“Yeah, well, she has her heart set on him.”
Emerson lowered her voice, uncharacteristically soft. “I guess I just want to know where your heart is at?”
“Firmly locked in my chest.” Which was beating a little faster when she thought back to yesterday, how Adam had seemed more concerned with the welfare of her grandma’s shop than chiding her for complicating his life. “I promise.”
“As long as you’re sure, because I would hate to have to explain to Dax how I ran over his brother for being an ass. It would make for an uncomfortable wedding, and I’m already stressing about wearing heels.”
“You won’t have to kill Adam, I’ve got this.”
Shay didn’t look convinced that Harper was in control of anything, so Harper added, “A quick reminder that I was the one who told you Jonah was a good guy.” She turned to Emerson. “And I supported you when you were sniffing around Dax. Encouraging you to jump his bones and go for the golden O.”
“Which he delivered on, then walked out and broke my heart,” Emerson pointed out.
“Yes, but he came back.”
“Only because he was afraid I’d hunt him down and kill him.”
“He came back because he loved you,” Harper said, and even she could hear that her voice had a dreamy quality to it.
She was thrilled that her friends had found amazing men and were living amazing lives. She really was. In fact, she couldn’t think of two women who were more deserving. Most of the time, Harper believed she deserved that kind of happiness too. But sometimes, when life’s silver lining hid beneath the shadows, Harper wondered if she would ever find that kind of connection.
Love, passion, a family—she wanted it all. She just hoped she’d find someone who wanted those same things—with her.
“He did,” Emerson said, and a rare grin escaped. “And now I have a ring on my finger.”
“Well, I’m not looking for a ring, just someone to pose scantily for a catalog.”
The last time she’d been trapped in her small studio with only Adam and body oil, she hadn’t known what his kisses tasted like. This time she would know exactly what she’d be missing out on when they kept everything aboveboard and professional. Which they would.
If he said yes.
“Good, because you aren’t the kind of person who treads lightly, and Adam is smooth,” Emerson said. “He’s even figured out how to sweet-talk me from time to time, and I don’t do sweet.” Emerson sounded horrified at the admission. “You, on the other hand, are so sweet you make Disney movies look seedy. You collect people like others collect stamps, but don’t mistake Adam’s easygoing charm for more than it is, because he isn’t looking to be collected.”
He was too bright and shiny for Harper’s taste anyway.
“Strike!”
Swearing, Adam loosened up on the bat and stepped out of the batter’s box at the umpire’s call. It was the bottom of the ninth, two outs, and the bases were loaded. SHFD was tied with the sheriff’s department, which was why they’d called in Adam.
He was the closer—on and off the diamond. Something he needed to remember.
“Come on, man, it’s like you’re not even trying,” Jonah heckled from the mound.
A former homicide detective for the San Francisco Police Department, Jonah had traded in his big-city problems to become the keeper of Mayberry. He also liked to keep tabs on his younger brothers—and give them shit when necessary. Which was why he turned the bill of his hat around backward, so Adam could clearly make out his smug grin, when he shouted, “I mean, that was right up the middle.”
“A gnat was buzzing around my ear,” Adam said, shooting a look at Dax, who was also grinning smugly beneath his catcher’s mask. “Next time, I’ll just squash him.”
“Someone’s sensitive,” Dax said, throwing the ball to the mound, not the least bit intimidated by Adam’s threat. Not that he should be. Dax might be the baby boy of the family, but he had a good three inches and fifty pounds on both his brothers. And he knew it.
Adam kicked the dirt up, then stepped back in the box and choked up on the bat. Focusing on Jonah’s hand, he slowed his breathing until he felt his heart rate drop and his mind begin to settle—and all he saw was the ball.
Jonah pulled back and Adam watched as the ball slid off his finger, right up the center and—
“I mean, I would be too if a pretty girl wouldn’t return my calls,” Dax said, blowing Adam’s concentration.
“Strike two,” the umpire called.
Adam glared down at his brother, wondering if he’d be expelled from the game for punching a member of the opposing team in the nuts.