“Did what you were working on turn out well?” Harmony lifted her fork to her mouth.
“It did. The management company and landlord came in as advised, made an offer and I accepted. They will stall actually paying, but you and the other tenants will be duly compensated for your loss. I was hashing out the details with their attorney.” Jonathon smiled, pleased at how things had turned out.
Harmony lowered her fork, shock on her face. “They did? That’s it? It’s all settled?”
“Yep. Now we wait for the cheque. Which I’m expecting they will drag their feet to actually pay but I’m not going to let that happen.”
“You really are a miracle worker. You got all the tenants who had accepted the crappy accommodations new places to live. Even those who hadn’t been contacted by the management company yet, you found places for. Now you’ve negotiated financial compensation. You really are a nice guy.” Harmony stared at him.
“Katiya helped out with finding affordable housing for everyone.” Jonathon looked around playfully then whispered. “Shh…I’ve told you not to mess with my rep.”
Harmony chuckled, rising and coming to him. He pushed back his chair and she sat on his lap.
“The only one who you haven’t found a place to live yet is me,” Harmony stated.
Jonathon sobered. “If you want me to, I’ll ask Katiya.”
Harmony studied him then shook her head. “I’ll wait for the settlement money first.”
Jonathon breathed out a sigh, glad she wanted to stay. Harmony hugged then kissed him. Jonathon returned it, not sure if he wanted the settlement to come through quickly or not.
* * * *
Weeks later, Jonathon pushed back his chair and rubbed his hand along the back of his neck. He’d been on the phone again with the attorney for Harmony’s old apartment building. They were indeed stalling on payment. Although he knew if they got it Harmony would be leaving, he was still pushing for it. He had a job to do and his work ethic would not let him do otherwise.
Jonathon faced the office window, not really seeing the view as he thought of the past six weeks. Living with Harmony had become so familiar that he ached to think of when she left. They had got into habits of cooking together, watching TV and just having fun. Now he was eager to get home and not linger at work. His productivity at work had even increased, since he had someone to get home to and didn’t want to miss out on anything. Because of Harmony, he’d got to know his neighbours by spending time at the barbecues, bowling and other things they had invited them to. On rainy days, they went out and played in the rain and were joined by the neighbours. Since that first day, it had got bigger to include the whole block on both sides of the streets. It was almost like a party. One time they had got so loud, someone in the other streets had called the cops. Leo had come himself and teased him mercilessly for getting dirty—they all knew he was anal with how he looked. But around Harmony he sometimes let go his restraint and just had fun. His clock alarm beeped and he turned, noting the time. Jonathon quickly stood, grabbed his briefcase then headed out. He waved at Elisa who was on the phone.
Half an hour later, he was waiting at home for Harmony. Jonathon glanced at his watch, checking the time. The key sounded in the door before Harmony came in. She stopped when she spotted him.
“Jonathon, what are you doing home so early? Are you sick?” She came and pressed her hand on his neck.
“Nope, I’m fine. I left something on your bed for you to wear. Get changed and come back.” He gently pushed Harmony towards the stairs.
Harmony glanced at him questioningly. Jonathon shooed her upstairs, then went out and pulled out his surprise.
“Jonathon?” Harmony called from inside.
“Out here.” He raised his voice.
She opened the door and came out. A wide grin curled her lips.
“Bikes. We’re going bike riding.”
“It’s not in the mountains, but we’re going to ride them to our destination. Now close the door and let’s get moving.”
Harmony complied and ran down to the bike. He handed her some protective gear. She put it on, donning the helmet last, then got on and glanced at him.
“Where are we going?”
“Not saying, just follow me.” Jonathon started off.
Soon Harmony was peddling alongside him on her bike. Her joyful laugh made him smile. As they rode out of the neighbourhood and onto the street with more cars, he could see people watching them—some doing a double-take as they recognised him.
“Pull over, you are impersonating my brother,” a loud speaker blared behind them.
Jonathon almost crashed but caught himself and stopped, scowling. Harmony was laughing hysterically. The cruiser pulled up beside him and the passenger side window lowered. Leo leaned across the seat, smiling.
“You on a bike. I need this for prosperity.” Leo snapped a photo with his cell before Jonathon could speak.
Jonathon scowled. “Are you having fun?”
“Yep, and I’ll be sending this to the family, which is even more fun. Harmony, you’re good for this old stuffed shirt. Keep it up.” Leo honked his horn as he drove off.
“He’s funny,” Harmony said.
“Yeah, a laugh riot.” Jonathon glanced at his watch. “Come on, we don’t want to be late.” He set off again.
Harmony biked up beside him. Fifteen minutes later, Jonathon stopped in front of a building and Harmony parked beside him. She glanced at the building then back at him. Jonathon got off his bike, put down the kickstand then waited for her to do the same. He led her towards the door but Harmony pulled back, shaking her head.
“I can’t go into Bella’s dressed like this.”
“Why not? It’s closed,” Jonathon said.
“On a Friday afternoon? Why?” Harmony scrunched up her face.
Jonathon kissed the tip of her nose then straightened. “They usually close for about two hours before their evening rush. Come on.”
