her head and went back to unpacking. She lifted a silky slip.
He turned his gaze away. If she wanted a reaction, she wouldn’t get it here. “What happened?”
