Page 23 of Steinbeck (The Minnesota Kingstons #5)

Her heart thumped, the richness of the autumn night in the air, the stars blinking overhead, the scent of adventure and even mystery on his skin.

“I don’t mean to be trouble. But this..

. this is me.” She gestured to herself, her dark pants, the green sweatshirt.

“This is me. Or I thought so until you... you... you... showed up. And you totally?—”

“Messed up your world,” he said, dropped the candy bar back into his pack, then closed the gap between them. His hand went around her neck, his eyes held hers, just for a moment; then his mouth took hers, as if it belonged to him.

As if she was his.

And maybe she was. Maybe she had been for a long time, like Luis had said —“I knew you two...”

She wrapped her arms around his waist, holding on, lifting herself on her toes so she could have more of him.

And him, more of her.

He tasted salty and yet sweet, his kiss deepening as his strong arms curled around her. He took another step, and her back touched the cool stone wall of the ancient building. She made a noise and he lifted his head, met her eyes.

“You okay?”

“I have no idea what I am.”

He smiled. “You’re beautiful. And smart. And brave. And crazy?—”

“The first thing that actually sounds like me.” She laughed.

He cut her off with another kiss, this time slower, taking his time, although his arms tightened around her.

As if he couldn’t bear to let her go.

She’d kissed him before—stolen kisses, really—and the one in the yard might have been for show. But this... this one bore the sense of something real. As if he was giving over a piece of himself. His heart? His future?—

She closed her eyes. “Are you in love with my brother, Phoenix?”

Oh no.

He lifted his head again. Met her eyes. “I?—”

The lights to her room glared on, and her balcony door slammed open. “Get away from her!”

He stepped back, hands up, just as Shep and Logan pushed out to the balcony, weapons up.

“It’s just me!” This from Steinbeck, and just in case, Emberly stepped in front of him.

“Stop!”

Mystique barreled in behind them, breathing hard. She stared at the two, then at Shep. “The alarm went off.”

“Logan pulled it?—”

“Because security called and said they saw a man climbing the side of the building,” Logan growled.

“Again, just me,” said Steinbeck. “Sorry. I lost my key.”

Shep gaped at him.

Logan lowered his weapon, his jaw tight. “Thank you very much. I was asleep.”

“You shouldn’t sleep. It’s bad for your jet lag,” Emberly said.

He looked at her.

She lowered her hands. “Just saying. I travel a lot. I know these things.”

Shep shook his head, headed out of the room, Logan behind him.

“You need better security!” shouted Steinbeck after them.

Mystique had remained on the balcony. Gave them both a long look, then shook her head. “Okay, then.”

“Okay, what?” Emberly said, her entire body still a little flushed.

“Okay, you’re on a plane tomorrow back to the States. We got this. And you two”—she pointed at them—“need to figure out what you really want.”

She turned and walked off the balcony.

Steinbeck drew in a breath. Took a step back. “That’s probably a good idea.”

“What? Figuring out what we want?”

He smiled then, something soft, even sweet. “Oh, sweetheart, I know what I want. Which is why I’m following London out of your room.” He leaned into her, however, his mouth close to hers. “But I’ll be just down the hall, so don’t even think of leaving without me.”

She grabbed his collar. “Leave the Snickers bar.”

He laughed, kissed her again, and just as she was about to slide her arms around his neck, he stepped back and walked across her room.

“I want?—”

He turned and tossed her the candy bar. “I know.” Then he winked and was gone.

You.

* * *

“He is one hot man.”

Harper glanced at Penny, dressed in an oversized Blue Ox jersey, custom-made, with King Con and his number embroidered on the back. She wore a pair of jeans, her long hair back in a messy bun, barely any makeup on her tanned face.

“I know you’re talking about Con, but..

. you’re right.” Harper turned back to watching Jack and Conrad slap around a puck in a Sunday afternoon Duck Lake community scrimmage at the North Star Arena.

Conrad had roped Jack into helping out with a handful of youngsters from the Ice Hawks, a team put together by the Pepper charity foundation, EmPowerPlay.

Conrad had the moves of a professional center, but Jack knew his way around the ice and could still skate circles around these kids, earning both their respect and frustration as he stole passes and inspired footwork.

“You two okay?” Penny looked over at her.

Harper should have worn more than a sweatshirt over her leggings, because she had to pull the sleeves down over her fisted hands, her breath catching in the frigid air of the arena.

Outside, the sun hovered over a perfect, nearly cloudless September day, and frankly, she would have rather been home, watching the lake lap the shoreline, editing her book, but. ..

No, not true. She’d rather have been looking at wedding-dress catalogues or even asking Penny to be her maid of honor.

Apparently, that wasn’t in her future.

She wouldn’t have even agreed to show up today, except... well, she had to tell Penny her big news in person. Never mind Jack.

She had to stop dodging the future.

