Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 54852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
“Thanks. Means a lot.” His expression was even more guarded than the one Audrey had shown me a few minutes ago. “This chance—it’s maybe what I needed.”
“Yeah, I heard you were…in a bad spot.” Even if I was curious about what all had gone down with him, I wasn’t going to pry too much.
“You could say that.” His laugh had a caustic edge before he made a dismissive gesture. “Anyway, how are you? Farm business good?”
“Yeah. It’s August, so super busy, but I’ll take busy over low-income any day.” I smiled to show him it was okay if he didn’t want to talk about himself. “And today, at least, all the urgent fires seem handled. I had to bring an egg order to a place down the street, so I thought I might grab Harrison for an early dinner. But I guess he’s out.”
“Oh, yeah, that’s right.” Tanner nodded. “This is the day he’s in Boston. Hope he doesn’t hit traffic coming back.”
“Boston?” I blinked. I’d been picturing Harrison at some bank meeting in Burlington, something business-related that he and Audrey wouldn’t want to tell me about. But Boston was over three hours away. That wasn’t a mere errand.
“He didn’t tell you?” Tanner fiddled with his towel, flipping it to his other shoulder.
“No.” My tone was a little too frosty. My brain had promptly jumped back to the conversation I’d had with Harrison—the one where he’d mentioned his friend the legal headhunter who’d found a prospective job for him in Boston. Maybe…
No. He wouldn’t do that without telling me, would he? I swallowed to keep from making a frustrated noise.
Tanner’s face creased with concern. “Ah. Well, it’s not like he told me much either. Just that he’d be in Boston today and to keep an eye on Audrey and help her lock up if he’s not back by close.”
“I see.”
“Oh crap.” Shoulders slumping, Tanner looked down at the wood flooring. “Did I just make trouble for you?”
“No.” I tried to make my voice more reassuring because the guy seemed on edge enough. “Not your fault. Don’t worry.”
“He’s a great boss. And he talks about you often. I bet he forgot to mention the trip, that’s all.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, even though I wasn’t buying it.
Harrison wasn’t the forgetful type. He had spreadsheets and planners and reminders on his phone and was always, always early to things. He wouldn’t have forgotten a seven-hour plus roundtrip appointment scheduled midweek. Which meant he hadn’t wanted me to know, and that had me right back to worrying about jobs that could tempt him away from here. My lower back tightened to the point I had to shift my weight from foot to foot.
“I should…uh…get back.” Tanner glanced back at the bar. “Got a shipment of cider to inventory.”
“Sure. I’ll see you around.”
“Drive safe. Tell your mom and sisters hi for me,” Tanner called as I walked away, letting the Vino and Veritas door shut slowly behind me.
Deep in thought, I almost missed a familiar profile exiting the parking garage as I approached the structure.
“Harrison?”
“Finn?” He looked more than a little startled. He was dressed nicely too. Not interview-suit elegant, but a crisp dress shirt and pants with that fancy pair of loafers. “What are you doing here?”
“I was looking for you. Thought I’d…never mind.” I shook my head, my original purpose for being here long vanished, replaced by frustration and distrust. My fists clenched, arms as tight as my back. “Heard you were in Boston?”
“Uh. Yes.” Eyes darting around, Harrison licked at his lower lip.
Stepping closer, I cleared my throat right as he did the same.
Then, at the same moment, we both said, “We should talk.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Harrison
“Here?” I asked, like there was a better location to have this conversation than outside a public parking garage, sun still out, plenty of people coming and going to witness whatever was about to happen. And Finn’s tense body and unsmiling mouth said that it was not going to be good.
“Here works.” Finn shrugged. “Do you need to get back to the store right away? After all, you were gone the whole day.”
Busted. I’d never snuck out as a teen, but I sure felt like a guilty kid at the moment, like I’d been caught in a lie. And I supposed I had, even if it was a lie of omission and not an outright falsehood. But I certainly knew better than to try to argue that technicality with Finn.
“I take it you’ve talked to my mother already?”
“I popped into the store looking for you. Thought I might steal you away for dinner.” Finn flexed his arms, like his tension was causing him actual discomfort. “She didn’t tell me anything, so don’t get mad at her. And she and the clerks seemed to have everything under control. Tanner was the one who let it slip about Boston, but don’t go busting on him either.”