Page 176 of Hell Hath No Fury
“Why?” she asked once they were on their way. “I told you I’d handle him.”
He shook his head. One hand on the wheel, he glanced over at her. “This is my fight.”
“Okay.” From his curt tone of voice, she wasn’t about to argue.
They arrived at the gun shop, and Matt parked then came around and helped her out of the truck. “Any chance you’ll wait for me here?”
She tipped her head to the side. “Really? Umm, no.”
He set his jaw, grabbed her hand, and together they walked across the lot and into her brother’s store. Noah was alone, no customers in sight, for which Harper was grateful. She didn’t know what was about to happen between the men, but she didn’t want an audience.
“Harper? Matt?” Noah, with his Marine-style cropped hair and big body, would intimidate most men.
And Harper could see how he’d have pushed a younger Matt around. But the man by her side now? He was strong and proud, and she was equally proud of him as he strode up to her brother.
“Noah. About that promise I made you to stay away from your sister? I’m breaking it. I love her, and she loves me–”
A heady warmth settled inside of Harper at his words. Words they’d yet to exchange to each other, but she understood this promise had prevented them from moving forward.
“Look,” Noah began.
Matt shook his head. “I’m not finished. I love her, and I’m good enough for her. I might not have understood that when Iwas younger, but I do now. So, though I’d like your approval, I’m letting you know you’re not going to stand in our way.”
Harper wasn’t going to let him stop her from having the man of her dreams either, but right now, the two men faced off in a tense, silent battle of wills.
To her utter shock, Noah took a step forward and extended his hand to Matt. “All I ever wanted for my sister was a man who knew his own worth,” Noah said.
Harper narrowed her gaze. “You jerk! Do you have any idea how much you screwed up my life? How much all these years of him ignoring mehurtme?”
She was about to dive over the counter and attempt to beat up her brother like she did when they were kids, but Matt grabbed her around the waist.
“He loves you, Harper. He wanted someone who could love and provide for you. Who’d put you first. I can’t fault him for that. But if he gets in our way again? I’ll jump over that counter and go after him myself. Okay?” Matt asked her.
Harper’s heart beat hard in her chest. It wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough after the pain she’d endured thinking Matt didn’t want her. But if he could forgive her brother for acting like an overbearing jerk, she’d try and do the same.
“Fine,” she muttered, glaring at Noah who at least looked ashamed, his hand still extended for Matt to take.
Matt, who’d waited for her to agree before gripping Noah’s hand in a rough man-to-man shake.
“Harp, I’m sorry,” her brother said, coming around the counter. “I just thought… he was just taking over the garage. I saw how you two looked at each other, and I wanted to make sure he succeeded before you two hooked up and maybe you got dragged down. I was… I shouldn’t have gotten involved.”
Which was a bigI’m sorryfrom the Marine.
“No, you shouldn’t have.”
“Forgive me?” Noah asked.
She frowned, but he was her family. Her blood. Her mom would be so hurt if her kids were at war. “Fine. But promise me, never again.”
His eyes lit up at her words. “I promise.”
“Then okay. I guess I forgive you.”
Her brother pulled her into a hug.
As she stepped out of his embrace, she turned to tell Matt they could go… and he was kneeling. Seriously, down on one knee, a jewelry box open in his hand, a beautiful, round diamond ring sparkling at her.
Her mouth opened wide and closed.
