A small sob slipped from my mouth, and she pulled me into a hug.
“Oh, Christ. I was so rude to you!”
I cried harder. “I deserved it for hurting him.”
The next thing I knew, I was engulfed in a giant hug from all the Parker women.
When they stepped back, Paxton and Amelia were wiping my cheeks.
Paxton gave me a sweet smile. “I did the same thing when it came to Steed. It was easier to forget him than to even talk to his family. I avoided them for years.”
“Don’t cry,” Amelia said.
“He’s the only man I’ve ever loved—he’s the only man I’ll ever love—and I’ve lost him.”
“Did you not date anyone after Tripp?” Corina asked.
With a half shrug, I replied, “Nothing serious. One guy I dated off and on exclusively for about a year. He wanted something more, but I couldn’t give him my full heart. I cared deeply for him, but I didn’t love him. Not like I love Tripp.”
“Because your whole heart belongs to Tripp,” Waylynn declared.
I smiled at her. “Yeah. It does. But I’ve decided I’m going to stop trying to explain to him what happened that day. He’s moved on, and I’m glad he has found someone who makes him happy.”
Waylynn laughed. “Oh, my gosh. Harley, if you think Mallory makes him as happy as you did, you are wrong. I think it’s more physical. They like having sex. A lot.”
Paxton, Amelia, and Corina all looked at Waylynn. “Waylynn!”
Laughing, I grabbed a tissue and blew my nose.
“It’s okay, y’all. I’m not naïve. I know they’re sleeping together. I need to move on. It’s just…hard…ya know?” I forced the tears back down.
“We’re going out tonight,” Amelia declared.
Waylynn held up her hands. “Well, hold on. Some of us have kids we have to deal with.”
“Oh, speaking of, Waylynn, congratulations on the baby,” I replied, a little bit of melancholy in my voice that I tried to tamp down.
She gave me a breathtaking smile. “Thanks, Harley. She’s an absolute joy.”
Amelia went on. “We can make this happen! I’m sure Steed and Jonathon wouldn’t mind if we hit Cord’s Place for a couple of hours. We need to get Harley back in the game of dating. If Tripp can do it, so can Harley.”
The other three looked at her, unsure that this was such a good idea.
I snarled. “Date the guys here in town?”
“Hey, we’ve had a few hot ones move in. You should see the new fire chief. He’s smokin’ hot!” Waylynn said with a laugh. “See what I did there?”
We all chuckled. It felt good to have my friends back, and to make a new one. A little bit of weight lifted off my chest.
“Yes, I see what you did there,” I replied with a chuckle as I wiped at my still-damp eyes.
“Okay, it’s settled,” Amelia announced while clapping her hands. “Y’all get your kiddos taken care of and then let’s meet at Harley’s place at seven. Early night for all of us.”
I chewed on my lip. “I don’t know.”
Taking my hand in hers, Corina smiled. “Tripp won’t be there. He and Mallory are never there. The bar scene isn’t Mallory’s thing. You won’t even see him, I promise!”
“But the hot fire chief will be there for sure,” Waylynn said with an evil laugh.
“How do you know that?” I asked.
She merely winked. “Trust me.”
I had a feeling I was going to have a terrible night, or the best night I’d had in a long, long time.
As they all started piling out of the exam room, Corina looked back over her shoulder. She was the last one out of the group I thought would ever utter the words she said next. “Wear something sexy! And make it red. With your hair and tan skin, it will make your boobs and A-S-S pop!”
My mouth dropped as my eyes widened.
As if two Parker women were not enough in this town…now there were two more.
“Good Lord, be with me tonight. I have a feeling I’m going to need you to take the wheel.”
“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” Trevor mused while pushing a beer my way.
With an eye roll, I sat on the barstool. “Yeah, it’s been awhile.”
“You get in a fight with Mallory?” he asked, a hint of a smile playing at his lips.
“That’s an understatement,” I scoffed.
