Isaac hadn’t even bothered being romantic when he asked her to marry him. Simply his lame, shrug of the shoulders ‘what do you think?’ kind of way. Not down on one knee, no flowers, nothing. There may have been candles, but only because that was the restaurant’s normal décor.
“Har, you do realize that you were hanging out with Spencer the whole time you were dating Isaac. You guys were going to lunch, and at our place having pizza. Plus all of our game nights where it was just the four of us.”
“Right. But that’s because Isaac didn’t like doing those things. Spencer and I got along so well; it was fun hanging out with him.”
Lily tapped her index finger to the tip of her nose.
Harley held up her hand, stopping her friend before she could say anything, “Don’t even say it, I heard it that time.” Her heart sank because she’d heard herself say that she had more fun spending her time with Spencer than her boyfriend at that time, and maybe that’s how Spencer saw her agreeing to meet Isaac for lunch. But Spencer had nothing to worry about when it came to Isaac.
“I know you won’t get back together with Isaac, and I’m sure Spencer knows that, too, but do you think there’s a slight chance that he might be just a bit worried about that? Spencer adores you, and maybe the thought of your meeting up with Isaac brings out the jealous side of him.”
“Yeah.” She shrugged. “It’s possible, I guess. And I never thought of that.”
“Isaac treated you pretty badly, and Spencer saw it all. I can understand him wanting to protect you from more of that. If it were me, I probably wouldn’t meet up with Isaac. Don’t you think you covered everything there was to cover with him last year? There’s really nothing more for you guys to say. And maybe you could just change your phone number? Why bother trying to reason with Isaac?”
“I guess. But that’s not the whole story.” Harley explained how Isaac happened to be the advisor for the firm Spencer’s company was doing a job for. A job that Spencer oversaw.
“They were face-to-face?” Lily’s eyes grew wide.
“Yep, for the first time since Isaac and I broke up.” Harley sighed.
“Yikes.” Lily cringed. “I can only imagine that didn’t go well.”
“Nope. All I know is there were some comments about the lax dress code and inferring that Spencer was just the guy who gets the coffee orders. I’m sure you remember how Isaac can be.”
“Oh, I remember.” Lily grimaced and shook her head. “Isaac sure knows how to get to Spencer.”
“Honestly, I wasn’t thinking Isaac’s lunch idea was out of malice toward Spencer. I just figured he wanted to talk to me. But you had the same reaction to Isaac’s invitation as Spencer did.”
“So now does it make sense?”
“Yes.”
“Are you still considering going?” Lily asked, her eyes narrowing.
“I’m pretty sure he just wants to talk. You know, discuss what happened with us.” Her own words resonated in her brain. While she was with Isaac, his controlling personality had conditioned her to do whatever Isaac wanted, and she hadn’t even realized it until it was too late. And here she was again, even considering meeting with him.
“And didn’t you already address that with him when you broke things off? I clearly remember some text conversations where you explained things over and over to him. He’s a smart boy and can’t be that dense that he still doesn’t understand.”
Lily was right, as always.
“Does your silence mean you agree with me, and there is no good reason to meet up with Isaac for lunch?” Lily pressed.
Harley shook her head with a smirk. “You know you’re annoying when you’re right?”
“I know.” Lily beamed proudly. “So, no lunch?”
“No lunch.” Harley concurred.
“I think that is best. There is no good reason to meet up with him. And I’m sure Spencer will be happy to hear your decision.”
Harley shook her head in agreement. “I have a phone call to make.” She retreated to her room, but before walking up the steps, she called back to Lily, “Thanks.”
Lily waved. “No problem!”
She closed her bedroom door behind her and dialed Spencer’s number. They needed a do-over for earlier. And she might owe him an apology for acting like a brat.
“Hey,” the sound of his voice filled her heart with such calm.
“Spencer, you were right.”
“About?”
