Page 7

7

FORD

I gnoring the Golden Girls ringtone chiming from my pocket, I shove the last bite of my burger into my mouth.

Harper’s lips twitch. “Is that “Thank You for Being a Friend” from the Golden Girls ?”

“Yeah,” I admit. “Seemed fitting for Gram.”

A laugh bursts from her, warm and familiar. “Sophia mixed with Blanche is how I describe her.”

I smirk. “You should’ve heard her talking to Connor earlier. I swear, I wanted to die from secondhand embarrassment.”

I fill her in on the conversation between Gram and Connor, watching as Harper takes a sip of her drink, only for her to nearly choke, sputtering liquid all over the table from laughing so hard.

I bark out a laugh, leaning back in my chair.

“Oh my God,” she gasps, face flaming as she reaches for a napkin.

I reach for one at that same time, our fingers brushing.

A bolt of heat races up my arm.

Harper freezes, her lips parting slightly before she pulls her hand back, a napkin clasped in it. “Sorry,” she murmurs, looking anywhere but at me as she presses it against her mouth.

I blow out a breath. “It’s fine.”

Fine.

Fine?

Nothing about this is fine.

She’s still laughing, the sound lighting up her face.

Her eyes are damn near glowing.

An overwhelming urge to pull her closer and press my lips against hers hits me like a train.

“How’s Connor doing? Still a flirt?”

I smirk. “You have no idea.” I shake my head, feigning exasperation. “Hasn’t changed a bit since college. Still busts my balls every chance he gets.”

A fond smile tugs at my lips. “I’m grateful we play on the same team now. When we got drafted to the NHL and were separated, it sucked.”

She doesn’t respond right away.

I’m lost in the memories of how much that moment sucked. I’d finally reached the goal I set out to accomplish, but without her and Connor to share in my triumph, I felt empty.

I’m pulled from my thoughts by movement.

Todd is making his way toward the door.

He’s not looking at me, though.

He’s glaring at Harper.

Every muscle in my body locks tight.

When he meets my eyes, he practically bolts out the door.

Uneasiness courses through me.

I don’t fucking like the way he was looking at her.

“How about I follow you home?” My voice is even, but I’ve already made up my mind.

She’s not walking to her car alone.

Harper opens her mouth to protest but stops when she sees my face.

She pieces it together, a frown marring her beautiful face, as she looks at the empty bar stool Todd occupied.

A shiver rolls through her.

It’s barely noticeable, but of course, I notice.

She avoids my gaze for a few beats before finally nodding. “Sure. That would be great.” Her voice is small, and when her eyes meet mine, I see the shadows in them.

She looks haunted.

The bottom drops out of my stomach. “What did Todd do to you?”

She stiffens. “It’s nothing.”

She’s lying, and I damn well know it.

I shove back from the table, slapping cash down on it for the tip. “I’m gonna kill that motherfucker.”

“Ford. Stop.” Her fingers wrap around my bicep, her palm branding through my shirt. Her touch elicits a flame directly into my bloodstream, and I freeze.

She’s not pleading with me.

She’s reminding me.

Grounding me.

“It’s not worth it,” she murmurs.

My jaw ticks, rage thrumming through me.

Not worth it?

She sure as hell is worth it.

I hold her gaze, willing her to see it.

Tonight is about making sure she gets home safely.

But Todd’s not off the hook.

Not even close.

I’ll find out what happened.

And when I do?

He’ll fucking pay.