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His grin widens. “Enjoy the mountains?”
I laugh. “Is there anything you don’t know?”
“No, I know everything. The girls talk.”
I back out of his driveway, and we talk about nothing as we drive to the downtown core. I squeeze my big truck into a tight spot and slam it into park. Harper isn’t going to like me going behind her back like this, but I’m doing it anyway. I don’t want to just tell her how I feel about her, I want to show her in a big way.
Cole and I jump from the truck and the realtor is standing outside a shopping complex, reading something on his phone when I reach him. “Hey Liam, Cole,” he says and lifts his head.
I glance at the strip of stores along the street. While this is a great location, I’m not sure about parking, but decide to check the space out anyway. For the next three hours, the real estate agent takes Cole and me from one location to the next, and I’m exhausted by the time we’re finished.
“Want to go grab a cold one?” Cole asks. “Sit down and do the pros and cons of each place?”
I check my phone. I don’t think Harper will be finished just yet, so I nod. “Sounds like a great idea.”
Back in my truck, we drive to Nelly’s, which is pretty quiet this time of day. Cole gestures the server for a couple of beers and I fish my phone from my back pocket, checking to see if Harper has texted me. For the next little while, we lay out the pros and cons to each place we viewed, and we both come up with the same answer. The house just a few blocks from her home with backyard greenspace, room for expansion, and a park nearby. We could easily change the front to look more like a business, and she could convert the upper part of the house to an apartment and live in it if she wants, so Gavin would be able to go to school with Holden, and during the summers, my off-season, they could stay at my place—where there is always room for Holden and his other friends.
From my periphery, that guy Griff, who’d questioned me on Harper, comes through the front door. “Do you know that guy?” I ask Cole, an uneasy feeling mushrooming inside me when his eyes meet mine, and he gives a curt nod. I don’t believe in coincidences and the fact that he’s here again, four o’clock on a Saturday afternoon, raises all kinds of questions.
“No, why?” Cole asks.
The server comes with our drinks, and I take a big mouthful. “I don’t know. He rubs me the wrong way.”
Cole cracks his knuckles. “Want me to go rub him the wrong way?”
I snort. “Nah, I can fight my own battles.”
Griff takes a seat, orders a beer, and gets on his phone. Every few seconds, he glances my way, and I’m about to go over there and ask him what his problem is when my phone pings. I glance down and notice it’s Jeremy, but I’m not in the mood to talk to anyone at the moment—not while Griff is staring at me, like trouble is right around the corner. I flick off the volume, and turn it over, my eyes still on Griff.
“I think he’s sweet on you,” Cole says and sits up a little straighter, an intimidation pose that would put fear into any man. Griff downs his beer, stands, and tips his hat to me as he exits.
I take a long pull from the bottle, and set it on the counter harder than necessary. “What the fuck is that guy’s problem?” Just then Rider and Kane come walking in, and we wave them over. For the next hour, we shoot the shit, and the place begins to fill up with suits and tech guys, getting off work.
I grab my phone to check the time and that’s when I notice a dozen calls and texts from Jeremy.
Worry rakes through me, scraping along my skin. “Shit.”
“What’s wrong?” Rider asks.
“Don’t know. Jeremy’s been calling.” I jump up worried that something happened to Harper or Gavin. “I have to call him.”
I step away from the table and find a quiet corner. The second Jeremy answers, my stomach falls to the floor.
“Where are you? I’ve been trying to call for an hour.”
“At Nelly’s with the guys.” I lift my head when a bunch of rowdy businessmen come in. I hold the phone tighter against my ear, and put my hand over the other. “What’s up?”
“I’m at your place. Meet me here.”
“Are Harper and Gavin okay?”
A pause and then. “Yeah, just get here, okay?”
“On my way.” I end the call and hurry back to the table.
“What the hell, Liam?” Cole asks, his eyes narrowed with worry.
I rake a shaky hand through my hair. “Jeremy wants to see me.” I glance at Cole, take in the stiffness in his body. “You want me to drop you—”
