by Emma Roman
“I’m going to kill that fucker,” Storm mumbled, his attitude as dark as his hair.
“Stand in line,” Harper mumbled. “Anyway, let’s get to work since I’m late. What did you guys find on your inspection?”
Storm narrowed his eyes as if he didn’t want to drop the conversation, and Harper understood that. All of the Montgomerys had a sense of honor that he wished existed within his own family.
“You got the first things set up. Though, dude, you didn’t have to do it all on your own,” Storm began. “That’s what the crew is here for. You’re not just temp contractor anymore. You’re here to help us keep in line with some of the older foundations and details.”
“What he said,” Wes put in. “And before we go through the details of what we need to finish up today, tell me what you’re planning to do about Arianna.”
Thoughts of bending her over the counter while pounding into her, loving the little gasps that escaped her mouth filled his mind, and he cleared his throat.
Probably not the best place for his thoughts to go while sitting in front of his bosses.
“Uh, plans?”
Smooth, Harper. Smooth.
“Plans. With Ari. Do I want to know what you’re thinking about?” Wes asked.
“I’m fine. Really. Justin just screwed up my head a bit.” It wasn’t a lie, but Harper wasn’t about to tell Wes and Storm what he’d been thinking about. Though from the looks on their faces, they’d figured it out for themselves. “As for Ari? Well, I’m going to help her in any way I can.”
Storm nodded. “She’s your best friend so I get that you’re helping her. But at some point, you’re going to have to tell her what you’re feeling. Watching her move on and walk away and her not having any idea what you’re thinking isn’t going to help anyone. It’s just going to make you bitter, and hurt her in the process.”
Harper pressed his lips together and studied the other man. Storm always had a way of knowing exactly what to say and yet not being an ass about it. Harper had a feeling Storm knew more about what he was talking about than he let on, but from the confusion on Wes’s face, no one else knew exactly what was going on in Storm’s mind.
With a sigh, Harper ran a hand through his hair. “Let’s get back to work and not talk about our feelings. How does that sound?”
Storm grinned but didn’t say anything, and Wes laughed. The two were fraternal twins so they didn’t look exactly alike, but when they smiled, Harper saw the resemblance.
The Montgomerys owned Montgomery Inc. and had since their parents built the place from the ground up. Not all of the family worked there, but many of them did, and now more and more of their spouses had ended up in the company, as well. They were all big, a little gruff, and all inked. It helped that two of their family members also owned a tattoo shop. None of Harper’s ink had been done there, but he had a few ideas for his next tattoo, and he knew where he’d be going.
He slowly started to relax as he pulled old drywall and sweated through his shirt. Working with his hands had always helped him think when his mind went in a thousand different directions. This was why he’d wanted to work with the Montgomerys and why he was glad he’d stayed in Denver even if he’d have been better off away from Justin and all the crap that came with him. He could focus on what mattered and think about what was important even while doing a damn good job.
As he worked alongside the Montgomerys and listened to them talk business and their family, Harper knew he had to do something. He’d been standing on the sidelines for far too long, and he knew he’d only hurt both him and Arianna in the end if he didn’t tell her how he felt.
He’d just have to find a way into her heart and pray he was already there in some way. He loved that woman in every way he could, and he wanted, no, he needed her to know it. Now that she was finally free of the place that had slowly started to eat away at her, he could be the man he wanted, the man he hoped she needed. But revealing what he felt when she was starting her new life could end up hurting them both in the long run. He needed to take his time, wait just a little bit longer, and make sure she knew he was there. However she needed him. And when she had her first wedding under her belt… Then, he’d show her what they could have, what he felt.
He just prayed she felt the same way.
5
Six weeks. Six weeks since Arianna had walked away from everything, and she hadn’t had a meltdown. Okay, so not a full one. Not since Harper had kicked her butt in gear, but it could have been worse. Way worse.
Still in jeans and a long-sleeved cotton shirt, she finished dealing with the last-minute catering issues because really, there were always last-minute catering issues. Her house was wedding central until she moved to the reception site. It was in the middle of a Denver winter, and yet she couldn’t help but feel overheated. She’d dress a little more professionally later, but working around her home in heels and a business suit while she was running around and sweating like crazy wouldn’t help anyone. Today was the first wedding planned and organized by her new business, and she was going to be sick.
Anticipation thrummed through her, and she was so excited to see what came of it, but the fear and angst that slammed into her every time she thought about everything that could go wrong never really helped her breathe.
Since Harper and Colleen had kicked her butt in gear, she’d been in a whirlwind, setting things up and finding out if she could actually handle it all. Her work wasn’t just making lists and phone calls. She’d had to find clients and formulate her business from the ground up. While she’d been with King’s Weddings, she’d already had some of the background done. If she’d been promoted like she’d thought she would be, she’d have been far beyond where she was now. But things had changed, and honestly, even though she might be sick, she knew she was better off now. And even though she was doing most things on her own, she was sleeping more than she had before. It just went to show what happened when she focused on what mattered and did things in small bursts rather than what she thought her father required.