“There is no need for me to meet Isaac for lunch. We said all there was to say last year, and it’s not like we are still friends. I’m sorry for reacting the way I did, you know, like a spoiled brat. I’d much prefer to meet you for lunch instead. What do you say?” she pleaded.
“Babe.” His voice softened. “Please don’t apologize. You didn’t do anything you need forgiven for. You had an opinion that was different than mine. Big deal. That’s going to happen from time to time. I’m just frustrated at Isaac, and I shouldn’t have reacted like that to you. It’s just been... it’s been a really odd day. To say the least.”
“So, we’re good?”
“Absolutely. As a matter of fact, is it too late for you to come over? I’d love to give you a hug and show you how okay we really are.”
His suggestion had her cheeks burning. “Sadly, it is too late for that. I have an early class. And I’m sure you have a busy day at work. But will I see you for lunch tomorrow?”
“Sure. On one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“That we don’t eat at the campus sub shop.”
She couldn’t help but chuckle at his request. “Deal. How about the café on Main Street?”
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll pick you up at noon.”
“I’ll be waiting.” She swooned.
He ended their call with, “Sweet dreams, babe.”
Chapter Eight
SPENCER
Pausing on the sidewalk in front of the café window, Spencer couldn’t help but admire how adorable Harley looked in her leather jacket, jeans, and high-top tennis shoes. Her curly dark hair fell loosely down her shoulders.
The wind gently whipped around them, but he barely noticed the cold when he was looking at her.
“You don’t have to be back just yet, do you?” he asked, looping his arms around her waist and pulling her close. The enticing scent of her shampoo had his pulse racing every time.
“As luck would have it, my afternoon class is cancelled.” Her lips curled up in an enticing grin.
Her sexy smirk had his heart pounding. He couldn’t help but grin back at her, hoping they were thinking about the same thing. “Oh? When were you going to let me know that little detail?”
“Well,”—she looked around innocently—“I was weighing all my options. I have the afternoon off from the bookstore and the diner, and I could utilize the time at the library. You know I have lots of classwork to do,” she teased, innocently playing along with her pretense, and he liked the way she was toying with him.
“How about this option? You and I head back to my place for the afternoon. Then we’ll grab something for dinner, and if you’d like some help with your research later, then I’m your guy.”
“Hmm. I do like the sound of that. Or, we could skip the studying and I could help you pack up your apartment.”
“That’s also a good plan.”
“I can’t wait to move in with you.” She softly kissed his lips.
Hesitating to react to her advances, he added, “Just one more thing.”
Harley glanced at him, a curious look on her face. “Yeah?”
Closing the space between them, he cupped her jawline with one hand. Her face was warm against his chilled palm. “Babe, I know we’ve thrown this around in the past, but I just wanted to make my feelings very clear.”
Their lips were inches apart. He could feel the heat of her breath on his face.
“Spence?”
“Harley, you are the best thing that has
ever happened to me, and I just want you to know... I love you.”
In front of the café. Could I have picked a less romantic spot to drop the L-word? But he couldn’t help it; he honestly loved this woman. It was time she knew how much.
She tilted her head and smiled the sweetest smile. “You do?”
“Yes, I really do.” A grin crossed his lips.
“Well, I love you, too, Spencer.” She pressed her lips against his, kissing him softly as the cool wind swirled around them. Pulling away just slightly, she added, “Now I definitely think we should go back to your place.”
He smirked, placed another kiss on her lips, and agreed. Taking her by the hand and turning towards the parking garage, he added, “Let’s get out of here.”
Unfortunately, in their rush to get home, they ran into Isaac, who was standing in front of them on the sidewalk.
“Well isn’t this cute,” he remarked with a nasty sneer on his lips.
Spencer took one step in front of Harley, feeling a need to protect her. “Do you typically creep on couples while they’re kissing?”
“Creep? No.” He shook his head with amusement. “But I would hardly call the sidewalk in the middle of town private.”
