Chapter Three
Mason
Snap out of it! I scolded myself as I turned the corner. My entire being felt excited and poised at the prospect of taking things further with Harper. But the second I had touched her hand, I could feel warmth flooding my body, even as she had sat there worrying.
There was no question; she had to accept the job.
Reaching my office, I opened the door. Natalie stood at my desk, frowning over some papers.
“What’s up?” I asked, not letting any emotion seep through my voice.
“Henry called,” Natalie said, looking up at me as her frown deepened. “He was reviewing the list and doesn’t remember picking an Avery Gains for his top five mixer.”
I strode over, taking the files from her hand, perusing them. “Ah, that’s right. No, everything is in order.”
She arched an eyebrow at me, folding her arms across her chest and shifting her weight from one hip to the other. “Asher, you’re lying.”
I rolled my eyes, suddenly catching a glimpse of movement on one of the large monitors behind Natalie’s head. Harper fiddled in her purse for something, then set the bag aside, playing with the fringe of her skirt.
“I know you edited the list,” Natalie accused. “You did this deliberately, didn’t you? Adding Avery to the list so Harper would come back?”
I didn’t answer. Harper looked around now, gingerly reaching out and grabbing the bottle of champagne I had opened for her. I watched in amusement as she poured some of the liquid into a glass, already beginning to sip on it. Apparently my absence had changed her mind about wanting some alcohol. I didn’t quite know if that was a good thing or not.
“Avery is a lovely fit for Henry, Natalie.”
“You sure about that, Mr. Know-It-All? Do you realize they’re roommates?”
“Henry and Avery are roommates?” I chuckled as I attempted to make light of Natalie’s accusations.
The entire time, my stare remained fixed on the monitors. Harper leaned back on the couch, uncrossing her legs, drinking her champagne. Her head turned toward the window again. The view obviously impressed her, and something about the way she looked out the window made me hungry for more of her, for more of her presence. I wanted—needed—to get to know her better.
“No, you idiot!” Natalie snapped, clapping in my ear. “Are you listening to a word I’m saying? Harper and Avery are roommates!”
“A lucky coincidence, then.” I replied, tearing my eyes away from Harper’s lithe figure to stare into Natalie’s frustrated face.
“Sure,” she scoffed. “You need to be careful, Asher.”
Suddenly I thought I smelled Harper’s scent in the room. I didn’t know whether it was perfume or some type of soap she had used, but I had smelled it clearly downstairs and could now smell it again. I wondered if some of it had clung to me after holding her hand and being so close to her.
I returned my gaze to the screen, watching as she grabbed the bottle of champagne again, filling up her glass. I laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Natalie asked.
“There’s something different about her, something special.” I said, quietly.
“I’m sure she really appreciates you spying on her, too,” Natalie replied, bumping my shoulder with hers. “You need to be careful how you’re going about this, Asher.”
I waved Natalie away.
“Does this look familiar?” she asked, again drawing my attention away from Harper.
I looked down at a printed photo from one of our security cameras. A late model mustang, a little beat up, sat just outside the perimeter of the mansion. Peering closer I spotted someone—a man—sitting in the driver’s seat, watching the house. His face was too pixelated to make out, but I could see that his body was mostly covered by a dark sweatshirt of some sort.
“Someone decide to park on the road again?” I asked.
Natalie shook her head. “Security noticed them earlier.”
“Keep an eye on it. Otherwise, I think we’re done here,” I brushed past Natalie. She frowned at me again. “Don’t worry,” I assured her. “I’ll be careful. But I can’t leave a beautiful woman downstairs alone with a bottle of champagne.”
* * * *
Harper stood on the terrace now. Looking out over the expansive forest, streams, and hills, her hair and body soaked up the bright sun.
Her hair was the color of caramel, and looked silky enough to eat on this perfect afternoon. I imagined her skin was as soft as her hair, I could practically feel it against my fingertips as I ran a hand up her thigh in my mind, sneaking my fingers up that tight little dress. She held her champagne in her right hand, its bubbly texture reflecting the sunlight and sending small glimmers of light all across her short black dress.
