Page 17

JASPER

T he loud and obnoxious sound of my alarm going off in my ear was the last thing I wanted to hear on a Saturday morning. I rolled over and smashed the top of it first contemplating just throwing it across the room instead.

Max and I had a nine-a.m. tee time scheduled with some potential clients. I could have killed Max, for scheduling something so fucking early but then again, I didn’t expect to be out late last night either, also his fault.

Max insisted we go out for drinks to celebrate a win on a big case. We had been working for months on it, so a celebration was well deserved. Of course, the women were flocking. Max, having zero standards after he’s knocked a few backs, was eating up the attention.

I struggled to focus on anything other than my phone hoping for a new text from Harper.

It had been a little over a week since I’d gotten anything from her. I reread our messages over and over to see if maybe I came on too strong and pushed her away somehow. She seemed to be dishing out just as much fun as I was, but who knows?

She’s got this pull on me. I felt it the very first night I saw her, something I’m not at all accustomed to feeling.

My phone vibrated once more, the sound reverberating against my nightstand. With a groan, I reached for it, the caller’s name flashing across the screen.

“Max, you son of a bitch. Are you alive?”

“Yeah, barely. We have to skip our Tee time today. The Petrov brothers need our assistance at the casino on Sunset at 10:30 this morning.” he said hesitantly.

I let out a low groan. I knew these brothers were going to be a thorn in my ass.

“Already?” I snapped.

“They just signed the paperwork a few weeks ago.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Fine, we’ll do it. The only reason I’m letting this slide is that I can sleep in a bit more.”

He chuckled as I ended the call.

I lay there awhile, but I couldn’t rest. My mind was stuck on Harper and why she hadn’t messaged back, resisting the urge to meet her at the bookstore was challenging, knowing she would be there early, but duty calls, so it must wait.

I called Max to make him get up. It seemed only fair since he was the reason I was awake, he ought to be as well.

“Max, meet me at that little cafe’ down from the office in thirty. “I ended the call before he had the chance to argue.

As my driver stopped before the cafe, I spotted Max waiting with my espresso.

“Morning, dickwad how was your night?” I called out as I neared the table, Max was there, seated and waiting, massaging the bridge of his nose.

He was hungover, so like an asshole, I tried to be as loud as I could.

“Damn you J I’m dying over here. How do you do that? It’s like you aren’t affected.” He spat out at me.

“I didn’t drink my weight in whiskey brother, and when I went home, I went home alone not with two fake bimbos on my hip.” I laughed, “Did you even sleep?”

He sat back sipping his black coffee, running his hand over his face, “Define sleep.”

I grinned knowingly. I’m not going to lie, I’ve had a couple of nights like that, a few more than I’d like to admit. I’ve always been very open about my needs. Ever since meeting Harper, those needs have changed. They’re not the same anymore; I no longer desire that previous lifestyle. As a thirty-five-year-old man, it’s time to consider the future, call me crazy but, Harper is who I see in mine.

“So, jackass, why do you have me out this early?” he groaned.

“I need you to do some digging, I need to know about Harper’s roommate.”

“Are you still on this? Didn’t she reject you twice?” He held up two fingers before me.

“Yes, she did but that’s beside the point. Do what I say. Don’t worry about why.”

“Yes sir, I’ll get right on it” he raised his hand to his forehead, and he saluted me sarcastically.

“Anything in particular you’re looking for?” he asked, reaching for his notebook from the pocket of his lapel jacket.

“No just anything you can dig up on her, and I need to get Harper’s contacts too, cell phone number if you can.”

Max sat jotting notes on his notepad while shaking his head.

He knows better than to argue with me.

“Something you want to say?” I taunt him with squinted eyes, daring him.

“No sir. it’s just” he stopped mid-sentence.

“Just what?”

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you interested in a woman. Just don’t go all stalker on me.” I recoiled at his statement.

Am I being crazy?

Honestly, his opinion didn’t matter to me. I’ll stop pursuing her when she asks it of me; until then, I’ll do what I can and try not to frighten her away.