Stealing Harper

“You have no idea!”

I huffed softly. So damn cute. “Close your eyes again, I’ll let you open them when we’re next to the mirror.” I helped her off the table and led her over to a large mirror, positioning her so she’d be able to see it perfectly. I took one last deep breath and leaned close to whisper in her ear, “Open your eyes, Harper.”

For a few tense moments she met my gaze in the mirror before letting her eyes travel down. She gasped, and my body went rigid as I watched her wide eyes and dropped jaw. She stepped away from me, and closer to the mirror, and I felt like I was holding my breath as she just stared at her left hip. Still without speaking, she turned to face me, stepped close, and ran a hand through my hair, her other hand coming up to the side of my neck.

“Please tell me what you’re thinking.” Because, swear to God, I’m about to go crazy guessing.

Without warning, she kissed me hard, and I thought I’d freakin’ die. To have this, have her kiss me . . . meant everything. I deepened the kiss, and freaking Brian and Jeff started yelling for us to get a room. Harper pulled back and her face was bright red as she bit her lip to contain her smile and looked at the ground. I grabbed her hand, led her back to my table, and finished putting the ointment and wrap over her lilies. She still hadn’t said anything, but I’d take that kiss as a confirmation that she liked it.

“What made you choose those?”

I looked up and smiled at her. “I heard you talking to Bree and Mom about them being your favorite. And ever since that day, all I’ve wanted to do was get you orange lilies, but I knew I’d probably get punched again. This was my way around it.”

“It looks amazing, Chase, thank you.”

Thank God.

I shrugged, but she grabbed each side of my face and pulled me down so I was less than an inch from hers.

“I’m serious. I love it, thank you.”

I kissed her softly and skimmed my nose across her cheek, breathing in that soft vanilla scent that was distinctly my princess. “God, you’re beautiful, Harper.”

Her gray eyes were shining, and her smile widened, but just as I started to lean in, her phone rang, and we both froze for a few seconds before she reached into her pocket and pulled it out.

“Hey, babe,” she answered.

You have got to be kidding me.

“Um, it’s not done yet. Can I call you after?”

I held my breath and watched as her eyes got that crushed look like she’d had after I’d kissed her on New Year’s Eve. Son of a bitch.

“I love you, too. Have fun tonight.”

And that ended it. Right there. She couldn’t kiss me and talk to her boyfriend, telling him she loved him while I was still standing there. I stepped away from the table and tried to shake off the feeling like she’d just punched me in the stomach.

She pulled the phone away from her ear and looked up at me, “Chase—”

No, f**k no. I can’t do this with you. I couldn’t be a dirty secret for her. I wanted her, but I didn’t want her to f**king play with me. “So you’ll need to go buy some antibacterial soap to clean it.”

“Please talk to me.”

“I’m trying.” I grabbed a piece of paper and turned back toward her, looking everywhere but at her. “Look, here are some aftercare instructions. Don’t take the wrap off for at least an hour. If anything looks wrong, give me a call.” Dropping the piece of paper on her stomach, I stepped away and looked over to see Brian at the front just watching us with a confused look on his face. He handed someone a binder and pointed to the back of the shop before making his way over there.

“Chase!”

I finally looked back at her and gritted my teeth as I spoke again. “I have another appointment, and he’s waiting. I’ll see you later.”

She nodded and shook her head on an exhale. “What do I owe you?”

“Nothing. It was a gift. But I’m busy, so please go.” Without another glance in her direction I turned and went to the back room to meet Brian.

“Dude, what the f**k? All looked good the last few hours, so why do you look like someone just killed your dog?”

“Brandon just called her—”

“Oh, f**k me.”

“Yeah.” I sighed heavily and sank down onto one of the couches we had in the back. “She dismissed him and whatever, but she called him babe told him she loved him . . . all while keeping one hand around my neck to keep me close to her.”

“Slut.”

“Shut the f**k up, Bri. I just . . . I’m not going to do this with her anymore. I want her to be mine, not a secret to be kept while Brandon’s away, one that she feels guilty about after.” Brian’s eyebrows raised, and he just stared at me. “What?”

He shrugged as he searched for the words he wanted to use. “I guess I just didn’t think she really meant that much to you. You’ve grown up a lot in the last few months; I know I bullshit with you a lot about the girls that come in here for you or that you used to be with, but it’s awesome to see this from you. I mean, it sucks that all this has been the result of a girl who’s with your best friend, but good to see you grow up, man.”

I huffed and looked around, “Uh, thanks . . . I guess?”

“You know what I mean. So does this mean you’re done messing with Brandon?”

“I don’t know. Fighting with him keeps my head on straight that she’s with him and not me. I just know I’m done pushing it with her. I thought it was worth it, just to have her for any amount of time . . . but I can’t keep playing this back-and-forth with her.”