Finding Harmony (9 page)

Rick gazed down at her, worn out. She wrung him out. He
grinned. Twice. That first time she’d been as tight as a virgin. But she knew
how to move. Man, did she know how to move.

“Harmony.” She wouldn’t meet his gaze and he kissed her
forehead. “That was… Mmm.”

She moved away, just a couple of inches, but he felt it.

He braced his hands on the dock and lifted off of her. He
thought about that cozy bed I her cabin. “Well, we can’t stay out here all
night.”

That got a smile. She brushed a long wet strand of hair off
her cheek. “I should get to bed.”

“Bed.” He rolled to his side and sat. “Sounds good.”

She pulled away, damn it. Instead of laughing and falling
into his arms, she pulled away. Fine. He’d play it her way.

“Rick, I… ”

He grabbed his shorts and put them on. “Hey, it’s late.” He
handed over her clothes and pulled on his boots. “I’ll let you get some sleep.”

She kept her eyes down as she quickly dressed. “I haven’t… It’s
been a long time.”

That stilled him. He stared at her. “How long?”

She lifted her head. Was that a tear on her cheek? No. Not brave,
spunky Harmony.

“Does it matter how long?” she asked.

Yes. He didn’t want to think of anyone else with her. He
shook his head. “No.”He shrugged. “It’s none of my business.”

She grabbed his hand. “You have to understand. I haven’t
dated much. Not since college.”

He suspected there was something else. Some jackass had
hurt her. He couldn’t ask her about it. He wasn’t any good at this closeness
stuff women seemed to want. That was why he never got involved with someone
like Harmony. Someone who would want him to stay after the sex. Someone who
could make him want to stay. He grunted an answer.

She slipped on her boots and wrapped her arms around her
knees. “I know this doesn’t mean much to you, but—”

“What?” He wouldn’t get angry. Not tonight. He felt too
damn good after he greatest sex he’d ever experienced. Twice. Maybe that was
why his head was so cloudy. It couldn’t be that it happened with Harmony. But
it wasn’t like she didn’t matter at all.

“This meant something to me, Harmony,” he said.

She gave a quick shake of her head and came to her feet. “Please
don’t say something you don’t mean, Rick. I’ve heard it before.”

“Wait.” He stood. “Some jerk in college hurt you, I’m
guessing. Well, I’m not him.”

She seemed to weigh his words before giving an almost
imperceptible nod. “No, you’re not.” She faced him. “And I’m not that girl
anymore.”

Neither one said anything for a long moment. He could
hardly think, his body wanting her again. Forcing himself to relax, he stroked
her cheek. “We don’t have to talk about it.”

She visibly relaxed. He picked up the rest of his clothes
and followed her as she walked to the tent-cabin.

“Good night, Harmony,” he said.

They kissed and he felt a connection. This was so much more
than sex. Their lips clung for a moment and he lifted his head.

“Good night,” she said.

He stood out there in the dark as she flicked on a light
inside. Against the canvas he could see her figure, that body that fit him like
nobody else’s. He walked to the SUV and threw the rest of his clothes on the
seat.

“It’s none of my business,” he told himself.

He’d only wanted a diversion. He hadn’t thought he’d find
one to fill his mind after his body was satisfied. She didn’t want tender words
after, which should have been a relief. But he’d almost said it, something
sappy that would make her melt. Or smack him in the face if by chance he’d read
her wrong.

But there was more to Harmony. More than the fabulous sex
and the electric connection. Way more than he’d bargained for. He shrugged into
his shirt and started the engine. He’d get this job finished and get back to
Boston. Then he wouldn’t have to think about her.

Or the way he felt when he was with her.

***

Harmony stretched out on the bed the next morning, her
muscles aching. Rick was an incredible lover. She could still see him leaning
over her, coming inside her. Would she see him again? Did she want to? She’d
almost told him about Adam. Sheesh. That’s just what every guy wants to hear about
after he sleeps with a girl:  the last guy who slept with the girl.

