Jonathon got a nasty feeling in the pit of his stomach. He had a really bad feeling he knew where this was going.
“After some name calling, Riku tried to tell her she needed to calm down and it only upset her more. After all, if he was protecting me, then we must have been sleeping together.”
She stopped and rubbed her arm. When she looked back up at him, her eyes shone with tears. “She shoved me. Hard. I threw my arm in front of my face, which is why it got so much damage. The rest is self-explanatory.”
He felt like such a heel. Reaching over to her, he dragged her onto his lap. “Harmony,” he began.
“Don’t, Jonathon. I just… I can’t.”
“Your parents?”
“Are who they are. I know deep down they love me. Mom says it on occasion, but I also know how disappointed they are in me. I’d been groomed from a young age to play and I can’t anymore. Not how I need to in order to do concerts. I can handle the short bits at school and I can play on occasion for Lana and her drama class. I don’t like crowds anymore when I play, because I think they can tell I’m not playing as well as I should.”
He shook his head. “Baby, you play better than many on their best day. You can’t let that stop you.”
“You don’t know that, Jonathon.”
He cupped her face and placed gentle kisses along her jaw. “I know a lot of things, Harmony Oshiro.”
“This isn’t talking,” she sputtered around sharp breaths.
“Oh, but it is. I like this kind of talking the best.”
A knock came on the door, interrupting them. Her entire body went ramrod straight before she relaxed. He watched her climb off him and slip from the bed, winding her hair up and using the same comb from earlier to secure it on her head. He stood up and straightened the bed before sitting on a chair. Tensions were high enough between her and her parents, and he had no wish to add to them.
He watched her talk to them in Japanese. Even from across the room he could see her tension increase. With an easy push, he got to his feet and made his way to stand behind her, offering strength and support.
“This is private,” her father said in English.
“Harmony?”
She spoke to her parents again before they scowled at him then left. The door remained open and she looked up at him. “You need to go.”
“What?”
“You wanted to talk, Jonathon. We talked. You know about my scar.”
“We’ve not talked about us.”
“There is no us.”
Hearing those words did not feel good in any way, shape or form. He scowled at her. “Yes there is. Dating. Sleeping together. You. Me.”
“We went over this already.”
He chuckled but there was no humour in it. “Do you really think I would let it go so easily? I’m an attorney, Harmony. Arguing is nought but foreplay to me, especially with you. So you’re gonna have to do much more than that to get me gone. You don’t want me out of your life. You’re scared. I get it. We can work through it.”
Lightning flared in her gaze and she shoved his chest and knocked him through the door to the hall. “You arrogant bastard! I… You… Argh!”
Bam! The door slammed in his face. He blinked at it a few times before knocking. Nothing. He waited but she never opened it. Reluctantly, he left and went to his room down the hall from hers. He tried several times to call her room and in the morning, he called down to have some room service delivered to her room. They could eat and talk this out.
“I’m sorry, sir, but there is no one in that room. The guest has checked out.”
Hanging up, he swore a litany his mom would not have liked to hear. Getting the first flight he could, he placed a call while waiting for the boarding call.
“Hello?”
“Lis? It’s Jonathon.”
“I know, I have caller ID. What’s up?”
“I need to talk to you and Arissa. Can you meet me at the place we used to hide when we tried to skip school?”
“Everything okay?”
“No. Not yet. But it will be. I’ll be home in a few hours.”
“Okay, we’ll be there.”
Thankfully, she didn’t ask any more questions because honestly he didn’t have any answers right now. That call done, he placed another to Elisa.
“Mr Wright,” she said on the first ring.
“Elisa. I need your help on something.”
“My help? Sure you don’t want one of your paralegals?”
“Nope. You’re the one, Elisa. Will you do something for me?”
“I’m at your disposal.”
“Thank you.” He told her what he wanted and ended the call.
Once on the plane, he rested his head back and breathed easier. Only a minor setback. Soon he would be able to have a face to face with her. He may have to tie her up so she couldn’t leave, but one way or another they would find the underlying cause of this.
* * * *
Harmony sat at the piano in the large hall. It had been a week since she’d got back from California. She’d not seen any sign of Jonathon and while she knew it was her decision, she still missed him. It was for the best. Or so she continued to tell herself.
One hand idly played as she mulled over the past few months. Fall had come in force to New Mexico and she loved it.
“Hey.”
She looked up to see Lana walking towards the stage. “Hey, yourself.”
“What are you still doing here?”
“Tinkering.”
Lana sat beside her on the bench. “Thinking up another piece?”
“Yes.” She nudged her friend. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to find you. You weren’t answering your phone. And I figured I knew where to find you.”
“I shut it off. Tired of avoiding my parents’ calls.”
“I’m so sorry you had to go through that with them.”
She lifted one shoulder. “Not your fault, but thank you anyway.”
“You know I’m here for you, right, Harmony?”