Arianna hadn’t been alone, though. She was a two-person company, and she knew she wouldn’t have been able to do anything without those who supported her. Colleen had been a lifesaver, but none more than Harper.
God, she didn’t know what she’d do without Harper.
While Harper had helped her with her site and some of the background things, Arianna and Colleen had found the storefront they needed. While in some cases, others would have been fine to work from their homes and online, Arianna knew she had to draw the line somewhere. She needed her home to be a place where she rested—or at the moment, worked her ass off on her ‘off’ hours. Still, she had to remind herself that she was sleeping more hours now than she was before. And this company was her baby. Not something her father had destroyed.
The location they’d picked was in an older building that had been redone by none other than the Montgomerys that Harper now worked with. He’d been the one to show her the place when they’d first started looking. The other tenants had decided to move away even though the business area was still thriving.
She knew she wouldn’t have many—if any—walk-ins, but the idea of having a pleasant area to work thrilled her. There was a coffee shop right across the way, and a bookstore, as well. Not to mention her favorite bakery where her ordered cakes were made, and one of her top smaller florists. Everything she needed for a smaller wedding.
Exactly how Arianna wanted it.
She’d not only be able to show her clients photos of wedding ideas but she’d also have samples in her place. Plus, they could go on field trips together and see the other establishments for themselves. In fact, with this current couple, she’d done just that. They’d sampled different cakes and only had to walk there from her office. Even with the snow on the ground, the area had been salted and cleaned up before her clients had shown up. She truly loved the area and knew this could work.
Because it had to work. Her evil u
lcer would not be coming back, she promised herself. She could do this. One step at a time.
There were three small offices in the back of the store where she and Colleen could hold meetings, plus she used one of them as her clutter room. As if Arianna would have actual disorder, but her organized piles worked for her.
The front area held some of the older King antiques that her grandmother had given her. She’d had them in her home and in storage for years, but now they would be getting good use. Plus, she liked the thought of her grandmother having a hand in what she was doing—with or without her father’s help.
Everything was working out beautifully.
In other words, Arianna was a nervous wreck, waiting for the shoe to drop.
She checked the display on her phone and cursed. It was already six in the morning. She’d woken up at four and started rechecking everything, though she’d already done that before she went to bed. Honestly, she’d never been so worried about a wedding going right before in her life.
She’d done so many weddings, it should have been second nature, but she knew that each ceremony and reception was different. Each one took her entire focus and dedication to pull off.
It was just that this one meant so much more because she didn’t have the safety net of King’s Weddings underneath her. Though failure was never an option in her father’s eyes; now, it couldn’t even be in the realm of possibilities. She honestly couldn’t afford it.
Today, thankfully, she was only handling the reception. Starting small was always a good way to go. The couple had gotten married the week prior by the Justice of the Peace so they wouldn’t have to deal with each of their family’s religious views. Each had extended family that had wanted things their way, not the way the couple wanted. Apparently, that had caused friction for over a year, and they’d gone through three wedding planners before deciding to skip the elaborate multi-faith ceremony altogether.
Instead, they’d spoken their vows in front of their best friends and parents, and today, would be celebrating with the rest of their friends, family, and loved ones.
It had been Arianna’s idea to have the reception at an older winery she loved. It would be small and intimate, but with the decadent flair that signified a love between a couple Arianna had already fallen in love with herself. It looked beautiful in winter, as well, and with the large outdoor heaters and safety-conscious firepits, it was perfect for what they wanted.
Now, though, she needed to get going so she could look into any last-minute problems.
The soft knock at the door startled her, and Arianna checked the time again. Who on earth would be by her place so early?
She checked the peephole and smiled, her stomach doing that odd clench that happened every time Harper was near recently. She couldn’t think about that too hard, though, not with so much at stake.
“Harper, you’re here early,” she said as she opened the door. There was a slight chill in the air, but it had also been an uncommonly warm winter so far. He wore a soft leather jacket that he’d let her borrow a time or two in the past, and his hair looked like he’d rubbed a towel over it after he’d gotten out of the shower.
Harper grinned at her—her stomach doing that flip again—and held up two to-go coffees. “Two caramel macchiatos.” His gaze traveled over her. “Go get in your work attire, and I’ll start packing up your car. You have the dress you’re wearing for the day?”
She blinked, her heart warming that he was there…and skipping a beat at the sight of him in her home.
Arianna mentally slapped herself. No, this was Harper. He was just being helpful. He was only her friend. Had only ever been her friend. It didn’t matter that he’d been touching her more, tucking her hair behind her hair, holding her hand while they walked. He hadn’t pushed anything, hadn’t changed who they were. And she wasn’t in a position to do anything about what was going on in the back of her mind anyway. She was too busy, too focused, and too…not Harper’s.
