Chapter Twenty-One

Rob

I look at myself in the mirror as I get ready, smoothing out my shirt and slacks, trying to make sure everything looks perfect. Or, as perfect as I can make it. I'd had Sabrina pick me up a new suit and she hadn't disappointed. But then, she never does – her taste is impeccable.

I turn this way and that, looking at myself from all angles – and then chuckle to myself as I realize just how nervous I'm feeling. It's crazy. I've been out with plenty of women. I'm no stranger when it comes to dating.

And yet, there's something about Harper that makes it feel all new again. That makes me feel like a shy, awkward kid once more.

“Well, don't you look handsome. Got a date or something?”

The unexpected sound of Cordy's voice startles me and I look over to find her leaning against the doorway of the walk-in dressing room. I give her a wry smile as I realize she's probably been standing there watching me obsessing over my suit for a while.

“Thanks, Cordy,” I say, trying to stuff down my sudden flare-up of insecurities.

“You okay?”

I nod. “Yeah, fine,” I say. “Why do you ask?”

She chuckles and looks at me, a knowing look in her eyes. “You just seem nervous. Jumpy.”

I shake my head and grin. Cordy is sharp and picks up on things most people don't, and she can usually read me like a book. But obviously, I'm not hiding my case of the jitters anywhere near as well as I'd hoped. I'm busted and I know it.

“Honestly, I don't even remember the last time I was this nervous,” I admit.

“Why so nervous?”

I sigh. Where do I even begin. I haven't filled Cordy in on anything yet, so she doesn't even know Harper is here. So, I tell her everything – leaving out the whole masturbation incident, of course. But, I do tell her about the conversation we'd had that lasted into the small hours of the morning.

And Cordy listens with an amused smile on her face the whole time. And by the time I finish, the smile on her face is a mile wide.

“Well, look what happens when you go out and try to have a little fun,” she says. “You actually have some fun by accident – and maybe even find yourself a little love connection.”

“Hardly a love connection,” I say.

“Seems like you're pretty taken with her to me,” she says. “New suit, endless preening in front of a mirror – those are the hallmarks of a man in love.”

“Please,” I say. “We barely know each other. It's hardly love.”

“Well, it's something,” she says. “Otherwise, you wouldn't be making such a fuss about your suit and making sure you look all pretty.”

I laugh and shake my head. “Shut it,” I say. “But, there's also the obvious problem with Landon and Max.”

“I've heard of Max Irving,” she says, shuddering. “A vile and disgusting creature, by all accounts.”

“That's him,” I say.

“Well, the obvious solution to that particular problem is to call the cops,” she says. “I have a couple of friends who work vice and if he's involved with trafficking women, they'll be able to shut him down permanently.”

“That's not a bad idea, actually,” I say. “What about Landon though.”

“Well, obviously, you're going to have to tell this girl, this – Harper,” she says. “She deserves to know that this creep was going to sell her into sex slavery.”

“Yeah, but –”

“There is no but here, Rob,” she says. “If I found out about it, and found out you knew and said nothing – I'd hate you forever. I'd think you were as much of a scumbag as the guy who was going to sell me in the first place.”

“You would?”

She looks at me with wide eyes – and like she wants to smack me. “You're kidding me, right?” she says. “For being such a smart man, you're such an idiot sometimes.”

I laugh. “Yeah, I won't deny that,” I say. “And I know you're right. Father Gregory said the same thing, actually.”

“Well see? You have two highly intelligent people like us telling you that it's the right thing to do,” she says. “which means, it's the right thing to do.”

“I know,” I say and sigh.

“So, why are you waiting?”

“I just know this is going to devastate her,” I say. “And the last thing I want to do is cause her any pain.”

She laughs again. “And you try to deny that you have feelings for her.”

“I didn't deny it,” I say. “I'm just not calling it love.”

She holds up her hands. “Fair enough,” she says. “But, you do need to tell her. I'm serious, Rob.”

I nod. “I will,” I say. “Just not tonight. Tonight, I want her to feel special. I want to give her a really nice evening out. I think she can use something good in her life.”

“I cannot wait to meet this girl,” she says. “She must really be something.”

“Maybe another time,” I say.

“Bullshit,” she laughs. “I'm not going anywhere until I meet her.”

I shake my head, grinning. Cordelia is a bulldog and when she gets her teeth into something, she doesn't let go until she's satisfied. And I know she's not going to be satisfied until she meets Harper. I'm just a little nervous that she's going to feel a little overwhelmed.

“Don't worry,” Cordy says. “I'll be gentle.”

“That'd be a first,” I say. “I remember the last woman I dated – you badgered her like a hostile witness on the stand for almost an hour.”

“Because I knew she wasn't right for you,” she says simply. “I knew she was only into you for your money and would stab you in the back the first chance she got. And I was right, wasn't I?”

I give her a wry grin. “Yeah, I suppose so,” I say. “That time, anyway.”

Cordy taps her nose. “I can smell the crazies, Rob,” she says. “You should be thankful.”

“And I am,” I reply. “What are you doing here at this hour, anyway?”

“Just dropping off some papers for you to sign,” she says. “More permits and crap. They're breaking ground on the Palm Springs condo complex tomorrow.”

“Excellent,” I say. “That's good news.”

“Yes, it is,” she says. “Just get those signed by tomorrow and courier them back to me.”

“You got it, boss.”

She steps forward and brushes a little lint off the shoulders of my jacket and straightens my tie. When she's done, I can see a mischievous little sparkle in her eyes.

“What?”

“Nothing,” she says. “I just don't get to see you all goofy in love very often. Or like, ever. The closest thing I see to that look on your face right now is when you look at your dogs.”

I shrug. “They're good dogs.”

“I so can't wait to meet this girl.”

I glance at my watch. “Well, you're about to get your chance.”

She claps her hands together. “Excellent.”

“Remember,” I say. “Be nice.”

“Hey, I'm always nice.”

I arch an eyebrow and give her a long look. She smiles and holds her hands up in surrender.

“I'm mostly nice,” she says. “But, at least I'm honest.”

“There is that.”

We walk out of my room with Cordy singing some little made-up nursery rhyme sounding song about me being in love, before lapsing into the K-I-S-S-I-N-G in a tree song. I just shake my head and roll my eyes as we head down into the foyer to wait for Harper.