“Idiot.” She rose and readied for her day. A yawn caught
her by surprise and she laughed softly. “At least I didn’t need lavender to
sleep last night.”

She left her camp and threw herself back into her work. She
wouldn’t think about Rick. About what he was doing. If he was thinking about
her. As her day went on,  it seemed he made it easy enough to avoid him. There
was no sign of him in the village when she went to the Institute to upload photos
and drop off some samples that afternoon.

On her way out of the lab she stopped in the reception area.
“Is Dr. Robbins in?” she asked Becky. “I didn’t see him.”

The girl shook her head. “He had a meeting with the
developers. I think it’s about the new construction.”

With Rick too, then. He’d keep on both the developers and
the Institute to see to Chapman’s interests. Good. It served as a reminder of
what he was here for. That wasn’t for her.

“I left some notes in his inbox,” Harmony said. “Tell him I
stopped by?”

Becky nodded and Harmony left. The developers were probably
leaning on Dr. Robbins. No doubt with Chapman Financial’s encouragement. She’d
just have to redouble her efforts and find more of the scrub buckwheat, that’s
all. That would solve everyone’s problems and Rick could get back to work. Back
to Boston. She tamped down the ache that thought gave her. It was sex. Just sex.
He didn’t want her love any more than Adam had. She wouldn’t give it. No. She
wouldn’t feel that pain again.

On her way past the coffee shop she spied Hettie waving
from her usual spot. She waved in answer, parked the scooter and walked toward
the railing in front of her table.

“Hi, Hettie.”

Hettie opened her mouth to speak then let out a low whistle.
Her eyes sparkled. “Harmony, what have you been up to? Girl, you look like
you—”

Harmony’s gasp cut her off mid-sentence, thank goodness. “Hettie,
I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Hettie laughed gaily and threw up her hands. “I say it’s
about time.”

Harmony’s cheeks flamed as she looked around at the crowded
tables. No one seemed to be paying them much attention at the moment, but if Hettie
didn’t cut it out…

She came closer to Hettie’s table. “I’m a woman, Hettie. I’m
single.” She leaned in to whisper. “I can handle a fling if I choose to.”

“A fling? Ha.” Hettie pulled back, her eyes narrowed as if
she suddenly noticed something. “Oh, it’s like that.”

Harmony’s heart tripped. “Like what?”

“I’ve seen you with that handsome Chapman fella. Wouldn’t
mind handling him myself.”

“Hettie!”

“Go on.” Hettie waved a hand. “I won’t tease you. Are you
and he an item, then?”

Were they?
“Not in the least.”

Hettie reached out to place her hand over hers. All teasing
was absent from her gaze. “Careful, girl. Where the body leads the heart
sometimes follows.”

“Oh, now you sound like my mother.” She pulled her hand
away, closing it in a fist to keep from trembling. “All cryptic warnings and
clouded advice.”

Hettie grinned. “Your mother is a smart cookie, Harmony. Maybe
you should listen to her.”

“What, about crossroads?”

“Hmm?”

“Oh, she said that Rick is at a crossroads. That I’m at
one, too.”

“I don’t know anything about any crossroads, dear. But if
she senses something. And I sense something… ”  She ended with a shrug.

“Oh, don’t be silly.” Harmony returned to her scooter and
waved at Hettie. “See you soon.”

Hettie just watched her, her eyes as piercing as her
mother’s ever could be. Harmony turned away and headed back to her camp.

Hettie was wrong. Her heart wouldn’t follow her body
anywhere. Rick was just a diversion. Was he using their attraction to distract
as well? To get her to lower her guard where her work was concerned?

“Focus, Harmony,” she chided herself. “Don’t be a fool
again.”

