Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“What about my mom?” I offered. “She adores you, and, well…she’s had four kids.”
Brystol chewed on her lip, then glanced at Declan.
He held up his hands. “Don’t look at me. I’ve got nothing to add, other than you should trust Harper.”
“Thank you,” I said with a smile. Declan winked, and I had to force myself not to sigh.
“I’m so sorry to burden you both with this. I just…I didn’t know what to do. And I’m sorry to drag you into this, Declan.”
“No worries at all. I’m glad I was able to supply the alcohol.”
With a soft laugh, Brystol leaned down and kissed his cheek. “You provided a lot more than that. Thank you.”
A rush of jealousy zipped through me.
What in the hell is that about? I quickly stood.
“Is everything okay?” Brystol asked me.
“Yes!” I said, much too quickly. “I should get back to the flower shop. I have some arrangements that need to be made. But I’m here for you if you need anything or want to talk.”
Brystol hugged me. “Thanks, Harper. I’ll walk out with you.”
Declan stood and walked to the door, opening it for us. “Let’s hope no one sees the two of you leaving. Can you imagine those rumors?”
Brystol let out a bark of laughter while she headed down the steps. I quickly looked up and down the back alley. “Do you think anyone saw us coming up?”
Declan laughed. “I was kidding, Harp.”
“Right,” I said with a quiet laugh. “I’m just going to go ahead and…um… I’m going to go.”
Declan grinned. “I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
“Oh? Why?”
His one brow rose. “You’re dating my brother, so…”
His words faded, and another nervous bubble of laughter slipped free. “Right! Yes. I’m dating your brother. I forgot.”
Brows drawn down in confusion, he repeated, “You forgot?”
“No!” I quickly said. “I didn’t forget…exactly. I mean…well…we broke up, then got back together, and I…”
“Harp?” Brystol called from the bottom of the steps, saving me from the hole I was digging myself into.
“Coming!” I singsonged, then turned and nearly slid down the handrail to escape Declan.
Declan
I stared at Harper and Brystol as they headed back to the flower shop and slipped in through the back door.
“Women,” I mumbled, shutting the door and shaking my head. I wasn’t even sure why Brystol had dropped her news bomb on me. Harper, I could understand. But me? I get she wanted a guy’s thoughts on it, but holy shit. I knew Brystol from growing up in the area, but not well. Maybe my living in the apartment above her toy store made us closer friends in her eyes. I wasn’t sure.
Then my thoughts quickly turned to Harper. She looked beautiful today, like always. She wore dark jeans, a long-sleeve shirt with her flower shop logo on the front, and brown ankle boots. Why was that so fucking adorable?
Though something still struck me as off with her and my brother. Now more than ever. She actually forgot that she was dating Sean.
The sound of my phone vibrating on the counter pulled me from my thoughts of Harper.
“Speak of the devil.” I accepted the call. “Hey, Sean. What’s up?”
“Mom wants you to call her.”
I raised my brows. “Um, okay. Why didn’t she call or text me then?”
He sighed. “She has been for the last thirty minutes, and she’s freaking out because you’re not answering her messages.”
Rubbing a hand over my head, I blew out a breath. “My phone was on vibrate, and I guess I didn’t notice it going off. Is she always like this if you don’t reply right away?”
“Yes. Welcome home.”
I laughed. “What are you up to?”
“Work. You know…for Dad in the family business.”
I could hear the hostility pouring out of my brother. “No one forced you to be an accountant, Sean.”
He huffed. “Yeah, right. You ran off and joined the Marines, so that left me to be the one to make Mom and Dad happy.”
“Maybe if you had some balls on you, you might’ve stood up to them and told them you didn’t want to be an accountant.”
“Fuck off, Declan! It doesn’t matter anyway. The golden boy is home now. And the best part, Mom is calling me to do her bidding where you’re concerned.”
“Again, it’s not my fault you don’t know how to stand up to our parents.”
“You don’t know a damn thing. Just call Mom so she’ll stop hounding me at work.”
The line went dead, and I could imagine my brother pouting at his desk. What in the world did Harper see in him? I rolled my eyes and hit my mother’s name.
“Declan! I’ve been trying to reach you but you haven’t responded. I was worried.”
I drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out. I needed to nip this shit in the bud right now. I loved my mother dearly, but if she started this shit, I’d be hightailing it out of Moose Village faster than you can say my name.