Chapter Three

Harper knew three things to be completely true. One—Morganville was the best place to live in all of Georgia. Two—she loved her family. Three—she’d never let herself need Rafferty Bradford ever again. He’d proven that he’d do just what her father had and leave.

“Are you drunk?” she asked, wanting to raise her hands to fix her helmet hair but didn’t because the armor was surprisingly heavy. She’d already smacked herself in the face twice today, and it was a pain in the butt to take the gauntlets off to primp. Especially when the said primping was for the sake of a guy she didn’t even care anything about.

“No, I’m not drunk,” Rafferty said.

That smile of his that Ivy swore could rob a woman of her senses flashed across his lips.

Harper wouldn’t know about losing her mind on account of him, and she had no intention of finding out. “Well, whatever it is, like I said, I’m kind of busy. If you need something else, find my assistant, Ivy.” She started to walk away.

He cut in front of her and put his hand out, and it connected with the breastplate. “Sorry.” He lowered his hand.

“No problem. Didn’t feel a thing. Wouldn’t even without the armor.”

He looked at her, his brown eyes filled with amusement and a bit of you-wanna-bet that heated the insides of the armor up. “If you could dial the dislike down a notch or two and hear me out, you’d see I’m right.”

I’m going to roast alive in this getup. She wanted to fan herself but knew her armor-covered hands would bring little relief. “I don’t need to hear you out to know that I will never need you for any reason under the sun. Now I have a jousting tournament to do, so go on your merry way and forget me again. Got it?” Harper let out a squeak when he stepped closer, and her forward stride bumped her up against him, armor to solid male body.

“I never forgot you.”

“Ha,” Harper said because she hated talking about the things that tore apart their friendship. The conversations only rubbed salt in the wound.

“Why do you always have to be so in control?” he asked in that whiskey-smooth voice that made her long for a drink of something strong enough to knock back her he’s-a-helluva-good-looking-guy thoughts.

“Why do you always have to be so out of control?” she countered.

“I live life to the fullest,” he said. “What’s wrong with that?”

“Everything,” she said. Chasing one risk after another and losing control caused heartache. It tore families apart. Her father had proved that. And he and Rafferty were cut from the same cloth.

The first throb of a headache started on one side of her temple. She’d gone to bed last night without eating because she was so exhausted, then she’d skipped breakfast this morning to rush in to work after Ivy had called to tell her about the latest problems.

Rafferty rubbed his forehead, and a tiny devil in her was sort of glad to see him looking as frustrated as she was, because he’d always behaved as if the collapse of their friendship hadn’t bothered him in the least.

“Look,” he said calmly. “You need a Prince Charming.”

“I also need something to eat, a massage, and to go get my split ends cut, but it doesn’t appear that’s going to happen today.”

“I’ll be your prince.”

Harper narrowed her eyes. “I would laugh until I cried, but I can’t afford to let my tears rust this suit.”

“I’m serious.”

“Why would you do that for me?”

He glanced away, and his throat worked as he swallowed. “Because I’m a nice guy. I want to help.”

She shook her head. “Rafferty Bradford is serious about being in a fairy tale show that’s all about love and happily ever after? No one will buy you in the role as Prince Charming. I think the fairy tale you’re looking for is Beauty and the Beast, and the role for you is Gaston.”

“Gast—” He scowled. “Everyone likes me, and you know it. If I’m on the stage, you’ll have sell-out shows.”

Harper blinked slowly, trying to grasp why his voice suddenly sounded like he was speaking in a tunnel. The castle walls shifted, moving in and out like waves. She put her hand against the rock wall, trying to stave off the dizziness.

“Hey…” Rafferty touched the back of his hand to her face. “Your skin is hot and flushed.”

“I’m fine.” She tried to wave him off, but it was hard to think straight. Hard to move her limbs.

“No, you’re not. You’re overheating.” He reacted quickly and began removing the armor. When it was all off, Harper tugged at her old jeggings to pluck them away from her body. They didn’t leave much to the imagination. She’d switched from her shorts to keep the armor from chafing against her skin.

“Take it easy,” Rafferty said.

Harper stared at him, her brain sludging through muddy thoughts. Hot, kind firefighter guy had taken over for the annoying man. She blinked. No, Rafferty was still here. She put her hand on her stomach, trying to calm it. “I feel sick.”