“No one ever said we were looking for privacy,” Spencer retorted. “Maybe PDA wasn’t your thing, but there’s nothing wrong with it in my book.”
He purposely kissed Harley again, then pulled her protectively to his side.
Isaac simply glared at them with his look of non-approval. Then he looked over Spencer, focusing his stare on his jeans and work boots. “Day off, Spencer?”
“No,” Spencer answered, trying to stay calm. His brain knew that Isaac was trying to rile him up, but he couldn’t help the emotions that were bubbling up inside him.
“Oh, my mistake.” Isaac checked his watch. “It’s barely two in the afternoon, and you’re making out on the sidewalk dressed like that. I just assumed.”
Harley grabbed Spencer’s arm, keeping him close to her as his blood boiled.
This guy knew every button to push, and it was an effort for Spencer not to play right into his game.
“If that’s how you dress for the office, then this one will fit right in. Good for you.” Isaac pointed at Harley with a sneer. “I see you traded your hooker heels for boyish tennis shoes.”
That was the last straw. To a stranger, Isaac’s words made him seem like a jerk, but to someone who’d picked up the pieces of Harley that Isaac had left behind, his comments were unreasonably cruel and offensive. No man should talk about a woman the way Isaac spoke about Harley. First the remark at work and now denigrating her appearance.
Spencer’s heart raced, and his blood boiled, rushing to his head with such force that he couldn’t hear anything else. With one punch, Spencer knocked Isaac to the ground.
Only once Harley gasped did he realize what he had done.
“Spencer!” She let go of his arm to see if Isaac was okay.
Isaac pushed her hands away and stood up on his own, backing away from Harley. His glare never left Spencer. “You’ll pay for that, Wilson!”
Spencer stood there, speechless, shaking out his throbbing hand. He would surely pay for that punch, and yet it was totally worth it.
“Nothing but trash! You two deserve each other!” Isaac yelled.
Harley grabbed Spencer’s arm and nudged him towards his vehicle. “C’mon. Forget about him. We need to get you some ice for that hand.”
If only he could forget about this guy. Isaac seemed to be around every turn lately. Spencer had to figure out a way to get through this project without hitting Isaac again, and then hope he’d never have to see him again.
HARLEY WAS SILENT THE entire ride home. Spencer knew any hope of the alone time they had eluded to earlier had gone out the window with his right hook. He was surprised she’d even agreed to come back to his place after that mess.
When they entered the apartment, Spencer tossed his jacket onto a chair using his bad hand and winced, regretting it immediately. Harley laid her jacket with his, then hurried to the kitchen. She returned, still looking unimpressed, her brow furrowed.
“Why did you have to go and do that?” Harley finally asked, her tone filled with annoyance. “I wouldn’t put it past Isaac to press charges.”
“He’s not going to press charges,” Spencer replied flatly.
Isaac was all bark and no bite. Spencer wasn’t worried about retribution.
Harley didn’t answer; she simply pursed her lips. He winced as she placed a bag of frozen corn on his aching hand. He hadn’t planned on punching Isaac; it just happened. He wasn’t the typical “get in a fight” kind of guy. But Isaac had no right to say the things he had about Harley.
He tried to explain. “Har, he had it coming.”
Stomping her foot, she glared at him. “So, that makes it okay?”
Spencer had felt good about knocking Isaac’s teeth in for about two seconds before remorse set in. He’d played right into Isaac’s game, and now he looked like the ass. He should’ve known better when it came it Isaac. Harley was not the damsel in distress kind of girl. She could hold her own with the best of them and fighting for her honor may have been the right thing to do for most girls. But Harley was not most girls.
“No.” He hung his head. “It doesn’t make it right. I reacted in the heat of the moment. However, I won’t apologize, because he was rude to you.”
“I never asked you to apologize.” She held the bag of frozen corn on his hand but continued to stare at the floor, refusing to meet his glance.
