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Harlan didn’t speak as he finished wrapping Cora’s hands. She watched him work in silence, her eyes taking in every line of his handsome face, every shadow under his gorgeous blue eyes. I can’t give up on him, she thought. I’m the only one who’s willing to reach out and help. She scrunched her nose. That’s not true. Everyone wants to help. I’m just the only one who’s willing to risk his wrath to do it.
Harlan glanced up from his spot on the floor. Clearing his throat, he stood and rubbed the back of his neck. “Keep them clean and you shouldn’t have any problems with infection.”
Cora nodded, a blush creeping up her cheeks. She glanced down at her raw and blistered palms, now covered in white gauze and bandages. “I guess next time I should wear gloves, huh?’
Harlan snorted and moved away. “Next time you should leave it to the experts.”
Cora raised an eyebrow. “Experts? I didn’t realize overgrown ex-military men were wood-chopping experts.”
Harlan glared at her, but Cora cheerfully ignored his moodiness.
“In fact, I’m pretty certain you almost took off Sawyer’s hand once when you were kids.”
Harlan turned and leaned his hips into the countertop, folding his arms over his chest. “That was before I was ex-military.”
“Ha!” Cora crowed. “But you were still overgrown, even then.”
“Only to tiny women who’ve never had a growth spurt,” he shot back.
Cora jumped to her feet. The thrill of their bantering was exhilarating, but she had no desire for Harlan to know that. “Excuse me,” she said with a snap. “Just because I didn’t grow up to be bigger than Sasquatch does not make me small.” She sniffed and put her hands on her hips. “It makes me normal.”
Harlan’s eyebrows slowly rose and a small twitch occured at the edge of his mouth, which gave Cora even more courage. “Normal, huh? Cora Eileen Sanderson. There is nothing normal about you.”
“OH!” Cora glared. She stalked toward him. “Now you’re going to pay.”
He gave her a look, not the least bit intimidated by her approach. “You left the axe outside. Oh wait, you can’t lift it anyway, so it’s not much of a threat.”
Cora smiled sweetly, knowing that should be a clear indicator she was up to no good, but Harlan continued to watch her in an amused way. She came right into his space, then veered at the last minute, grabbing the nozzle on the sink and quickly turning it on Harlan.
“What?” He sputtered and put his hands out to try and stop the water.
Cora let go of the handle and laughed, putting the nozzle back where it belonged. “Someone had to do it, Har. You can’t just insult people and expect no reaction.”
He wiped his drenched curls away from his forehead. “You insulted me first, runt.”
Cora pursed her lips and toyed with the hose. “Don’t tempt me, Bigfoot.” Without warning, Harlan growled and grabbed Cora around the waist. She squealed and tried to get away, but it was too late.
Harlan turned on the water and kept her head down in the sink while he soaked every inch of her hair.
Cora kicked him in the shin, sputtering while the water ran over her face.
Harlan grunted at the kick, but didn’t release her until her hair was completely saturated. Once it was done, he shut off the water and stepped back. “Did we cool off that temper or should I do it again?”
Cora flipped her hair over with a loud slap. She smirked when she turned and saw him wiping water off his face. “You do realize you just started a war, don’t you?”
Harlan rolled his eyes.
“Do you have any idea how long it takes me to do my hair?” Cora couldn’t decide if she was truly angry or if she just enjoyed pushing Harlan’s buttons, but she kept going. “And I don’t even have real products here.” She cocked her head. “That nasty mousse your brother brought me can’t contain all the frizz, although it tries.”
Harlan folded his arms and looked down at her. “You complaining about your treatment as a client?”
Cora stepped up toe to toe and had to crane her neck to see the giant. “No. I’m complaining of my treatment as your friend.” She held back a wince at the word. It wasn’t what she wanted, but it was definitely what he needed.
“I don’t give my friends special treatment,” he said softly.
“Really? You don’t offer love advice when they’re being stupid?”
Harlan’s gaze hardened.
“You don’t offer yourself as a scapegoat when one of your buddies is in hot water?”
“Cora, stop.”
“You don’t give your brother permission to find the woman who makes him happy even if it means having another distracted employee?”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Harlan said through clenched teeth.
“I know exactly what I’m talking about,” Cora said quietly. She was trying to push him, but she also was trying to be careful. “I know you far better than you think I do.”
“You can’t—”
“No, I can’t understand everything you’ve gone through,” Cora interrupted. She took a deep breath, determined to push on. “But I do understand what you’ve done since you got home.” She made sure not to break eye contact. “You think you’re broken, Harlan, but you’re not. You’ve been the saving grace of our whole company. When someone is hurting, who do they turn to?”
Harlan didn’t answer.
