by Sonya Weiss
The kiss rattled him. He’d kissed dozens of women, knowing the entire time that he could walk away unscathed because it was just physical.
Kissing Harper was different, and he didn’t like it because it had challenged his iron-clad belief that there were two guarantees in life: one, the sun would rise, and two, he would always leave.
Harper stirred and shifted, murmuring in her sleep, and he smiled. Tough girl on the outside but tender heart on the inside.
She scooted closer to lay her head on his thigh.
Rafferty choked off a groan and raised his eyes toward the ceiling. He wasn’t made of steel. He tried to hang in there but, after a second or two, knew it wasn’t possible. Carefully sliding his hands beneath her head, he guided her back to the blankets and breathed a sigh of relief when she wrapped her hands around them and snuggled deeper into sleep.
Hours later, when the sky finally began to lighten, Harper snapped awake, sitting up abruptly and looking groggily around. “I can’t believe I slept so soundly,” she said as if it were a question.
“You needed the rest.” He couldn’t prevent a yawn as he checked his watch. Six o’clock. “What time will someone be in this part of the castle?”
“Ivy usually comes in first to check a supply list, so she’ll be in around seven.” She lay back down and pushed the blankets toward him. “Your turn to sleep.”
“Nah. I’ll crash at the house after I leave here.”
She chewed her lower lip. “If you need to, we can postpone the show, so you won’t have to be here for rehearsal tonight. You can get some extra rest that way.”
“I’m good, Harper. I know my limits.” He looked down at her, liking the way her hair was sleep-tousled. It was sexy as hell and made her look less guarded. “If you postpone the show, it’ll put the castle further into the hole, right?”
“Right.”
“Then I’ll be here.”
She toyed with the end of her hair. “I feel guilty accepting your help.”
“Don’t. It’s not a big deal, and I am getting paid for it.” He didn’t tell her he’d taken the job just to prove a commitment with the guys at the station and help get the promotion, and for a second, he thought maybe he should. Then he dismissed it. Now wasn’t the time to come clean. He didn’t want to ruin the newfound peace between them.
“About that kiss.” She paused, as if searching for the right words.
“It didn’t mean anything,” he said, because he was guessing that was her thought, plus he wanted to keep her from getting any ideas that it did. The last thing he wanted was Harper picturing him behind her white picket fence.
“I know that.” Her brows drew together, and she sat up again, hugging her arms around her knees, staying that way while the silence lengthened between them.
He let out an exasperated sigh. “Go ahead and speak your mind. I can tell you have something to say.”
“I think it’s wrong for you to act like you don’t want anything to do with love.”
“It’s not an act.” Remembered pain shot through Rafferty’s heart. “I know as sure as I’m sitting here, as sure as I know that you and I will never be more than coworkers in a show, that love is not in my future. Don’t imagine more just because of one great kiss.” He hoped that would nip any what ifs in the bud and allow them to still head back to friendship.
Her mouth dropped open, then she let out a frustrated groan. “I wasn’t talking about you falling in love with me. Do you honestly think I’d let you kiss me once and decide that you were the one?”
“Let me kiss you? You kissed me.”
She put her hands on her hips. “Because you dared me to.”
“You followed through because you wanted to.”
“No,” she corrected, holding up a finger. “I kissed you because I didn’t want to lose any money.” Her expression changed, softening slightly. “I know now that you’ve been through a lot and you don’t want permanence because of it. But a woman needs a man who’ll walk through life as a partner in all the messes, mistakes, joys, and sorrows. She needs real, and she needs lasting. If you start every relationship with a foot already out the door, you never get to the good parts.”
Rafferty recalled the feel of her mouth beneath his, and when she looked at him, he knew she did, too, by the way her eyes darkened, by the way she did that funny little breath-catching noise. “You want to know what I think?” he asked.
“What?”
“I think you’re not really in a position to throw stones.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Meaning?”
“You’re afraid to take chances with anything because of what happened with your father and, from the rumors I’ve heard, with your ex.”
“I do take chances.”
“Name one.”
“I didn’t get much sleep last night so give me a second…” She pushed at her hair. Shot him a look. Drummed her fingers on the floor beside her.
“I knew it. You’ve got nothing,” he said.
“No…wait… Kissing you. That was a chance. For me to kiss a man I know isn’t my type, even on a dare, that’s a risk,” she said triumphantly. “Especially since I prefer someone less wild.”
“You mean you want safety, not fireworks.”
“No.” She shook her head. “One doesn’t exclude the other. I’m explaining why I could never think of you as anything permanent in my life. Which is why you were right to say the kiss meant nothing, and I agreed. Let’s both forget it.”
Forget the kiss. “Fine with me. Kiss forgotten.” He was going to do exactly that. “You’re not my type.”
“I know. I’m smart, strong, and even if I don’t have Rafferty Bradford, I will still somehow find the will to continue living,” she teased.
“It only feels like living.”
The tension in the room dissipated the longer she stared at him, arms crossed, one brow quirked. “Why on earth your mother and Jean keep pushing us together, I’ll never know.”