About that time Cord walked up. “What’s up, big brother? Mallory get a babysitter for the night?”
I had to laugh. Mallory hated coming to Cord’s Place. She didn’t like to dance, and she didn’t like to go out to bars, period. About the only things she liked to do were fuck and shop. The first one I enjoyed, the second not so much.
“No, we sort of got in a fight.”
He lifted his brows. “About?”
“Her lack of ever wanting to do anything. All she wants to do is sit home and watch movies. She uses Laney for an excuse and I’m growing tired of it. Then, there is the on-call fucking. When she’s in the mood I’m supposed to drop everything.”
Trevor shot me a look like I was insane. “I wouldn’t be complaining about the fucking.” He glanced to his side and winked at two young girls who were now sitting next to me at the bar. Tourists, for sure. It was spring break; I hated this time of year. March had never been one of my favorite months for that reason alone.
“Speaking of,” Trevor mumbled as he took a step over and started up a conversation with them.
Cord let out chuckle as he watched Trevor flirt with the two girls. I wouldn’t be surprised if my brothers ended up hooking up with one…or both.
“So, do y’all argue a lot?” Cord asked, focusing back on me.
“I wouldn’t say a lot, but probably more than we should.”
“That’s not a good sign. You figured anything out more about how you feel about her?”
“I don’t know. I mean, I like Mallory. She’s the first woman to make me actually want to give it a shot.”
“There is a ‘but’ in there somewhere.”
“Yeah, there’s a but and I have no fucking clue what it is.”
He studied me carefully. “I think I know and you just don’t want to admit it. Your ‘but’ is Harley. Hell, maybe you are thinking of Harley’s ‘butt’ and that’s the problem.” That caused him to laugh at his own wit, until we heard Trevor speak up.
“Holy shit.”
Cord and I looked over to Trevor. He was staring at the front door. I swung around and saw our two sisters, Paxton, Corina, and…
“Holy shit.”
“Dude, your ex is looking mighty fine tonight.”
Spinning back at Trevor, I shot him a dirty look. “You stay the fuck away from her, Trevor.”
He laughed. “Like I’d ever do that. Seriously. I’m not that much of a douche. But looking ain’t the same as touching.”
I seethed inside as they all walked in. “What in the hell is Harley doing with them? Those traitors!” I muttered.
Cord was now on the other side of the bar standing next to me. “Obviously they know something you don’t. Harley and Waylynn seem to be pretty chummy. Didn’t you say Waylynn gave Harley the cold shoulder the day she came over to the house around Christmas time?”
“Yes!” I exclaimed. “She practically shut the door in her face. Now they’re acting like best friends again.”
I couldn’t pull my eyes off of Harley. She was wearing cut-off jean shorts, cowboy boots, and a red shirt that looked too damn small. I could see the hint of her toned stomach. My dick instantly got hard and dirty thoughts ran rampant through my mind.
“And now our sister is introducing Harley to the new fire chief, Toby Warner.”
“What in the hell?” I mumbled as I watched this Toby asshole shake my girl’s hand and look at her like he wanted to fuck her in front of everyone in my brother’s bar.
“Hate to say it, dude, but she ain’t your girl anymore.”
My head jerked
back to look at Cord. “What? Did I say that aloud?”
“You just said he was shaking your girl’s hand. She’s not your girl…unless you want her to be?”
Pinching my brows together, I stared at my brother. The idea that I could walk up and claim Harley was insane. One, she wasn’t the type of woman any man could claim, and two, I was still pissed at her. Plus, there was Mallory. Damn, my brain was all over the map tonight. I came in because I was pissed at Mallory, and brooding over Harley, and in walks Harley, my very own kryptonite looking sexy as fuck.
I glanced back to where Harley was standing, still talking to Toby. The rest of the girls had somehow managed to get a table and were sitting down. If I had to guess, I would say Waylynn pulled the ‘Corina is pregnant and can’t stand’ stunt to make a group of guys give up their seats.