“Going to let me in?” he asked with a grin, and she shook herself. He was out in the cold on her porch and probably hadn’t just walked in since it was way too early. He must have known she’d be awake, but still.
“Come in out of the cold,” she said after a moment, trying to blink her treacherous thoughts away. “Thank you so much for the coffee. I can’t believe you’re here.” She moved out of the way and reached for her cup, her fingers gently brushing his. The swift intake of breath from each of them was new…and intoxicating.
She blinked then stepped back, needing to find that control again. “I’m going to go put on my suit. And, uh…all of my things are stacked by the table, ready to go. Harper, you don’t have to do this.” He opened his mouth to argue, and she held up her hand. They’d had this fight before, and today wasn’t a good day for her to get her back up about him helping. She needed to be grateful, not pushy. “But thank you anyway. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Harper met her gaze, and something flitted across his eyes, forcing her to hold back the urge to wrap her arms around his waist and never let go. “Well, I’m here, so you don’t have to think about what you’d do without me. That’ll never happen.” He cleared his throat. “Now go get dressed, and I’ll meet you by your car.” He turned and then stopped, looking over his shoulder. “Ari? You’re going to kick wedding ass today.”
She grinned at him, feeling a little more at ease by his presence. “Yeah. I’m totally going to kick ass.”
He smiled back and then went to one of her piles, bending over so she got a fantastic view of his very tight butt in dark slacks. She shook her head and ran to her bedroom. What the hell was going on with her? Checking out Harper’s butt? It must be the stress.
Yeah, that was it.
It had to be.
Because she didn’t have time for it to be anything else.
By the time she was dressed and at the wedding venue, her nerves were fraying, but not from things going wrong. No, it was her worries taking care of that.
Warm hands covered her upper arms, and she froze before turning, only to see Harper standing behind her. She smiled and turned, breaking the contact. He was too warm for her, too male. She could barely breathe with him around.
So not what she was used to when it came to Harper in her life.
“How’s it going?” he asked, his gaze on hers, unwavering.
Arianna took a step back and tapped her headset. “We’re ready to roll in forty-three minutes when we let the guests break out of the staging area and into the dining room. B&G are with their families in the ready room and will join us then. They haven’t seen the center winery area with their tables because they wanted it to be a surprise.”
Totally no stress or anything. It’s not like they could hate it on sight and feel like their wedding was ruined. Except, of course, that was bound to happen if she kept thinking about it.
She took a deep breath. “We’re on course.”
Harper tucked a curl behind her ear. “Good to hear. Setting up the flowers in the rafters would have been a bitch for the florist. I’m glad you had us help.”
The couple had wanted flowers to decorate the dark wooden ceiling and beams. They could have cared less about the expensive chandeliers in the room, and Arianna was grateful about that.
It looked better with only a few of the lighting sconces on and the flowers and natural light making the afternoon reception perfect and intimate.
“You look great, by the way,” he whispered. “That gold fucking rocks on you. I’m glad the wedding party wanted you to blend in with them.”
Arianna blinked and ran a hand down the heavily beaded and adorned bodice of her gold dress. Rather than wearing her suit, her clients had wanted her to match. Half of the weddings in the past she had planned had requested her to match their settings, and, while it was harder to move in the long, flowing dress, she felt like a princess wearing it.
“You don’t look too bad yourself,” she replied. And s
he wasn’t lying. In a black suit and gold tie, Harper looked model worthy, even with that rugged appeal that he could never quite lose no matter how hard he tried.
He grinned, white teeth bright on tanned skin. “Where do you need me?”
On me. In me. Over me.
She coughed, pushing those thoughts away. Totally not the time to be going crazy.
“I don’t know yet. I’m trying to anticipate problems, so why don’t you just stay by my side just in case?”
His eyes darkened a bit, and she swallowed hard. “Standing by your side is easy, darling.”
“Uh, thanks.”
Smooth, Arianna. Smooth.
Who was this Harper, and why couldn’t she seem to resist him?
This was her best friend. Harper. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Only she wasn’t sure about that anymore.
“Go do your thing, I’ll be here.”
“Arianna?” Colleen’s voice sounded frantic in her ear, and she wanted to curse at thinking things were smooth.
“Yes?”
“The chandeliers aren’t working.”
“What?” No, no. That couldn’t happen. She was already running toward the reception room, Harper on her heels without her even having to say anything. “They were working an hour ago.”
The lighting wouldn’t be needed at first since this was an afternoon event, but as soon as the sun began to set and people started to dance, they’d be screwed if they weren’t working. Her mind immediately went to her backup plans, but with the timing, she didn’t think any of those would work.
Crap.
Crap.
Crap.
“What is it?” Harper asked as they walked very quickly into the room. It wouldn’t do to run and alert any overeager guests that there was an issue.
“The lighting isn’t working,” she answered as she looked up at the beautiful chandeliers that were now dead weight.
