Pure Harmony (3 page)

“Much. Can I get you a drink of some kind?”

“No, thank you.” She smoothed her hands down along her hips. “I really need to get home. So, thank you again, for the meal, but—”

He captured her shoulders and turned her directly towards him. It took a bit to remember to focus on talking and not what the feel of her body touching his did to him. His cock hardened and he counted to ten before he felt he was in enough control.

“Why are you running?
Again.
”

He groaned under his breath when she dampened her lips. Her large eyes narrowed and he got the feeling he’d just messed up. Again. But if she had any anger it didn’t linger, nor did it show when she spoke.

“I am not running. I have things to do before I can crash for the night. I’ve been up since…well, really early.”

Stay here. With me.
“I want to see you again.”

She shook her head. “I don’t believe that would be wise.”

Words he despised hearing. “Why not?”

“I… I am not looking to be involved with anyone else.”

He flashed a grin and drew her in closer. “Good. I am not into ménages.”

“Very funny.” She glanced at her watch. “I really need to get home.”

“Why? We were good together.
Really
good.”

She got this look in her eyes he recognised. He had sisters. Walls were going up and he would get nowhere.

“Let me get my keys and I’ll take you home.”

“Nonsense. I can call a taxi.”

He pinned her with a look, prompting her to snap her mouth shut. Reluctantly releasing her, he stepped back to get his keys. Harmony still stood by the windows, although her gaze was upon him.

“Come on,” he said, waving her over.

Together they headed for the kitchen and through to his garage. He ignored his car, which he would have detailed tomorrow, and headed for his SUV. Holding the door for her, he struggled not to pluck her from the seat and carry her back upstairs to his bed.

It’s like she has no clue how she affects me.

Locking up his libido, he climbed in and started the vehicle. He backed out of the garage into the continuing deluge and asked her where she lived. He didn’t need to ask for directions when she gave the address—he’d grown up in this city.

The ride to her place was done in silence. He manoeuvred to the kerb and put his SUV in park before facing her. She was in the process of unbuckling her seatbelt and he took the opportunity to stare. Her profile was serene and composed, yet there was a haughty air about her.

“Goodnight, Jonathon Wright.”

He freed himself from his own seatbelt and grabbed for the door.

“No, there’s no need for you to get out.”

“I will walk you to your door.”

Her musical laugh gave him pause. “No. I wouldn’t want you wet again.”

She gathered her items and jumped out before he could say another word. He watched her go up to the door and enter with a wave over her shoulder. Memorising the address, he pulled away. His body was almost rebelling against him for being so close to the woman he’d dreamt about nightly and letting her walk away.

In the rear-view mirror, he caught a glimpse of his expression. One he wore in court when he had the trap laid and just needed to spring it. Harmony Oshiro wouldn’t get away.

* * * *

For the first time since he’d met the unforgettable Harmony, he didn’t wake reaching for her. He’d found her and this was his city. She couldn’t hide from him, not in McKingley. Therefore, when he left his condo for the office, there was a smile lingering in his soul and a jaunty whistle in his head.

“Mr Wright, you have a visitor.”

Elisa, his administrative assistant, dragged his attention from the case he was currently studying. Glancing at the clock on the wall, he was pleased to know it was almost time to leave for the day.
Could it be?
Even as he wondered, he knew it couldn’t be Harmony. Elisa only said things like that when his family stopped by.

Sure enough, a few moments later, the door cracked open and a familiar face peeked around the edge. “Got a minute?”

“For you, Lis, always.” He closed the file and waved her in while getting up to greet her. After sharing a hug and kiss, he gestured her to the leather couch and sat near on a matching chair. “What’s up?”

“I need to borrow your car.”

He gave a short, disbelieving bark of laughter. “My CL600? Are you serious?”

She held his gaze and into hers leeched his downfall, the patented baby sister plead. He’d never been able to say no to her, especially with her eyes shimmering with tears poised to flow over. It mattered not that he knew they were crocodile tears—he hated to see her cry.

“I just got that car, Lis,” he said, trying to find some strength to resist.
Brand new and it’s already in for a detailing.

“I won’t hurt it, Jon,” she said indignantly.

