Page 60 of Always My Love

When they sat down across from Hailey and Reece, Harper turned to him.

“Nick has news he wants us to hear.” Harper shifted to sit almost sideways in the booth.

“We found Fred.” He pulled out the printout and laid it on the table. While he filled the three of them in on what he’d found, he watched Harper’s expressions, which mirrored those on Hailey’s face.

Both sisters were determined and angry instead of afraid. A good sign.

By the time their food arrived, the four of them were in deep conversation, speculating as to what the man wanted from the sisters.

Neither of them mentioned the physical abuse in front of Reece, so he wasn’t sure they wanted to share that much and kept that detail out of the conversation.

After their food arrived, the conversation turned to Reece’s boxing career. He was set to head out next month for a couple of big fights in Vegas and California.

“Is that how you afforded your home?” Harper asked.

“Harper!” Hailey hissed and kicked her sister under the table.

“What? I’m curious.” She turned back to Reece and waited for his answer.

It was a lot like watching a mother ask her daughter’s boyfriend what he wanted to be when he grew up, like his mother had done to Tom when he’d started dating Kate.

Nick couldn’t help but smile as Reece answered nervously.

“My boxing career is taking off, but I still work for my dad’s company. I’ve been programming games since I was ten.”

“Right,” Harper said. “I’d forgotten your dad owns… Modarth?”

Reece and Nick both chuckled. “Modark,” they corrected at the same time.

Harper shrugged. “We didn’t play video games growing up.”

“Right.” Reece smiled and then looked at Hailey.

Okay, so it was obvious Reece knew a little of the sisters’ past at least.

For the rest of the meal, they talked about Pride gossip. It was as if everyone was done talking about Fred and the threat he was causing them.

Following Harper back to his place, he had a few moments to think. When they got home, it was after dark, and they sat out on his back deck area and watched the dogs play in the fenced yard.

“Tell me again that my sister is safe with Reece,” Harper said again.

He must have assured her a dozen times already, but he answered her again.

“Yes.” He wrapped his arms around her. “As safe as you are with me.” He kissed her forehead and felt her relax.

“She’s my world. I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to her.” Harper leaned her head on his shoulder.

“Nothing will,” he said, knowing he’d do all he could to protect both of them.

“How much money did he get?” she asked.

He’d neglected to state the amount earlier. All that mattered was that he’d turned around and had bought the strip club. Nick planned to find out how financially healthy the business was first thing in the morning.

“You know, I can’t stay here forever,” she said when they went back inside.

He wanted to ask why not, but then he remembered that she had a place of her own, where they had just fixed the shower, and kept his mouth shut.

“As soon as they figure out where Fred is, Lucy and I should probably go back home,” she said as they cleaned off the dogs’ muddy paws.

“What if you didn’t?” he said. “I mean, Lucy and Blue miss each other whenever you leave.”

The sides of Harper’s mouth twitched. “Is that the only reason?”

He grinned. “My bed is far too big and cold when you’re not in it.”

“And?” she asked, wrapping her arms around him after setting the towel down.

“It’s really hard to cook for one after you’ve been cooking for two,” he pointed out.

She laughed and shook her head. “Nope, not good enough reasons.” She stood up suddenly and started to walk away.

He raced after her and grabbed her around the hips.

“I want you to stay,” he whispered against her lips. “Please.”

She smiled and said, “I’ll think about it.” She nudged him away, but the fact that she was smiling up at him assured him that the answer, when she wanted to tell him, would be yes.