“Who do they know will listen without judgment?”
His gaze dropped to the floor.
“Who would do anything to protect his family?” She ducked, trying to catch his eyes. “Who do we know that would start a business when he wasn’t ready, simply to give his comrades a way to make a living?” Cora shook her head. “You’re far from broken, Harlan. You can fool yourself all you want, but anyone who pays attention knows that you’re a man who loves others more than you love yourself.” She leaned in. “And in my book, that makes you more worth loving than ever before.” With that mic drop, she turned and headed to her room to try and do damage control to her hair. It was going to look like a bush if she didn’t take care of it. Of course, that might make him laugh, which would be worth it, but right now I might need to let him digest what I’ve said before I push him any more. She blew out a long breath and dove behind her door. “Dear Lord...please let this work.” Cora wiped a stray tear. “I don’t know what I’ll do if I lose him, but if he finds himself, it’ll be worth it.”
*****
HARLAN WATCHED THE soaked, but gorgeous redhead disappear down the hall. His heart was thumping so hard against his ribcage, he was sure it would break through at any moment.
She had been so close, so playful, so serious...so Cora. Her smell wasn’t quite right without her normal shampoo, but that hadn’t stopped Harlan from wanting to grab her and kiss her every time she scrunched that adorable little nose of hers.
“Bigfoot,” he scoffed. “Just because she’s built like a fairy.” He snorted and stormed over to the couch. “Just another reason I can’t have her. I’d probably break her in half or something.” He said the words, but there was no strength behind them.
Cora continued to crawl further and further under his skin. He didn’t even have the strength to properly fight her advances. He’d actually thought she was going to kiss him, and heaven help him, Harlan was going to let her.
He shook his head. “She’s making you soft,” he scolded himself. Somehow he wasn’t as upset about it as he should be.
The door opened down the hall and he glanced over his shoulder, watching Cora come out with her hair tugged into a tight bun on top of her head.
“Get the shrubbery contained?” he teased. He wanted to slap his forehead. Why are you flirting with her? That’s not your job here.
Cora glared at him. “You’ll be happy to know it won’t strangle you today.” She shrugged one dainty shoulder. “I can’t make any promises for tomorrow though.”
Harlan chuckled. He couldn’t help it. Cora, more than anyone else, seemed to pull those emotions out of him whether he wanted to experience them or not.
She walked around and sagged onto the sofa a few inches from his side.
Harlan could feel her body heat immediately and the hurt part of him wanted to curl into her side and have her wipe away all the nasty things in the world. Instead, he cleared his throat. “So...what do you think we should do today?” He pointed to her hands. “Nothing too grabby. I don’t think your hands could handle it.”
“Guess that means my evil plan to tickle you until you laugh won’t work,” she said lightly, grinning at him.
Harlan held in the urge to roll his eyes. “I’m not ticklish. For someone who claims to know me so well, you missed the obvious.”
Cora’s eyebrows rose and her mouth curled into a stunning smile. “Sawyer isn’t ticklish. You are.” She winked. “Don’t try to confuse me, Har. I’ve been around the block with you Lockwoods way too many times.”
Harlan swallowed hard, but kept going. Flirting with her was dangerous, but then, he’d always been drawn to danger. “If you’re so smart, then just where is it I’m supposedly ticklish?”
Cora jumped onto her knees on the couch and leaned into his space. “You really wanna know?”
Harlan nodded, still keeping a straight face.
“Okay...I’ll really tell you.” Cora put her nose right up next to his. “Your foot.”
Harlan scowled and backed up. “So you say.”
She giggled and sat back. “Someday when I have the use of my hands, I’ll prove it to you.”
Harlan twiddled his thumbs for a minute. “Want to work out?” he blurted then winced. What? How can she work out with no hands, idiot?
Cora pinched her lips. “I’m not much of a runner.” She glanced out the window. “But I don’t mind hiking as long as it’s not too far.” She nudged her foot against his. “I don’t have giant feet or legs to keep me moving for all hours of the day.”
Harlan huffed. “Probably better take the kid trail then—Ow!” He rubbed his shin where she’d kicked him. “What was that for?”
Cora gave him an incredulous look, then snapped her jaw shut and shrugged. “I dunno. It seemed like the kiddy thing to do.” She bounced off the couch. “I’ll grab my sneakers.”
Harlan couldn’t keep from watching her as he continued to rub his shin. “I have a feeling I’m going to regret this,” he muttered. Standing, he couldn’t help but smile. “I guess I’m a glutton for punishment.” His smile fell. “Does she really think I’m not broken?” He rubbed his chin. “She thinks I’m lost,” he mumbled. “Maybe Cora is the perfect person to find me.”