He gently led her towards the door. It opened and he smiled at the owner.
“Thanks for doing this for us.”
The woman winked then retreated inside. Jonathon entered, pulling the door closed behind Harmony and himself. He ignored the people moving about getting the restaurant ready for the evening.
“What are we doing here?”
Jonathon didn’t answer until they stood by the piano. “You wanted to hear how it sounded with the acoustics here.”
He gestured and Harmony glanced at him then back to the piano. She looked around, uneasiness on her face.
“Take a break, everyone.” The familiar voice of Bella—the woman who’d been at the door and the owner—sounded.
The noise behind them faded then the dining room was empty. Harmony bit her lip and stared longingly at the instrument. Jonathon waited, not saying a word. Harmony approached it and slid across the bench. Jonathon pulled a chair up close and sat.
“I don’t even know what to play.”
“How about the song you played the other day? It was beautiful and I feel I can still hear it—it stays with you. I want to buy a copy of it. What was it called and who wrote it?” He leant back against the chair.
“There is no place to buy it, I never recorded it.” Harmony met his gaze. “’Reverence of Forever’ is the name. I wrote it before I realised that there is no such thing as forever. Everything ends.” She flexed her hands then closed her eyes and started to play.
There was a tinge of bitterness and finality to her tone. Jonathon wasn’t sure what it meant—however, he didn’t think it was anything good. As it had before, the music drew him in but it was the woman swaying as she played expertly that enthralled him. It was obvious Harmony loved playing, though yet again he spotted the tears flowing under her closed lids. She blinked, opening her eyes, and Jonathon held his breath at the anguish he viewed in her gaze.
“What has you so devastated?” he asked.
He knew she had heard him because there was a spl
it-second pause as she played before she continued. Slowly, her lids lowered as she shut him out. Jonathon crossed his arms over his chest—it was time they had a serious talk about Harmony’s secrets. This time he was not going to be pushed away and he would get answers out of her. Jonathon studied the stubborn enigma of a woman who had captured all of his attention from the start.
Chapter Seven
Jonathon watched her expressions and knew she was searching for a suitable way to get out of answering him. Right now, her features portrayed something much different from when she’d been totally consumed by her music. This was definitely an escape plan. He exhaled and rolled his shoulders. Surely she didn’t think she would be able to outwait him.
“Harmony.”
Her lashes rose and he found himself willingly drowning in those brown orbs. She turned her left wrist and stared at her watch before blowing out a sharp breath. “I have to get going. I told Deyon I would be in to help her with some things. This is the last day and will even us up.”
He was pleased to hear that, but he had to admit, the sound of her settling things didn’t necessarily sit well with him. It was like someone who’d decided to leave. Finishing up accounts with other people.
“I know she likes you.”
She nodded even as she continued to play with her left hand alone. “She’s very nice.”
“But?”
“But nothing. She’s very nice. A bit much at times for me, but I’m her opposite.” She sighed and stood. He could read the reluctance in her body language. “I have to get going.”
“You’re not getting away with walking out on this conversation, Harmony.”
“I’m not. I have to get to work. I’m really tired, Jonathon. Working for Deyon as well as working at the university is hard. Let me get through this last day and then we can talk.”
He searched her face. She held his gaze without blinking and eventually he nodded.
“Okay.”
She took one last lingering look at the piano before she moved away, picking up her helmet. He walked after her, his eyes drawn to the swell of her ass as it moved in her cotton pants. After sharing a kiss with her, he waved as she rode off towards Deyon’s, having promised to swing by and pick her up in his SUV when she was done. Then he got himself on his bike and headed back home.
By the time he went to pick her up it was after eight. Harmony fell asleep almost immediately in his vehicle and so he skipped going out to dinner, just driving back to his condo.
He walked around to her side after parking and opened the door. She barely stirred as he unbuckled her and lifted her into his arms. So small and slight—she felt so perfect in his grasp. Moving carefully so he didn’t wake her, he carried her inside and up to his bedroom. He stripped her and covered her with the blankets. After locking up, he ignored his growling stomach and joined her in the bed, holding her close as he drifted off to sleep, thinking tomorrow would be as good a day as any to have that talk.
* * * *
That was something he said to himself for the next five weeks. They simply had very little time with one another. Work for her at the college exploded and her hours available to spend with him decreased significantly. He grumbled and sipped from his coffee cup as he sat in traffic.
“Five blasted weeks. Not only that, but she’s moving out today.”
The money had actually come in and she had found a place to live. He understood her wish to get back out on her own but he also hated that she was leaving. One of the reasons he had left work early was that he’d wanted to give her a hand. Unfortunately, court had run late and now he was about two hours past when he’d wanted to be there.
“Come on,” he grumbled, smacking the steering wheel. “Get this God damn circus moving.”
It was no use. He was good and stuck in this mess. He called Harmony’s cell.
“Hello?”
As always, her soft voice gave him this warm feeling no one had before.
“Hello, gorgeous.”
“Jonathon, are you okay?”
He frowned. Why wouldn’t he be? “I am. Sorry to not be there, court ran late. How’s everything going?”
