Page 73 of When You Blush

“Get in the car,” Blake yells above the noise of the rain hammering around us.

“No way. I’ll ruin your fancy seat.”

“I don’t give a fuck about the seat. Get out of this rain, Harper.”

He tosses the pack in the back, and I wince as I sit on his leather seat. Blake climbs in next to me.

“Your poor car.”

“It’s just a car, baby.”

“No,mycar is just a car. This is more than that.”

“Nope.” He takes my hand and kisses my fingers. “As long as you’re okay, I don’t care about this vehicle. Let’s go home and get dry.”

“We might just stay naked for a bit.”

His eyebrow lifts. “That’s a fantastic plan.”

Chapter Seventeen

BLAKE

“Are you hungry?” Harper kisses my cheek and rubs her hands over my chest, over my sweatshirt. We’re fresh from a hot shower, dressed, and my stomach growls, answering her question. Her eyebrow shoots up. “That’s a yes.”

“I could eat.” I lean into where she’s sitting on the bathroom vanity and kiss her delectable lips. “What do you want for dinner? I can cook, or we can go out. Whatever you want.”

“Ireallywant Sage and Salt.” She bats her eyelashes at me and bites her lower lip, and Christ, I can’t say no to her.

Here’s hoping Brooks doesn’t find out and kick my ass.

“Then that’s where we’ll go.” After kissing her once more, I take her by the hips and lift her off the vanity. We grab our things and head downtown. It’s still raining its ass off, and I haven’t taken the time to truly process everything that Harper told me on the hike.

I want to burn her ex to the fucking ground. I don’t understand how anyone could be so careless with her. So intentionally cruel. She’s one of the best people I’ve ever met in my life. She’s so fucking brave, upending her whole life to get away from a monster. She’s loyal to her family and loves them all unconditionally. I have the utmost respect for her work ethic and how compassionate she is with her patients. She’s so damn sweet. So kind.

“You’re quiet,” she says from the passenger seat, and I reach over to put my hand on her thigh.

“I’m fine, sweetheart. Hungry.”

“Areyoua bitch when you’re hangry, too?” She smiles over at me, and it makes me laugh.

“Aren’t we all?” I snag a parking spot, and Harper doesn’t wait for me to get her door. She pushes out and meets me on the covered sidewalk. “You didn’t wait.”

“It’s raining,” she reminds me. “You don’t need to get wet again.”

I pull her against me and kiss her forehead. “Always wait for me.”

Leading her into the restaurant, I press my hand to the small of her back and take it all in.

Way to go, Jules.

This place is beautiful. It looks like something out of a farmhouse magazine, with white shiplapped walls, hanging green plants, and black trim. The menu is a giant black chalkboard behind a counter where you place your order, and it smells fucking great.

“Ilove ithere,” Harper says, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet. “The fajitas are to die for.”

“Good to know.” When we get to the front and Juliet looks up at us, every muscle in my body stiffens.

You hurt my brother.