He ran a hand over his head. “Why do you feel you need my car?”

Something flashed in her gaze and he immediately grew suspicious. “It would just be for the rest of the day. I’d bring it to you late tonight or early tomorrow morning.”

“Why, Lis?” He added the tone he used in the courtroom when a witness was being treated as hostile. Her hands rubbed along her legs and he knew she was hiding something.

“Can’t you just lend it to me?”

“Did your Jeep break down or something like that?”

“No,” she replied immediately. “I just want something classier for tonight.”

“Dimitri has trucks.”

Her sigh said it all. She didn’t want to go to the eldest sibling. He had a way of acting like one of their parents.

“Tell me why.”

Her next sigh was one of resignation. “I have a dinner meeting with some people and I didn’t want to take my Jeep.”

“Dinner meeting? And you need my car.”

“Yes.”

“So this isn’t with Archer?”

She wouldn’t meet his gaze. “No. It’s a job offer.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Are you leaving McKingley?”

She shrugged. “Nothing’s concrete yet. Please don’t say anything to anyone. I just want a vehicle other than my dirty Jeep to climb out of in my dress.”

He pushed to his feet. “Don’t keep this from everyone, Lis. Including Archer.” He liked the man his sister was dating.

Lis glanced up at him, hope shimmering in her eyes. “Does this mean you’ll let me use it?”

He gave an exaggerated big brother sigh. “Yes. I’ll take you to the detailers to get it. But, Lis—not one scratch.”

She jumped up and wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! I promise I’ll be gentle with it.” Drawing back, she frowned slightly. “One question, though—why is it at the detailer?”

Because I was covered head to foot with mud inside it.

“It was time,” he muttered. “Let’s go.”

He drove Lis and they chatted easily. At the dealership, they got out and made their way to the desk. A slender redhead sat there and grinned at them.

“Good evening, Mr Wright.”

“Evening, Fiona. Are we ready?”

“Yes, sir. All the mud has been removed. All clean again.”

“Mud?” Lis asked, turning to look up at him.

“Not now, Lis.”

Her chuckle didn’t make him feel any better. She would be asking about it later, he’d bet she would. He paid for his car and they walked out together to his waiting vehicle. He smiled at the man there before opening the door and sighing with relief that his car was, once again, spotless. The outside as well. Even the tyres shone.

He took a deep breath and glanced at his baby sister. Honestly, he expected her to be chomping at the bit to get in his car. She wasn’t even looking at it. Her gaze was fixated off in the distance and he could see the bags under her eyes. She fingered her necklace and he knew something was wrong—she only did that when worried or stressed. Still, when she looked at him she tried for a smile.

“Are you okay, Lis? Really?” he asked, reaching out to her.

“Yes. Thank you for letting me use your car. Did you want me to bring it to you tonight?”

Images of Harmony came to him. He smiled. “Tomorrow is fine.” No reason to interrupt his plans for the night.

“Okay.” A quick kiss. “Thank you, and I promise I’ll be very careful.”

You’d better.
Although truth be told, he didn’t give a rat’s ass about the car, as long as his sister was okay.

Jon watched Lis slip behind the wheel and drive away with a wave. He headed to his SUV while checking the time. Harmony should be done by now, so he figured he’d take the chance to pick her up for dinner. Well, after he did a couple of things first.

* * * *

“Come on, Harmony, it won’t kill you.”

Harmony glanced at her friend who had an oyster on a half shell outstretched in her hand. “Get that nasty thing away from me,” she ordered, nose wrinkling in disgust.

Lana Kanseah sighed with her usual dramatic flair. As Harmony watched, she sucked it down. Harmony’s belly heaved with the thought of doing such a thing.

“So nasty,” she said at the look of pleasure on Lana’s face.

Lana winked. “So tasty.” She sucked another down. “You seem a bit quieter than usual. Are you okay?”

Harmony peered out of the window, staring across the street. Bella’s was over there. One of,—if not
the
—most prestigious restaurants in McKingley. She and Lana ate here, at Kell’s, every week knowing they’d never get in over there. Not that she wanted to—it was the beauty and majesty of the building that drew her. Bella’s was a place that called out to her—she longed to go in it and play.
The acoustics must be amazing.

