More Than Anything (Broken Pieces #1)(50)

“We saw you earlier,” Lia said to Harris, surprising Tina. “We didn’t know you were with Tina, though.”

“Yeah, saw your spectacular face-plant during the cheese-rolling thing,” Sam said with a grin.

“He was pushed.” Tina leaped to his defense with a vehemence that startled both Harris and her. Tina’s face went bright red when he sent her a quizzical look, arching his brows in surprise.

“Was he?” Sam Brand asked mildly. “Bummer.”

The two men exchanged meaningful glances, and Tina knew they were having a moment of male humor at her expense.

Ugh. See if she ever defended Harris again.

She’d blatantly lied to protect his ego. Harris was more than a little touched by that. He watched her self-consciously converse with the other woman and felt his heart swell in his chest. It was an unfamiliar emotion. His heart didn’t swell; it didn’t melt, bleed, break, or sink. It barely raced when it came to the opposite sex. It always plodded along at its normal pace, doing what it was meant to do, and doing it pretty damned well, if his last medical checkup was any indication.

His heart didn’t do romance. Relationships were ruled by body and brain.

But this was Tina, and exceptions would always be made when it came to Tina.

Consequently, his heart swelled, and it filled his chest cavity with warmth and—he tilted his head as he examined this other wholly unfamiliar sensation blending so well with the warmth—joy.

Joy, a barely remembered sensation. The last time he had felt it was when they’d been dancing to that Alicia Keys song so many years ago. In that instant of lucidity before everything had gone to hell, he had known that he’d never been as content as in that moment when he’d held her in his arms.

He averted his eyes to the man standing in front of him and grinned sheepishly when he realized that the guy had been talking.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t catch that,” he said, loud enough for only Brand to hear.

“No worries, mate,” the man said with a smile, his penetrating eyes missing nothing. Harris knew the man owned one of the most renowned international security companies in the world. He worked with politicians, royalty, and A-list celebrities. A little over a year ago he had been injured saving some pop star, and enough media outlets had reported on the incident to make the guy memorable.

“So, security, huh? Must be interesting,” he said, and Brand nodded.

“It has its moments,” the man said, reaching into his back pocket for his wallet. He withdrew a card and handed it over.

Harris stared at the plain white card. It simply stated in bold black, slightly raised lettering:

BRAND EXECUTIVE PROTECTION SERVICES

SAMUEL BRAND





CEO


His contact details were on the flip side.

Harris acknowledged receipt of the card with a tilt of his head and tucked it into his breast pocket.

“Cheers,” he thanked the man. “I don’t have any of mine.”

“I’ll find your number when I need it,” Brand said, and Lia, tuning into their conversation, sighed.

“Gosh, Sam, do you have any idea how ominous you sound sometimes?” she asked exasperatedly, and Brand turned his attention to her.

“Do I?” He looked and sounded so genuinely startled by her question that Harris laughed.

“Dial back the intensity a notch, and you’ll be fine,” Harris advised, and the other man smiled.

“I’m in the process of moving down here; my company will be based out of Cape Town. Chapman Global Property Group needs a new security company. Call me about that sometime.”

His cockiness startled a laugh out of Harris.

“Seriously, Sam?” Lia sounded both embarrassed and amused. Tina was watching everyone with a small, awkward smile on her face.

Harris abruptly recognized that he had never really seen Tina with any friends other than Libby. She didn’t mingle. She never had. Even when they were kids—he now recognized—she had always been on the outside looking in. He found the thought disturbing. She needed more people in her life.

The other woman went back to valiantly attempting to converse with Tina and got only one-word replies in response. Tina had closed up tighter than a clam. He didn’t know what to make of this behavior. He hadn’t been with her outside of their social circle enough to see her around strangers before.

“We’re having a baby shower for my sister next Sunday. I do hope you’ll come,” Lia said, and Tina’s face froze.

“I don’t think your sister would like that. I-I mean, I’m a s-stranger,” she stuttered, clearly thrown by the unexpected invitation.

“Nonsense, she’d love it if you came. And Libby, too, of course.”

“I-I . . .” Her eyes drifted to Harris’s, and he could see the quiet desperation in them. He nodded before smiling urbanely at Lia.

“Of course she’ll be there,” he interjected smoothly. “I know you’re worried about our date next week, Tina. But don’t worry. I’m more than happy to take a rain check on that so you can attend the party.”

Her jaw dropped, and the desperation in her gaze sharpened into daggers. Her look promised definite retribution, but she forced a smile to her lips and nodded.

“Lovely,” she said through clenched teeth. “Thanks for letting me off the hook, Harris. I’d love to attend, Lia. If you’re sure Daff won’t mind?”