“Hey.” He tipped her chin up to meet his stare. “I love you. And I only did what I did because he dragged you into it. His issue is with me, and he should’ve left you out of it.”
“We both know he said those things on purpose. He was trying to get to you, and it worked.” She sighed, and her shoulders relaxed. “Spencer, I love you, too. But I don’t want you punching people to defend my honor. I can defend myself.”
He couldn’t say he wouldn’t do it again, because if it came down to needing to defend her, he would. “For the record, I never said that you couldn’t. It just isn’t right the things he said about you. I would love to say that he was asking for it, but I probably could’ve held my temper, too.”
Harley put space between them. She picked up her coat and slid it on.
“Woah, where are you going?” he called to her across the room.
“Spence, it’s already been a long day. We both have to be up early in the morning. I think it’s best if I just go home.”
Spencer jumped up and chased her to the front door. “Har—”
Harley turned to him and made sure to keep a few feet between them. She kissed him on his cheek —which she never did. Her body language told him she was still angry. “Goodnight, Spencer.”
Harley closed the door behind her, leaving him standing in his empty apartment.
Spencer ran his hand through his hair, then rubbed the back of his neck, trying to piece together what had just happened. He’d obviously messed up big time and needed to figure a way out of this predicament.
Chapter Nine
HARLEY
Harley stared at her computer, although there was nothing that needed her attention at the moment. She had made sure to finish all her classwork for today with the hope of spending the evening with Spence. But that wasn’t happening now, and she kind of wished she had a shift at the diner instead of the day off; it would at least have kept her mind occupied. Her phone buzzed for the fifth time in ten minutes. Looking at the screen notification, she saw that it was another message from Isaac. Ignoring it, she tossed her phone back onto the couch. This had been happening all evening—again. She didn’t want to talk to him; she had no reason to.
And she certainly wasn’t interested in getting back with him.
But she was certain that he knew he’d messed things up for her and Spencer, and she assumed he was ready to gloat. The simple fact tha
t she had left Isaac for Spencer gave him enough reason to want to come between them.
“Harley, are you even listening to me?” Lily whined.
Harley began folding some clothes that were on the couch. “Lily, this really isn’t a good time.” She was in no mood for Lily to come at her. Sorting out what went down at lunch today was taking more energy than she’d like. Meanwhile, she still wasn’t sure how she felt about it.
“You’re really mad at Spencer for taking a shot at Isaac?” Lily asked, her face serious. She crossed her arms and stared at Harley with a grimace.
“Yes.” Harley insisted. “Wouldn’t you be, if Zane went all caveman on you?”
Technically, Spencer had gone caveman on Isaac, not her. But, Isaac hadn’t really said anything that warranted a punch in the jaw. So what if he picked on her sense of style? She had made peace with his crass comments the day she’d left him sitting in that restaurant. Was it possible that Spencer had been just waiting for the ideal time to take a shot at Isaac? Surely he’d fantasized about doing that the whole time she was dating Isaac.
Lily didn’t answer right away and made a face as though considering that question.
Harley looked around their apartment at the half-packed boxes. Her stomach twisted, but her gut knew she was making the right decision to move in with Spencer. Even though her brain was overthinking everything at the moment.
Yes, she was mad at him, but not enough to break things off. This was a small bump in the road for them. Couples fight all the time.
“Har, do you think Spencer may have had a good reason for punching Isaac? I mean, I’ve never known him to just walk up to someone and hit them. He’s not the violence type.”
“What exactly do you consider a good reason for assaulting someone, Lil?” Harley asked with a little bit of snark in her words.
Lily’s question surprised her. Her best friend was a non-aggression, save the animals, tree-hugger kind of person. So Lily’s defense of Spencer’s actions had her head spinning.
“I think you need to ask Spencer that,” Lily answered flatly. “But if I had to guess, I might think he was defending your honor, seeing as who the recipient was.”
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