Page 28 of Nothing to Tell

Independence was her stalwart, along with guarding her vulnerabilities.He wanted to be her safe haven, needed to be.

That night in the dark Grand corridor, she’d opened up to him because she had no one else to open up to.And despite being the younger sister, Harper proved she would defend her sister when Adara couldn’t do it for herself.At the engagement party, she stood up to Damon.The man she cut loose, refusing to accept his infidelity.

Hell, that night, she’d taken on a mugger.What did that tell him?

Harper was strong and used to being the only one looking out for her.Her relationship with her parents was so weak that it didn’t warrant telling them about her mugging.What else didn’t they know?

Adara had other things to worry about.Her relationship with Carnell, their engagement, their upcoming wedding.The woman’s life was full.

How could he wheedle his way in?Whatever it entailed, he’d be there for Harper Scott as much as she would let him.

Carnal impulses could wait.What she needed was uncomplicated.A friend.Someone to trust.

That was it.The first priority was friendship.A solid foundation they could build on.

Desire would be sated later.If that was what she wanted.Now he just had to make sure his dick controlled itself until it was time to take possession of this woman.

ELEVEN

MIND WANDERING, Harper relied on autopilot to complete her invoices.

It was Monday for crissakes, she’d left Bastian’s place on Saturday.Get over it already.

Bastian’s embrace took up too much space in her brain.Stupid.Stupid.

On the Saturday morning, she’d woken in his embrace.Cool, right?No big deal.Yeah, maybe if that was all she did.That wouldn’t have been totally audacious.But this was her and she didn’t do things by half.No, she ratcheted entitlement up to a whole new level.

How?

She’d been on top of him, her whole body on his, sleeping on him like he was her own personal mattress.

Shit.And there was the incredulity again.Who did she think she was?They’d fallen asleep, that didn’t give her license to climb on top of him like some kind of animal.

In that mortification, she extricated herself from his arms, slowly, carefully, so as not to wake him.She’d gathered her things and crept out of the bedroom to dress in the silent kitchen.

Shame.Shame.Shame.

From there, she slipped out through the garage and ran down the concrete driveway without daring to look back.

Period.Over.Forget it.

Why couldn’t she stop thinking about it?

Embarrassment flamed in her cheeks all over again.

It was funny how something acceptable in the intimacy of a dark bedroom became mortifying in the stark light of day.

Saturday hadn’t been a total bust.After a quick stop at home for a shower and change of clothes, she’d gone into the office and buried herself in paperwork.Sunday too.Work grounded her, everything made sense inside her four little walls.Keeping busy was better than obsessing about her audacity.

With the weekend gone and Monday lunchtime approaching, her father’s building was in full operation mode.Her small office on the ground floor was functional, little more, nothing fancy.Still, she was grateful her father let her work there given her business wasn’t any part of Scott Solutions.

Bastian.

Damn.

Where did that thought come from?

She had to forget about him.