I didn’t hate it.
I didn’t hateanythingabout Soul.
If Harlow was sunshine, he was moonlight. He had a knack for controlling the tempo of any room he entered. He knew how to turn chaos into calm and the soothing effect he had on people was exactly why he was so successful as a massage therapist. He was compassionate and empathetic to a fault and went out of his way to make everyone feel good.
That’s why he’d spent his only morning off this week peeling and pulling apart clementines for Harlow. Because he knew how much she loved them but also knew she hated the way the smell got trapped under her nails.
And that’s why when he was done and tried to give me a massage to help me relax after my latest deadline submission, it turned into two hours of us…losing track of time.
When I turned to study his profile, his eyes were on Harlow and the smile on his lips rounded his cheeks.
I dipped my head to kiss the side of his neck and grumbled, “Still don’t like that shit.”
Soul pulled his hand from under mine and threw his arm behind my high back stool. The familiar weight of his forearm and bicep draped across my shoulders made me relax into the contact.
“She’s having fun,” he reminded me, grabbing his mojito. “Besides, she’s coming home with us.”
His voice was like velvet—confident and smooth while still coming out soft. I couldn’t help but believe everything he told me.
Exhaling, I nodded. “Yeah, she’s coming home with us.”
Dazed and Confused
I loved my job, I loved my hometown, and I lovedmostof the people in it.
And even on the days somebody got under my skin, all I had to do was turn my head and catch a view of the water.
No matter where I was on the island, the crystal-clear waves were always in sight and whatever was bugging me became insignificant.
“Aye, hold up.” My bartender Matt grabbed my shoulder, suspending my reverie as four very familiar faces walked through the patio door.
“What?”
“I think my future ex-wife just walked in.” It only took me two seconds to figure out who he was talking about when Ifollowed his line of sight and my eyes landed on Harlow fucking Westbrook.
I knew she planned to be in town this weekend, but I wasn’t counting on seeing her before I got back to the house tonight.
Just as I darted my eyes to Matt, I caught the sweet, citrusy notes of her perfume and lost my train of thought.
Harlow Westbrook was one of my best friends. Had been since we were knee high to my grandpa. We grew up together. Became adults together. I loved her like she was a part of me. Because she was.
But I wouldn’t lie like she hadn’t been my first heartbreak too. Whenever I saw her, I had to school my features and act unaffected because I seemed to be the only one who took what we did that night to heart.
And that wasn’t her fault. She told me what it was before I got my feelings hurt. That still didn’t stop me from traveling down memory lane one too many nights.
Damn.
The strapless yellow dress she had on looked like liquid gold against her bronze skin. She looked so good I almost missed the way Zay’s eyes were glued on her ass as he stood a few steps behind her.
He was so fucking obvious and that pissed me off. If he had a hairline, his brows would be touching it right now.
I knew for a fact that the woman in front of me was fine, but he was acting like this was his first day out or some shit.
Shaking my head, I focused on Harlow and not the subtle twitch of my right eye.
“Hey, Christian.” She’d raised her voice to catch my attention over the music, and it was still barely audible.
“Harlow.” I nodded with a faint smile, ignoring the way my heart flipped itself upside down the moment she turned her attention on me. “Welcome home.”
