The Strongest Steel (28 page)

“I don’t know what to tell you, Taylor. I had my tech expert check out the messages you sent. The technology exists to bounce messages from all over the world. It could be from anywhere.”

Harper kicked the uniform hamper hard, spilling dirty aprons across the floor. She cursed and bent to pick them up.

“So what do I do? Just sit here and wait for him to come finish the job?”

“Taylor, he’s abiding by the terms of his release. You know I’m on your side. I agree with you that it’s highly likely Nathan is behind this, but there’s no proof.”

Harper remained silent, fighting to rein in her temper, which was about to blow.

“Listen. I’ve told you that you need to go to the police. Given this is likely Nathan, the police asking questions won’t really tell him anything he doesn’t already know. And if by some miracle he isn’t implicated in this ugly mess, it will only narrow it down to Miami. This is their job. What they do.”

The door behind her opened and Drea hustled through on her way to the washroom, casting a worried glance in her direction as she passed by.

“I have to go, Lydia. I’ll call you.”

Harper hung up and blew out a sharp breath, caught up in the ugly feeling of being cornered. Telling Lydia hadn’t helped, telling the police wouldn’t help, and telling Trent would only involve him in something she wanted him to be kept far away from.

Harper sunk down onto one of the plastic chairs and dropped her head into her hands. She closed her eyes as Drea rubbed the top of her head, soothing her.

Drea crouched down in front of her and took her hands. “You gotta come with me. I have a present for you that I know is going to cheer you up.”

“Can I get six éclairs with a side of welcome-home sex, please?” Harper heard as she followed Drea out into the restaurant.

Trent stood on the other side of the counter with a huge smile on his face. He held out a small pink bag with white handles.

Harper flung herself into his arms and allowed him to lift her off the ground for a thoroughly hot welcome-home kiss. His dark hair was completely disheveled, and his eyes were hidden by dark sunglasses.

“The éclairs I can do. The sex is going to have to wait,” she whispered against his lips, pushing the shades up onto the top of his head so she could see him properly. She sighed with relief as he held her tight, resting her head on his strong shoulders.

“Really?” He moaned. “I honestly thought you’d just drop ’em right here for me.”

Harper hit him hard against his arm.

“What?” Trent laughed in mock horror. “I even came bearing gifts.”

Harper dropped to the floor as he let go and presented her with the bag he was still holding.

Harper cautiously put her hand into the bag and shifted the tissue paper covering her gift.

The black-and-white polka dots were a dead giveaway as she pulled out the tiniest string bikini she had ever seen.

“Hope it fits because I’m not going to be able to return it anytime soon.”

Harper ran the small ties through her fingers. It was beautiful, but she’d never worn a swimsuit so tiny.

“It’s a bit … well, small, isn’t it?” Harper felt her cheeks go red.

“Yep.” Trent leaned down to kiss her slowly again, gently tugging at her lower lip with his teeth before pulling away. “And I think you’ll look sexy as hell in it.” He pulled her tightly against him by the waist of her apron, and she could feel, from the erection pressing against her stomach, just how hot he thought she was going to be in it.

“Thank you,” Harper spluttered. If spontaneous human combustion really did happen, she was likely very close. As he kissed her again, Harper felt all the pieces tumble together. Her heart burst with the knowledge that she had fallen in love with him, despite her best intentions. That even with all the horrible things going on around her, he had become her rock.

“Go. Go home.”

Drea broke through Harper’s daze. Pulling away from Trent slightly—not that she could get very far with the grip he had around her waist—she turned to look at her best friend.

“Seriously, go! I’ll cover for you. You only had an hour left anyway.”

“Thanks, Drea.” Harper pushed away Trent’s hands and laughed as he harrumphed at her escape. “I’ll just get my things.”

“My place or yours?” Trent asked as he leaned forward to start the car.

“I’m easy. If you missed your place after being away we can go there, or you can come to my place because I have food.”

“I’m starving … so yours it is.”

The drive home felt painfully slow even though Trent broke just about every conceivable speed limit. His hand barely left her thigh, stroking smooth circles with his thumb.

