Pure Harmony (6 page)

More recently, he’d started imagining the woman he wanted here was Harmony. Jonathon continued across the room and to the bedroom door.

“The phone lines are similar to the way they are in offices. There are multiple lines so just press a number on the phone to get one out. If it’s lit, someone is using it. Feel free to use it as you like. If you need me I’ll be downstairs.”

“Thanks, Jonathon,” Harmony stated.

“No problem.” He went down the hall then descended the stairs.

Jonathon strode to the window and looked out at his manicured lawn. Remembering he wanted to make a call, he quickly made it then went back to studying the view. He peered at his watch and noted an hour had already passed. Jonathon glanced towards the entryway for the living room but didn’t go to check on Harmony.

She’s just staying with you. Give her space.

Jonathon went to his office and retrieved his laptop before returning to the living room. Soon he was immersed in work.

“Jonathon… Sorry, I didn’t know you were working,” Harmony said.

He looked at the time on the laptop and noted he’d been at it for four hours. He lifted his head—she had changed into one of the things she’d bought. As he saw the time, he wondered where they were. The doorbell rang and Jonathon put down his laptop, stood and walked towards her. Harmony backed up and started to retreat back upstairs.

Jonathon caught her arm. “Wait, the door is for you.”

Harmony turned and stared at him, confusion on her face. Jonathon noticed she had on shoes. He led her towards the door before opening it and smiling at the man and woman there.

“Dey—”

“Hush—making me shop in such a short time has made me cranky.” Deyon De’clare’s melodious voice indeed did sound put out as she pushed past him carting many bags.

“She’s also hungry. I brought us all dinner.” Leonardo Wright, his brother, followed holding even more bags. He paused and handed him a key before trailing after Deyon.

Jonathon nodded then tugged Harmony out of the door and down the walkway to the dark blue Toyota Corolla. He clicked the button to unlock the door then opened it before stepping back beside Harmony and gesturing to the vehicle.

“Get in and check it out.”

“Why? Who are those people and why do they have all those bags?” Harmony asked.

“The car is yours to use. I realised on the way here it’s a longer trip for you to the college from here so I got you this car to use.” Jonathon gestured towards the house. “That’s my family, Deyon and Leo.”

“You have another sister?” Harmony’s tone was clipped.

“I have three in total and two brothers including Leo. You know this, I told you so earlier. Deyon isn’t my sister—she’s family, though. Maybe will even be a sister-in-law—she and Leo recently started dating. Enough questions—now get in the car.”

“You can’t just give me a car.” Harmony stepped back.

“I’m not giving you a car. It belongs to my cousin. She’s away at medical school and left it here. I called and asked her if you could borrow it. She was glad to lend it to you. Said it was just sitting there anyway,” Jonathon said.

Harmony turned on her heels and went back to the house. Baffled, Jonathon followed her. Her back looked rigid as she moved before him. Inside the condo, he caught her arm and turned her to him.

“Harmony, what—?”

“Come on, Harmony. Let’s make sure you like this stuff I got. After all, I had to depend on Jon for your sizes and what you might like. I want to get this done so we can eat,” Deyon called from upstairs.

Harmony glanced from the stairs to Jonathon. Her face was even colder than before. “You bought me clothing too.”

“I—”

“Jon, shut up and let her come upstairs. Get the rest of the bags from the car. I don’t have all night.” Deyon’s footsteps headed towards Harmony’s room.

Harmony’s eyes narrowed then she turned on her heel and went up the stairs. Jonathon watched her, wondering what was wrong.

“Boy, I know that look. You have some grovelling to do.” Leo spoke from behind him.

Jonathon glared at his older brother. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Haughty works on people who don’t know you. What is she to you? Heard you were asking around about the fire at her apartment building.” Leo pushed his hands into his pockets.

Jonathon didn’t even wonder how he knew—Leo was the sheriff, and their older brother Dimitri was an arson investigator, so he would have heard about it from him.

“You all are a bunch of gossips.” He headed back outside to retrieve the bags.

Leo followed. Jonathon opened the back door of his brother’s truck. He stared at the bags then remembered what they’d already brought inside.

