Page 173 of Hell Hath No Fury
Last night he’d been preoccupied with finally having her in his arms, and besides, there hadn’t been anything he could have done that late. But her serpentine belt had been tampered with. Someone had deliberately sabotaged her car. Not wanting to upset her or ruin her weekend, he didn’t mention the issue.
He picked up his phone and called Harry. “Hey man, can you have a tow sent for Harper’s car?” He gave his worker the mile marker and the road name where he’d left the vehicle. “Whenyou get it back to the shop, check it out top to bottom, but pay special attention to the belt. I think someone played with it.”
“Sure thing, Boss.”
“See you Monday.” The shop was closed on Sunday and Harry had the day off.
“Ready!” Harper joined him in the room.
He smiled at the sight of her, pretty in her black slacks and white shirt, her hair pulled back in a ponytail. “I’ll see you to class then go exploring,” he told her.
“Sounds good.”
They left the room and walked down the hall hand in hand. He’d never expected to be with Harper, never mind have it feel so perfect or right. God, he was head over heels for this woman.
At the ballroom where her class was being held, he kissed her long and hard before leaving her for the day.
Then he headed into town with the intention of doing some very specific shopping for one extremely special woman. Afterward, he killed time until he had to meet up with Harper, preoccupied with thoughts of her. How much he loved her despite the fact that they’d only been together one night. Despite that, they had a lot of time to make up for and things to learn about each other.
But before he laid his heart out to her, he needed to stand up to her brother and hopefully get his approval. Only then could he come to her and ask her for forever.
* * *
The full-day class ended early, and Harper sat at a table inside the lobby lounge, ironically drinking coffee. Susie Majors, a friendly barista Harper had met early in the day, joined her.
“So, where are you from and where do you work?” Harper asked the pretty brunette, although Harper had a hunch about what part of the country from which the woman originated.
“I’m from Tennessee.” Susie laughed. “Did the accent give me away?”
Harper chuckled. “Only a little.”
“Anyway, I work at a Starbucks in downtown Denver now, but I’m hoping to open my own place one day. I’m taking all the classes I can so I’m prepared if and when that time comes.” Susie took a long sip of the hotel brew.
Harper smiled. “Well, if you ever need advice or pointers, I’ve done it… twice. Once with my own shop and once on a full renovation when my best friend and I turned the combined space into a bakery and coffee shop.” She handed her a business card. “Keep in touch.”
“I will.” Susie slid her own card across the table and Harper pocketed it, feeling like she’d connected with her and made a friend.
She and Susie were talking about what they’d learned today when the other woman’s eyes opened wide. “Oh, wow. They don’t make men like that where I come from,” Susie said in an appreciative tone of voice, fake fanning herself with her hand.
Harper grabbed the back of her chair and turned to see Matt striding towards them, an intense feeling of possessiveness filling her as she looked over the handsome man, from his bearded face—a beard which she’d indeed felt against her thighs late last night—to his bulky body.
Before she could pivot back to Susie, Matt reached her, leaned down, and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was long and equally as possessive as she’d felt towards him. By the time she turned around, her cheeks were flaming as she met Susie’s startled gaze.
“Oh! I didn’t realize he was yours,” the other woman said, clearly flustered.
Was he hers? Harper wondered. Or was this a weekend outside of their normal routine and he’d go back to ignoring her when they returned to Montlake? As much as she wanted to know, she wouldn’t ask and ruin their time together. She’d find out where they stood soon enough. They were going home tomorrow.
“I’m Matt,” he said, extending his hand to Susie to shake.
“I’m Susie.”
“Nice to meet you, Susie.” Matt looked down at Harper. “Are you all finished?”
She nodded, rising from her chair. “Save me a seat tomorrow if you get there first?” she asked Susie.
Her class was an hour in the morning and then they could start their trip home.
“I will. And you do the same.” Susie rose and threw her cup in the trash. “See you tomorrow!” She strode out into the lobby.
