Ghost had picked her flowers, arranged the most beautiful bouquet she had ever seen, and she didn’t know how to process. She had wanted to call him so many times since Sunday. She’s woken to find her face tucked against his neck and his arms tight around her. She buried her face in the flowers and inhaled.

“He wrote you a note.”

She glanced up to find Twitch smiling at her, and his eyes twinkled. Her fingers shook as she found the yellow paper. She kept the flowers on her lap as she unfolded the note.

Miss the sound of your voice, please call when you’re ready. Hope you like the flowers. G.

“He likes you.”

“But why?”

She still didn’t understand. She wasn’t special or all that pretty, her body was a roadmap of scar tissue, and more often than not, bruises. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d looked at her naked body for more than a glance.

“Don’t start your bullshit, Harper. Ghost is the premier catch around here. He doesn’t think so, but he’s been coming into Brawlers for years and never once—”

“He’s gay?”

“I don’t think gender really matters to him. As far as I know, he’s Bi.”

“Maybe he won’t find me attractive if—”

“Stop it!”

She jerked her gaze up to find Twitch pulling at his long, dark hair. She bent forward to place her flowers on the coffee table.

“What?”

“You’re devising all these what-if scenarios in your head. He’s a nice guy. Picked flowers and arranged them. Sent them through me because he doesn’t want to crowd you if you’re not ready.”

She made sure the sidewalk outside was deserted. The only way she was going to get any advice she needed was by opening up, but that wasn’t exactly her style.

“We cuddled,” she blurted out.

“Was he a gentleman?”

“Yes.”

“Come on, Harper, details, woman, details,” Twitch demanded.

She laughed softly as Twitch started bouncing. The man was way too excitable. She loved Twitch, but sometimes the man was exhausting.

“There’s nothing to give details about. He let me take a nap, and I cuddled up to him. Just held me.”

“Did you like it?”

“I don’t…don’t know.”

“What don’t you know about?”

Just as she was about to answer she didn’t know again, the chime over the door drew her attention. A tall, lanky man with impeccable hair and a rumpled suit walked in. She smiled at her best friend, Kyle, the man was a mess.

“What are you doing here?”

“Do I need an excuse to see my best friend in the whole world,” Kyle asked.

“Yes, especially when it’s the middle of the day, and you’re normally chained to your desk.”

Kyle flopped down beside her and fell to the side to lay his head on her lap. She rolled her eyes, and he batted his lashes.

“We’ve been friends since first grade, and I know those fluttering lashes well.”

“I’m hearing these rumors.”

“It’s a small town, which rumors would you be speaking about?”

“A certain beautiful blonde has been spending some time with a certain ginger farmer who plays in a band.”

“And how would you…Joker.”

“Didn’t take you long to answer your own question.”

“Joker’s a bigger gossip than anyone I’ve ever met.” Twitch grabbed his huge to-go cup with both hands.

Twitch plus caffeine or sugar was never a good idea, but she’d assumed Twitch would’ve already headed home by now. Twitch was a menace on coffee and Ben knew that.

“So, why the hell wasn’t I told?”

“There’s nothing to tell—”

“That’s only because she keeps playing the what-if game and not giving Ghost a chance.”

“Ghost?”

“His real name is Gideon.”

“Sounds like a Knight in Shining Armor or a Prince Charming.”

She rolled her eyes again at Kyle and leaned back into the cushion. She should've never told Kyle about the whole Prince Charming thing, she was eleven at the time. It figured Kyle would never forget it.

“He even cut her flowers.” Twitch nodded toward the flowers in question.

“Aw, that's so sweet.” Kyle grinned.

“Shut up.”

“So when's the first date?”

Twitched answered before she had a chance, “She hasn't accepted, even though he's made her dinner at least twice, cuddled once.”

Kyle surged to a sitting position and spun around to stare at her. She fidgeted as he watched her.

“You've cuddled with someone of the male persuasion…actually touching. Tell me there were no clothes involved.”

“Yes,” she squeaked, “There were clothes.”

“I’ve heard the ginger farmer is pretty hot,” Kyle waggled his brows.

“What would you know about—”

“I am secure enough in my sexuality to admit when a man is hot or not, my wife, and you, my friend, have had me surrounded by ladies my entire life.”

“You have guy friends.”

“What did I do on my last Saturday night off?”

She snorted. “Mud mask, mani and pedi, and your first Brazilian.”

“The last I will not be repeating, no matter how much my gorgeous wife enjoyed the smooth landscape that is my nether region. Without the cushion of my mainly bush, wearing my boxer briefs was a rather odd experience.”

“Kyle, what have we talked about?”

“Um, I don’t remember.”

“TMI, Kyle, I have no need to know about your manly bush or lack thereof.”

“We’re best friends, I tell you everything!”

“I’d appreciate it if you told me less.”

“You’re no fun.”

She caught Kyle winking at a giggling Twitch.

She loved Kyle to death, even had a crush on him when they were kids, and she’d been terrified to tell him about her—that she was a girl. He hadn’t even acted surprised just asked what she wanted to be called. She liked her name. They’d named her after her grandmother, the woman had loved her even after she’d confessed who she really was. Her grandmother died her senior year of high school, and Harper decided her given name was perfect as is.

“I need to be invited next time, Crave hasn’t done my toes in forever.” Twitched pouted. “He sucks at the whole mani thing, but at least he used to try. We’ve reached old married couple status.”

“I’m sure it’s not that bad. That man touches you every time he’s near you.”

