And then there was Jack.He came up the steps, stopped.
He glanced at her.Gave her a tight smile.“You haven’t left yet.”
“Tonight.”Or tomorrow.Or right now.
He nodded.Oh,he did look rough, but then again, she was wearing cutoff shorts and a Scooby-Doo shirt, so...
She didn’t want to leave it like this.Didn’t want to leave at all, but...
“I—”
“Leave it, Harper.”He held up a hand.“We’ll get through this dinner and maybe someday figure out a way to...”He shook his head.“Whatever.”
He started to walk away, toward the door.
Conrad stood in front of him.
“Move.”
Penny came out behind him, holding a tray of pickles.Looked at Jack, then at Harper.“For Pete’s sake, will you two have a conversation?”
“We did,” Jack said.He took the pickles from Penny.“It’s done.”
Boo had come up, holding Oaken’s hand.“It’s not done.Harper spent the week crying her eyes out.”
“Hey.That was private information.”
“Jack is about as friendly as a mule,” said Doyle, sliding out from behind Penny.
Jack shook his head.
“Just...propose to the woman already.”This from Boo.
Harper might have worn the same look as Jack.“Boo!”
“Well.That’s the problem, right?”
Jack frowned.Cocked his head.
Austen had come out of the kitchen carrying the bowl of potatoes, Tia behind her.She stopped at the roadblock by the door.“What did I miss?”
“Jack is going to propose to Harper,” said Conrad.
“I am not!”
And Harper had never felt more slapped.She recoiled, caught her breath.“Sorry, Boo.”She turned, headed down the stairs.
And nearly plowed over Declan Stone.He stood in her way, and she stared at him.Right.Austen was dating the billionaire.
He reached out and steadied her.“You okay?”
“No, she’s not okay,” said Tia.“Apparently, Jack won’t propose.”
Jack rounded on Tia.“What?”
She held up her hands.“I’m just catching him up.It’s good for everyone to have all the information so they don’t walk into something unprepared.”
Declan gave her a look.
