Page 12 of Score to Settle (Oakwood Ranch #1)

I look around the table. To Chase. Then Mia.

Then Harper. I remember Mia from high school.

Loud, confident, beautiful, and hanging off Chase’s arm for a few months—she’s hard to forget.

And I know Serena. She’s been Chase’s best friend since high school and is now on the Stormhawks cheer team.

And it’s clear from the way Mia and Harper are talking that they’re close.

High school friends close. But no matter how hard I try, I can’t place Harper beside Mia in any of my memories.

I was too busy playing football to notice the girls in Chase’s grade.

Everyone squeezes in and introductions are made. The guy in the shirt and glasses is Mia’s boyfriend, Edward. He’s wedged in between Chase and Dylan and looks out of his depth as he’s dragged into football talk.

Mia leans across Harper, fixing me with a fierce gaze. “Harper is my best friend,” she declares, “so you’d better be nice to her, Jake, and treat her like the queen she is or you’ll have me to answer to. And I’m no pushover.”

A smile pulls at my lips, but I nod. “Yes, ma’am.”

Mia and Harper fall into an easy conversation and I sit back, enjoying the buzz of the bar and being with my brothers. I can’t remember the last time we were all together like this, only that it’s been a while.

Then Dylan claps his hands and leans across the table, pointing at Mia. “I’ve just figured out where I know you from,” he says with a broad smile.

“Yeah, dummy.” Chase laughs. “High school. Mia, Harper, and I had homeroom together.”

I glance to Harper, catching the flush to her cheeks, and wonder again why she’s kept it quiet that we went to the same high school. Most people can’t wait to tell me about a connection, although usually it’s someone’s friend’s cousin who sat behind me on a flight once.

“I was three grades above you, bro. No way I remember you two from high school. But I do know that you’re Mia Arquette,” Dylan says, turning back to Mia with a grin. “You used to do barrel racing at the rodeo, right?”

Arquette. The last name snags in my thoughts. She isn’t connected to Arquette Media, is she? The same company who owns Sports Magazine where Harper now works? I file that thought away for later as Mia’s face lights up.

“Sure did.” She tips her imaginary cowboy hat and we all laugh.

“Why’d you stop?” Dylan asks. “I never saw anyone ride like that.”

The light in Mia’s eyes fades in an instant and it’s obvious it’s a sore topic. But Mia shrugs and takes a long sip of wine. “Had to grow up sometime,” she says like it was no big deal.

“Hey, Harper, why didn’t you mention you went to our high school?” Dylan asks and I wonder if he senses the awkwardness of Mia’s reply and is trying to move the conversation along. Although from the look of terror crossing Harper’s face, he’s waltzed us right into another awkward moment.

“Oh… I… didn’t think it was important,” she stammers.

“Really?” I turn to Harper, making sure she feels my gaze on her. I’m not sure why Harper is so embarrassed but I’m enjoying watching her squirm.

“It’s not like I actually knew either of you. Just Chase…” she says, her voice trailing off.

Mia nudges her friend. “Harper doesn’t like to remember high school. Seeing what a total nerd she was back then.”

“Hey.” Harper swipes Mia’s arm but the comment lightens the tension in Harper’s face.

Mia flashes Harper a wicked grin. “It’s true. You even used to?—”

Before Mia can finish, Harper leaps up, half shoving Mia out the booth. “We need more drinks. Mia, come help me.”

They huddle close as they step to the bar, talking back and forth, and when Mia whispers something in Harper’s ear, she throws her head back, laughing in a way that has my gaze pulling to those red lips again.

I’m clearly not the only one to notice because a beat later, Gordon is leaning casually beside them. He places his hand on Harper’s arm as he talks, and whatever he says, it makes all three of them laugh. I shift in my seat, annoyance rising inside me.

Gordon is always pulling crap like this—swooping in on women, charming them into his bed with his preppy blond hair and clean-shaven look.

I don’t give a shit what the likes of Gordon do in their spare time, but it pisses me off when his reputation remains squeaky clean.

Especially when he seems to enjoy making sure mine stays in the mud.

I’m certain he was the one who released the video of me at practice last month.

Even if he denies it, blaming one of the other players after he’d shared it on the team group chat.

Chase and Dylan are still deep in conversation about game play with Edward sitting silently between them.

As much as I’d love to join them, I can’t take my eyes off Harper as she shifts away from Gordon’s touch and tries to catch Flic’s attention to order.

There’s something in the uncertainty in Harper’s eyes that makes my protective instinct kick in.

