Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 94921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
She laughed. “Don’t worry about it. Me and my brother are not on speaking terms right now. He is public enemy number one for me. Well, make that two.”
“You have enemies?” Hailey asked.
“I try not to, but that’s life.” Harlow finished packaging the order and sealed it.
“I feel you have a lot of stories to tell,” Hailey said.
She chanced a look outside, and sure enough, she spotted Hunter. Even from the small distance, she could tell that some of his face was bruised. That had to be because of her brother finding out.
Ava had told her there was video footage of her and Hunter. Big Dick had seen it, and Smokey. Harlow didn’t know who else, but that had been her and Hunter’s private time. Someone had invaded that. She clenched her hands into fists. Knowing someone was out there filming her and Hunter, she wanted to hurt them.
“I’m not exactly high on their favorite people list. I … had an affair with one of the men who I shouldn’t have. It’s why I’m not talking to my brother and why I quit my job,” Harlow said.
“Oh,” Hailey said. “An affair? With Smokey?”
Harlow jerked her head. “Wait? What? Why do people keep assuming I’m going to have an affair with him?” This had happened at Christmastime as well. All she had been doing was helping Smokey plan the perfect Christmas for Ava. “No, I slept with the vice president of the club, Hunter.”
“Oh,” Hailey said.
“Do you know about club politics?” Harlow asked.
“I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about, but it sounds interesting.”
Harlow laughed.
There was silence as Harlow looked at the club. Several of the men had gone into the diner. Hunter stood out of it. She was sure he was looking at her, and Harlow stepped back. There was no way she was going to allow herself the few seconds of potential hope.
“You and I both knew this was going to be a little fun, and now, to be honest, I’m bored. I can’t deal with your inexperience. I tried to train you, but you’re just not what I need.”
To some people, this was just a bunch of words, but to Harlow they meant a great deal. They hurt. She had known Hunter could be cruel, but she hadn’t been prepared for him to end it so suddenly. It had come out of the blue.
Turning back to the packages, she wished there was something for her to do. She started to count inside her head. One. Two. Three. Four.
Lifting her head, Hailey took her hands. “We’re going to party tonight.”
Harlow stopped counting and Hailey gripped her hands tightly. The smile dropped a little on Hailey’s face.
“What?”
“Party. You and me, tonight. We’re going to dance.”
“Ah, yes, we’re going to dance.”
Hailey chuckled. “I’m sorry. I’m so excited. I’ve been in Fort Clover for over a year, and I have never had any girls’ time.”
“You haven’t?”
“I don’t make friends that easily, and I don’t know, Harlow, I really like you.”
Before Harlow could stop her, she had her arms wrapped around her. She wasn’t used to this. Larissa was the most expressive and loving of all the women she knew. Raven was cold. She, Ava, and Abriana were … the normal range of feelings.
“I like you too,” Harlow said, and she wasn’t just saying that because she was her boss. She meant it.
Hailey smiled, and she couldn’t help but smile right back.
****
“I don’t like this,” Ava said. “Harlow is not answering my calls. She never does that.”
She looked toward Raven who shrugged. No calls from Harlow either. Abriana did the same, as did Larissa. Harlow had shut them out.
“Maybe we should just go and talk to her,” Abriana said.
“Would you want someone to just come and talk to you?” Raven asked.
“Well, yeah.”
Ava looked toward Raven, who stared at her.
“Would you? Bearing in mind you’ve been broken up with, and knowing Hunter, that prick wasn’t nice about it. Then your brother makes a big scene, along with all the bullshit we know Harlow has been through. Put all of that onto you, would you want people crowding you?” Raven asked.
“No,” Ava said.
“Neither would I,” Raven said.
“Leaving her alone is not the solution,” Larissa said.
“But Harlow keeps rejecting our calls,” Ava said. “There is only so much we can do, and right now, she is hurting. Maybe seeing us is a reminder of that pain.” She didn’t like it, but Ava did understand it. After everything she went through, she didn’t want a single reminder of anyone or anything.
Harlow needed space. And right now, they had no choice but to give it to her.
****
Hunter wasn’t happy.
Glancing at Hailey’s Beauty Parlor, he was pissed off. He was pretty sure he saw Harlow in the window, but the moment he caught sight of her and looked in her eyes, she stepped back.