“Christ, did she buy the whole of Karltons?”

“You’re the one who sent Deyon to shop for things for Harmony. And you said, and I quote, ‘She needs everything’.” Leo chuckled. “You should have known better than telling a clothing horse like Deyon something like that.”

“Damn it, you could have controlled your woman,” Jonathon stated.

“Mind your business. What’s between us is our business,” Leo stated and pulled out some bags, pushing them into his hands.

Jonathon didn’t ask him outright what was going on. They all had at some point, but Leo was being strangely mum about what he and Deyon had going on. Their parents had decreed them not to ask about the two. Jonathon accepted the bags and they headed back inside. Upstairs, he strode into Harmony’s bedroom. She glanced at him then away. Deyon pointed to the bed and they put down their bundles. She pushed them out of the room, closing the door in their faces.

“What the hell is Deyon’s problem? Why is Harmony looking at me like that? I didn’t do anything wrong,” Jonathon said.

“Deyon is just being ornery because you told her that Harmony wasn’t as flamboyant as she is. She saw that as an insult to Harmony and took exception to it.”

“But she doesn’t even know her. I didn’t mean it as a bad thing.” Jonathon walked down the hall.

“It doesn’t matter. You know Deyon. She has a big heart, although she tries to hide it below that sassy mouth.” Leo smiled a roguish grin.

“I don’t even want to know what that grin is about.” Jonathon descended the stairs.

“Back to the question of why Harmony is looking at you the way she is. Well—she’s probably pissed off you bought all that stuff for her and lent her the car. I bet you didn’t even tell her.” Leo headed for the kitchen.

Jonathon followed. “I didn’t, but she has no reason to be mad. I’m helping her out. How much was everything?”

“I have no clue. Deyon has the receipts. I left her shopping and went to get the car. I took it to Archer to check over to make sure it was working okay.”

“Thanks. No wonder you took so long. It’s already after ten.” Jonathon glanced at the wall clock.

“Nope. That didn’t take long. I was waiting for Deyon. It’s a good thing I went into Karltons when I did—she’d already got the store manager to help her. He was pushing around a cart along with two others employees who also had filled wagons. Deyon was about to get a cart of her own when I got there. Told her we had to go. Boy, was she pissed. When we went to the counter, I realised she had another cart there already waiting. That woman is a shopping manic.” Leo chuckled.

He pulled out a hero sandwich and handed it to Jonathon then took one for himself. They sat at the island and started eating. Eventually the women joined them and they got their food. Harmony ignored him and conversed with Deyon and Leo. Soon they were finished and Deyon and Leo were getting ready to leave. At the front door, Jonathon hugged Deyon and shook Leo’s hand.

“How much do I owe you, Deyon?” he asked.

Deyon raised her head. “Nothing. Harmony and I worked it out.”

She pivoted and strutted out. Jonathon shook his head and glanced at Leo. He was watching Deyon walk away. The lust on his face was evident. Jonathon smacked him on the back of his head.

“Stop ogling her ass.”

Leo rubbed his head then pushed at his shoulder. “But it’s a great one. What’s going on with you and Harmony?” Leo stared at him.

Jonathon glanced back then frowned when he didn’t see Harmony, though she’d come into the hall with him. He faced Leo again then crossed his arms over his chest.

“Just like you and Deyon—it’s none of your business.”

“Fair enough. But you know the family will wonder why she’s staying with you.” Leo left with those words.

Jonathon knew they would. He pulled the key for the car out of his pocket and pointed it at the vehicle, armed it then stepped back inside. He heard footsteps and turned to see Harmony coming down the hall from the direction of his office. She headed to the stairs.

“Harmony, here’s the key.” He held it out.

She took it then went up the stairs. Jonathon stood at the bottom of the staircase watching her retreating figure. He was curious about what Harmony and Deyon had worked out but didn’t think it was a good time to ask. Jonathon locked up then went upstairs to bed. He decided he’d talk to her in the morning before they both headed out to work.

* * * *

The next morning, he came down early so he could make her breakfast and they could talk. In the kitchen, he noted something on the island countertop. He frowned, picking up the key for the car. Jonathon went to the front door, peeked out of the window and saw the Corolla was still there. A suspicion formed and he stood at the bottom of the stairs.

