“What is up with her?” Lane looked at me for an explanation.
“I have no clue.” I rose from the table and hurried after Harper. Lane followed me.
We reached Harper who was tearing into a man. Only when I reached them did I realize it was Dax Suffolk. I’d remembered him from when Bran hired Saint Security. He was one of the men assigned to protect Harper.
“Tell my asshole brother to go to hell and stop following me.” Harper poked Dax hard in the chest.
He stepped back; his arms held out to his sides in surrender. His gaze slid to me for a moment before returning to Harper. “I’m not here for you.”
I swallowed as I realized that Bran had probably hired him to follow me. Of course, he did. When we made the deal, he said I couldn’t go anywhere without protection.
I couldn’t tell Harper the truth but neither could I let her berate Dax and Bran.
Thinking fast, I thread my arm through Dax’s. “It’s not what you think.”
Dax’s gaze looked at our linked arms and then at me in question.
I put on a smile. “I haven’t had a chance to tell you yet, but I’ve been seeing Dax.”
His eyes registered understanding. He patted my arm, leaning over to kiss me on the cheek. “I’m sorry I’m early.”
Harper gaped. “What? You’re dating the guy my brother had following me?”
I shrugged and hoped my expression was sheepish. “I thought he was cute. And I liked the way he treated us.”
“At least Archer told my brother to go to hell. Dax always called Bran to tell on me.” The one thing I was trying to avoid, Harper being angry and feeling betrayed, was happening.
If it was this bad with Dax, it would be colossally worse with Bran.
It was looking like my solution was worse than the problem.
Lane put her arm on Harper’s shoulder. “The heart wants what the heart wants, right? At least you know Bran didn’t send him to follow you.”
“You kept this a secret on purpose, didn’t you?” Harper said in an accusatory tone.
“I haven’t seen you in a few weeks. Between my job and a new relationship, I’ve been busy. I was going to tell you.” I swallowed the guilt at all the lies I was having to tell her.
She gave me a hard stare that after a moment softened. “Well, okay. I’m happy for you if you’re happy.”
“We’re blissful, aren’t we babe?” Dax said with a grin.
“Very.”
“Our server is going to think we dined and dashed,” Lane said looking back at the restaurant.
“You go finish with your friends, Babe. I’ll wait for you.”
I hated how he called me babe. “Okay.”
“Didn’t you drive here?” Lane asked as we returned to the table.
Oh shit. “Ah…yes but I need to take my car in for service. Dax is going to drive me home from there.”
“We should plan another evening at your new place.” Harper put her credit card on the meal tab.
“Let me pay,” I said, avoiding her question. With Dax following me, I wasn’t sure how I’d be able to have a night at my new place. I needed to talk to Bran about not tailing me so close.
“You don’t—”