“I know. You hungry?”
“Always.”
She stood and allowed her hand to linger lovingly over the sleek instrument. “For?”
“Oysters.”
Harmony shuddered. “That is just nasty.”
“Okay, fine. Where should we go?”
“Let’s just walk and see where we end up. Pick a place that looks interesting.”
“Ohh, an adventure. I’m all in.”
They drove downtown and parked before getting out. Up and down streets, they walked and window-shopped. Eventually they entered a small, out of the way place. The interior was darker and only had a few tables.
“I don’t remember this place, do you?” she asked Lana.
“Nope. Smells good, though.”
And it did. Rich, pungent aromas surrounded them and tantalised her taste buds. A small woman with darker skin and thick black hair walked up.
“Welcome. Allow me to take you to a seat.”
They followed her and soon had drinks before them while they waited for their food.
“So, are you staying here or going back?” Lana asked, blunt as always.
“Haven’t made up my mind yet. I talked to my brother who says Mama isn’t doing that well since she got back from here. I just… Maybe I’ll go for a visit. I just can’t…”
“I know, sweetie. No need to explain it to me.”
“Thanks.”
“You do, however, need to explain this thing with Jonathon Wright.”
“What’s to explain? I broke it off.”
“Why? Sex no good?”
She rolled her eyes. “No. The sex was fine… That’s not the point here, Lana. We’re just from two very different places.”
“Ahh. Right, right. You both come from caring for one another. I see how that is so different.”
“Not what I meant. You saw how he lives.”
“So what? You’re condemnin
g him because he has money. Weren’t you accusing him of doing the same to you because compared to him you didn’t have any? I’m no genius or anything, but that don’t seem fair.” She took a drink. “Rich or not, poor or not, you can’t be mad at him for something then turn around and do that to him.”
Harmony didn’t say a word. She couldn’t. Hell, she’d not even thought about it that way. Nevertheless, Lana was absolutely correct. She’d done just what she’d accused him of doing. And had refused to listen to him.
“I’m such an idiot.”
“No you’re not, Harmony. You’re a woman who’s scared of the feelings she has for this man. Which isn’t hard to believe. Love isn’t something you’re well acquainted with. Not out in the open and sharing it with the world.”
“How can I face him, Lana? Knowing now what I’ve done.”
“The great thing about being human is knowing we will make mistakes. Go apologise to him. Now if you tell me he is an ass and he hit you, then I say to hell with him and we can bury his ragged ass out in the desert somewhere. But for him to just want you in a nice place… That’s something which can be worked out.”
“You’re the best friend anyone could ever have.”
“And shameless enough to use that to exploit you as well,” she retorted with a wicked grin.
They ate and talked. All the while, Harmony knew she had to get to Jonathon and apologise for her actions. She still didn’t want him to push his lifestyle onto her but she did feel the need to set it right.
Back in the car, she frowned when she realised Lana wasn’t heading back to her house.
“Where are we going?”
“I’m dropping you off at his house.”
“He may not be home.”
“Then you can wait.”
Lana said it so matter-of-factly she laughed. With a kiss to her friend’s cheek, she slipped from the car and made her way up the walk to his door. She peered over her shoulder to see Lana giving her a thumbs-up before driving away.
Reaching out a hand, she licked her lips then pressed the doorbell. No answer. She pressed it again. Same thing. Great, now she had to take the bus home. Spinning around, she walked back to the street.
“Harmony?”
She froze and glanced back to the door. Jonathon stood there, framed by the doorway. He wore a loose shirt and jeans.
Part of her wanted to run and hide. She made herself return to stand before him. “I’m sorry to bother you, I just had something to say.”
His expression was guarded but he gestured her inside. She entered, careful not to touch him, and kept her hands in her pockets.
“What can I do for you?”
Cripes—he sounded all kinds of formal. “I came to apologise.”
“For?”
“For being mad at you for one thing and then doing it myself.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Judging you because of the money you make and how I said it makes you not like how I live. How my lack of it was embarrassing to you. It wasn’t only you. It was me. I was doing the same thing. Mad at you for having so much money.”
He didn’t speak, just stared at her, his arms crossed and blocking the door.
“That’s what you came to tell me?”
She nodded. “I just wanted you to know I’m sorry I had been doing that.”
“And us?”
“I’d like to be friends.”
“Friends.”
“Or not.”
He shifted his weight, feet shoulder width apart. Damn, she wanted him. Reining in her desire, she focused on what she’d come here for. To apologise. Moreover, she’d done so.
“Excuse me, I’ll just go.”
“No.”
The firmness in his voice brought her head back up. “What?”
“No. You don’t get to keep doing this to me, Harmony. I love you.”
Her body went numb for a minute and her legs wobbled. “W…wh… What did you just say?”
“You heard me just fine, but I’ll tell you again. I love you. I. Love. You. I am going to tell you this every single day for the rest of our lives.”