***

Poring over her notes that night, she knew she’d found more
soil able to support the buckwheat. Excitement running through her, she reviewed
the PH levels and density once again. The root patterns and leaf matter
indicated the plant had grown in several places over the past few years. If
this were true, and she had no reason to doubt the findings, she’d have proof
that the plant wasn’t endangered. That would do more than allow the recreation
café’s construction. It could change the plant’s status.

She’d ride out first thing in the morning and take more
photos. Compile a report. Do what she was paid to do. If the Endangered Plant
Advisory Council saw this, she could make a difference and secure her job at
Cypress Corners. Earn that money she put into an account for Ariel and Max
every two weeks since starting this job.

Riding out past the golf course the next morning, she
spotted a familiar figure. Standing out on the green, Rick leaned on his putter
as he waited for one of the other players to putt. It was too late to turn
around and escape. Not once he saw her, darn it. He raised his hand and she
quickly waved. She wouldn’t stop. Why engage him in small talk in front of the
developers?
Concentrate, Harmony.
Don’t think about how yummy he looked
in those shorts. How long and lean his body looked in his relaxation. Get past
the course and onto the other side of the property.

Her heart began to beat normally as she rounded The
Clubhouse. Just past the Welcome Center she turned down the sandy path that wrapped
around the lake. Of course she thought about that dinner with Rick, when she’d
seen flashes of the charming, seductive man inside the corporate smoothness. She
swiped at the beads of sweat on her upper lip. Seductive, all right. What
they’d shared on her dock would stick in her memory for a long time to come.

Under the shade of a cypress, she popped the top of her
water bottle and drank. It was November. She shouldn’t be this hot. Or this tingly.
Well, that had nothing to do with the weather. Just that man leaning gracefully
on his golf club as she’d driven past. Just a wave of that hand that had moved
over her body with skilled determination.

“Oh, boy,” she muttered.

She switched the scooter on again and rode around to a spot
she hadn’t yet checked. She’d avoided this side of the property until now, and
it was lucky Dr. Robbins hadn’t been in the last time she stopped by the
Institute. She had no excuse for neglecting it. It wasn’t far from the
residential area where Tammy had put Rick. Separated by a copse of trees and
protected from foot traffic, the area was still a little too close for her
comfort. She couldn’t tell the director she didn’t want to risk seeing her… ? What
was Rick, anyway? Her boyfriend? Ha, she didn’t think so. Her lover? Did one
time—okay, two times—make a man her lover?

Stopping the scooter not far from the edge of the rough
road, she pulled off her helmet. Blowing a damp curl out of her face, she set
the helmet on the handlebar and took her supplies out of the trunk. Digital
camera, notebook, sample bags, a small spade.

“All right, then.” She walked through the brush, her eyes
scanning for the scraggly plant. “Where are you?”

This was good. Concentrate on finding the buckwheat and not
on Rick. No more thinking about Rick, darn it. Find the darn plant. Let the
developers get on with the café. Let Chapman get its money. Let Rick get back
to Boston.

“Ow!” She slapped at her ankle. Fire ants! Son-of-a… “Watch
where you’re walking, Harmony. You’re not some city girl who can’t recognize
the little buggers.”

Fire ants. Of course they made her think of Rick again. Of
that first day she’d met him at the work site.

Then she saw it. The plant she sought. The scrub buckwheat
that was endangered and, all right, a little ugly. Taking out the camera, she
snapped photos of it, and the others she soon found dotting the field.

She lowered the camera, a grin on her face. “Oh, you
beautiful thing! Wait till Dr. Robbins sees these pictures.”

She took sample leaves near the bottom of the plants,
careful not to disturb the young sprouts, and stowed them in the scooter’s
trunk. Scribbling in her notebook, she recorded the findings. She hopped back
on the scooter and followed the road further. More weeds appeared as she rode
by. Wow. It grew all over the place!

Rick wasn’t on her mind as she rounded the turn at the golf
course on her way back to the Institute. Her parents’ debts were. Dr. Robbins’
faith in her was. She’d earned her pay today, and hopefully managed to get a
plant off the endangered list.