Page 67 of Wilde Secrets

In the five days since she’d started writing in earnest, she had been coming to this little hideaway every day. At first it was because it was away from the noise of Logan’s power tools. Even though he’d moved as far away as possible, there were still times he had to actually work in the house. But after the first day, she returned because it was peaceful, and she did her best thinking there.

The debris blocking the road had been cleared away the day before, and she and Logan had gone into town to get some groceries. This time without Rowan. They’d run into Mrs. Trombley, who had had the most delightfully wriggly puppy with her, the only one from the rescued litter that still needed a home. Harper had wanted to take him home right then and there, but she couldn’t, could she? Not when she didn’t know what her future held. So, with sad eyes, she’d handed the pup back.

Logan and Harper had taken turns to cook, and Harper had cooked the night before, making a favorite casserole of her mother’s. She had turned the notifications off on her phone, only leaving them on for Isla and King’s numbers. But she’d heard nothing.

Logan hadn’t slept on the couch since that first night, and she was glad for his strong, warm body to cling to during the night. Because it was at night that she struggled the most. Thoughts of how her sister was, of the rumors being spread by the press, of her father’s reaction if she couldn’t get this album written in what was an impossible timeframe.

It was on the second night when she was tossing and turning, that Logan had dragged her into his arms and given her something else to think about. It turned out having the best sex of her life with the hottest man she’d ever laid eyes on was a fantastic way to distract herself. She stopped pacing, flushing at the memory.

She’d never felt so beautiful as she did when she saw herself through Logan’s eyes. She wanted her time in Cape Wilde to never end.

She sighed. It was just a distraction though. And she really didn’t need any distractions right now. She needed to get this album written.

She picked up the notebook and flicked back and forth through the pages, trying to find inspiration. Unfortunately, it was like opening the door to an empty refrigerator and hoping food would magically appear. Not going to happen.

Harper stopped on a page where she had written the words “not going to love you like a love song” with doodled hearts around the edge of the page.

She tossed the book back down with a disgusted grunt.

She was stuck.

“Ugh.” She groaned and rubbed a hand over her face, flopping back on the couch and staring out across the water.

“It can’t be that bad.” A woman’s voice said from one side of the gazebo.

Harper let out a shriek and pressed a hand to her chest, turning to see Logan’s sister Cassie. “You scared me.”

Cassie grimaced. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.” She gestured at the other end of the couch with one hand, the other gripping a grocery bag. “May I?”

Harper nodded. “Sure.”

Cassie picked up the notebook and handed it to Harper before sitting down on the edge of the couch. She gripped the handle of the grocery bag in both hands, reminding Harper of a grandmother gripping her handbag. The thought made her smile, and Cassie took that moment to turn to Harper.

Cassie kicked off her sandals, which landed next to Harper’s own, and tucked her bare feet underneath her. She smoothed the fabric of the floral sundress she wore over her legs and set the bag on the couch beside her.

“I thought you might be thirsty.” She reached into the bag and passed Harper a soda.

Harper’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Thank you.” She took the soda and twisted the top, the hiss of the bubbles escaping, filling the air. It gave her something to do with her hands. She took a swallow, the liquid soothing, as the day had warmed more than she expected.

She wondered what Cassie wanted. They hadn’t got off on quite the right foot, and Harper was understandably cautious.

“Thank you for the guitar, too,” she said a moment later, belatedly remembering that it was Cassie who had brought her the instrument.

“Oh, don’t worry about it,” Cassie said with a wave of her hand. “It’s probably nothing like you’re used to, but it was all we could find at short notice. The closest music store that would have something better is in Portland.”

“It’s fine. It’s great, actually. Better than my first guitar, anyway.”

Cassie brightened. “Really? I’m glad it’s coming to some use. It was just sitting in my living room making me feel guilty.”

Harper laughed. “Well, it’s been helpful to me.” Then she remembered how much work she still had to do and grimaced.

“I’m sure you’re probably wondering what I’m doing out here.”

“It did cross my mind.”

“I feel bad about how I behaved that day at Wilde Buns, and I wanted to make it up to you,” Cassie said in a rush, her cheeks going pink as she smiled apologetically at Harper. “I really am sorry. I just got so excited and… well, I sometimes have trouble keeping my mouth shut.”

“You do?” That wasn’t a problem that Harper had ever experienced. More the exact opposite. She was more likely to never say what she needed to say and regret it.

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