Lawfully Indulged

by Ginny Sterling

  “Mikey?” she said amicably, extending her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Nope! We are huggers in the Etan family,” he said boisterously and clamped his arms around hers, picking her up bodily in her own bear hug that very nearly matched the one Harper had received. He swung her around enunciating his own introduction.

  It’s! Nice! To! Meet! You! Too! Sienna!

  Her brain was rattling and she felt a bit short of breath when he finally set her down. Harper quickly steadied her and took her arm, walking her back to a booth. Flopping down, she had a laminated menu placed in front of her and looked at Harper, who was watching her carefully, judging her.

  “What?”

  “Nothing.”

  “You think I’m too stuck up for a burger joint?”

  “I didn’t say that,” he said calmly, “but they don’t serve tofu or sushi here.”

  “I like burgers.”

  “You don’t have to prove it to me,” Harper goaded softly. “Eat whatever you want. I bet there’s a nice side salad on here somewhere.” His uncle returned and leaned heavily on Harper’s shoulder giving him the latest family gossip as she poured over the menu. She’d show him.

  “Mikey, what’s your favorite burger?” she quickly asked, smiling at him. “It all looks delicious and I can’t decide, but I am definitely getting the onion rings. Oh- and a big Coke.”

  “Ahhh a woman after my own heart,” Mikey teased, putting his own hands over his chest as he looked knowingly at Harper, who mimicked him quickly. Sienna burst out laughing at the picture the two made looking completely innocent mocking her. “One large patty-melt with grilled onions and extra cheese, it is.”

  “Make that two, Uncle Mike.” Harper grinned as the menus were whisked away. Sienna found herself completely and fully captivated by the relaxed atmosphere of the diner. Harper seemed to be at home as well, smiling and chatting up a storm. He told her about when he was a boy, he used to visit his cousin’s house on the weekends and was within walking distance of the diner.

  They used to sneak in the back-kitchen door and pull the lever on the ice-cream machine into large foam cups to make their own root beer floats. She could practically picture him as a kid doing that and wondered when that boyish charm had disappeared. He’d grown tough obviously over time bringing him to do security.

  “What made you retire from the police department,” she asked softly and saw his smile fade. “I’m sorry, if it’s too much you don’t have to tell me. I just thought I’d ask since we were talking.”

  “No, it’s fine. You told me about Joel and your horrors, the least I could do would be to share my own, right?”

  “Harper,” she started and rested her hand on his across the table. “You told me to spin it and not let Joel have power over me. That was really good advice you gave me, so perhaps you can share with me and I could…”

  “Spin it?” he jeered. “I can walk and I found God. That’s my happy ending.” Sienna held his hand tightly for several moments, just sitting there in silence as she saw the conflict in his eyes. Finally, he sighed heavily and lay his hand over hers, capturing it between his two hands as a safety line.

  “I had been called in to a drug bust and we rushed the building. I had been running after my partner who was chasing a man from the room when I was shot from behind. We thought we’d cleared the room and we were wrong,” he said disgustedly, clenching her hand in his as if the memories were more than he could bear.

  “My partner died on the scene and I very nearly did. I will never forget the look of sympathy on my mother’s face when they told me that I might walk again after months of therapy. The nerve damage was there but it wasn’t enough to stop me, it was only enough to halt my career in its tracks. So, at the tender age of twenty-seven, I was forcibly retired and thankful to have full use of my legs again months later. My brothers at the station refer me sometimes when it’s appropriate. Sienna - don’t look at me like that,” he said harshly, whispering as his uncle approached. Their eyes were locked in a silent battle and his uncle must have realized it because he simply set the plastic baskets laden with food down in front of them and walked away.

  “Don’t pity me- anything but that,” Harper whispered forcefully, his eyes yearning for acceptance or understanding. “My life is different but I wouldn’t change it. I’ve grown so much in so many ways, but for the better.”

  “It’s not pity – it’s respect, you dolt,” Sienna snapped quietly and tried to pull her hand back from his but he wouldn’t let go yet. “Not many men could be as incredible as you seem to be. Your path was a horrific one but it made you the man you are today. I’m glad it brought you to God, made you strong mentally and eventually delivered you to my door,” she finished, staring at him. She saw him nod tightly and look away as he composed himself. Emotional trauma was hard to talk about and she knew, as she turned his words from tragedy to destiny, from horror to hope.

  “Lord, thank you for this wonderful day with people who care. Thank you for this meal and showing Harper the path to You,” she prayed over their meal since he still held her hand and cleared her throat arrogantly, smiling at him across from her at the booth. “Now, put your money where your mouth is, Hero, and let’s eat while it’s hot,” she challenged, pulling her hand free as he released his grip.

  Sienna groaned painfully and slid a sideways glance at Harper in the car. Sure enough, he was smiling as he drove back to her house. He knew she was miserable from eating the huge burger and pile of onion rings.

  “Mercy, I think I may need to unbutton my jeans. Burgers are not as graceful as sushi and slightly more filling,” she teased simply to hear him chuckle at her statement. As they pulled into the driveway, Harper froze and stopped the car.

