I was fed up with both of them.
I turned to the one I didn’t share blood with first.
“Augustus. Please go back inside. Ox is leaving in a second and I can be in there shortly.” He looked warily from me to my brother and I could tell he was going to protest. So I beat him to it, saying, “Please.”
He opened his mouth but caught sight of my eyes and stopped. I was saying please but so help me if he didn’t get his butt in that tattoo shop I was going to wring his neck this time, not the potted plant’s.
I think my gaze portrayed that. Which must be why he finally grunted, “Five minutes, Boss. Or I’m coming out to get you.”
I turned to Ox next, not even bothering to watch Gus as he walked away. I’d deal with him later. My brother, on the other hand,stared at him. His eyes slitted, following his large form all the way until it disappeared.
“I thought you had to leave,” I said.
“I do, and you’re coming too.”
“I’m not,” I said. And then I looked at him. “And how could you act like that in front of him! I told you he was my client. You of all people should know not to be rude.”
“Me?” His eyes widened. “He ordered you around like he owned you. Not to mention disappearing into a tattoo shop. Alta, what are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking that you are a pot calling the kettle black, Oaxaca,” I hissed. “Because instead of listening, you are the one trying to order me around despite having just insulted me by calling me a child. At least he didn’t do that.”
He paused, his dark eyes surveying me closely before he sighed regretfully. “Alta?—”
I held my hand up, stopping him.
“I’m going to need to smooth this over with my client, Ox. I can’t go with you now. If you would read my email you’d see that I also work with every other business on this block. I’m safe here. You can call off the big brother police.” I sighed too, suddenly feeling guilty for being so hard on him. He was just worried, after all. Harper was the one who had come in hot. Also worried.Jesus. “You have to go, remember? What is it? Clem? Or Ceci’s festival?”
He pressed his lips together, his eyes suddenly cautious. Not used to me putting him in his place, not used to anyone doing so. He cleared his throat. “Melissa. She needs help with the acquisition case.”
And the lashes just kept coming.
I nodded, taking another step away from him. I smiled. Weak and fake, but at least I smiled. “Go, then. It’s important.”
“Rain check?” he asked. If my brother was one thing it was astute. He probably knew what I was thinking before I thought it.
But it was too late. He’d spoken the words I already knew. In matters of importance in this family, I was last. I was just the silly little child everyone expected nothing from. I was nothing.
She was something.
I turned away from him, hurt but more so numb. “If you can find the time, then, sure.”
Chapter Ten
ALTA
I barreled through the door of the shop like a bloodhound on a mission. One quick scan of the area didn’t produce the person I was looking for. Funny how that worked since he wasjustpresent when he wasn’t supposed to be.
From what I could see, the shop only consisted of the girls and Quis. All people who wouldn’t mind my next actions.
“Harper!”
Fast—faster than I thought he would— Harper appeared in the hall of the back rooms holding onto the doorframe. His eyes appeared urgent as he scanned the room, and when those warm brown orbs caught onto me, they locked.
In seconds he was across the roomand in front of me. His big hands grasped my shoulders and pulled me close to him, basically into his chest. I had to brace my hands on the sides of his waist to stop my face from smashing between his pecs.
“What?” he asked, taking me off guard. He was looking around the store like a maniac. Looking for someone, as he peered around me and out the front window. When he didn’t see anything he pushed me away. Only far enough to look down at me with genuine concern, repeating. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
I opened my mouth but closed it quickly. Staring up at him I couldn’t help the floppy dance my heart was doing in my chest as I registered the look on his face.
