Defending Harlow (Mountain Mercenaries #4)(57)

Just as he was about to close those remaining inches, a knock sounded on his window.

Harlow shrieked in fright, and even he startled badly.

Turning, Black saw Meat standing there and smirking at him. He gave a little wave.

With a regretful look at Harlow, Black said, “Sit tight for a sec.” Then he turned and climbed out of the car. “I haven’t informed Loretta of the damage yet,” he told Meat as they walked in front of the Mustang, keeping Harlow in sight while they talked.

“I’ll take care of it. She’s expecting me. I’ll get pictures of the wall and call in some people I know who will at least cover it up for tonight. They’ll get to work scrubbing the wall tomorrow after the kids head off to school.”

“And the video surveillance?”

“I’ll download it tonight, send it to Rex, and see what Loretta can tell me.”

“You think Rex is going to do more than he’s done so far?” Black asked. He knew Meat felt the same way he did about their handler’s lack of action on this case.

“I don’t know. But I’m not liking the way this case is escalating, even if no laws, other than this latest stunt, have been broken yet. I called Gray on my way over here, and if you’re up to having a ‘chat’ with this Bear character, you’ve got our support.”

Black nodded. Fuck yeah, he was up for that. “I’d already decided I couldn’t wait for Rex’s permission to make that happen. Tomorrow’s not good, but maybe in a few days?”

“Big plans?” Meat teased.

“Yeah. If you must know, Harlow and I are hanging out in the morning. There are some things we need to discuss.”

“About the shelter, of course,” Meat said with a chuckle.

“Of course.”

Still grinning, Meat said, “Right. Well, I’ll get with the others and see what we can do to invite Bear for a chat.”

“Thanks, Meat,” Black told him.

“Of course. Get her home,” he said with a nod to Harlow.

Black nodded and walked to the driver’s side of Harlow’s Mustang as Meat headed off toward the shelter. “You okay?” he asked.

“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“No reason. I’m going to follow you home.”

She rolled her eyes. “I figured, since you’ve trailed me every time I leave here.”

“Drive safe, and I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Okay. Lowell?”

“Yeah, Harl?”

She bit her lip, then gave him a sheepish smile. “See you tomorrow.”

Black headed for his Mazda. He really wanted to know what it was she wouldn’t say, but a dark parking lot wasn’t the place or time for long conversations or kissing . . . even though both were something he craved.

“Down, boy,” he muttered to himself as he climbed into his car and started the engine.

Tomorrow was a new day.





Chapter Seventeen

Harlow rested her head on the seat in Lowell’s car and stared at him. This was beginning to be a habit . . . one she liked. He’d been at her apartment promptly at four thirty this morning. She had her travel cup of coffee and was wearing jeans, a long-sleeve T-shirt, and a pair of sneakers. Lowell had on black jeans and a white T-shirt with a button-up shirt thrown over it. His black hair looked like he’d just run his hand through instead of combing it, and he had a sexy five o’clock shadow.

He looked delicious.

Harlow couldn’t get the conversation she’d had with her mom out of her head. And last night, she’d almost kissed Lowell. She would’ve been embarrassed about it, except for the fact that he’d leaned into her as well.

The thought that Lowell Lockard wanted to kiss her was almost enough to make her pull out a notebook and start drawing hearts and scrawling Harlow + Lowell all over it.

But she settled for knowing that she definitely saw interest in his eyes when he looked at her. And that he was picking her up, again, for something that he was very carefully not calling a date.

Come to think of it, all of her bad dates had happened in the afternoon or evening. There might be something to be said for having early-morning dates instead.

“Did you sleep okay?” he asked quietly as they drove.

“Yeah, not bad. You?”

He shrugged. “Meat called about thirty minutes after I got home to talk about some stuff.”

When he didn’t elaborate, Harlow asked, “What stuff?”

Lowell looked uncomfortable, which made Harlow nervous.

“Nothing that I want to get into this morning. I want you to relax and have fun. There will be time enough for other stuff later.”

Okay, that didn’t bode well for whatever it was Meat had told him, but Harlow didn’t have a chance to protest, to tell Lowell that she was a big girl and could take whatever it was he needed to say, because they pulled into a parking lot.

“Why are we here?”

“Here” was the Colorado Springs Hotel Eleganté Conference and Event Center. Harlow had never heard of it and was completely confused as to why they would be at a hotel.

“You’ll see,” Lowell said with a grin and shut off the car.

Shaking her head at his grin and the way he loved being all secretive and stuff, Harlow decided to trust him as she watched Lowell walk around the front of the car. She had to admit, though she’d never really liked surprises in the past, probably because they’d always sucked, with him, she was starting to be a fan. A big fan.