Sandra, one of her employees, came out of the break room down the hall and rushed over to see what was going on.

Rafferty ordered, “I need cool, wet towels. Bring them to her office.”

He swept Harper up and carried her farther into the castle where the air was cooler, not stopping until he was inside her office. Using his foot, he hooked her desk chair and pulled it out in front of him then carefully lowered her into it.

He grabbed the fan in the corner of the room, turned it on high, and aimed it at her. Moving to the mini-fridge, he opened it and took out a bottled water. He unscrewed the cap and held it to her lips. “Don’t drink this too fast. Sip it.”

Sandra ran into the room with an assortment of towels, and Rafferty draped one of them around the back of Harper’s neck. She sucked in a breath as the wetness touched her skin. He used another one on her arms and then began to wipe her face.

She sipped the water as he’d instructed and started to feel better and a little embarrassed, too. She pushed his hand away. “I have to get back out there.”

“No.”

“There’s no one else—” She took the towel from around her neck and started to stand.

“Stay put.” He rested his hand on her shoulder, pinning her in place, and looked her hard in the eye. “I’m not playing.”

Her mouth dropped open at the seriousness of his tone—so un-Rafferty like—and because of the tingles that ran from her shoulder down into parts that shouldn’t be tingling in response.

Rafferty pointed to Sandra. “Please go find her assistant.”

With a wide-eyed glance at Harper, the employee hurried from the room.

Rafferty eyed her jeggings. “You need to change into looser clothes.”

“I’m not going to do that with you watching.”

He turned his back.

Irritated by his bossiness but knowing he was right, Harper went to the chair in the corner of the room and picked up the shorts she’d taken off earlier. She quickly stripped from the jeggings into them. When she was done, she sank back into the chair. “I don’t need any more help. I can—”

He turned to face her. “Yeah, I got that memo. You can handle everything because you’re strong and tough and you’ve been carrying the family burdens since you were a little kid. You did the cooking, the cleaning, and paid the bills after your father’s death because your mother put that on you.”

“There’s nothing wrong with being there for your family.” Harper sat a little straighter.

“As an adult, no, but you were what? Eight?”

Harper didn’t want to talk about that time in her life. It was over and done, and she’d closed the door on it. “Look, I appreciate your helping me, but I have it all under—”

“Control. I can see that.”

Exasperated, Harper said, “Stop finishing my sentences.”

Rafferty leaned back against her desk and crossed his arms. “You’ve always taken care of your mama, your aunt, and your cousin for as long as I can remember. Who takes care of you?”

“I do.”

“Really?”

“Today was an anomaly. I’m fine now, seriously. You can feel free to leave.”

“I’ll wait here for your assistant. Ivy, right?”

“Please don’t tell me she’s one of the names in your little black book.”

Rafferty tipped his head back and looked at the ceiling for a long second then sighed and redirected his attention to her. “You know why you have such a fixation on my dating life?”

“Fixa—”

“You made it clear when we were teens that you wanted me. But you were too afraid to accept the only thing I could give you, because it would mean that you might tap into something that’s out of your control. And God knows Harper Bailey must maintain control at all costs.”

Harper used the edges of the desk and scooted herself back behind it, putting the desk between her and Rafferty. She folded her hands together and cleared her throat, amazed at her calmness when she wanted to go full-on rabid animal toward him. But she’d learned to control her emotions. Crying and carrying on didn’t help anything. “Don’t act like just because you’ve dated enough women to count as a platoon, you know me.”

Ivy ran into the room, cutting off Rafferty as he started to reply. “Sandra told me what happened. Are you okay?” Her worried expression turned interested the second Harper assured her she was fine and she realized Rafferty was there. “Hello, gorgeous. Thank you for saving the life of my friend.”

“I was hardly at death’s door,” Harper drawled.

“Still, I guess this hero was in the right place at the right time.” Ivy beamed at him.

Annoyed, Harper leaned back in the chair. “Rafferty stopped by to convince me to hire him as Prince Charming.” She waited for her assistant to chime in with what an awful idea that was.

Instead, Ivy’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “He’s exactly what we need. Think of the number of women who’d buy tickets.”

“I already told her there’d be sell-out shows.”

