Defending Harlow (Mountain Mercenaries #4)(31)

She melted. How could she stay irritated with him when he looked so concerned? “I’m okay. I admit that going to and from my car isn’t my favorite part of this job, but I love it when I’m actually inside. Thank you for escorting me.”

“You’re welcome. Text me when you’re ready to go tonight. No matter what time. I’ll be pissed if you don’t.”

“Fine.”

“Good.”

He leaned down, still holding her hands hostage, and kissed her forehead. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, taking his essence into her lungs as if she could keep him there forever.

All too soon, he let go of her and stepped back. He walked to the big table where the kids would soon be eating their snacks, and picked up a helmet and leather jacket that had been sitting there. She hadn’t even noticed them earlier.

“You have a motorcycle?”

He obviously heard the excitement in her voice, because he smiled. “Yeah. You like that?”

“Well, yeah. What’s not to like?”

“You wanna go for a ride sometime?”

Harlow couldn’t figure out if there was a sexual innuendo in his words somewhere, but his face was emotionless, so she decided she was just projecting what she wanted to hear. “I’d love to.”

Lowell winked. “Then I’ll make it happen. Text me later, Harl.”

She nodded, and then she was alone in the kitchen.

Letting out a breath, Harlow shook her head and tried to clear it. Every time she was around Lowell, she felt off-kilter. He was different than anyone she’d ever hung out with before . . . in a good way. He was bossy, though only because he was trying to make sure she was all right. But it wasn’t like they were boyfriend-girlfriend. He was just being a good friend.

Ignoring the voice in her head that was practically screaming she was lying to herself, Harlow headed to the fridge to check out what Zoe had prepped. They sat down at the beginning of each week and planned out every meal, so they could help each other with preparing. Sighing in relief when she saw everything was ready for her to start dinner, Harlow put the encounter with Lowell out of her head and got to work.



Harlow: Hey.

Lowell: Hey. You ready?

Harlow: I will be in ten minutes or so. But you really don’t need to come by. It only takes me a minute to get to my car.

Lowell: I’ll come in and get you.

Harlow: eye roll

Lowell: Ten minutes. Don’t step foot outside the building, Harl. Or I’ll be upset.

Harlow: Fine.

Lowell: See you soon.

Harlow wanted to be annoyed, but she couldn’t be. Not when Lowell was looking out for her safety.

When the kids had gotten home from school, they’d told her that Gray, “the really tall guy,” had been leaning against the front of the building next to theirs and had greeted them as they’d filed inside.

Julia had pulled her aside while the kids were eating their snack, and said Gray had told her and the other mothers that someone would be there every day when the kids got off the school bus to make sure no one made them uncomfortable. It was easy to see the relief in Julia’s face, and in the other moms as well. With their backgrounds, the harassment could be the final straw for them.

Harlow had offered to entertain the kids while dinner was cooking by teaching them how to break eggs one-handed without getting any shell in the bowl. It would kill two birds with one stone, as she could prep the scrambled eggs for the morning. It had been hilariously fun, and everyone had cheered on each child when their turn arrived.

Making dinner for sixteen people—seventeen if Harlow ate with them, eighteen if Edward came over, which was more and more often—was never an easy task. Breakfast and lunch seemed easier, because the residents came in at different times and ate off the buffet they prepared. But dinner was the one time they did their best to have everyone eat together. It was a noisy affair and mostly joyous. For the last week or so, it had been more somber as the harassment from the men increased and everyone was more on edge.

But tonight, everyone had been happy and relaxed, and Harlow knew it was because of Lowell and his fellow Mountain Mercenaries. She just hoped they could figure out the reason behind the harassment.

She grumbled about having to text Lowell to escort her to her car, but if she was being honest with herself, she was relieved. Edward had offered to walk her to the parking lot, but the thought of someone deciding he was an easy target didn’t sit well with her. She’d never forgive herself if someone hurt the seventy-year-old.

It had been close to nine when she’d finally texted Lowell. The kids had decided they wanted to help clean up, and then she stayed late to help Jasper with his homework. The eighth grader was having trouble with his English assignment. He had to answer questions about the book Lord of the Flies. It had fascinated Harlow when she was his age, so she had no problem talking with him at length about the psychological aspects of the story.

Exactly twelve minutes after she’d texted him, Lowell strode into the kitchen of the shelter. Harlow felt a blush bloom on her cheeks and sternly told herself to get it together.

“Hey.”

“Hi,” she responded. “I’m almost ready. I just need to grab my stuff.”

Lowell stood in the doorway as she grabbed her purse and shrugged on her sweatshirt.

He walked behind her through the main living area at the shelter, nodding to Carrie and Ann. Bethany and Kristen were sitting on the couch reading, and Violet and Lisa were playing checkers. Harlow felt their eyes on her as she crossed the room. In the last week or so, pretty much all of the residents had commented on her luck and how handsome they thought Lowell was. She’d told them over and over that they were just friends, but not one of them believed her.