“Don’t start. We’re going to my house to work on improvements to my home. I’m paying,” he stated flatly, pressing the bills into her hand when she would have pulled her hand from his.
Sighing, Harmony rolled her eyes. “Fine,” she muttered, pocketing the cash. She could feel all her sisters’ eyes on them, and she didn’t want to have this argument in front of an audience. “But we’re talking about this nasty habit of paying for everything later.”
“Nothing to say,” Jake returned with a shrug as he cupped her hip and tugged her toward him. “Now, give me my kiss and get your ass moving. Heaven’s hungry.”
Meeting his lips for a short, but satisfying closed mouth kiss, Harmony smiled against his lips. “Don’t blame my daughter. It’s you that’s hungry.”
“Yeah, I’m hungry alright,” he agreed against her mouth, “but, not for food, darlin’.”
“Behave yourself,” Harmony admonished breathily, thumping his muscular arm as she pulled away from his embrace. Meeting his glittering eyes, she couldn’t help her shiver. She and Jake hadn’t quite made it to consummating their relationship. She had a feeling that he was trying to give her time to adjust to having a man in her life again and was keeping her relative inexperience at the forefront of his mind when they were alone together. They’d satisfied each other numerous times with their hands and their mouths, but hadn’t crossed that ultimate line yet.
“I’m tryin’, baby, but you make it hard on a man,” he replied with a wicked grin, the double entendre hanging in the air between them.
The look she saw burning in his eyes at that moment only reinforced his statement. It plainly told her that his restraint just might finally crumble once and for all when he got her alone tonight. Her Momma had always told her that good things came to those who waited, and she was willing to place a cash bet that when Jacob did take her, it would be an unforgettable experience. And truth be told, she couldn’t deny that she was finally ready to take that step with him.
Hearing Zeke clear his throat behind them, Harmony willed herself to stop blushing. She was a grown woman. A mother. It was okay for her to want to have sex with the man she was seeing, damn it. “We won’t be long,” she promised, squeezing his hand before she hurried toward her youngest sister and Zeke.
She watched the rest of her family begin pulling out of the parking lot as she climbed into the backseat of the SUV and strapped her seatbelt.
“Looks like things are gettin’ serious between you and Jacob,” Zeke noted as he started the engine and Honor settled into the seat beside him. “You like him a lot, huh?” he asked, shooting her a curious look in the rearview mirror.
“We’re taking things slowly,” Harmony murmured, shooting Zeke a shy smile. “But, yes, I like him a lot, Zeke.”
“Heaven adores him,” Honor added enthusiastically, glancing at Harmony over her shoulder. “It’s good to see her interactin’ with men besides her honorary uncles, don’t you think? Jake is wonderful with her.”
Harmony nodded. What Honor said was true. Heaven enjoyed having each of her uncles in her life. Zeke, Cain, and Abel had each taken an active role in Heaven’s life since the day she was born, spoiling her and making sure she felt special. Her daughter also loved her two quasi grandfathers, Uncle Jethro and Cain and Abel’s father, Seth. Beyond them, however, Heaven hadn’t been around all that many men. Before Jake, Harmony had refused to date and this was the first time her child had ever experienced anything resembling a father figure. “Yes,” she acknowledged softly, “They’ve gotten really close in the last few weeks.”
“So, tell me about Jake,” Zeke invited, his gaze darting to connect with hers in the rearview mirror. “What do you know about him, Harmony? Jake doesn’t talk much about himself. What does he do?”
Harmony watched as Honor shot the Sheriff an irritated look. “Why are you pumpin’ my sister for information on her boyfriend, Ezekiel? Is there somethin’ you’re gettin’ at here?”
Harmony watched Zeke stiffen and quickly moved to intercede. Arguments between Honor and Zeke could become heated in a hurry, and it was fairly clear that this was headed toward a scene. It was much too pretty of an afternoon to waste being mad. “I’m sure Zeke is just curious, Honor. He’s right; Jake is a private person and to be honest, I don’t know all that much about what he does. Something related to security. Honestly, when we’re together we talk more about me and my new event planning business than anything else.” It was true, too. Somehow the topic of conversation always got turned back around to either her or Heaven when they talked. She had to admit, thinking on it now, it was strange how Jake always shied away from confiding much about his own life.