“Harmony?”

“I’m okay, Lana.” She sighed. “No, I lied. I’m not. Remember I told you about the guy I met at the auction in Las Cruces?”

“Oh yes. The hot yet arrogant attorney who turned your world upside down with his masterful caresses and his huge—”

“Lana!”

Thankfully, her friend shut up. She peeked around, hoping no one had heard Lana’s outburst. From the looks she received, it was a safe bet they’d heard.
Damn actors. Always with the carrying voices.

Lana Kanseah was an actress. One who’d come back to McKingley to live instead of residing in Beverly Hills. She was of the Chiricahua tribe. They’d been friends for a long time and when Harmony had told her she was leaving Japan, Lana had told her to come here to McKingley. So she had.

“What about him?”

She fiddled with the knife. “I saw him yesterday.”

“So you’re tired?” Lana asked with an impish twinkle in her eyes.

“You are such a bitch.”

“True enough. Now dish.”

So she did. Right up to driving his car for him back to his place. She even mentioned the huge piano he had downstairs in his condominium. Lana was leaning close by now.

“He let you drive his car?”

“I don’t think he wanted to continue spreading mud all over. He was filthy. Filthy. And, Lana, it was so funny. He’s like a clean freak and to see him like that… I wanted to laugh so hard.”

“I don’t care how dirty he was. This man let you drive his car. That is something. Now, did you join him in the shower?”

“Of course not!”
Thought about it, though.

“Why not? You two have already done it.”

“It’s different now.”

Lana scoffed and sent her a scowl. “How so?”

“My entire apartment could fit in the downstairs of his condo. He drives a car that starts at over a hundred and fifty Gs. Oh yeah, and his name is Jonathon Wright.”

Lana was at a loss for words. For once. Her mouth moved but nothing came out. With a sigh, Harmony turned her attention back out of the window and stared at nothing, waiting for Lana’s speech to return.

“Why the hell didn’t you say this to begin with?” she demanded.

“Was his name really that important? I mean, I thought the fact I’d had a one-night stand would have trumped that.”

“Well yes, but… Damn it, do you know who he is?”

“Yes. I’m the one who told you.” She frowned as a silver Mercedes coupé pulled up to the door across the street. It was very familiar to her. In fact, she’d bet it was his. “Why?”

“The Wright family is one of the families equated with McKingley. Rich. And Jonathon made a name for himself right out of law school when he took on a case for his sister. No one thought he would win it, but he did and… Well, I don’t know what he got for her, settlement-wise, because it wasn’t made public, but since then, Christ, he’s been known as a man of ice. And you…get him in bed at an auction. I hate you.”

That all bore more thought but the door was being opened. “I think he’s here, Lana. That’s his car, across the street. That’s the one I drove last night.”

It wasn’t a tall, strong man who exited the Mercedes. Not even close. This was a beautiful woman and Harmony felt a punch to the gut sitting there staring at her. The one emerging from the vehicle was tall with long legs and amazing curves. She had on a floor-length, strapless, steel-grey dress. It looked like beadwork was on the breast and one swathe near her waist, making it asymmetrical. She was gorgeous. The woman’s honey-blonde hair, arranged in an elegant coiffure, only added to her looks. The dress even had a slight train to it. Classic Hollywood style with the train and lace-up bodice.

“Who’s that?” Lana asked.

“I… I don’t know.” She felt ill, knowing she’d been lusting after a married man. This had to be his wife.
How could I not have known? And why did I fall for his lines a second time? I almost went to bed with him again.

“Hey now, don’t jump to conclusions,” Lana said. “Maybe it’s not his car.”

“Right, there are tons of cars like that floating around here. I mean, I see at least five to ten a day.”

Lana reached for her hand and squeezed it, offering silent strength. “Well, you want to go see who she is?”

That brought a wry chuckle from her. Leave it to Lana to run at things head-on. “No thanks.”

“For what it’s worth, hon, I’ve never heard of him being married. He’s always been one of the most eligible bachelors in McKingley and around. Possibly in the Southwest.”