“We’re both professionals, Mariella.”
Maybe this was the universe’s way of telling her to try something new. She was superstitious enough to believe in signs, but the last time she took a chance she ended up having her heart ripped out and spiraled into an ongoing depression she still hadn’t fully recovered from.
Just then, her phone chirped. She welcomed the distraction. “That’s probably my brother checking in on how things are going at the house. The inspector was at the house today to review the permits.”
He waved a hand. “Go ahead.”
She pulled her phone from her purse, but frowned when she didn’t recognize the number. She needed to put her number on one of those Do Not Call lists. The spam was getting excessive.
She swiped open her text messages, prepared to type STOP when her hands went numb and she dropped her phone.
“Everything okay?”
She quickly picked it up and stared at the screen but couldn’t make a sound.
* * *
Look up.
??
* * *
Her head lifted and she scanned the restaurant. Her heart rate spiking and her pulse pounding.
“Mariella?”
“Oh, my God,” she breathed, unblinking.
Harrison watched her from the next room where he sat at the bar. Casually, as if it were completely normal for him to be back in Center County, he lifted a rocks glass and silently toasted her.
Mauricio glanced over his shoulder and back to her. “Something wrong?”
What was he doing there? When had he come back?
“I… I have to use the restroom. Excuse me.”
Shoving her phone into her purse, she stood on shaky legs and rushed to the ladies’ room. The tiny, simple wash room contained only a toilet and a sink. She didn’t lock the door because it would only be a matter of—
The knob turned and he stepped inside.
CHAPTER 14
“What are you doing here?”
Harrison shut the door behind him and flipped the lock. “I had to come back to deal with the hardware store.”
So nothing to do with her. “Did you follow me here?”
“No. Pure coincidence.” He took a step closer then paused as if changing his mind about touching her. “Who is he?” Distinct disapproval tinged his accusatory tone.
She scoffed. “Are you kidding me? Harrison, it’s been months. You haven’t called—”
“I was cooling off.”
“Cooling off? From what?”
He closed the distance and she backed into the wall. “Who is he?”
“We work together.”
“Then why was he touching you?”
She shoved him back, but he didn’t budge. “Why do you care?”
His intense blue eyes locked on her and his jaw ticked. “You know why.”
“No, I don’t.”
His height and bulk surrounded her. That approach might intimidate others, but she wasn’t afraid of him. “I need to get back.”
When she tried to step around him, he curved his hands around her waist, thumbs gently caging her in an extremely intimate hold. He looked into her eyes as his palms glided up her sides, his hold now resting just under her breasts as she tried to slow her breathing.
“Harrison.”
“Mariella.”
She wanted to sink into his touch. Kiss him. Slap him. “I’m on a date.”
Something flashed in his eyes. “How serious is it?”
She couldn’t lie to him, but she wanted to protect herself. They needed boundaries. He’d only come back to deal with his dad’s store. “How long are you staying?”
“I haven’t decided.”
He was lying. She sensed it in the way his gaze shot away. He’d leave as soon as he finished whatever he’d come back to do.
“Let go of me.”
He stepped back and pushed his hands into his pockets, facing the door. Her knees weakened and she sagged into the wall.
“Are you in love with him?”
Self-preservation kept her quiet. He watched her through the mirror.
“I have to get back.” She slipped past him, but he caught her arm.
“Let me see you tonight.”
“Harrison—”
“Please. I just want to talk. You owe me that much.”
She balked. “I owe you?”
“You didn’t come to the funeral.”
Shame washed over her, and she lowered her stare. “I couldn’t.”
“I needed you there.”
She shut her eyes. If he needed her, he wouldn’t have left. “No, you didn’t.”
“Well, I wanted you there.”
“Harrison, please.” Her voice strained around the lump forming in her throat. “Don’t make me feel bad for having boundaries.”
He lifted her chin and searched her eyes. “Tell me you’re not in love with him.”
“I don’t love him,” she whispered. “But I’m here with him, and I have to get back.”
“Meet me tonight. Eleven o’clock, in the parking lot of O’Malley’s.”
“Fine. But I have to go.”
He let go of her arm. “Eleven o’clock.”
She unlocked the door and left, keeping her head down until she returned to her seat across from Mauricio.
“Everything okay?”
“Oh, everything’s fine.” She guzzled the remainder of her martini, then decided she shouldn’t drink anything else for a while. Her hand trembled as she set down the empty glass.
The food arrived and the steak looked delicious. Unfortunately, her stomach was so unsettled she could barely swallow more than a bite.