“Hmmm,” Zeke hummed, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel as they stopped for a red light. “Security,” he mumbled, his lips pressing together as he stared out the windshield.
“He must do pretty well, Sheriff,” Honor began primly. “He paid for his new house outright, and word around town is that he’s scouting locations for a security firm,” she continued, defending Jacob. “Not many men can say that.”
“No,” Zeke agreed softly. “Not many men can. Problem is, the man doesn’t say much at all,” he added quietly, ignoring the scowl Honor leveled him.
“He’s a nice man that treats my sister and her daughter well,” Honor retorted, crossing her arms obstinately over her chest. “And since she’s too sweet to say this, I will. Mind your own business, Ezekiel.”
Harmony was relieved when they turned into the local market and parked. The tension had grown thick inside the vehicle. Maybe it was time to insist on having a discussion about Jake’s life with him. She didn’t want to pry, but if he was going to be a permanent part of her and her child’s life, she should at least know something about him. Shoving that worry into a box in her mind and closing the door on it until later, she smiled at her sister in the front seat as she opened the door. “This won’t take two minutes. I’ll grab some buns and burgers and we’ll be on the road.” She already knew Jake was well stocked in soda, chips, and beer. Those seemed to be his favorite food groups.
“You sure you don’t want help?” Honor asked eagerly over her shoulder, one hand already on the door handle. Her wide eyes begged Harmony to say yes.
Harmony’s lips twitched. She knew what her baby sister was doing. Trying to escape Ezekiel Monroe’s company had been a way of life for Honor for six years. Unfortunately for Honor (but fortunately for the rest of the family who loved and wanted her protected), the man wouldn’t budge. He was as immoveable as a mountain, much to her sister’s dismay and agitation. “I got it, Sis,” she said, slamming the car door before the other woman could say anything else.
Honor’s parting glare had Harmony giggling all the way to the sliding glass doors.
Chapter Eighteen
Fifteen minutes later, Harmony cheerfully handed over forty dollars to the sweet cashier behind the register at the local Piggly Wiggly.
“Are you sure you can help us out on such short notice, Harmony?” Millie, the pretty redhead that she’d known since high school, asked her excitedly. “I was gonna try to organize Mom and Dad’s anniversary party myself, but between nursing school and working here… oh, well! Anyway, when BethAnne told me how reasonable your rates were for her wedding, I thought it was worth a shot to ask you.”
“Millie, I’d love to help out. It’ll be great. Just call me tomorrow and we’ll work out all the details,” Harmony told her childhood friend. She’d known Millicent Robbins for years. She was a hardworking girl that had been married and divorced to a total loser, too. Both of them were finding their way in life a little later than all their other friends, but they were doing it. They were kindred spirits.
Millie breathed a sigh of relief as she quickly made change in the till and handed it over to Harmony. “You are a lifesaver.”
Laughing, Harmony reached for her plastic bags and glanced out the bank of glass windows at the front of the store. Gas
ping as she caught the familiar lanky form standing outside, facing away from her, her heart pounded in her chest. “It can’t be!” she whispered, squinting at the man as he began walking down the sidewalk.
“Harmony?” Millie called, her face confused as she stared at the other woman.
“Just call me tomorrow, Mills,” Harmony called over her shoulder as she hurried toward the door, determined to catch up to the man and assure herself that her eyes were deceiving her.
Jogging down the supermarket sidewalk as the man disappeared around the side of the building, Harmony quickened her pace as a slight gust of wind blew her hair. No, no, no! This wasn’t happening to her. Tanner Suarez could not be back in Paradise! Not when she finally had her life back on track! “Hey!” she called as she reached the edge of the building. Catching her breath when the dark headed man turned to face her, she nearly sagged against the wall in relief.
“Yeah?” the stranger called out, lifting his chin at her.