Trent pushed her through the door of her apartment, dropping his bags on the floor with a loud thunk before he reached for her.

Hands pushed up her blouse and pulled it up over her head before she could make it out of the entrance hallway.

“Thought you were hungry!” she exclaimed between kisses.

“I am … can’t you tell?” Pulling against the waist of her shorts, he ripped the button and zipper apart before dragging them down her legs. Every part of her was alive with excitement as he reached for her and pulled her hard against him.

“I missed you, sweetheart,” he groaned before crushing his lips against hers.

Harper reached between them and lifted his T-shirt over his broad shoulders. She needed this. Needed to get out of her own head for a little while. Would she ever get enough of the sight of him naked? She dragged her nails softly down his chest, scraping across the tight buds of his nipple, laughing at the heartfelt groan that escaped from his lips.

Trent picked her up, pulling her tight against his chest as he carried her into her bedroom. Thank goodness she’d made her bed before she’d left for her shift.

Laying her down on the soft comforter, Trent removed the rest of her clothes before giving her a knowing smile.

He lifted her pillow and pulled out his Tool T-shirt.

“I dreamed about you in this shirt,” he said softly. “I might have been hammered, but holy shit, you’re hot on the phone, darlin’.”

*   *   *

Trent pulled his T-shirt over her head. It was a shame to cover up such beautiful breasts, but he wanted to see how she looked versus how he’d imagined her.

Harper lay back on the bed, legs slightly spread, the hem of the T-shirt covering what he needed to see.

Taking a moment, he kicked off his boots and reached for the button of his jeans. Christ, Harper took his breath away. Lips swollen from their kisses, a soft flush across her cheeks. That dark blanket of hair spread across the white comforter, her eyes a deep, emerald green. And a smile. Just for him.

This was all he needed. This is what he had wanted to come home to. His heart lurched in his chest as he realized that this was it. This was the only thing he craved.

He shucked his jeans and boxer briefs, pausing to pull a condom out of his wallet. Grabbing his pounding erection in his hand, he stroked it a few times before rolling the condom on.

Harper was rubbing her thighs together on the bed in anticipation. As his T-shirt rose up her stomach, he could see the glistening moisture pooling between her thighs, all for him.

“Darlin’, I’d seriously love to go down and taste you right now, but if I don’t get inside you soon, I think I might explode.”

Trent crawled up the bed until he was positioned directly over Harper. For a moment, he studied her intently, could see the unspoken emotions in her eyes, could see everything he was feeling reflecting back at him.

Lifting his weight onto his forearms, he pushed firmly into her, breaching her soft warm lips, where she was wet and ready for him, until he was embraced deep within her.

He couldn’t hold back the deep groan that escaped as he thrust to the hilt. Giving Harper a moment to adjust to him, he smoothed her hair off her face and lowered to kiss her softly.

“I missed you, darlin’. So much.” He withdrew from her before plunging back in with a hard drive. “Tell me you missed me.”

Harper’s face was so incredibly expressive. “I missed you too, Trent. So much it scared me.” She wrapped her long legs around his back and tightened them, pulling him deeper.

Kissing her with a softness that betrayed his need, he slid back into her. Her fingertips dragged slowly up his sides, across his ribs, making him shudder at the playful intimacy.

“I missed this,” he murmured softly against her lips. “I missed being so deep inside you. I missed the way you gasp when I slide in hard. I missed that moment just before you come for me.”

Pulling back out, he held himself poised at her entrance. Harper let out a soft keen, lifting her hips against him, pulling at his back with her nails.

He thrust back in, faster this time, until he was tight inside her. Heels pressed against his ass, hard. She wanted him there.

“I just fucking missed you,” he growled before devouring her. He licked the skin along the side of her neck, nipped the lobe of her ear, and kissed her with a need he felt he could die from. He relished the sensation of her tightening around him; her skin soft and warm pressed up against his.

Thrusting hard, groaning hard, he pushed and pushed until he could feel his balls tightening. He continued to pump until he could feel her coming apart around him. Harper moaned, her back arching as she milked his release.

Looking deep into the eyes of the woman he loved, he came harder than he knew was possible.