“Harmony,” he called.

There was no sound upstairs. Jonathon returned to the kitchen then realised there was a paper under a magnet he had on the fridge. He went over and took it down. Jonathon read the note from Harmony, which informed him she would be home late. He crushed the note in his hand, wondering where she was going. Jonathon fixed the magnets back to how they should be, then went to get ready for work. Throughout his workday, all he thought about was Harmony and what she was doing. When he arrived home he got comfortable then paced, waiting for her. Finally, he heard the key in the lock. He saw it was nine thirty and, from their conversations, he knew Friday was her early day at the university so she’d finished at twelve. He went into the hall and waited for her to open the door.

“How did you get to work? Where have you been?” he demanded as she entered.

Harmony glanced at Jonathon. He was standing with his feet braced apart and arms crossed over his chest. She had noted before that that was his ‘trying to be calm while actually pissed off’ pose. Harmony closed the door, stifling a smile. She faced him again and got the zing of need. She was mad at him and should not be thinking of how fast she could get him naked and inside her. Harmony passed him and went into the kitchen. She heard his footsteps behind her. Harmony put away the food from the bag she’d brought in.

“Well.”

Harmony moved to the island, looking at Jonathon across the surface. She had already seen the key for the car and knew they had to talk.

“I took the bus to work. I’ve been with Deyon. We made arrangements for me to help her out at her store. I need to pay off the things she bought for me.”

“But I was go—”

“Pay for them. No and that brings me to the point. You can’t just buy me stuff and give me a car. People don’t just do things like that, Jonathon.” Harmony thought of all the things Deyon had bought.

She was set for replacing her clothing and other essentials. Deyon had been through and had even bought her shoes. At first, she’d been pissed off and embarrassed that Jonathon had done such a thing, thinking of her as a charity case. Deyon—in what Harmony realised was her blunt way—had quickly dissuaded her of being a charity case. At least to Deyon. She’d told Harmony she didn’t look like a woman who let a man pay for her and since she—Deyon—might have got a little spend happy, Harmony could work it off in her store. Also, for some additional money, she wanted to use Harmony’s petite frame to fit for a special order she was making for a model friend. As well as a shoe and hand model for some shoes and jewellery that she had recently made for her store. There would be no pictures of her face, thankfully. Deyon hadn’t cared that Harmony had no experience in modelling—she’d said she would do it and that was that. When Harmony had first met the exquisitely dressed woman, she’d had trepidation she would be stuck up, but Deyon was anything but.

Arriving at her store—which Harmony had heard of but had never shopped in—she’d been again intimidated, but Deyon and her employees had all made her feel welcome. After working with Deyon today, she’d seen that the woman was highly efficient and dedicated to her business. No wonder it was so successful. Deyon’s store didn’t carry her size, but the shoes and other accessories had tempted her.

“It’s something I do. Any one of my family would have done. It’s the way we were raised. To help when someone needs it.” Jonathon ran his hand over the back of his neck then lowered his hand, clenching his fist. “It’s not charity if that’s what you’re thinking. I didn’t expect you to just take and not pay me back. But you could have done that in time. The car was because, as I mentioned, I realised that from here it’s longer to get to the university. I figured it would cost you more in transportation and it would be cheaper to put gas in a car so you can go to and from here to there. Or wherever you needed to go. As well as take less time. None of that’s charity—it was helping another human being who might need it. Why won’t you just accept my help?”

His frustration was evident in his tone and mannerisms. Harmony thought of what he had stated then realised she’d automatically become defensive. The difference in their lifestyles had inserted itself into her subconscious and she hadn’t even noticed it. Harmony recognised that since she’d met Jonathon, she’d been making lots of assumptions about him. She made a mental note to check the Internet to find out more about what he had been referring to when he’d said his family helped others. In her gut, she knew that if she asked Jonathon, he’d make it seem less than it was.

“Okay. I’ll use the car. You’re right—it would be cheaper and take less time. Thanks for letting me use it. Well, thank your cousin too.”