“Agreed. You drive me crazy.”
“Ditto.” She grinned. “Friends it is, then?”
An emotional boulder rolled from Rafferty’s shoulders. “Friends. It’s good to have you back.”
“You, too. I missed you.”
“I missed you, too,” he admitted.
“I hear something.” Harper scrambled to stand. “I think someone’s coming.” She glanced at him. “I’m not thrilled with having been locked in here, but I’m glad we got the chance to talk and be friends again.”
“Me, too,” he said, mentally planning when he could tell her the real reason he wanted the part. After the first show, he decided. That way, the tenuous rebirth of their friendship would have a chance to survive first.
Chapter Seven
Harper shifted from one foot to the other as she waited for whoever was on the other side of the door to let them out. She felt bad for being the reason Rafferty hadn’t slept and then frowned. When was the last time someone had looked out for her and not the other way around? From the time she was a child, she was the one making sure everything was taken care of, the bills paid, the house cleaned, the groceries bought. She’d been the one to take care of her younger cousin Shelly after her aunt became ill. Now she not only took care of her family but also looked out for almost fifty-something employees.
Rafferty had been strong for her. Not because she was weak but because he’d recognized her fear of being locked in and her weariness, and he’d stepped up, made himself be what she’d needed.
When someone began punching the code outside the supply room door, Harper could have wept in relief. It swung open to reveal Ivy standing there, wide-eyed and open-mouthed. Harper rushed to grab the door, holding onto it like it was a rescuer in shark-infested waters.
Rafferty came up beside her, his relief at their impending freedom evide
nt. “I suggest you call the locksmith and have him fix this so it opens from the inside.”
“After last night, I already thought of that,” she said. Ignoring Ivy’s speculation, she added, “Thank you for staying awake for me.”
If her gratitude surprised him, he didn’t show it. He simply nodded and left. She watched him walk away and braced herself for Ivy’s barrage of what-the-hell-happened.
“Nothing,” she answered as she hurried toward the costume room to retrieve her purse. She bumped into Rafferty exiting the room carrying his cell phone. He put his hand on her arm to steady her but quickly dropped his hold.
“I’ll see you tonight.” He stepped around her and continued on his way.
When Harper turned around, Ivy was staring at her.
“Don’t tell me nothing happened. I can see the sparks flying.”
“Then you need glasses.” Harper picked up her purse. First thing on the agenda after the locksmith was going home, showering, and changing her clothes.
Ivy groaned. “You can’t spend a night locked in with Rafferty and not give me something.”
Harper thought about it. “We talked, and it’s clear that we are definitely opposites.”
“Uh-huh,” Ivy said, hot on her heels as Harper headed toward the main door. “Back to the nothing happened?”
“One kiss happened,” Harper admitted defensively, quickening her pace to escape the questions. “But that’s it.”
“And?”
Harper’s body flushed with remembered heat. “We were playing a game, and I was the one who initiated it because he dared me. I didn’t want to pay the ante. It was a mistake.”
“And?”
Harper threw her arms up in exasperation. “And it was amazing. The sweetest, sexiest kiss I’ve ever had.”
“I knew it!” Ivy crowed.
“Yes, but it’s over, and it’ll never be repeated. Because we’re friends again and that’s it.”
“Haven’t you been paying attention to his reputation?” Ivy gave her a pitying look. “A woman doesn’t simply kiss Rafferty once and not go back for seconds.”
“This woman does. Rafferty not only has a dangerous job, but he likes to live dangerously.” He was drawn to danger, and even if he ever fell in love, he’d never change that part of himself.
Harper reached the main door and stepped out into what promised to be a beautiful day. “Call the locksmith and get him out here today even if I have to pay a rush fee.”
Harper had almost made it to the parking lot when her cousin Shelly called her name. “I’m in a hurry, so walk with me if you want to talk.”
“Ivy mentioned that two more employees quit last night and went to work at Thrills & Chills. I came to see if there’s anything I can do to help out.”
Losing two more employees… Harper rubbed her forehead. “Um…yeah, thanks. Get with Ivy and see where we’re short-handed, and please tell her to place another ad on the job boards seeking employees. Thank you.” She reached the minivan and unlocked it.
“Before you go…”
Harper slid behind the wheel, started the van, and powered the windows down. Shelly leaned into the passenger side. “Is it true that you and Rafferty were stuck in the supply room and…you know?”
“No, I don’t know,” Harper said, hoping it wasn’t as bad as where her mind had immediately hopped to.
“Trixie Majors is telling everyone that you and Rafferty are sleeping together.”
Good grief. One night locked in a room with the man and before her morning cup of coffee she was having a fling. “We’re not.”
“Are you sure?”
“Am I…? For Pete’s sake, Shell! I was there. Trixie wasn’t.”
“Okay,” Shelly said, not looking fully convinced. “Well, if you want to talk about anything, call me.”
“Thanks.” Harper gave her a wave as she backed out and drove off. If the rumor mill said she’d slept with Rafferty, by nightfall the story would evolve into something much worse. She loved Morganville, she truly did, but what she hated was the way that everything was always blown out of proportion.