Cord slapped me on the back. “Don’t worry, Tripp. He’s not Harley’s type.”
My jaw dropped as I watched Toby lead Harley out to the dance floor, his hand dangerously low on her back with most of his hand on her skin and only a small amount on her shorts. It took everything in my power not to go all caveman, beating my chest and screaming at him, “Get your fucking hands off of her, she’s MINE!”
Fucker.
Cord let out a rumbled laugh that I barely heard over the music. “Or…maybe he is.”
Standing, I leaned in so he could hear. “Time for me to find out what our sisters are up to.”
“Good luck with that. You know they are always ten steps ahead!” he called out.
I made my way over to the table and when all four of them looked up, their smiles vanished. Clearly they weren’t expecting me to be here tonight.
Waylynn jumped up. “Tripp! What are you doing here?”
With a half shrug, I replied, “Thought I’d stop by and get a beer.”
Waylynn looked behind me. “Where’s…um…Mallory?”
The way she chewed on her lip told me that Harley wasn’t expecting me to be here either.
“We had a fight.”
Waylynn’s eyes lit up. “You did?” she practically screamed.
“You seem pretty happy about that, Waylynn. Why’s that?”
An awkward laugh slipped from her lips before she turned to the rest of the Parker clan. “He got in a fight with Mallory!” she yelled.
The three of them tried—and failed—to hide their smiles.
“Was it serious?” Amelia called out.
I shook my head. The look of disappointment on her face was another clue these girls were up to something.
“Why are you here with Harley?” I shouted.
Waylynn opened her mouth and then clamped it shut again.
“Are we not allowed to be friends with her? We’re just a couple of ladies wanting a night out to blow off some steam,” Paxton yelled out.
Fuck, the music was loud.
“Y’all can be friends with whomever you want to be friends with,” I replied with a smile. I made the mistake of looking out onto the dance floor. Clenching my jaw, I tried like hell to keep my shit together. That asshole was holding Harley close as they danced to a slow song.
“Listen, we told Harley you wouldn’t be here because you and Mallory are the stay-at-home-type of couple,” Waylynn said as I glared at her. “So, if you could just…you know…leave before she sees you and resume your stay-at-homeness so you don’t ruin her night.”
There was no doubt my mouth was hanging open. “So, now you’re championing Harley?”
Waylynn lifted her shoulders. “Listen, I actually took the time to listen to what she’s been trying to say to you for the last however-many-years. So, yeah, I’m hoping she can finally find happiness…like you have.”
I took a step back and looked at all four of them. “You talked to her about what?”
Paxton shook her head. “That’s her story to tell. If she even still wants to. She seems to have given up, especially with you being with Mallory and all.”
“Yeah, she said now she knows you’re happy with Mallory she’s decided to leave you alone. Move on.”
My stomach felt sick. What in the fuck? Move on?
“So, that’s it? She’s moving on with Toby?” I barked out.
Waylynn narrowed her left eye at me like she did when she was fixin’ to get mad. “Tripp, the woman has been trying to talk to you for years and you’ve avoided her like she’s got the plague. Now she is moving on like you did and you’re pissed?”
“You’re the one who told me to date, Waylynn!”
“I didn’t tell you to ignore Harley all those years. I said maybe dating other women would help. You’re the one who got into a serious relationship with Mallory.”
I threw my hands in the air. “I give the fuck up. You want me gone so she can enjoy her night, fine. I’m gone.”
I did the only thing I knew to do. I turned and headed straight to Cord. I knew he had security cameras in his office. I was the one who’d told him to install them so he could see if there were any shenanigans with patrons. If they didn’t want Harley to see me, fine, but there was no way I was going to leave with that asshole hanging all over her after one damn dance.
“Hey, can I go sit in your office for a bit? It appears our sisters don’t want me around to ruin Harley’s night out.”
Cord raised his brows. “Wow. You gonna watch her on the cameras…like a stalker?”
“Hell yes, I am.”
