Pure Harmony (11 page)

“You sure you have everything?” God, he wanted to carry her upstairs and never let her leave.

“Yes. What I don’t have I’ll pick up with Lana.”

Her best friend, a Native American actress. He’d met her a few times and had liked her, even if she was more than a bit prickly. Very professional, but like a mama bear when it came to Harmony. His patented Wright smile was well known to charm the socks off ladies, but it had gone over like a lead balloon with Lana. She’d been unimpressed until Harmony had told him to just be himself and stop trying to be anything else. She’d warmed up a bit after that—however, he knew she only cared about Harmony’s well-being.

“If you need—”

“I don’t need anything more from you, Jonathon, you’ve done more than enough.” She opened the front door and he halted her exit with a hand on her arm. “Yes?”

He didn’t know what to say. All his fancy talk wasn’t worth a dime at this moment when he needed to tell her how he felt.

Her gaze was open and trusting. “I’ll call you for dinner once I get set up.”

He could feel her trying to edge him out and he refused to go so easily. “I’ll be calling you too, Harmony Oshiro.”

“Goodbye, Jonathon. Keys are on the counter.” She touched his cheek and gave him a soft smile. “Thank you, again. For everything.” She rose up on her toes and tugged him down to give him a kiss. Then she walked away without looking back.

Wait. She said keys
. Whirling around, he checked what she’d meant and swore. The key to the Corolla was there as well as the one for his condo. Dashing back to the door, he opened it to see her climbing into another vehicle.

Damn it!
He would have taken her. Instead, she’d called Lana to pick her up. Mixed emotions flowed through him at that knowledge. He stood there, watching until he could no longer see the tail lights. Then and only then did he go back inside.

He could feel the change immediately. Something was missing. Or, rather, someone. Specifically, Harmony.

Tomorrow—he would go see her tomorrow. For the first time in a long time, bed wasn’t what he wanted. No longer were dreams of her going to be good enough. He wanted her petite frame in bed with him. He loved how ready she was for him, any time. Not to mention the joy she brought to his life.

His plans to see her the next day were thwarted. Like it had the previous day, court ran over and he got shoved behind. No matter how much he wanted to see her, he had a job to do and that came first. So he took another cup of coffee from his assistant and got back to work on the pile of stuff on his desk.

* * * *

Harmony shook her head as she looked around her new place. Lana poured them some saké to celebrate. There wasn’t much in her apartment yet but it was a start. She had her own place again, which she loved. It was much nicer than the previous apartment she’d had, and still in the same price range.

“Here.”

She took the drink from Lana as they shared grin then tipped it back. She blinked back the sting of tears as it went down.

“Thanks for helping out, Lana.”

“You’re my best friend! Besides, I’ve missed you.”

She nodded. “I know, I’m sorry. Just with working the two jobs I didn’t have the time to have our weekly dinner so much.”

“She shouldn’t have bought you so much if she was going to make you pay it all back. That’s bullshit,” Lana snapped. “Half the stuff isn’t your type of clothing anyway.”

She smiled gently. “I know, but she was trying to help. And it’s done now. The stuff I won’t wear, I’m shipping to Japan for Reika. They’ll fit her—she’s my size.”

Lana rolled her eyes. “If not smaller—she barely weighs a hundred pounds.” She took another drink. “Why did she have you helping out with payroll?”

Harmony shrugged. “I have no clue. It’s not something I like doing, that’s for sure. I don’t have a head for figures. Luckily for all involved, she didn’t give me too much to do on that.” She touched her friend’s arm. “It’s okay, Lana. Everything is paid back.”

Her friend scowled and sighed. “I know, it’s just bull. All they would have had to do was call me and I could have brought over the things you keep at my place.”

“They live a bit differently than we do.” That was the only explanation she could come up with. She didn’t mind her protectiveness—Lana was her one true friend, the one who saw past the child prodigy, the scarred woman, to who she was at her core.

“I know. I’ve seen his place. How are you doing with that, by the way?”

“I’ll miss him, I know this, but I’m glad to be back on my own.”

“I know you are. Have you heard from your parents?”

