Hard as Stone(60)

“No,” Zeke agreed softly. “Not many men can. Problem is, the man doesn’t say much at all,” he added quietly, ignoring the scowl Honor leveled him.

“He’s a nice man that treats my sister and her daughter well,” Honor retorted, crossing her arms obstinately over her chest. “And since she’s too sweet to say this, I will. Mind your own business, Ezekiel.”

Harmony was relieved when they turned into the local market and parked. The tension had grown thick inside the vehicle. Maybe it was time to insist on having a discussion about Jake’s life with him. She didn’t want to pry, but if he was going to be a permanent part of her and her child’s life, she should at least know something about him. Shoving that worry into a box in her mind and closing the door on it until later, she smiled at her sister in the front seat as she opened the door. “This won’t take two minutes. I’ll grab some buns and burgers and we’ll be on the road.” She already knew Jake was well stocked in soda, chips, and beer. Those seemed to be his favorite food groups.

“You sure you don’t want help?” Honor asked eagerly over her shoulder, one hand already on the door handle. Her wide eyes begged Harmony to say yes.

Harmony’s lips twitched. She knew what her baby sister was doing. Trying to escape Ezekiel Monroe’s company had been a way of life for Honor for six years. Unfortunately for Honor (but fortunately for the rest of the family who loved and wanted her protected), the man wouldn’t budge. He was as immoveable as a mountain, much to her sister’s dismay and agitation. “I got it, Sis,” she said, slamming the car door before the other woman could say anything else.

Honor’s parting glare had Harmony giggling all the way to the sliding glass doors.





Chapter Eighteen



Fifteen minutes later, Harmony cheerfully handed over forty dollars to the sweet cashier behind the register at the local Piggly Wiggly.

“Are you sure you can help us out on such short notice, Harmony?” Millie, the pretty redhead that she’d known since high school, asked her excitedly. “I was gonna try to organize Mom and Dad’s anniversary party myself, but between nursing school and working here… oh, well! Anyway, when BethAnne told me how reasonable your rates were for her wedding, I thought it was worth a shot to ask you.”

“Millie, I’d love to help out. It’ll be great. Just call me tomorrow and we’ll work out all the details,” Harmony told her childhood friend. She’d known Millicent Robbins for years. She was a hardworking girl that had been married and divorced to a total loser, too. Both of them were finding their way in life a little later than all their other friends, but they were doing it. They were kindred spirits.

Millie breathed a sigh of relief as she quickly made change in the till and handed it over to Harmony. “You are a lifesaver.”

Laughing, Harmony reached for her plastic bags and glanced out the bank of glass windows at the front of the store. Gasping as she caught the familiar lanky form standing outside, facing away from her, her heart pounded in her chest. “It can’t be!” she whispered, squinting at the man as he began walking down the sidewalk.

“Harmony?” Millie called, her face confused as she stared at the other woman.

“Just call me tomorrow, Mills,” Harmony called over her shoulder as she hurried toward the door, determined to catch up to the man and assure herself that her eyes were deceiving her.

Jogging down the supermarket sidewalk as the man disappeared around the side of the building, Harmony quickened her pace as a slight gust of wind blew her hair. No, no, no! This wasn’t happening to her. Tanner Suarez could not be back in Paradise! Not when she finally had her life back on track! “Hey!” she called as she reached the edge of the building. Catching her breath when the dark headed man turned to face her, she nearly sagged against the wall in relief.

“Yeah?” the stranger called out, lifting his chin at her.

“Sorry!” Harmony called, lifting one hand weakly in front of her as she got a good look at the Hispanic man standing in front of her. Now that she was closer, she could see that he was taller and leaner than her ex-husband had been. He was a handsome guy, though he looked forbidding with the long scar that ran down his jaw. “I thought you were someone else,” she apologized as the man shrugged his broad shoulders and turned on his heel, walking away and throwing a tanned hand up in farewell…or it could have been a go to hell gesture for all she knew. Either way, it didn’t matter to Harmony. The man wasn’t Tanner, thank you, Jesus.