Page 28 of Shattered
Like a defiant teenager, Lizzy rolled her eyes at me and sighed heavily. "I rolled out of bed way earlier than normal just to get all the juicy details of your date with Mr. Mechanic. I even brought you coffee and you just stand there and shrug. No, nope, not fair. Spill!"
I had to laugh at her dramatic little speech. Taking a much-needed sip of my hot caffeinated drink I settled into my seat, Lizzy's expectant eyes never leaving me. "It was good," I told her after a while. "We had beers, played some pool, kissed and then-"
"Wait! What?" Excited, Lizzy scooted to the front of her seat and leaned forward. "You locked lips with Logan?"
Maybe it wasn't in good taste to be sharing this, but the truth was, I needed to tell someone. "I did, and it was…amazing." I was perfectly aware of the little sigh that left my lips but it couldn't be helped.
The anger I'd felt not five minutes ago quickly made way for some major swooning.
What the hell was this man doing to me?
I had no idea how I was going to explain my behavior to Harper, but I knew I had to try. She deserved so much more than the way I'd left the previous night. Definitely not my finest moment, that's for sure.
It was just my luck that after she finally—FINALLY—admitted that there was something simmering between us a small thing like carrying Flynn to bed would trip me up. I knew if I'd stayed, there would've been no way I'd be able to hide the black, aching hole in my chest.
I was uncharacteristically nervous when I pulled open the door to the clinic, the bell above the door even giving me a bit of a start.
Really? Grow a pair, man.
For 9 AM on a Friday morning, the clinic was certainly buzzing. Dogs, cats, birds, and even a turtle all waiting to be checked out. A sense of pride filled me as I moved through the waiting room toward Harper's desk. My brother was still one of the few people who didn't do it for the money but for the love of the animals. He had no problem giving people credit and most times he'd even help them for free.
With her back to me, Harper was bent over a cabinet frantically searching through the files. I tried so damn hard not to be a pervert and stare at her perfect little ass, but I failed miserably. There was just something about the way those jeans hugged her backside.
She must have mistaken my presence behind her for Chase's because she held a file triumphantly in the air before spinning around.
"I found…Oh," I didn't like the way her voice went from enthusiastic to flat the moment she spotted me.
"Sugar," I managed. "We gotta talk."
"We're kind of busy," Harper nodded her head toward the full waiting room. "No time for chit-chat." It was very possible that it was my imagination but my pretty little sugar sounded a bit ticked off.
A good sign.
Relief spread through my body like a wildfire and I couldn't help but grin when I said, "I got time. I'll just wait until you're… not busy." Before she could open her mouth and protest, I parked my ass in one of the empty chairs.
After I fired off a quick text to Brett letting him know that I wouldn't be back at the shop until later, I leaned back and waited.
Two hours later the madness had finally died down. While Chase was tending to the last patient of the morning, Harper emerged from behind her desk and put up the'closed for lunch'sign. On her way back she indicated for me to follow her.
I kept my distance as we walked down the little hallway that led to the kitchen. Once we entered a little ball of fuzz curled itself around Harper's feet. Upon closer inspection, I saw it was a three-legged kitten that looked like it had seen better days.
Immediately, Harper stooped and gave the feline some love; cooing and scratching its little ears. One thing was for sure, she had a way with broken creatures. Was it perhaps because she understood their pain?
"You're angry," I said after she'd released the kitten and started yanking open cupboards. I was fighting a damn losing battle with my smile as I tried to hide it.
Harper spun around and glared at me through narrow eyes and the only thing I could think of was how badly I wanted to kiss her.
"I am not. Why would you think that?"
"Yes you are," I didn't hide my smile this time as I took a step toward her. As expected, she took one back. But I just kept going until she was backed up against the counter with my arms caging her in.
"Is it because I didn't stay last night?"
I could see her nostrils flare while her throat worked down a swallow. I wasn't sure if it was because of my proximity or because there was truth in what I'd said. Call me greedy, but I was hoping for both.
"It is, isn't it?" I was aware that I was pushing her buttons and my luck at the same time.
"The way you left," she said at last. "It was…confusing."