I might not like Harper, but no one deserves Gordon hitting on them. I’m by her side in three strides.

“You ladies look like you need a hand,” I say with a wink to Harper and a wave to Flic. “Mia, you might want to rescue Edward. He looks about as comfortable as a Stormhawks fan at a Vegas Desertraptors convention.”

Mia’s mouth makes a perfect “O” shape and then she laughs. “I’m on it.” She flashes Harper a grin, conveying a silent message that makes Harper roll her eyes at Mia’s back as she heads to the table.

“Hey, Jake, we’re good here,” Gordon says, barely acknowledging me as he focuses on Harper.

I resist the urge to shove him away, reminding myself we’re in public. Instead, I turn my body, blocking his view of Harper as I give our drinks order to Flic before turning to Gordon. For a second, we’re locked in a silent standoff, neither wanting to back down.

Then Harper’s voice cuts in. “I’m fine, Jake. You don’t need to be here. Gordon was just being friendly.”

That’s not what I’d call it, but I don’t argue. “Sure thing. Hey, let me make the introductions. Harper, it looks like you’ve met Gordon Jenkins.”

“People call me Flash,” Gordon says with that grin of his that makes me want to break his nose.

I smirk. “Only your mother, Gordon. That name ain’t catching on.” I nod to Harper. “This is Harper Cassidy, a journalist from Sports Magazine .”

I don’t mention the feature she’s writing on me.

It’s only a matter of time before the team finds out and corners Harper to share every embarrassing story about me.

The longer I can keep it quiet for, the better.

But as I expected, the mention of Harper’s profession is enough for Gordon to back down.

He’s looking for a woman to warm his bed tonight, but he’s not stupid enough to make a move on a journalist and risk damaging his reputation.

He shakes Harper’s hand and immediately backs up. “Nice to meet you, Harper,” he says, turning away. “See you at practice, Sullivan,” he calls over his shoulder.

Flic slides our drinks across the bar and smiles. “Rescuing women again, Jake?”

I shrug. “I’m pretty sure Harper can take care of herself.”

“Yes, I can,” Harper says from beside me. From the edge to her voice, she’s none too pleased by the rescue. “And isn’t he on your team? You acted like you hate each other.”

“Gordon is my teammate. I trust him on the field to bring down the opposing team but off the field, it’s different.” The truth is, I wouldn’t trust him not to step over a sweet little grandmother who’s fallen down if it meant getting his dick serviced.

“Come on,” Harper replies. “The man rescues puppies in his spare time. What’s not to like?”

A muscle ticks in my jaw. How can she buy into that crap Gordon posts all over his socials? “Not all reputations are justified.”

“Is yours?” she shoots back, fixing me with a questioning look.

I hold her gaze, noticing how those big brown eyes of hers are flecked with gold.

The kind of eyes that draw someone in. I think of leaning in, brushing Harper’s hair away from her face, and whispering in her ear how happy I’d be to show her just how true my reputation is.

It’s the kind of move that would really piss her off.

But the short-term win of annoying Harper isn’t going to help my rep.

So I settle for honesty instead. “I’m not going to pretend I don’t enjoy sex, but I’m not into one-time hookups anymore and I haven’t been for a long time. Most of the stuff about me isn’t true.”

“Why don’t you ever deny it then?” she fires back.

“Because I don’t give a shit what people think of me. If they want to think I’m that person, why do I care? But now it’s affecting the team and my career.” I shrug.

Harper stares at me like I’m a math equation she’s trying to solve. Then she gives a shake of her head. “So you’re telling me you’ve changed?”

“I guess that’s what you’re here to find out.” I scoop up the beer bottles and my soda and head back to the booth before she can ask any more questions. My thoughts pull to the comment I overheard her make on the phone last night.

Jake already thinks he’s God’s gift to the world.

Suddenly I’m wishing I’d left Harper to the likes of Gordon.

The last thing I want tonight is to answer questions.

I don’t buy Harper’s curiosity for a second.

She’s probably no better than the gossip sites that twist everything I say.

That’s the last time I go out of my way to rescue her ungrateful ass.

It’s 2 a.m. before I give up trying to sleep.

From across the room, Chase is snoring lightly on the pullout.

Just like old times , I think, trying to be annoyed he’s bunking in with me, but still finding myself happy he’s home.

Besides, it’s not Chase keeping me awake.

It’s thinking about Harper and her questions tonight.

So you’re telling me you’ve changed?