From my vantage point, behind the clear glass windows, she looked like a beautiful painting. I looked her up and down, eyes lingering on her body while I knew she wasn’t looking at me.
She was an attractive woman. I had been surrounded by women for years, matching them up, flirting with them, living among them. But no one had ever affected me the way she had.
Her body was shapely, with subtle curves that connected into her long legs, only emphasized by her black high heels. I hadn’t seen her in such a revealing, classy dress before. I wondered if she had bought it just for me. Heat clawed at me, starting in my groin and working its way up.
She hadn’t done a single thing to attract my attention, yet I had found her out of the massed of single people that one night, and had been following her ever since. Why? I couldn’t put my finger on it. Surely physical attraction was enough to spur me into action, but to become so enraptured by someone who I had practically just met? Out of the question, for me.
I had meant what I said to Natalie. She was different, special. She hadn’t been as simple as the other women, all milling about waiting for love to hit them with the latest bachelor. She hadn’t sought attention or wanted a thing from me, like so many other women I had dealt with before. She didn’t seem interested in money, or fortune of any kind. I wondered if she only felt a physical attraction toward me, or if some inexplicable force compelled her to want me for more, too.
I had never been a romantic, ironic since my job basically revolved around helping others to be. I thoroughly enjoyed finding others love, but I had never managed to find it myself. Natalie always said jokingly that it was because I was too nice, too sensitive for a real woman. But I didn’t really believe in all that happily ever after stuff; I knew that relationships took work on both sides, but all my previous relationships had ended up with me being the provider, the lover, the friend, and ultimately the heartbroken half.
I had promised myself a long time ago that I wouldn’t do that again.
She startled when I opened the glass door and walked toward her. At least she didn’t spill her drink, this time. Although the incident had been amusing to me, I knew she had been embarrassed by it.
“My apologies,” I said. “Natalie needed something.”
Harper nodded, her eyes taking me in before she turned her head back toward the view. I walked over to stand next to her, leaning on the railing and looking down across the expanse.
“I’m intrigued by this job offer,” she admitted. “I just don’t know how good I would be at all that matchmaking stuff, you know?”
I could have sworn I smelled her scent again, an almost peachy flavor. But before I could identify it for sure, the wind shifted direction and took it away.
I nodded. “I think you’ll surprise yourself. And I’m sure you could use some money for your school, bills, whatever, right?”
She bit her lip. I had noticed she wore some very strong lipstick today, almost the color of ripe strawberries on a summer day. Looking down again, I felt the heat course through my body once more. I shifted, sliding my hand into my pocket to hide any changes that might have been occurring down below. I was usually very good at controlling myself. Not so much in Harper’s presence, though.
“I want to accept,” she finally said. “I just... Are we going to be working closely together? What is my job supposed to be?”
Closely together. I liked the sound of that. I shrugged, trying not to scare her off.
“We’ll be working close.”
“That’s awfully vague,” she blurted.
My eyes met hers. A small, uncertain smile played on her lips before she took another sip of champagne.
“Just relax,” I told her. “It will be fun, and no one here is going to hurt you or be any trouble.”
“Except that Xander guy.” The corner of her lip lifted up.
“I promise,” I said, trying to keep my anger over that incident from being betrayed by my voice. “You’re safe with me.”
She nodded, almost draining her champagne.
“What do you say about finally finishing that tour? You’re going to need to know where everything is if you’re joining our staff.” I offered.
“Well, I suppose I could stay a little while longer.” She said.
I took her empty glass, extending my hand to her, daring her to take it. She hesitated a little, meeting my eyes for a moment before conceding.
Tugging her a little closer and gently leaning in toward her ear, I whispered, “Trust me.”
She nodded and followed me into the living room without saying a word, but I could see the goose bumps on her arm.