Step one, level with her best friend about quitting the podcast.

Step two would be breaking up with Jack.

“We’re fine.” But maybe her sigh gave her away, because Penny looked over and raised an eyebrow.

“That sounds like trouble in paradise. I thought... well, Conrad says that the bus is finished.”

“It is. And Jack invited me over to see it—I mean, I knew it was nearly done, but I admit I’ve been head down in my computer for the last couple weeks.”

“You finished the book?”

Harper made a face. “I’m stuck on the ending. I got them to the breakup, but I can’t see to get them all the way to the happy ending.”

“You need that big grand gesture,” Penny said. “Like John Cusack in Say Anything , showing up with his boom box.”

“You’re doing Cusack marathons now, are you?”

“Just the romantic comedies. Especially Serendipity. I love that one.”

“You’re just cold. And it has ice skating.”

“He’s an unsung hero. But maybe you need a refresher.

” Penny looked back out onto the ice, where Jack and Conrad were facing off for the kids.

They laughed, even as Jack checked Conrad, fighting for the puck.

“That over there is a happy ending. Jack, the wanderer, back home, Conrad laughing. I think our work here is a grand success.” She lifted her fist.

Harper met it.

“Well, that was wimpy. Seriously. What’s going on?”

Here went nothing. “Penny, I was offered a job with PopMuse magazine.”

Penny turned to her. “That’s fantastic. I figured they’d come crawling back to you after you landed Boo’s exclusive, not to mention your two-book deal.”

“It’s in Nashville.”

“Oh.”

“I could ask them if I could work remotely, but the contract specifically says I need to be in office?—”

“Why? I mean...” She pointed to Jack. Wore pain on her face. “I thought... And what about the podcast?”

“Oh, Pen, you know you can do the research without me. I think you were just being kind when you hired me.”

“Hardly. You’re my secret weapon.”

“You’re your own secret weapon. All I do is fact-check, and even that... well, you have a way with sources. You always get to the truth.”

Penny sighed. “I wondered if something had happened.” She frowned. “He didn’t propose, did he?”

“No.” The admission bored into her, a splinter into her already raw heart. “I thought... Anyway, I don’t know. He’s taking Flo up to Little Falls tomorrow, a test run before he leaves town.”

Penny frowned. “I don’t think he’s leaving. He took the bar.”

She stilled. “What?”

“Yeah. Jack told Conrad at the fair that he took the bar exam in July. He’s waiting for the results.”

Harper looked at him, racing after Conrad, who was just toying with them all now. No wonder he’d landed that fresh contract with the Blue Ox.

“He didn’t say anything to me.”

“Maybe he wanted to surprise you.”

“Or maybe... he didn’t think I’d want to go out on the road with him.”

“Do you?”

She tucked her arms around her. “I don’t know. Maybe. I guess I really hadn’t thought... I mean, that’s been the plan. Or... not.”

“Does he know you’re leaving?”

“I don’t know how he...” She stilled.

“Maybe. I had the contract on the counter when he came to pick me up. I went upstairs to change into a dress. Came back down and he was already outside, on the patio, waiting for me, looking at the lake.” Her eyes widened.

“You think he didn’t propose because he thought I was leaving? ”

Penny lifted a shoulder.

“But why would he take the bar?” She sighed.

“You know what could solve this?”

Harper lifted a shoulder.

“A conversation .” Penny bumped her. “It’s something that two people who love each other do sometimes.”

“Thanks, Dr. Phil. Except how is that supposed to go, exactly? Hey, Jack, so were you going to propose the other night? Because if you were and then didn’t because you thought I was leaving, um, feel free to get on one knee, because I’ll stay if you want me to. How desperate and sad does that sound?”

“You are not desperate and sad. But you do want to marry him.”

Her mouth tightened. “I also don’t want to force the guy to propose. I feel like if he wanted to pop the question, he would.”

“Jack is not going to stand in the way of your dreams.”

“ He is my dream. And even as I say that, it sounds... Aw, see—I need to be on the first plane to Nashville, never look back.”

“And end up alone? Please, have a conversation with the man. It goes like this: Jack, I got an offer to go to Nashville. Penny hates it. Do you hate it too? Do you have any reason I should stay?”

She raised an eyebrow.

“Still sounds needy.”

“Yeah, well, love is about putting it out there. Being vulnerable. Saying the hard things. Do you believe you two are meant for each other?”

Of course, old words, the ones that had skulked about her heart for the last week, dragged up. “You were the one, always.”

Jack’s words to her, but, “Yes. And always.”

“Then maybe it’s time to step up and write your own happy ending. Tear up the contract. Stay. And not for me but for you.” Penny took her hand, warm against her cold fingers, her golden-brown eyes holding Harper’s. “What do you really want?”

Harper turned, her gaze following him on the ice—strong, capable Big Jack.

“That’s what I thought. Now sit back and can we please just enjoy the view?”