Again, jealousy made her focus everywhere but on Twitch or Kyle. She had always been the outsider. Envy was a petty emotion.

She’d never had anyone feel anything for her but condemnation—disgust. A year ago, she decided she didn’t want to be Bill’s secret—his punching bag—any longer. But he wouldn’t leave her alone, and she didn’t have anywhere to run. Joker would go to jail if he ever learned the truth. She knew most of them assumed and they were probably right, although as far as anyone knew she was merely Bill’s favorite target.

“Y’all have to come out to Brawlers the next time The Executioners play. I swear you haven’t seen anything as mesmerizing as Ghost playing his guitar or keyboard.”

She’d noticed a piano in his living room, but hadn’t asked. Music had been one of her favorite classes in school. She’d learned to play. Not great, but it let her spend time alone in the music room. The most peace she’d experienced was when she played. She wondered if Ghost would let her play sometime.

“Don’t say no, Harper. We’ll get everyone together, including Peaches, Lily, and Bernie and Stacey, even Lou.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Kyle, you come and drag her with you.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“Okay, I gotta get home, I have to get dinner started, or the guys will revolt and claim they’re starving to death.”

The Brawlers Crew were notorious for being useless at feeding themselves. She let Twitch kiss her cheek and watched as Kyle offered his own. Her best friend was amazing. Twitch left with a wave over his shoulder.

“So, why haven’t you accepted? And no bullshit answer.”

She sighed as she reclined and turned to study Kyle.

“He’s—”

“From what I’ve heard around town, the man is nice. Genuine. Maybe a bit reclusive. You don’t date, Harper. I know your secret.”

“I don’t have secrets.”

“Harper.”

All Kyle needed to do was say her name in that disapproving tone when he knew she lied about something.

“You don’t deserve it. I can bitch all I want, me and Marla love you. Just because we aren’t blood, you’re the sister I had always wanted. Take a chance, honey. A man makes you dinner. Cuts flowers and takes the time to do that…” Kyle pointed at the bundle of flowers. “He’s gotta have more in mind than just getting under your dress.”

She was about to come up with another excuse, but grabbed Kyle’s hand when Bill walked by the window. His dark eyes were filled with rage. He strode slowly by never taking his gaze away from her. Her eyes burned as tears streamed down her cheeks and her heartbeat kicked up steadily into a painful rhythm. A band circled her chest and her vision narrowed into a tunnel as she fought to breathe.

Kyle’s voice warbled as she heard him calling her name.

“Breathe, in and out, easy,” Kyle cooed. “Tell me something good.”

“I don’t—”

“Tell me something good.”

“Gideon.”

“I thought it was Ghost.”

“I like Gideon better.”

“Okay, what about Gideon?”

“Everything.”

“Then what’s the damn problem, Harper?”

“I’m scared.”

“Of course you are, a nice guy is interested in you, and you’re unable to process it. Take a chance on something good for a change, for me, please?”

“What if I’m wrong?”

“Honey, our friends are friends with him, do you actually think Twitch would be so excited about a man interested in you if he was an asshole?”

“Gideon is Gregory’s cousin.”

“Bull would kill someone who was a bastard who got near his husband, family or not.”

That was definitely true.

“Gideon wants to take me on a date.”

“A date, a real date, out among the Powers natives?”

She nodded. “He said he wanted to be able to hold my hand.”

“Are you fucking insane, Harper,” Kyle yelled, “Go now.”

“Where,” she asked.

“The farm, now, I’ll work for you, Clora loves me, I’ll even shake my ass for her.”

Clora did love when a man danced for her. “You don’t have an ass.”

“She never minded before, go, do you need condoms?”

“No,” she squealed. “I’m not…no…I—”

“You’re so easy, now, go get your man. Maybe stop at the grocery store, get something to make dinner, some candles, make it all romancy and shit.”

Kyle didn’t give her a chance to refuse as he jumped from the couch, grabbed her hands, and dragged her to the counter. He shoved her purse in her hands, then led her to the door shoving her out onto the sidewalk.

“I want details, don’t disappoint me!”

The door closed in her face, and she stared at it for a few minutes before her brain started formulating all the cons and none of the positives. She wanted more than to be afraid of everything. This required a leap of faith, but did she still have any left? Only one way to find out, she’d survived as much physical pain as a human could take, and she’d survived. She’d survive a rejection too.

She walked back to her apartment to get her car and go to the store, she wasn’t the greatest cook, but she could come up with something edible—hopefully.

She adjusted her purse strap on her shoulder as she walked into the alley. She reached into her bag and dug out her keys as she began to ascend the steps. Fire burned along her scalp as brutal hands fisted in her hair. Her scream ceased as her face smashed into the wooden wall of the stairwell.

“No,” she whimpered as the too familiar body pressed full-length to her back.

“No, you want to tell me no, freak. When the fuck have you told me no?”

The cool steel tip of a knife skimmed her leg from knee to hip. She sunk her teeth into her lower lip to keep from screaming. She wanted to yell for help—to fight. The stench of whiskey and body odor assaulted her nose.

She cried silently as she listened to the fabric of her dress split under the pressure of his knife. Her flesh gave as wet warmth of blood cascaded down her leg.

“You think you’re so beautiful, don’t you, you’re nothing, and I’ll make you even fucking uglier before I’m done.”

She once again closed her eyes, and as always, she prayed to whatever deity she no longer believed in that this would be the last time. She couldn’t suppress the next scream as her cheek earned the same fate as her thigh. As her vision faded, she tasted blood and lost herself to the pain.