In answer to his smug comment, Harper pictured Rafferty in the Prince Charming costume and grudgingly admitted to herself that he’d look good in it. Then she thought about having to spend time rehearsing with him. Not to mention performing the show itself. Dancing with him…the closing kiss…

“No,” she said emphatically.

“N-No?” Ivy sputtered, clearly bewildered. “Why not?”

Rafferty uncrossed his arms and straightened. “Harper doesn’t trust herself around me. She’s worried she’ll lose control.”

Ivy caught Harper’s gaze. “Oh, well…ah…”

Harper leaped to her feet and planted the palms of her hands flat on her desk. “This isn’t about me, Rafferty. It’s about you. I can’t think of a man less qualified to embody a happily ever after because, to put it bluntly, you’d suck in the role. You’d make a mockery of it all.”

Rafferty mimicked her move, planting his palms on her desk. He leaned toward her. Close enough for her to inhale the crispness of his aftershave and to see the flecks of color in his eyes.

“You’re making a mistake. And when you realize that, find me, apologize nicely, and I’ll consider coming on board and helping you out.” He straightened. “Stay out of the heat,” he ordered as he left.

Harper wanted to throw something at the door. “Don’t say it,” she warned Ivy.

“As your friend, I have to.” Ivy took a deep breath. “You can’t let your dislike of Rafferty cause you to risk the future of the castle. Ever since that Thrills place moved in, they’ve been giving us a run for our money and you know it.”

Harper sat back down and busied herself looking through the latest invoices. “I’m not risking the castle, and this has nothing to do with Rafferty.”

“I’ll take Lying Through Her Teeth for five hundred, Alex.”

“Ha-ha.”

“Why do you hate him so much?”

Harper paused and looked up. “I don’t hate him.” She might think it and say it, but she could never hate him.

She didn’t want to share that she’d opened up to Rafferty. That she’d told him things she’d never told anyone, not even Ivy. She’d finally shared her heart and how much it had hurt growing up without a father, how it made her feel like less than at school when there would be things like the father-daughter dance. She’d told him how she’d longed for someone steady. That man in her life who would always be there. And even knowing that, Rafferty had walked away.

Becoming aware of Ivy’s stare, Harper said, “He’s arrogant. He’s wild. He pushes every button I have. Always has.”

“So you dislike him because he makes you feel things outside your comfort zone?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Ivy sighed and pulled up a chair, scooting it close. “I’ve known you forever, and one thing I’ve learned is that what you went through first with your dad and then with that louse of a boyfriend made you…cautious. You struggle to open up to people.”

“That’s not true.”

“Harper, your forehead practically has a sign screaming, ‘Don’t step foot outside your comfort zone.’”

“I step outside my comfort zone,” Harper defended.

“Name the last time you tried something new, specifically with the male species.”

“I’m getting over a breakup—”

“Which you admitted left you more angry than heartbroken. Your pride was injured, you said.”

“Memory like an elephant,” Harper said.

“Always served me well when blackmailing my siblings over the stupid things they did,” Ivy quipped with a grin.

Harper’s stomach growled loudly, and she was glad she could use that as an excuse to stop the line of conversation before it circled back to a subject she didn’t want to discuss. “I’m starving. Let’s get something to eat and start interviewing more men.”

She caught the disappointment on Ivy’s face but pretended she didn’t. Ivy constantly nagged her to live a little, which was silly. She had a full life and didn’t need to change anything, and she didn’t need Rafferty, especially as her prince.

That assurance stuck with her all day the next day. And the next. But by Thursday when she still hadn’t found a prince and four employees quit to work elsewhere amid rumors of layoffs, she knew she was going to have to do what she didn’t want to do. Find Rafferty, ask him to join the show, and get the two Gs over with. Groveling—her. Gloating—him. She groaned, dreading the meeting.

…

Rafferty tried to stifle a yawn. They’d had a relatively calm week, but last night, a series of tones had sounded throughout the station for a structure fire. He’d been up, out of bed, and into his gear faster than any of the other crewmembers. As soon as he knew someone might be in trouble, his adrenaline along with the drive to get there now kicked in. It jacked him up and made coming down difficult, so once they’d returned from what had turned out to be a detached garage fire, he’d had trouble sleeping.

He’d finally given up and put in some more time studying for the exam. He wanted the next promotion ceremony to be his. He made sure his skills were current, and he was always the first to volunteer for anything the station needed. But he knew that while the exam carried weight with the chief, how a man conducted himself in his personal life did, too. Which was why he had to find a way to convince Harper to let him have the part. It would prove he could keep a commitment.