“Sorry!” Harmony called, lifting one hand weakly in front of her as she got a good look at the Hispanic man standing in front of her. Now that she was closer, she could see that he was taller and leaner than her ex-husband had been. He was a handsome guy, though he looked forbidding with the long scar that ran down his jaw. “I thought you were someone else,” she apologized as the man shrugged his broad shoulders and turned on his heel, walking away and throwing a tanned hand up in farewell…or it could have been a go to hell gesture for all she knew. Either way, it didn’t matter to Harmony. The man wasn’t Tanner, thank you, Jesus.
“Harmony?” she heard a deep voice yell from behind her. Looking over her shoulder, she watched Zeke wheel around the corner, one hand on his gun at his hip. “You alright?” he asked, scanning the now empty sidewalk ahead of her. “I saw you fly around the corner like the hounds of hell were chasin’ you.” Scanning her, he frowned. “You’re pale as a damn ghost. What happened?”
“I’m fine. I thought I saw….” Harmony broke off, looking at the empty sidewalk as she realized how stupid voicing her fears aloud would be. Tanner was gone. Hell, Zeke was a large part of the reason he was gone. He wouldn’t look favorably on her chasing down a lookalike of her ex-husband. “I thought somebody was watching me. I was tryin’ to catch up to ‘em. Turns out, somebody just walked over my grave, I guess. I got spooked.”
“So you decided to head straight toward possible trouble?” Zeke growled, his large body slowly relaxing. “You’re smarter than that, Harmony,” he chided, shaking his head at her as his hand dropped away from his gun.
“Sorry, Zeke,” she apologized, offering Zeke a shaky smile. He had a right to be irritated with her. Chasing after the man she’d thought was her ex-husband had been a stupid decision. What exactly would she have done if that man had been Tanner? The bastard had already proven that he could kick her ass once, and she had a daughter to think about now. It had been a foolish thing to do.
“What’s goin’ on back here?” Harmony heard her sister ask as Honor appeared behind Zeke, looking around in concern. “Harmony, are you alright?” she asked, her eagle eyes honing in on her pale sibling.
Turning sharply, Harmony watched Zeke glare at her sister furiously. “I’m fine, Honor. I just thought I saw somebody I knew.”
“I thought I told you to wait in the SUV, woman,” he barked impatiently, the muscle in his jaw flexing wildly as her sister merely shrugged back at him. “For once, can’t you cut me a break and stay where I put you?”
Honor raised an eyebrow at the angry man. “I’m sorry. You must have mistaken me for a German Shepherd. I neither sit nor stay on your command, Ezekiel,” she returned sharply.
“You’re absolutely right, Honor. A dog would listen better and he’d be a damn sight more obedient,” he bit back, taking her arm and gesturing for Harmony to walk ahead of them. “Let’s go, ladies. At this rate, Jacob’s going to think I kidnapped you both.”
With a last look over her shoulder, Harmony shook her head. She could have sworn she’d never mistake Tanner Suarez for another man. Maybe she was finally losing her mind. Or perhaps, this new relationship with Jake was bringing all her past mistakes and worries to the forefront of her mind, and she was looking for something that could screw it all up for her. Tanner could certainly do all that for her.
Either way, she needed to get a handle on it.
Insanity wasn’t a good color on either a girlfriend or a mother.
~~***~~
Jerking the door of the black Camaro open with more force than was necessary, Dante de la Cruz glared at the man sitting behind the passenger wheel. “You wanna explain to me what the fuck kinda game you’re playin’, man?” he snarled. “You almost blew every fucking thing to hell back there!” He jerked his head toward the supermarket behind them. “What the fuck?!”
“The best kind,” Tanner Suarez replied with a slow, evil grin. “It’s the kind of game Harmony hates. Mind games. They drive the bitch crazy.” His cruel laugh rang through the vehicle.
“She almost saw you, you idiot. I know Diego told you to watch her only. No contact. Not fuckin’ yet. You tryin’ to make her think she’s going loca and almost getting caught in the process is not part of the plan,” Dante spat. “You only have the element of surprise one time, Suarez. If she figures out we’re here before Diego is ready, you’re dead, amigo. Use your head,” he ordered, tapping his finger against Tanner’s temple.