“Fine. We’re all finished up here. I’m just waiting on you to come back. Thought we could have one last dinner together.”
“Baby, there will be more than one dinner for the two of us.” Come hell or high water, he’d find a way to make that work.
“I’ll see you when you get here,” she said before hanging up.”
He ripped his Bluetooth out of his ear and tossed it on the seat beside him. Shit! He hated this. All of it—her moving out, the fact that they’d yet to discuss her scar, and yes, had he mentioned her moving out? If not, it was worth a few more mentions.
It wasn’t like he didn’t know where she was moving—he had gone with her to check the place out. In his estimation, she could have got a bigger place, but she had opted for the smallest unit there. On the fourth floor and in a corner. It was what she’d wanted and she’d ignored everything he had said about her getting a larger apartment. It was only by some miracle that he’d managed to keep from asking her to stay with him. Forever.
It took him an hour to get home and he was in a foul mood when he finally arrived. Travel mug in hand, he climbed out and entered his condo. Smooth jazz played through the area. Soft candlelight could also been seen.
“Harmony?” he called out, setting his briefcase down and making his way to the kitchen.
“Right here,” she commented from his left. She walked out of the pantry area with some boxes in her hand. “You look really tired.”
“Not so much anymore.” Cup down, he approached her and took his kiss. “What’s going on?”
“I was going to give you a nice dinner but it’s not done yet.” She skirted beside him and placed the boxes down on the countertop. “Well, the dinner is but I have to make another cake. I gave the first one to the movers.”
He drew her close and wrapped his arms around her. “Forget the cake.”
“Are you sure? I know how much you like your sweets.”
“I’m sure.”
He brushed some hair from her face and cupped her cheek. Swiping his thumb along her lower lip, he held her gaze. Damn it all, he could grow used to seeing her every single day— he already had.
It was as if she had no comprehension of his turmoil. Her smile grew and she backed away before leading him to the table. While she brought the dinner, he poured the wine. It was a cosy and intimate meal with the talk hushed and easy.
He helped her clean up and, as she went to the door, he tried to think of a way to get her to stay.
“You sure you have everything?” God, he wanted to carry her upstairs and never let her leave.
“Yes. What I don’t have I’ll pick up with Lana.”
Her best friend, a Native American actress. He’d met her a few times and had liked her, even if she was more than a bit prickly. Very professional, but like a mama bear when it came to Harmony. His patented Wright smile was well known to charm the socks off ladies, but it had gone over like a lead balloon with Lana. She’d been unimpressed until Harmony had told him to just be himself and stop trying to be anything else. She’d warmed up a bit after that—however, he knew she only cared about Harmony’s well-being.
“If you need—”
“I don’t need anything more from you, Jonathon, you’ve done more than enough.” She opened the front door and he halted her exit with a hand on her arm. “Yes?”
He didn’t know what to say. All his fancy talk wasn’t worth a dime at this moment when he needed to tell her how he felt.
Her gaze was open and trusting. “I’ll call you for dinner once I get set up.”
He could feel her trying to edge him out and he refused to go so easily. “I’ll be calling you too, Harmony Oshiro.”
“Goodbye, Jonathon. Keys are on the counter.” She touched his cheek and gave him a soft smile. “Thank you, again. For everything.” She r
ose up on her toes and tugged him down to give him a kiss. Then she walked away without looking back.
Wait. She said keys. Whirling around, he checked what she’d meant and swore. The key to the Corolla was there as well as the one for his condo. Dashing back to the door, he opened it to see her climbing into another vehicle.
Damn it! He would have taken her. Instead, she’d called Lana to pick her up. Mixed emotions flowed through him at that knowledge. He stood there, watching until he could no longer see the tail lights. Then and only then did he go back inside.
He could feel the change immediately. Something was missing. Or, rather, someone. Specifically, Harmony.
Tomorrow—he would go see her tomorrow. For the first time in a long time, bed wasn’t what he wanted. No longer were dreams of her going to be good enough. He wanted her petite frame in bed with him. He loved how ready she was for him, any time. Not to mention the joy she brought to his life.
His plans to see her the next day were thwarted. Like it had the previous day, court ran over and he got shoved behind. No matter how much he wanted to see her, he had a job to do and that came first. So he took another cup of coffee from his assistant and got back to work on the pile of stuff on his desk.
* * * *
Harmony shook her head as she looked around her new place. Lana poured them some saké to celebrate. There wasn’t much in her apartment yet but it was a start. She had her own place again, which she loved. It was much nicer than the previous apartment she’d had, and still in the same price range.
“Here.”
She took the drink from Lana as they shared grin then tipped it back. She blinked back the sting of tears as it went down.
“Thanks for helping out, Lana.”
“You’re my best friend! Besides, I’ve missed you.”
She nodded. “I know, I’m sorry. Just with working the two jobs I didn’t have the time to have our weekly dinner so much.”
“She shouldn’t have bought you so much if she was going to make you pay it all back. That’s bullshit,” Lana snapped. “Half the stuff isn’t your type of clothing anyway.”
Pure Harmony Page 8
