Page 22 of Bittersweet

Harper swallowed hard as she frantically tucked them under the shirt she was holding.

His deep chuckle made her insides somersault.

“I’m gonna …” She pointed toward the door, turned too quickly, and stubbed her toe on the night stand. “Oy.” She gritted her teeth and hopped a little, praying the pain would subside quickly.

Logan sat up and leaned her direction. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” She waved him off and darted from the room, locking herself in the bathroom and mentally scolding herself for becoming a flustered mess in front of him. The look in his eyes at the sight of her panties was a little too much for her to take.

The shower was almost scalding hot, but she didn’t care. She closed her eyes and let the water flow over her, trying to calm herself and wash away the feelings Logan still elicited in her.

When she emerged, ready for the day, she passed her bedroom and saw the door was open a crack. She peeked her head inside. The side of the bed closest to her was rumpled and empty, but Kayla was still nestled in the far side with her little head sunk into the pillow. Her soft breathing was just about the sweetest thing Harper had ever heard.

Harper moved toward the kitchen and was surprised to find Brett seated at the counter with a Starbucks cup in front of him.

“Brett, what are you doing here?”

His smile looked forced, and she knew it was because of the shirtless man standing in her kitchen making coffee and—she glanced at the skillet on the stovetop—scrambled eggs and sausage, apparently.

Brett held the cup out to her. “I brought you a chai tea latte from Starbucks.”

Logan made a little sound from the other side of the kitchen that could’ve been a snort, but she wasn’t sure. Maybe he was clearing his throat. Maybe it was because he hated chain coffee shops. Or maybe it was because Brett also knew what kind of drinks she preferred.

She took the cup from Brett and wrapped her arms around his shoulders for an appreciative hug. “Thank you.”

When she started to step away, he wound his arms around her waist and held her in place, leaning in for a kiss, which she reluctantly gave him—a quick, awkward, my-ex-is-watching-us kind of kiss.

“I wanted to see you before I head to Chicago for a few days.” His hands were still locked around her.

She could feel Logan’s gaze on them. “Oh, is that this week? I was thinking it was next.”

“My flight’s in a couple hours.”

“Well, let me walk you out.” She leaned close to his ear. “And we can talk in private.”

Brett smiled up at her and released her from his grip, moving toward the door.

“I’ll be right back.” She looked over at Logan.

That smolder was still in his eyes. “I know you will.”

What the heck? Why is he looking at me like that? And what is with the tone in his voice? Brett is just across the room, and Logan is being totally obvious.

She looked back and forth between the two men—her past and her present—hoping Brett hadn’t noticed. If he had, he ignored it and kept moving.

Harper followed Brett outside and closed the door behind her. “I’m sorry you found him here like this. He just showed up last night with his daughter.”

“His daughter?” They obviously hadn’t had much of a conversation while she was in the shower.

“Yeah, there was a shooting in their neighborhood, and she was scared. He didn’t have anywhere else to take her, so they came here, and I let them stay over.”

Brett’s shoulders visibly relaxed.

“Why, what did he tell you?”

His arms slid around her waist again, and she was suddenly wrapped tightly against him. “He said he was an old friend. I didn’t know what to think.”

She pulled back enough to look him in the eyes. “You’re a lawyer. You didn’t cross-examine him or whatever?”

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