Page 7 of Hard to Hold


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Harlon

Chapter 4

Arriving back at the house, Harlon grabbed a beer from the fridge, then jogged up the stairs to his office and shoved the doors open.

His high-tech security array was up and running. Four continuous cameras feeds were perched on trees and pointed in the direction of the surrounding woods and two other screens displayed his coworkers who were holding down the New York office. When he entered the room, they glanced up.

“Nice of you to rejoin us,” Quinton said. He and his brother were the ones who’d talked him into coming to the woods.

“One of the search and rescue people needed rescuing. It couldn’t be avoided.”

“You would think they’d send them out better prepared.”

“She had bear spray. She was more prepared than most,” Harlon said, tapping on his keyboard. “Be glad I went, because she’s the one I’m looking for.”

Both gazes lifted to the computer screen as Harlon typed in Nina’s name, pulling up every record he could find on her.

A picture popped up, this one from a rescue a year ago in which she’d been a savior. Her brunette hair was a little shorter. Her smile was just as bright.

“You sure? She doesn’t look special. I mean don’t get me wrong, I’d hit that, but she doesn’t seem like she has abilities. I mean you had to save her, after all,” Milton said.

Harlon had known Milton and Quinton his entire life. They’d grown up together thanks to their parents being business partners. Harlon would do pretty much anything for his brothers from another mother, just like they’d do for him.

“I’m not wrong, and neither was the psychic.” Harlon knew it in his gut. The way his body reacted, one look at her in the shower, and he’d known instantly she was the one. Not that he’d share that little detail with the others.

Harlon hadn’t even known her name, but he knew just like he knew he’d draw in his next breath that Nina Bennett would be splayed out on his bed with his name on her lips. Harlon shoved the thought away, needing to prove his suspicions before he could proceed.

“What gave her away? Could she shoot fire out her ass?” Milton asked, earning Quinton’s chuckle.

“She knew my scar was made by a tiger.”

Their chuckles died. “And you say you’ve never met her.”

“I’d remember her if I had,” he claimed.

“She could be working for whoever is after your family. A femme fatale to reel you in.”

Harlon took a swig of his beer and let that thought settle in his brain. She was perfect for it. Dark hair, mesmerizing blue eyes, long tan legs. “Femme fatales don’t act skittish.”

“Could be that’s the way she’s going to reel you in, Harlon. Make you chase her instead of the other way around.”

“Her response when I undressed her wasn’t an act.” Goosebumps rose on her skin as she leaned back into his body and not away.

“Wait. You’ve already undressed her?” Quinton asked. “That’s a new record for you.”

“She found the lost kid and was covered in bear spray. Of course, I undressed her in the shower.”

“And she didn’t succumb to your charms right there? You could have ended this and known for sure.”

“Do you blame her?” Milton asked. “He’s dressed like a fucking backwoods hillbilly.”

She’d been attracted to him. He didn’t have to read her mind to know. He’d smelled her desire battling with her fear.

“I couldn’t read her mind. She has to be the one.”

“Put on your A-game and reel her in. You need to get back here.”

“I’m all over it,” Harlon said, shoving out of his seat and jogging downstairs.

Women came easy to him. Reading their minds helped to know what turned them on. Harlon wouldn’t apologize for doing it. Not when he was dishing out exactly what they wanted. He’d learned his techniques well. He just had to shut up long enough to listen and then deliver. Reading Nina would take a ton more effort. An effort he was willing to put in.

After cooking dinner, Harlon returned to the observation room. Milton and Quinton were no longer on the screens. Their connection had been severed.

He spent the next hour learning everything he could about Nina Bennett. Her presence on social media and interests were all over the place, scattered, like she was moving in more than one direction. She’d done everything from finding lost children in search and rescue to saving other lives. She was an enigma; she was a savior. Was the reason she knew about his scar the same reason that gave her a leg up in the rescues?

There was only one way to find out.