Page 48 of Score to Settle (Oakwood Ranch #1)

THIRTY-SIX

HARPER

MIA: Have fun with Jake today!!!

HARPER: Can’t wait.

MIA: Glad the lovesick pining is over.

HARPER: I wasn’t lovesick or pining.

MIA: Yeah right! You’re annoyingly cute.

HARPER: You’re sure you don’t mind us staying in your apartment?

MIA: Of course not. It’s only sitting empty.

HARPER: Have a good time! I’ll miss you!

MIA: Ha! A good time? With Edward’s stuffy family? No way! At least it’s only one night. And you’ll be far too busy having ALL the sex to miss me. See you tomorrow!

A cold wind blows through my hair as I push through the doors of the Arquette Media building and onto the street.

It’s Saturday and the business district of Denver is quiet.

Cherry Creek Mall and the shopping areas will be heaving with shoppers searching for bargains in the sales, but here it’s almost deserted.

I could’ve waited until Monday, but with it being the weekend and Tim on vacation until after the New Year, the Sports Magazine floor was unsurprisingly empty, giving me time to tidy my desk and type up the rest of my notes, ready to start writing Jake’s feature next week.

The thought causes a ball of anxious energy to form in the pit of my stomach.

There’s so much riding on it for Jake. I want it to be perfect.

Ahead of me, a delivery truck trundles down the street. It snowed again on Christmas Eve and clumps of dirty snow are melting in the winter sun, leaving the sidewalk icy in places. I pull my bag over my shoulder and tuck my hands in the pockets of my thick black parka as I watch for Jake’s truck.

We’re meeting for coffee and a walk in the park. He’s staying at Mia’s with me tonight and heading straight from there to Sunday’s game against the Trailblazers.

I can’t wait to see him, to be in his arms. I can’t wait to show him the studio apartment five blocks from Mia’s I’ve found. Someone was supposed to move in last week but changed their mind, and now the landlord is eager for me to sign the lease. It’s available straightaway if I want it.

I’ve thought about it all through Christmas.

Even while throwing on the matching red tartan PJs Gloria made the entire family wear.

Even while playing charades and eating too many chocolates.

After missing Thanksgiving, it felt extra special to be with them, even if my mind was on Jake and my future the entire time.

Our future. Gloria and Mia may not be my family by blood, but they’re the closest I have, considering all Dad sent me was a Merry Christmas text with a cryptic message about a gift I’ll know about soon. Another empty promise, I think.

“Harper?”

A shot of unease pushes through me. I know that voice and it isn’t Jake’s. I turn to find Scott stepping out of the doors of the Arquette Media building.

“Fancy bumping into you,” he says with an unnerving smile. His brown hair is styled and he’s wearing a suit, but the tie is askew and there’s a shaving cut on his chin. He looks wired and unkempt.

“You look stunning as always,” he says, eyes trailing over my body.

Prick.

I wrap my coat over the cute green sweater and jeans I’m wearing. “I’m waiting for someone.” I glance again at the street, searching for Jake’s truck.

“Ah yes, Jake Sullivan, right?” Scott says. “You enjoying slumming it with a brainless jock, Harper?”

A pulse of anger courses through me. “He’s ten times the man you are, Scott. What are you doing in Denver, anyway?”

“Didn’t you hear? I’ve got an interview for a job in sales at Arquette Media on Monday.

A friend of mine works there and just showed me around.

I thought I’d spend the weekend getting to know the city.

I like what I see so far,” he adds, smiling in a way that makes my skin crawl.

“I think the corporate side of media will suit me better.”

A sinking dread settles in my gut. Scott working at Arquette Media? In the same building as me? I can picture it now—seeing his smarmy, self-satisfied face smirking at me in the elevator every morning.

“Good luck with that,” I say, not meaning a word as I turn away, wanting distance between us before Jake arrives.

It’s still in the back of my mind that I haven’t been entirely honest with Jake about Scott.

The thought squirms in my stomach. It’s never felt like the right time to explain, but that’s sounding more and more like a weak-ass excuse.

Before I can move, Scott’s hand reaches for my arm. “You could put a good word in for me, couldn’t you? With your friend, Mia, and her mom?”

I’m surprised by the faint note of desperation in his voice as I shrug his hand away. “Why would I do that?”