Keeping to the back roads, she arrived at the house she shared with her mom to find Rafferty’s mom and grandmother waiting for her. She sighed and stepped out of the van, knowing the reason they were both there.
Holding up her hand as they climbed out of Barbara’s car and greeted her, she said, “Before you ask, yes, it’s all true. Rafferty and I shared a crazy night, and now I’m pregnant. We’ve decided to move to the moon and live in a colony there.”
Jean laughed. “The rumor mill already got to you?”
“Oh yeah.” Harper unlocked the front door and invited the women in. Setting her purse on the sofa, she entered the kitchen. “You want some coffee?” She plugged up the machine and plucked a coffee pod from the carousel.
“No, hon, we can’t stay,” Barbara said. “When I heard the rumor, I wanted to come and check on you.”
“You were worried about me?”
“Worried about Rafferty,” Jean said with a snort of laughter. “You can hold your own.”
Harper smiled at that and sat on the arm of the recliner while she waited for the coffee to brew. “There’s nothing romantic between us and never will be.”
“We know,” Barbara said.
“He’s…” Harper decided not to share what she’d learned about him in case his family didn’t know the details. It had made her realize he wasn’t really the playboy type. He’d just been wounded and as a result lived his life in a way that he figured would protect him emotionally. “He’s too much,” she finally said.
“I understand,” Jean agreed quickly. “Stay away from him.”
Harper wagged a finger. “Reverse psychology won’t work on me.”
“Future great-grandkids are on the line. I had to give it my best,” Jean said, not repentant at all.
“Actually,” Barbara said with an exasperated glance at her mother, “I was concerned about you. When I learned you’d been locked in the supply room, I thought about the trunk incident and knew being trapped might be hard for you.”
“Thank you.” Harper had always loved Rafferty’s mom. The day they’d found out her father had died, Barbara had come over and taken care of her mom. She’d made sure there was food and handled all the details her mother hadn’t been able to cope with. For weeks afterward, she’d stopped by every day to simply sit and share a cup of coffee with her mom. Harper had come home from school two months after the funeral to find her mom sobbing in Barbara’s arms, worried about a greedy relative threatening to contest the will.
Barbara had promised nothing would come of it, and only when Harper was grown had her mother revealed that Barbara had let some of the men in town know what was going on, and the next thing she knew, the relative had quickly backed down.
“We won’t keep you, then,” Barbara said.
“Come over for dinner Sunday,” Jean urged.
“Rafferty already invited me,” Harper said, mentally kicking herself at the delight on Jean’s face.
“It’s not like that,” she warned.
Jean put a hand on her chest. “Hon, I’m not reading anything into it.”
“Sure you’re not, Pinocchio. I’ll go because it’ll be nice to be around others rather than spending Sunday alone.”
“Good. Bring a date if you want. I’m bringing someone.”
“Who?” Barbara demanded.
“Papa Ron.”
“You and Papa Ron are dating?” Harper asked, surprised to hear that. Papa Ron hadn’t said a word to her about it.
“Not dating exactly.” Jean pursed her lips and waggled her eyebrows. “We’re rocking headboards.”
Harper laughed and covered her mouth.
“Mother!” Barbara gasped. “I swear I
can’t take you anywhere. Harper, we’ll see you Sunday.”
Jean hung back and after Barbara walked out said, “I’d like to come by the castle and talk to you about something. Just between us.”
“Sure. Anytime.”
Jean hugged her tightly. “Love you, gal.”
“Love you, too.”
Harper locked the door behind them and went to get in the shower. She had a full day’s worth of chores to get done at the castle, and she was already running behind thanks to the lock in. She wondered if Rafferty was sleeping already or if he’d taken the time to call the date he’d missed last night. She shook the thought out of her mind. It didn’t matter what he was doing.
…
After sleeping for a few hours, Rafferty woke up starving. He thought about taking the time to make something to eat but dismissed it. He could stop by his parents’ house and nab some leftovers, or he could go to the diner and eat there. Thinking over his options, he decided the diner was a safer bet.
He already figured the rumor mill was buzzing about Harper and him, but at least at the diner, he wouldn’t have to deal with his grandmother trying to prod him toward Harper.
His phone buzzed with a text message from Kerri hoping he’d change his mind about canceling their date and any future ones, but that wasn’t going to happen.
Since last night, he didn’t feel like the same guy. He dressed in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, wishing he could stop thinking about Harper.
The one night and one kiss with her made him wonder about her. What she was doing…thinking…made him want to kiss her again, feel the shape of her under his hands. And that was seriously screwed up. Maybe losing sleep was messing with his mojo.
His phone buzzed again, this time a text from Grayson wanting to get together. Perfect. He could get a bite to eat with his brother and put Harper right out of his mind. Whistling, he responded to the text then grabbed a pair of sneakers and went outside to wait on the porch for his brother. He didn’t have to wait long before a silver sedan with obvious damage to the passenger side pulled into the driveway.
