Page 81 of To Bring You Back
“It was until you came here. Take off the glasses.”
Jaw set, Harper obeyed, revealing a glare. Its effect was diminished by the swollen skin and the gash beside her eye.
Adeline’s eyes widened, and she looked Gannon’s way.
Harper tossed the glasses on a nearby table. “So what? No secrets between you two? Is that it?”
Gannon focused on Adeline. “I told her she could stay two days until the swelling is down. That way, when she leaves, she’ll cause less of a media fiasco. That’s also why we went out and got her last night. To keep this quiet.”
“You know they saw me when I went out this morning.”
Somehow he hadn’t put that together. “I thought you were worried Rob would follow you.”
“You have security.”
“You didn’t think it’d be safer for him to have no idea where you are?” Besides, his security team couldn’t protect their reputations. The press would’ve also seen Adeline arrive. He rubbed his temples, imagining the spawning rumors.
Harper tossed her head, too proud to admit she’d made a mistake.
“What car did you take?” Tim would’ve known better than to give her the keys to one of their rentals after they’d gone to all the trouble of keeping her from view last night.
“The rental company delivered a replacement for me first thing. So I paid it forward.” She gave Adeline a smile that almost looked gracious.
Adeline swayed. Was she imagining the rumors too? Her focus lingered on the clothes. “Thanks for all of this.”
“At least someone appreciates me.” Harper brushed past him and swiped up the sunglasses. Abandoning her lunch, she veered toward the garage.
Finally.
Gannon touched Adeline’s forearm. “You understand why I didn’t send her away.”
She eyed the clothes as if they might eavesdrop and report back to Harper.
“But you’re still upset. About her or your house?”
“About you.”
“Me?”
“What is the truth about your relationship with her?”
“I told you. Friends. Never more, usually less.”
“She stopped by my room to give me a bag of her castoffs.”
He crossed his arms as a blush crept onto Adeline’s face. A blush?
She raked her fingers into her hair, avoiding eye contact, then dropped her hand and shook her head. “Can you explain how she knows what kind of lingerie you like?”
“How she knows what?”
“In the bag. She included lingerie she swears you like.”
“No. She’s—” Harper would do that? Really do that? He looked out into the great room, but the actress was out of sight. “Harper and I have never had that kind of relationship. Never. She’s … she’s playing so many games, I don’t even know what she hopes to accomplish anymore.”
John had said Harper would take from him. When would Gannon learn to listen?
Adeline stared at the clothes. “I don’t belong here. If you think I’m in danger at my house, I’ll call the church and find another place to stay.”