He purses his lips. “Because I could very easily tell your new editor—Tim, is it?—what it says on your HR record at Insight . Considering what’s going on with you and Jake Sullivan now, he might be interested to know it’s not your first dalliance with inappropriate behavior.”

It’s the exact thought I’ve had more than once over the last few weeks, worrying what people will think of my relationship with Jake—what Tim will do—but I’m not about to let this weasel blackmail me.

I grit my teeth and step back. “You’re a piece of shit, Scott. There’s no way I’m helping you.” I also make a mental note to message Mia to make sure Scott doesn’t get the job. “You and I both know that HR record is bullshit.”

He continues like I’ve not spoken, tapping his chin as he speaks.

“Funny how you’re writing a feature on an NFL player, now I think about it.

The last time I checked, you didn’t know a thing about football.

Didn’t you always say you hated the game?

You wouldn’t have lied to get the job, would you, Harper? ”

My cheeks flush pink and Scott’s smile widens.

Fuck.

“Thought so.” He steps close again. “How about we get a drink later and talk about how we can have each other’s backs here.”

Unease slides down my spine. I haven’t been honest with Tim or Jake about my past and now it feels like it’s all coming crashing down.

I just never thought Scott would be the one to topple it.

I’ve really messed up. The thought makes me want to bury my head in my hands and come clean to Jake and to Tim right here, right now.

I see now I should’ve trusted both of them to see through the bullshit.

I’ll tell them everything, I promise myself.

The next time I see them. And just hope they forgive me…

A car door slams from behind me, and when I turn, Jake is there.

My heart leaps at the sight of him. He strides toward me, seeming somehow taller and more muscular in his fitted black wool coat.

His dark hair is styled away from his face, and his stubble is trimmed, highlighting his strong jaw.

But it’s his eyes that take my breath away—those eyes that seem to see straight into my heart.

Jake shoots a quick, assessing glance at Scott, his eyes narrowing slightly, before he sweeps me into his strong arms. I melt against him, breathing in his woodsy citrus scent, until the rest of the world fades into nothing and there’s only Jake.

He buries his face in my neck and whispers in my ear, “I’ve missed you so much.”

“I missed you, too.”

He pulls back. “Ready to go?” he asks, and I love how he’s not asked why Scott is here or paid him any attention at all.

For a moment, I think we’ll get away without a scene, but a second later Scott holds a hand out to Jake’s and dread pools in my stomach.

“Hi, I’m a big fan. I’m Scott Harrington,” Scott says followed by a pause, and then, “I was Harper’s editor at Insight. ”

The world stops.

There it is. The thing I didn’t tell Jake.

The thing I’ve been trying to ignore since I returned to Denver.

Scott isn’t just my cheating, asshole college ex.

The man my dad helped build a career for.

He’s also the editor I worked under during my internship at Insight .

It was his slimy hand that reached for my thigh that night I was working late.

He thought because we’d dated in college it gave him the right to proposition me.

I can’t breathe. I swear the temperature drops another degree as the truth lands in the silence.

Jake ignores Scott’s outstretched hand, shooting me a look. Confusion flashes in his eyes. I open my mouth to speak, to explain, but Jake gets there first.

“Harper’s douchebag ex?” Jake looks back to Scott, his face a mask of calm.

Scott chuckles, not reading the tension rippling in the air. “That was a long time ago. We were all young and wanting to sow our wild oats once, weren’t we? I know someone like you gets that.”

A muscle ticks in Jake’s jaw. “And her editor in New York?”

The first lines of worry form on Scott’s brow. Like he’s only just realized I might’ve told Jake the real reason I was fired from Insight . He must’ve thought that my humiliation in New York would stop me from telling people the truth.

Scott coughs. “Well, yes. We made a good team,” he says, giving me a sharp look, reminding me of the veiled threat he just made to tell Tim his version of what happened.

“In fact, knowing Harper is here is one of the reasons I thought Arquette Media would be a good fit for me. You don’t mind putting a good word in for me, do you, Harper? I scratch your back and all that.”

“Why do you even need my help getting a job?” I ask. “Don’t you usually rely on my dad for that?”

Scott’s face darkens. “Maybe you should ask him.”

Realization hits. I remember the offhand comment I made about Scott at the awards dinner.

I didn’t think Dad was listening, but of course he was.

He must’ve read between the lines, canceling our lunch and jumping on a plane the very next day to none other than New York.

I can imagine him digging around and learning the truth…