He finished his morning duties before he left and was standing in front of the bays talking to some of the other guys when Mac whistled. “Look at that.”

Rafferty turned to see Harper walking toward them with a gentle sway of her hips.

He swept his gaze from her black shorts up to the white T-shirt that hinted at a lacy pink bra beneath.

She walked the way she always did. Shoulders back, taking small determined steps, her face a mask of I-don’t-want-to-do-this. Harper rarely came to the station, and he figured there was only one reason she was here today.

He hated that things were bad for her, but he wasn’t sorry she needed him, because the need was mutual. Working with her was the key to getting what he wanted.

Keeping a death grip on the strap of the purse slung over one shoulder, she smiled tightly at the men standing with him. Rafferty guessed she didn’t want to do this in front of them. With the back of his hand, he smacked Mac on the chest. “I’ll see you guys later.”

They took the hint and scattered.

Rafferty waited, letting the silence lengthen between them. Finally, he said, “Did you come to admire me, or do you have something to say?”

She dragged her glance over his freshly washed hair down the length of his jeans. “I came to say that you’ll do.”

He wasn’t letting her off that easy. “I’ll do what?”

“As Prince Charming. Please,” she said stiffly.

He shook his head. “I’m not feeling it.”

“Feeling what?”

“The nice apology I mentioned in your office.”

Her blue eyes flashed with a message that was anything but apologetic. “I apologize that you were offended by anything I said or did.”

“The way you worded that…” He rubbed his chin. “It’s not very sincere.”

“You don’t know me well enough anymore to know whether I’m sincere or not.”

“Right back at you.”

She shook her head. “I know you well enough to know that you’re still a player. A heartbreaker.”

Rafferty didn’t like labels. He didn’t lie to women or lead them on. True, he dated around, but he wasn’t a jerk about it. Three dates weren’t enough time for anyone to fall in love with him. He couldn’t walk that road again. Couldn’t face the almosts and the regrets. Couldn’t be the reason someone’s life ended.

Harper shifted impatiently, and Rafferty’s thoughts snapped back to her. Spending time together, they’d surely butt heads. She rubbed him the wrong way. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Maybe there was an easier way to prove he could keep a commitment. He caught a quick hint of trembling pride in her eyes, that I-need-help look even though he knew she’d never admit it, and he softened.

“Okay. I’ll take the job.”

“Great.” She let out a long, relieved breath. “The next step is to get all the forms filled out and put you on the payroll. We’ll work around your schedule here. Any questions?”

“Just one,” he said as it occurred to him. “If you can’t stand to be around me, how are you ever going to make it through the show’s kissing scene?”

She smiled sweetly but with a touch of devilment in her eyes. “The right question is how are you going to make it through kissing me? Because once you’ve tasted me, the rest won’t satisfy, and there goes your dating life.”

“I guess we’ll see, then.”

“Guess we will.” She arched a brow in their silent battle of wills. “If you’re free now, you can follow me to the castle.”

“Whatever you say, boss.” Rafferty jauntily saluted and headed toward his car.

Harper fell into step beside him but kept an arm’s length between them. He glanced at her. He liked women uncomplicated. Fun. Spontaneous. Everything Harper Bailey wasn’t.

When they reached the parking lot, she left him standing at his car and marched to her van without a word.

Shaking his head, he got into his car and pulled away from the station after her.

He wondered what she’d be like if she ever let go of the control she clung so tightly to, and he imagined for a quick not-thinking-above-the-belt moment what it’d be like if that man was him. Rafferty put the brakes on that thought when he nearly rear-ended Harper’s pink minivan.

She leaned out the driver’s side window, miming how close he’d almost come to hitting her vehicle, and then threw her arm up in exasperation. He acknowledged her with a nod, and she popped back into the van and rolled her window up, no doubt muttering to herself about his driving skills.

Chagrined, Rafferty didn’t know what had just happened. Losing his concentration wasn’t something that happened to him. Harper made him feel out of sorts. No woman had ever put him in the position of lying in bed wondering what she was doing. If she needed anything. If she tasted as good as she looked.

Prim and proper Harper Bailey was buzzing around in his mind, derailing his focus, and he didn’t like it. Not one bit.