She shook her head. “No. But then I also didn’t tell them what happened.”

Bless Lana, she didn’t comment, just squeezed her hand in silent support. Then her eyes widened and she jumped up, hastening to her bag.

“I forgot—I got you a housewarming gift.”

She sat back on the couch and handed her a rectangular item wrapped in homemade wrapping paper. She recognised it—she’d helped make ones like it before, where they used cut potatoes to create the print design. Placing it on her lap, she rubbed her hands together and carefully opened the wrapping, ignoring Lana’s comments on how she should just tear into it.

A new wave of tears sprang to her eyes as she stared at the gift. Inside a gold frame rested a picture of her and her grandmother. She remembered the day as if it was yesterday. Lana had actually been in the shot as well but had cropped herself out and blown up the image.

“Oh, Lana.”

She found herself in comforting arms as Lana held her while she cried. There was no need for words—the picture right there was worth more to her than anything necessary for the apartment.

They crashed on the floor and woke bright and early to walk down to a restaurant to grab some breakfast. She told Lana about playing at Bella’s while they ate. They ordered coffee to go then walked out of the door and headed back up the street, enjoying the cooler morning.

Turning a corner, they both halted when a horn sounded behind them. She glanced over her shoulder to see a dirty green Jeep pulling up. The moment she saw who sat behind the wheel, she knew who it was—Delicia Wright, Jonathon’s youngest sister. She’d met her more than a few times before.

“Harmony!” she called out, waving.

They stopped and waited. The vehicle stopped beside them and the woman leaned towards them over the seats.

“Hello, Lis,” she said. “How are you?”

“I’m okay.” She flashed a smile at Lana as well. “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Lis.”

“Lana.”

“Pleasure.” She gave a short nod. “Sorry to bother you both, but I thought I’d offer up my assistance if you needed it. Well, mine and Archer’s.”

“And you knew I had moved out?”

She chuckled. “In our family, you learn things are never really secret.” A shrug. “Most things. Anyway, Archer and I are more than willing to help you move some things, if you’re getting anything and you don’t want to wait for delivery.” She reached into the bag on the passenger seat and dug for a card, which she then held out. “Here’s my card with all my numbers. I’m free all day, so let me know.”

Harmony took the card and said, “Thank you.”

“Not a problem. Great to meet you, Lana.” A wave and she was driving off.

“That is one crazy family,” Lana commented.

“It’s definitely a lot different than what I’m used to.” They continued walking back to her new place. Out of habit, she walked up the stairs and at her door Lana laughed as Harmony opened it. “What’s so funny?”

“You do know this place has a working elevator, right?”

She huffed with false indignation. “I was working off breakfast.”

“And I thought the Wrights were crazy.” She nudged her with a shoulder.

They spent the day getting some things and she called Delicia over. With the four of them, it went smoothly. She and Lana went out to dinner with Archer and Delicia afterwards, as a thank you for all the help. Lana took her grocery shopping on her way back and helped her carry all of that up as well, before she went back to her home.

After putting her food away, Harmony crashed on her new bed that Archer had brought up for her. She fell asleep with the photo of her and her grandmother tucked in beside her. The next day she began to put her things in even more order. She’d just made herself some lunch when the phone rang.

“Hello?”

“
Goreijou.
”

Daughter.
Her breath hitched and she automatically stood straighter. It was her mother. “
Hahaoya,
” Harmony replied.

A moment of silence and she cringed from the disappointment she knew would be on her mother’s face.

“Your brother told us you moved.” She continued to speak in Japanese. In fact, she’d not heard her mother speak English unless absolutely necessary. “Why did you not mention it to us?”

“It was kind of not an intentional move, mother,” she replied, also speaking Japanese. “My apartment burnt down and I had to find a new place. I stayed with…a friend until I got the money owed to me by the company and actually just moved in this weekend. I was going to call once I got settled.”

The sound of disbelief made her shift uncomfortably. All this time and she still felt like a little child being disciplined with nothing more than a single sound.

“You are all right?”

“Yes. I wasn’t in when it happened.”

“Are you sure?” She couldn’t miss the concern this time and it brought tears to her eyes.