Chapter Nineteen

“Can you get out of my seat, please?” Harper looked up to see Drea glaring at Cujo. The swirl of pink, red, and orange lights in the nightclub flashing across her face did nothing to hide the menacing look she was giving him.

Cujo leaned forward. “It’s not your seat, shortcake. I’m just hanging with Harper.”

“What? I’m not allowed to go to the bathroom now?” she shouted over the pounding beat.

“What? Is this freaking high school?” He mimicked her higher pitch perfectly. Harper stifled an awkward laugh, even though the friction between the two of them was unsettling. “Did you honestly ask Harper to save you a seat?” Cujo teased.

He laughed as Drea stomped off toward the bar.

Harper turned to face Cujo. “I really don’t know what’s eating her today.”

“Not your problem. We all have bad days. She just seems to have more than most.” Cujo put his arm around her shoulder and Harper flinched.

“Sorry, Harp. I didn’t think.” Cujo lifted his arm quickly.

Harper grabbed his hand before he could take it away. “No, Cujo. Leave it. It’s okay. I mean, it’s not yet, but it’s getting better.”

“Wanna take your arm off my girl?” Trent appeared at her side, giving her a reassuring wink and placing a warm hand on her shoulder.

“Not really, dude. She fits me perfectly.” Harper tried to resist as Cujo pulled her in tighter to his side, knowing he was only doing it to get a rise out of Trent. “What d’you say, Harper? Run away with me and leave this jerk. I’m better in bed than Sixty over there.”

“Sixty?”

“Seconds … that’s how long he lasts, right?”

“You fucker.” Trent dove for Cujo and managed to pull him into a headlock.

“If the cap fits,” Cujo managed to grind out with his head trapped between Trent’s body and arm.

Trent smacked him across the top of his head and let him go. Cujo stood, grinning, and creaked his neck from side to side.

“Honestly H, you ever want a real man, you know where I am. I got things going on down there you can only dream about.” With a wink, he left to talk to Pixie.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket and she fished it out as Trent kissed her forehead.

“I’m gonna get another beer. Want anything?”

Smiling, she shook her head. “No, thanks.”

She swiped her phone.

Did you like your flowers? So sad that Taylor died. Don’t you think?

She looked out to where Trent stood at the bar, talking to the bartender. She and Trent were just finding their way together. She couldn’t live with herself if he got hurt looking out for her. Yet the usual compulsion to up and run wasn’t there. For the first time in a really long time, she wanted to fight.

*   *   *

“Hello, stranger.” A long red fingernail stroked his arm. Definitely not Harper. Trent handed the bartender a twenty and turned to look at the girl all up in his personal space.

She looked familiar, but he was struggling to place her. Then her friend appeared, and it fell into place. She was the redhead from his birthday weekend. What was it? Jennifer? Janice?

“Joanne.” She pouted. “I can’t believe you don’t remember me.”

In his memory she’d been pretty hot, but tonight she looked tacky in a green dress that was struggling to contain her.

“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you,” she purred, stroking the fingernail down his cheek. This was unlikely to end well.

Trent shook his head and grabbed her hands in his, keeping them away from his body as he moved a step away.

Cujo didn’t seem to be having the same problem with his reunion. Her blond friend was already kissing him, her hands opening the top button of his shirt.

“Look. This isn’t a great time for this.” He was trying to figure out how she had found him. They hadn’t met at this bar.

“I get it. It’s a surprise seeing me. Is there somewhere more private we can go for a few minutes to get reacquainted?”

“No. My situation has changed since the last time we met.”

“Ah, honey, I’m sure whatever situation you’re in is just like me. Flexible.” She took another aggressive step toward him. He took a step farther away.

“I really don’t think that’s a good idea, I’ve met some—”

She cut him off by pushing him against the bar and slamming her cherry-red lips to his.

*   *   *

“What the heck is going on?” Harper surveyed the wreckage in front of her.

A willowy blonde in a white bandage dress was wrapped around Cujo, running her fingertips across his naked scalp as he kissed her senseless.

Worse was the skinny redheaded bitch, currently sucking face with her man.