AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You’re always worried about her, Harp,” Deborah laughed. Still, Harper knew she would come through for her; she always did.
“She’s backed off the partying, you’ll be happy to hear,” Deborah said, a proud smile in her voice. “She’s been coming back to Indigo Lounge nearly every night, not just to sleep, but she’ll hang out downstairs in the lounge. She’ll sit and talk with Ruby, ya know, sometimes they’ll write together but it’s mostly chatting—I still think that chef’s got the hots for Ruby, but that’s none of my business. Anyways, when she’s not writing she’s behind the bar. Esme’s been training her in mixology, she’s getting really good at making those fancy little drinks you like, as well as the good stuff.”
As Deborah paused for breath, Harper reflected on how much of a change this was.
“Has she been getting much attention there?”
“Oh, heavens no. She’s been very dressed down, rushing upstairs when she gets home to change into plain clothes and wash off her makeup so people don’t recognize her. She’s been able to have a good time without worrying about any attention at all. She’s gotten some normalcy now her new fame has died down, which I suppose is healthy. Although…”
“Although what?” Harper pressed.
“She did a small set at the open mic on Tuesday. She didn’t want me to tell you, so keep your mouth shut, but she wanted to feel normal again. It was wonderful to have her back, but something was off. Me and Esme, we could see she just wasn’t comfortable anymore. The crowd loved her, and she sounded beautiful but, you know that usual persona she has on stage?”
“Yeah?”
“It just seems like she couldn’t tap into that. I don’t think anybody noticed, of course, but she seemed far less confident than she has been. You’re not the only one worried about the kid, I promise you that. Can I tell you something?”
“Go for it,” Harper said, figuring she already knew.
“She misses you; she really does. I know you two made the decision to end it and remain on a professional level, and far be it from me to intrude on other people’s business, but I really think the two of you could have made it work. She’s only really come back to herself since you decided to call it quits, so kudos, but you two were so sweet together. Your connection was so real.”
It was as if Deborah had made up Harper’s mind for her. She had made a mistake, and she was going to fix it. For real, this time, not some band-aid faux-professionalism that only made them hate each other. She just had to work out some logistics first...
“I’ll be back in town at the end of the month anyway, once my work here is done. Keep in touch, Deb, and tell Esme I said hello.”
14
When the shows, interviews, and yes, even the photoshoots started showing up in Mia’s schedule diary again, it was a relief. She knew that the label had a good team working on the libel case (Carson had been controlling the accounts, they had found out for certain, and they were building a case against him) and Mia knew she was in safe hands. Still, in a selfish way, she wished Harper was with her to celebrate.
Getting back into contact with Harper had been nice, despite the bittersweet nature of it all. She hadn’t seen Harper since she had gotten back from New York, but Mia knew she was in town, and they were exchanging updates constantly. Still, it felt like a cruel joke when she walked into the Lounge after a long day at work only to be hit with a smell that reminded her of what had become Harper’s favorite perfume. Looking around, she made eye contact with Esme, who waved and gestured upward. Looking above the bar, Mia saw a shelf suspended from the ceiling holding a breathtaking display of fresh flowers. The main features? Roses and irises.
“What do you think? Aren’t they gorgeous?” Esme called, a smile lighting up her face.
I can’t ruin this for her, this must have cost so much… and it is very pretty.
“It’s beautiful, Esme, it really is. What’s the occasion?”
“Spring has sprung, Mia! I’m changing the menus too. Would you like to give me a hand coming up with some new specials tonight? I just got some edible lavender in, and I would love to see what we can cook up with that.”
Mia smiled fondly. Esme was the real secret to this place’s success, she thought, and her passion was contagious. She spotted a few handfuls of loose flowers on the bartop that weren’t a part of the display above the bar.
“I would love to, Esme, thank you for the offer! If it isn’t any trouble, could I take a handful of flowers upstairs with me? They smell so wonderful.”
“Of course, honey! Take as many as you’d like. We’ll be scattering the rest around the lounge so that gorgeous smell spreads everywhere, and there are more due every week as the months roll on.”
Thanking Esme, Mia grabbed a small fistful of irises and rose petals, scattering them on the coffee table in her room upstairs. She sat down that evening to write, and the scent of the fresh buds had filled the room completely. Notebook balanced on her lap, pen in hand, Mia brainstormed an idea for a new song. At least, she tried to. It wasn’t enough that she missed Harper terribly, no, now she had to go and distract her from her writing when she wasn’t even in the room!
After a few futile minutes of trying to come up with a catchy hook, Mia sighed, setting the notebook down on the table. She had to clear her head. She took deep breaths, and while it calmed her down, it also forced her to inhale the fresh smell of the flowers. She decided that distraction wasn’t worth it; If she was going to think about Harper, fine, but it would be on her own terms. Not for the first time, she thought back to the night they had first met, when she had only ever heard of the Huntress. That big reputation seemed like a far cry from the Harper she had gotten to know in the following weeks. Sweet, generous, whip-smart Harper who had taken her to an underground lesbian bar in order to convince her to sign a contract. Harper had told her later that she was trying to seduce her, and Mia had joked that it worked. After that day in the studio, the air had been thick with tension.
Mia thought back to it, back to when she had seen Harper in complete control in the monitoring area of the recording booth. She fondly remembered when she had surrendered that control in the dark of the club, demanding that Mia fuck her there and then.
Harper’s perfume had lingered on her collarbones as Mia buried her fingers inside her, sharp gasps and moans timed to the music, payback for her earlier teasing. Now, Mia was getting invested in the memory. Double-checking she was alone upstairs, she began feeling her chest, remembering the soft insistence of Harper’s hands squeezing her. Harper’s voice in her ear, warm and dominant and experienced, knowing exactly what she wanted and how she was going to get it. Mia became more and more sensitive as she played back the memories, turned on in a way she hadn’t been since the night they had first met. The embarrassment of waking up hungover with her vibrator between her legs had been replaced with open lust once she knew Harper had felt that same attraction.
She recalled an intense quickie in a walk-in closet backstage, grinding her pussy against Harper’s open mouth while she licked at her clit, one hand down her suit trousers. Now, she reached down, hitched up her plaid skirt and pulled her panties to the side.
She remembered the softness of Harper’s skin in bed, how it felt between her teeth as she left love-bites only the two of them would ever see. She thought of the way Harper had tasted the first time Mia had tasted her, perfume mingling with the smell of her as Harper groaned above her. Mia reached over and grabbed a handful of petals with her non-occupied hand and held them to her face, inhaling the sweet smell as she rubbed her clit. It was missing something, the earthiness that the perfume usually carried, but memory filled in the blanks.
Mia’s thighs began to shake as she imagined Harper there with her, whispering into her ear. She rolled the flower petals over her neck and chest, marking herself with Harper’s scent. She knew it now more than ever. She was Harper’s and Harper’s alone. She could almost feel Harper there with her as heat pooled in her stomach, each movement drawing quiet noises out of her.
