Page 41 of If You Were Mine

She stared at me for a moment, before she finally nodded and turned towards the door. “Okay. Thank you.”

And then I was following her, knowing that we didn’t have far to walk. My leg would probably hate me later, but it usually did.

An hour into this ordeal, and I realized I was an idiot. Because Harper worked more than anyone I thought possible. Even Aston.

She was twenty places at once and did her best to help keep every interaction perfect and unique. Personal.

Although I did notice she tried to stay in the back as much as possible. That hadn’t always been the case. Or maybe I was just reading too much into it. Maybe she was only staying in the back to catch up. Not avoiding people.

I went to ring up another order, smiling slightly when I realized that I didn’t fuck it up, and handed over her change.

“Here you go. Thank you for coming to Rising Cage.”

“And thank you for being here, Dorian,” a woman with chestnut hair purred.

I knew when I was being hit on, it wasn’t anything new to me. But when she leaned forward, her breasts practically falling out of her tight workout zipped-up jacket, I just leaned back.

“Is there anything else I can get you? Your order should be up soon.”

Her face fell, and she shook her head. “No, if that’s the only thing you’re offering, I’m okay.” She winked as she said it, and I turned towards the customer behind her.

The old Dorian probably would have done something.

And yet, I hadn’t.

What the hell was wrong with me? I should just flirt with her, make sure Harper knew that we weren’t going to be a thing.

And yet there was no way that I was going to do that.

Harper merely raised a brow at me, and I turned away, hoping she couldn’t read my thoughts. Because it wasn’t as if I knew what those thoughts were.

By the time there was a lull, I was exhausted, my leg ached, and I realized that I would suck if I had to work here full time. I didn’t know how Harper did it.

“Oh, Dorian, I’m so glad that you’re here,” Melody said as she came forward. She was an older woman I had known for years who worked for Harper now. And I knew she was supposed to be off today.

“Melody.”

“Melody, you’re here!” Harper said as she threw her arms around the other woman. “I could kiss you.”

“Well, I’m sure you want to be kissing someone,” she mumbled, and I glared at the other woman.

Okay, maybe I didn’t like her.

“I got back to town early, and that means I can take over for a bit and you can go bake. I know you had to be tired if you had to get Dorian to help.”

“I feel like I was just kicked.”

“Oh, shush.”

She winked as she said it, and Wellesley just smiled.

“I’m so grateful that you are here to help. Dorian is doing fantastic though.”

“It’s a cash register, and the goods are already made.”

“And you only messed up twice.”

Four times, but I wasn’t going to tell her that. “Will you two go to the back and take your break? I can handle this. You both look like you could use that break.”