Shrugging, Tanner jerked away and reached for his pack of cigarettes. “It’s just a matter of time before I get to deal with that punta. And believe me, I plan on enjoying every fucking second of tormenting that bitch,” Tanner growled. “That fucking cunt had her merry band of redneck thugs chase me off once, but she never counted on me coming back. I’m living for the moment she realizes that her world is fucked. I’ll take her precious baby girl and watch that heifer’s agony. It’ll be better than HBO.”
“Yeah, well, Diego hasn’t given the go ahead yet, and I work for fucking Fuentes. Not you,” Dante spat, his eyes almost black with rage. “Try that shit again before Diego says to roll with the plan, and I’ll put a fucking bullet in your head. He’ll understand that you were a loose cannon, and I’ll help him find another way into Paradise. Using your kid….man, that’s just fucked up.”
“I am your way into Paradise… the only way and you both know it.” Tanner smirked. “And my little daughter shall lead the way for us… after I deal with her fucking mother,” he muttered, lighting his cigarette and inhaling deeply. “Just chill, hermano. I got this shit under control.”
“Just keep your head in the game, Tanner, and not on all the ways you wanna fuck the piece of ass you used to be married to,” Dante ordered.
Twisting the key in the ignition, Tanner offered the other man a cold smile. “I’m a talented man, Dante. Believe me, I can do both.”
Chapter Nineteen
The short drive to Zeke’s house was accomplished in a few minutes, and Harmony smiled at him when he turned to look at her. “Are you sure that you ladies don’t want to come inside? It’s only gonna take me a few minutes to change.”
“We’ll wait here,” Honor replied almost instantly, folding her arms against her chest.
“Suit yourself, hardhead,” Zeke said with a sigh as he cut the ignition, winking at Harmony before he pushed open his door and hurried up the sidewalk to the cute Cape Cod that he’d bought just a short mile from their own home.
“Honor, don’t be mad at Zeke,” Harmony urged quietly from the backseat. “He’s just trying to look out for us the same way he always has.”
Turning in her seat, Honor rolled her eyes. “I’m upset at him for fussing at you. You’re a grown woman. You can chase down an acquaintance if you want.”
“That’s not exactly what happened,” Harmony returned, shifting uncomfortably in her seat as Honor narrowed her eyes on her.
“What do you mean?” Honor asked suspiciously.
“The person that I thought I saw ba
ck at the store… I thought it was Tanner,” Harmony acknowledged softly. “It wasn’t,” she added quickly when her sister’s eyes dilated and her breathing quickened. “It was just a Hispanic man with black hair and kinda the same build as Tanner had, but I freaked and went chasing after him around the side of the building. That’s why Zeke was upset with me.”
“In that case, Zeke was right. That was a foolish thing to do.” Honor frowned at her sister. “And if you tell him I said that, I’ll burn your pancakes for a month.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t take off on a wild chase again,” Harmony assured her little sister softly. “I just needed to be sure it wasn’t him.”
“He’s gone, Harm. He can’t hurt you anymore. Zeke and Abel saw to that,” Honor reminded her gently.
“I know, but I had the strangest feeling that he was there, Honor. It’s silly. It’s probably just my cold feet about Jake projecting itself on my mind. I’m looking for a reason to run from a good man, and memories of Tanner would qualify for that.”
“Jacob is not Tanner. I could skin Zeke alive for askin’ his nosy questions and makin’ you doubt him,” Honor muttered, glaring at Zeke’s front door. “That man is always lookin’ for shadows in the sunlight. I swear, one day I’m gonna attack him with my rolling pin for breathing down all our necks. He’s an irritating pain in the butt,” she complained, clearly annoyed by Zeke’s interest in their lives.
“Honor, that’s not true. Zeke loves you,” she pointed out quietly. “There’s nothing in the world he wouldn’t do for you. When are you gonna see that?”
“Ezekiel sees me as somebody he failed a long time ago, Harmony. Ever since then, I’m just the pet cause he’s takin’ up to try to salve his conscience. He doesn’t love me. He pities me.”
“You know that isn’t true,” Harmony denied, meeting her sister’s eyes.
Hard as Stone (Passion in Paradise: The Men of the McKinnnon Sisters) Page 16