  There were tire tracks in the driveway and footprints in the snow leading up to her front door and around the cottage. It was obvious, large prints and several clumps of snow looked to have been kicked aside. He pulled the Audi to a stop and removed his gun from the center console where he’d hidden it. He looked at her and winked.

  “This is what I do, Cactus,” he said softly. “I want you to stay here, doors locked and car running…and don’t shoot me with your gun. You’re armed, you are safe and you’ll be fine. Alright?”

  Sienna nodded emphatically and realized he’d called her by a nickname, Cactus. She almost smiled seconds before she realized he was getting out of the car. Staring at Harper, she watched as he turned off the headlights, slipped out of the car and softly tapped on the glass to indicate she should lock the car. He walked slowly away from the car and with each step, her heart hammered louder and louder in her body.

  For a moment she thought about getting her own gun so she felt safe, but then Harper’s words burned in her mind. She would curl up and simply die if she injured Harper, especially knowing what he’d been through and what a wondrous soul he was.

  She saw a figure walking back to the car and immediately knew it was Harper. The way he moved, held himself, made her body tense with joy at his return. He walked over to the driver side of the car and she quickly unlocked it, letting him in. He didn’t say a word, only pulled his car forward beside hers.

  “Get your keys out please and if you see something, don’t stop until you are dead-bolted inside, okay? Once you are inside, if I am not with you- call the police.”

  “Was there someone here?”

  “Yes, and I think they are gone but I’m not sure. I won’t take a chance with your safety.”

  “Well, it’s the same for me too.”

  “I do this for a living, remember? You hired me?”

  “I know, but it’s different now.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I like you,” she said lamely and saw him roll his eyes.

  “I like you too,” he said flatly with a sad smile. “Let’s go.”

  10

  “What do you think about coming with me to church tomorrow morning, Cactus?” Harper said out o
f the blue while they sat watching television together at her house. The last few days had been quiet since they’d seen tracks at her house. Harper would carefully walk the house first thing in the morning and last thing at night to observe for any tracks, markings, or disturbed areas before they retired to their own rooms. He’d started calling her ‘Cactus’ as a pet name and while it was cute, it was super irritating as well.

  “Stop calling me that,” Sienna bit out grouchily. “I missed the question because you were talking.” She waited patiently for the host to repeat himself as she waved Harper off – and laughed suddenly. It was like they were some old couple cooped up in her house. “You know, we are acting like a bunch of fogeys sitting here on a Saturday night watching Jeopardy together. Why don’t we do something and get out?”

  “Because we are laying low and I’m getting paid to keep you safe?” he retorted as he smothered a telling grin. She was in her pajamas, a robe and had a blanket thrown over her modestly as she lay sprawled out on the divan. Harper was in a t-shirt, sweatpants and slipper socks on his feet. Neither one was overtly sexy in their garb, nor were they acting like two people attracted to each other – or well Sienna hoped it wasn’t one sided.

  “Then why leave and go to church? That just exposes me.”

  “Well, I thought we could draw Joel out safely by getting you out in public.”

  “So, keep me safe and let’s go somewhere,” she repeated. “We can go to church, but let’s do something else after that. We could do something exciting and very public.”

  “Like what?”

  “Well, what if we saw the Knicks play at Madison Square Garden? Do you like basketball? I can get us courtside tickets, if you’d like?”

  “No, thank you,” he said quickly and she saw a flush rise in his cheeks as he looked away. Surely he didn’t think she would expect him to pay, right? This could be her treat to him -and to herself. She enjoyed the game and tried to treat herself at least once a season.

  “I’d like to go and it’s my treat,” Sienna said softly, watching Harper’s proud, stoic expression. She’d guessed right, it was the extravagant cost. “I love courtside tickets and haven’t been this season yet. Would you come with me?”

  “It’s not necessary.”

  “No, but I’d like it – tell you what? If you drive, buy dinner and put up with me screaming my head off…we’ll call it even, okay?”

  “Big fan of the Knicks?”

  “Very much so when the game is live,” she admitted with a grin. “It’s not the same watching it on television.”

  “Fine,” Harper said grudgingly. “If you can get tickets this late in the season, I’ll drive and treat for dinner – but I insist on church in the morning. We need to be seen and hiding here isn’t going to draw Joel out, as much as I like arguing with you over Jeopardy.”

  “I like it too,” she said with a wink and grabbed her cell phone, dialing. “Two tickets coming right up.”

  “We’ll see.”

  Sienna grinned as her phone rang just as they pulled into the parking lot of the old cathedral the next morning. Harper’s family had been attending Holy Spirit for some time now and she would be meeting his mother this morning. Answering her cell number, she arranged for the tickets to be at the will-call window as Harper parked his car.

  “Got them!” she crowed happily. “Floor tickets just behind the team!”

  “You’re kidding?” he gaped in surprise. “You seriously got them?”

  “You betcha. Do you have a jersey or T-shirt to wear?”

  “No. I mean, I have a Knicks baseball cap and that’s it.”

  “We’ll fix that this afternoon.”

  “Do you wear a jersey?”