She nodded until she realised her mother couldn’t see that and responded. “Just sad that I lost everything.” She wiped her tears and took a deep breath. “How is Father?”

“He misses you.”

“I miss him too.”

“We are coming to the States next month and would like to see you.”

“I’d like that. Where are you going?”

“Your father has business in California.”

“I could meet you out there. I just have to give a bit of notice at work so I can take the time off.”

“I’ll let you know as soon as it is finalised.”

“It’ll be wonderful to see you both again.”

“Yes. We don’t see enough of our only daughter.”

She hung her head at the reprimand but didn’t argue. She’d cut most ties after the accident.

“I will let you go and will talk to you soon.”

“Goodbye, Mother.”

“Goodbye, Harmony.” A short pause. “We love you.” Then she was gone with a click.

“Love you too, Mother.” She spoke to the air as she hung up her receiver. Her belly was filled with uncertainty at seeing them again. Nerves had her rubbing her scar.

The doorbell rang and she walked to the door, still lost in thought about her parents. Pulling it open, her breath left her in a rush at the view waiting for her. Jonathon Wright stood there in one of his all too expensive silk suits.

“Hello,” she murmured, stepping back to allow him entrance.

“I’ve missed you.” He strode towards her, purpose all over his expression. He grabbed her upper arms and drew her flush to him.

“It’s not even been a full day,” she replied with a smile, brushing their lips together.

“It feels longer.”

“Are you hungry?” she asked. His words had made her feel warm and gooey inside and helped banish the stress of the call from her mother. “I could fix us something.”

His eyes burned as he stared at her. “I’m hungry all right.”

“I mean for food.”

He sighed and nodded. “I could eat. Looks like you got some things delivered. I’m glad.”

“Yes. Lis and Archer helped Lana and I yesterday.”

“Did they? They didn’t say anything to me.”

She moved away from him to the small but functional kitchen. “Were they supposed to?”

“Well, no. I suppose not.”

She didn’t respond, just let him think about it as he walked around. She made them sandwiches and while she placed them on plates, he came back in and carried them to the table.

“Are you sure you don’t want a bigger place?”

Harmony blew out a breath and lowered the sandwich she’d been about to bite into. “Why is it so important to you for me to have a huge place?”

He blinked and took a drink. “It’s not.”

“Bull. Every time I’ve turned around you’ve been telling me I should get a larger place. Even before the other one burnt down, you continually looked at it like it was less because it wasn’t as big or as fancy as yours.”

Her emotions were a bit frazzled and this had kind of pushed her over the edge. She shoved to her feet and glared down at him.

“I didn’t mean—”

“Don’t lie to me,” she snapped. “You may claim to be all about one thing but you can’t tell me appearances and status stuff don’t mean a lot to you. I have to have a car—heaven forbid I utilise public transportation. Just like what must I be thinking to not want a three-storey huge-ass home with a fancy manicured lawn! You live in the desert, for Christ’s sake. Why do you need to waste so much damn water to keep your lawn like that? Live on a golf course if that’s what you want. Pretentious—that’s what it is. I like my apartment. I like feeling cosy where I live.”

She wiped angrily at the tears that had formed at the sides of her eyes. “I’ve lived like you. I had the prestige and all that, and you know what? I wouldn’t trade what I have any day for what you do. It’s a prison. One I’ll never live in again.” She took a shuddering breath. “Get out.”

“Harmony.”

“Get. Out!”

He stood up, food forgotten on his plate. “I don’t understand. Talk to me.”

“Why? It all boils down to the same thing. I need a bigger place. I need to spend more money to make
you
happy about my living conditions.”

“That’s not what—”

“Get. Out!”

He seemed indecisive for a few moments before he gave her a sullen nod and walked to the door. As he slipped out, he paused and stared back at her. She turned her back on him, unmoving until she heard the door click. Then the tears fell unimpeded down her cheeks.

Chapter Eight

Jonathon stared sightlessly out of his office window. His mind played a continual loop of Harmony and her kicking him out. Was that truly how she felt? He’d thought she’d liked his place.