“You love me?”
“I love you.” He spoke it with such conviction.
“But… But…”
“I know you don’t like fancy, Harmony. That’s fine. I had planned to have a family in this house one day but if you don’t like it, we’ll find one together. One that will feel like a home to you.”
“A home?”
“Yes. I don’t want to just be friends. I want you, Harmony Yuna Oshiro—the location doesn’t matter to me. I’ll follow you to Japan if you want to move back closer to your family. So long as you agree to be my wife, nothing else matters.”
“W…wife?” Good Lord, she couldn’t wrap her head around any of this.
“Yes. Will you marry me?” He dropped to one knee as he posed the question.
She heard Lana’s voice in her head telling her she deserved to be happy. And when she thought about what made her happy, it was this man right here before her. On his knees, for crying out loud.
“Yes.” The word sounded more like a croak than anything, but he got the gist.
He pulled her in close and kissed her. “I love you.”
Tears flowed over and she just held on, unable to think much right now. He carried her upstairs and made love to her on his bed. It was slow and tender and perfect.
Afterwards, they lay, limbs intertwined upon the bedding.
“I have something for you,” he said, dragging a finger up and down her spine.
“I don’t need anything.”
“Indulge me.” He rolled from the bed, tossed her his shirt, and drew on his pants.
She pulled his shirt on over her head and followed him to a room on the second floor. He pushed open the door and guided her in past him. Resting on a table in the middle was a sight that made her cry all over again.
The entire collection of vases was gathered there. Obviously not the set she’d had, being as it had burnt in the fire, but a complete one nonetheless.
“Oh, Jonathon.” Staring at them through the tears, she made her way and touched one. “This isn’t your mom’s set, is it?”
He chuckled behind her. “No. This one is all yours. I know nothing can replace the ones your grandmother gave you but I know how much the set meant to you.”
She faced him. “When? How?”
“I have been collecting them for you for a while now. I just had to find the final two. They came in this week.”
“So you…” She trailed off.
“Wasn’t about to let you go.”
It didn’t freak her out. She didn’t want him to let her go. “Ever?”
“Ever.”
He pulled her close and brushed their lips together. “I love you, Harmony.”
“I love you too, Jonathon.”
“I’ve waited to hear those words from you. Don’t ever stop telling me.”
She didn’t plan on it. The road may have some bumps in it along the way but as far as she was concerned, it would be so worth it.
He crept his hands under her shirt and began to lift it. She shivered at the feel of his touch. Why she had spent so much time avoiding this, she hadn’t a clue. She wouldn’t be avoiding it any longer. She had him and she wasn’t about to lose him again.
“I want to make love to my fiancée.”
She smiled as he nibbled down her neck towards her breasts. Sounded like a good plan to her. He lowered them to the floor and took her on another trip to the stars. Pure harmony was how she would describe the feeling of being with Jonathon Wright. Moreover, it was one she wanted to keep forever.
Also available from Total-E-Bound Publishing:
McKingley: All the Wright Moves
McKenna Jeffries and Aliyah Burke
Excerpt
Chapter One
Katiya Wright stopped only after a step into the open doorway. The sight before her made h
er breath catch and she leaned against the doorframe for support and to view the tight jeans hugging a firm ass. The man bent, stretching the already fitted jeans taut. She bit her bottom lip to stifle a whimper. Her gaze travelled from the ass to muscular legs that bulged enticingly as he stood. She retraced her path back up to a bottom that should be declared illegal to a tapered waist, and a back that rippled with muscles visible through his shirt across his broad shoulders. The man shifted to the side as he lifted the computer monitor onto the desk. Katiya snapped out of her daze, glancing away from his luscious body.
The large room, which had been empty a few days earlier, was now filled with over fifty individual oak desks, office chairs and a file cabinet with a printer on it. It was as she’d envisioned, each work area set up like an office. She walked over to the desk closest to her and touched the last item that she knew had arrived today. A complete computer system with all the bells and whistles sat on top of the desk. A look at the screen showed it was installing some sort of software. With another glance around the room she noted that the systems were almost all set up. She returned her attention to the lone man still installing the computers and wondered where the rest of the work crew was.
A flare of interest filled her as she watched him work. With efficient moves he hooked up all the cables. Moments later he flipped on the system, punched a few keys, and the Windows logo came up. The man moved onto another desk and bent to pick up another computer out of a new box. She tried to figure out why she seemed to be attracted to him. It had been years since she’d had even a minuscule amount of interest in anyone. She hadn’t even seen his face nor had any interaction with him. Katiya continued to study him. She should probably let him know she was there, but she didn’t want to break the moment and continued to watch as he set up another system and moved onto another.
Snap out of it. No dating, she reminded herself. Clearing her throat, she walked over to the man. He stiffened and straightened from the box he was unpacking.
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