He laughed and motioned for me to head to his office. I had keys to the bar and his office so I started in that direction, careful to go around the dance floor so Harley didn’t see me.
After I pushed my way through the crowd, I pulled my keys out and opened Cord’s office door. Shutting it, I locked the door and made my way to the wall of TVs that displayed every angle of the club. It didn’t take me long to find her. She was now back at the table and holding a beer, talking to the traitors I called sisters. Toby was nowhere to be found.
Good. Maybe the asshole left.
I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, a deep breath escaping from my lungs.
Harley was back in town and I still couldn’t wrap my head around having these feelings for her. Feelings that were all over the damn place…anger, lust, frustration, desire, resentment, possessiveness, and countless others that had my mind so muddied that I couldn’t think straight.
She was moving on, and I couldn’t blame her. She had slowed down on the calls to my cell phone and hadn’t called my work since she’d moved back for good. My mind drifted back over the past years to all the voicemails. The one where she had said she hadn’t been honest nagged at me the most. The unread letter she’d sent to me that I’d destroyed simply because my pride couldn’t take another beating. A large part of me wanted to know what she meant, what she wanted to tell me, but the other part—the one that could still see her running away—didn’t care. I was hurt and pissed. The only woman I had ever truly loved had walked away from me and I didn’t think I would ever be able to forgive her. No matter how much seeing her caused my body to ache in both pain and desire.
Leaning my head back, I closed my eyes and was quickly lost in a dream.
The door to Cord’s office burst open, causing me to jump out of the chair. Spinning around, I stared at Harley standing in the doorway.
“Harley?”
“Tripp,” she purred, making her way over to the front of my chair.
My eyes roamed over her perfect body.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were in here.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
Harley’s eyes wandered down my body and stopped on the bulge protruding in my pants. Her tongue quickly darted out and ran over those plump lips of hers.
“Come here,” I whispered.
Her eyes turned dark, and for a moment, she seemed unsure.
“Harley, I want you.”
A smile slid over her face. “Finally,” she gasped. She quickly walked up to me, and I grabbed her
hips, pulled her to me, causing her to straddle me in the chair.
My face leaned in as I placed a kiss on exposed neck. Her warmth pushed into me, causing my cock to swell even more.
“I’ve missed you so goddamn much.”
Her hands rested on my shoulders, emerald eyes staring into my blue.
“Make love to me, Tripp. Please.”
My body jerked, and my eyes snapped opened. I was still in Cord’s office. Alone. And with a major fucking hard-on.
“Shit,” I whispered. I’d fallen asleep and got lost in a dream. About Harley.
After dragging my hands up and down my face to wake myself up, I scanned the TVs again. The girls were all sitting at the same table, but Harley was missing. Maybe she’d left.
I could only hope.
Less than a minute later I found her. Sitting up, I swallowed hard as I watched her dancing with that asshole Toby.
I’d forgotten how fucking sexy she was when she danced…and she was almost dirty dancing with that dick. I could barely hear the music coming from inside the bar. I stormed out and started to make my way back to the bar after locking up Cord’s office.
Fuck this bullshit. If she wanted to move on then she would have to get used to seeing me. I was no longer running.
The song “Buttons” was playing as I made my way through the crowd. This time I didn’t give a shit if she saw me or not. As I worked my way through I saw her. That fucker had his hands all over her…
She didn’t see me, too busy grinding on the fireman, so I made my way to the bar.
“Give me a whiskey,” I yelled to Cord.
Without a word, he poured me two shots and walked away. After downing both, I scanned the dance floor again, hoping like hell my being here made Harley just as uncomfortable as I was watching her dance with that son-of-a-bitch. The dance floor was lowered a bit so from the bar and you could see practically the whole floor. It didn’t take long for our eyes to meet. Harley’s smile faltered for a second before she turned away. Leaning in, she said something to Toby. He laughed and nodded as he grabbed her hand. I watched as they walked toward the exit.