  “Sure do!” She admired his deep chuckle at her enthusiasm. There was nothing more fun or exciting than being there for the game. You could hear the players, feel the tension and fireworks – it was invigorating.

  “C’mon Cactus,” he said quickly as the deep bells chimed slowly outside of the car announcing that service was going to be starting. “My mother is waiting at the door.”

  Sienna’s heart flipped over in her chest at the idea of meeting his mother until she saw the casual look on Harper’s face. She was just another person, another client to him. It was hard to remember that when she looked into his eyes and felt like there was something growing between them. It was these honest moments that she needed to bring her back to reality. She wasn’t arranging tickets for friends to share, or between two people growing close… it would be a night out between a woman and her hired bodyguard.

  Perhaps it was best that they attend church together first. Sienna could certainly use a bit of peace in her soul and perhaps it would heal the wound she felt deep down inside at realizing that there was nothing between them. She felt torn and confused, adrift and lost.

  She’d fought against Joel pushing and taking control of her for so long, yet she’d accepted it from Harper. Joel had smothered and trampled on her spirit, yet Sienna felt a longing for the sense of peace that came with being in Harper’s presence. She felt protected, watched, and supported – he encouraged and taught her to be more than just who she was. He taught her to shoot, was showing Sienna a different outlook and she felt hope in knowing that he would help her to grow as a person – even if she’d hired him and there was nothing between them.

  Even inside of the church, as she took her seat beside Harper – she felt his presence and resisted reaching out and lacing her fingers with his. His mother, Alice, was a feminine version of him- warm, caring and instantly putting Sienna at ease. Perhaps comforting people was something genetic in his family, she thought idly as she watched Harper bow his head silently out of the corner of her eye.

  A soft, sexy curl began to turn up the corner of his lips and had her fascinated. She noticed that Harper had taken a moment to look at her as well and had noticed her watching him. Sienna instantly clenched her eyes closed and bowed her head, repeating the Lord’s Prayer. Instead of holding his hand like she wanted, she laced her own fingers in prayer and tried wholeheartedly to keep Harper out of her thoughts as she prayed for guidance.

  As the church let out, Sienna found herself trying to avoid reaching out to anyone. Part of her shied away from when Harper tried to put his hand at the small of her back as they exited the building down the large concrete steps. She wanted to savor the small touch, wishing it was possibly more but deep down inside her mind told her not to expect anything of it. He was being polite and she was wanting something that simply wasn’t there.

  “So, do you want to tell me what’s wrong?” Harper said quietly in the silence of his car, his hands clenched on the steering wheel as they drove down the highway gliding effortlessly between the cars in order to get downtown before nightfall. Sienna had wanted to arrive early enough to do a bit of window shopping looking for inspiration.

  Looking over at Harper, Sienna swallowed hard the attraction that instantly flared inside of her. He looked decadent in the dark denim jeans and the bright orange t-shirt with purple markings. The casual, sporty appearance suited him and complimented his tanned skin in a way she hadn’t dreamed. Glancing down, she hoped she looked okay in the long sleeve purple turtleneck and the orange jersey. She liked the jersey because the length covered her rear that fit snugly in her jeans. She even had on purple suede high heels that matched and made her legs look longer, detracting from her hips. She’d never been so self-conscious before but having Joel point it out all the time did a number on her psyche.

  “It’s nothing. I hope you enjoy our seats.”

  “I’m still in shock that you were able to get them so easily. You must have some high up connections out there,” he said appreciatively.

  “I know a few people around town,” she said vaguely, trying to avoid talking about money. The tickets had been outrageous at the last minute to be honest. She’d paid almost double their value in order to get them but didn’t care. For one night, she could almost pret
end what it might be like to date Harper if things were different.

  The more she learned about him, the more they talked or hung out together – the more she found herself attracted to him. It wasn’t just about the stunning features of his face or his beautiful eyes that took her breath away…it was his soul, his persona, that made her crave more. The way he would smile encouragingly or chuckle when she did something stupid. He never made her feel less of a person but lifted her up and let Sienna be herself. When he was talking with her office staff, she found herself wishing he would lean over her desk and talk to her. There was something about Harper Etan that made her crave his attention.

  “Sienna,” he began and hesitated, “I think your idea of going to the game was a good one. It will be nice to be out of the house and with the game televised-it’s sure to make local papers or the news that you are there.”

  “No problem.”

  “What I’m trying to say is that I thought it was brilliant and I wanted to thank you for treating me to this,” he told her softly. “I hope that you enjoy the game and that I don’t ruin it for you.”

  “What? Why would you ruin it?”

  “Well, you know games can be quite rowdy and I can be kinda loud,” he said sheepishly. “Plus, dinner is on me and you deserve something nice, you know?”

  “Well not too nice,” she stammered, nervously, glancing around as the car pulled into a parking garage. “I’m in a basketball jersey and not dressed for anything fancy.”

  “I thought we could go to an old favorite of mine before I quit the force. A lot of the guys get wings or pizza there.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “You deserve better.”

  “I deserve a fun night out and wings sounds perfect.”

  “It’s close by the shops and a small walk to the game.”

  “Even better.”