Chapter Four

LAYKEN

It took all the self control I could muster to leave Harper in that booth alone. More than anything I could ever want, I wished I could to stay with her.

During the late hours of the night, I laid in bed tossing and turning last night. No matter what I did, sleep wouldn’t come to me. Her dire situation, along with the profound connection I had, firmly planted itself within my subconscious and I couldn’t shake it.

Nothing changed once I got to my office earlier this morning, either. I thought being with Jillian could help, but I feel worse than ever. As if I had been unfaithful to Harper somehow. It’s a ridiculous notion to have since we aren’t involved in a relationship. I’ve only just met her and haven’t known her for over twenty-four hours. Maybe I needed to speak to a psychologist. I’m obviously losing my sanity.

I’ve never felt this way for any woman. Not proud of my actions, but I have had my fair share of women through the last twelve years of my life. There’s never been a flame as strong as what I feel every time I’m around Harper. When our gazes met, it felt like a lightning bolt had struck me. The pull I had towards her was something unlike anything I had ever experienced.

Once I arrived at home, I hung my tuxedo up and crashed down on the couch. It wasn’t even six yet, and I was ready to pass out. I haven’t been off this early in years, and I did not know what to do with this free time I had given myself. Tonight would have been a perfect date night, but I’m utterly alone. Being successful has done this to me. If Harper ended up giving me a chance, being a lawyer would quickly become the last on my plate of things I cared about. But what would she want with someone so much older than her when she could have a robust young man her age? This was just one big cluster fuck.

I turned the television on, found something to watch, and passed out within ten minutes. A loud clap of thunder woke me up. I glanced at my Rolex and saw that it was past seven. I sat upright, ran to my room, and changed into some jeans and a t-shirt.

My first thoughts when I heard the howling wind and rain beating on the house were of Harper. A thick, foreboding feeling settled in my bones. She was most likely out there in her car, in this storm. I had to find her before anything terrible happened to her.

HARPER

I watched the man of my dreams walk out of the restaurant and wished that I could go with him. All rationality had flown out the window. I was no longer thinking clearly. What was this feeling? My whole body hummed with need. The need to be filled and devoured by a man I don’t know, a freaking stranger. Layken and I have a connection that I can’t explain, and I wish I were home to talk to Sarah about it. I don’t understand what’s happening or why? I’ve hardly had a crush on a guy because they are so dumb. Nice to look at, maybe, but their demeanor quickly overrides that. Any time Layken touches me, like just now, when he kissed the top of my hand, a static charge shoots through my body. His eyes are like a cavern I get sucked into, and I could quickly get lost in them. Does he feel it too? Have I officially lost my mind?

“Harper, are you listening to me?”

I was so engrossed in my thoughts about Layken. That I hadn’t realized Tenley had walked up to me and was talking to me. The crazy thing is I was looking right at her, but my brain hadn’t registered that she was there.

“Um… I’m sorry, I was uh… I didn’t realize you were there.”

I scrunched my face up, realizing how stupid that sounded, and mentally slapped myself. But it was the truth.

Tenley chuckled and sat down across from me. “You two are going to make quite a pair.”

“Excuse me?” I couldn't keep from twisting my face and furrowing my brows in confusion. What the heck is she talking about?

“It’s quite obvious you both belong together. I saw it last night. The way you both reacted to each other, and then again today. My brother is hell-bent on ensuring you are safe and provided for, and he doesn’t even know you. I don’t know you well either, but I hope to. Anyhow, here is my address. I don’t live but a couple of blocks from here. If you could be there by ten, that should give us enough time to go shopping and get our hair done. Layken gave me his credit card, so money won’t be an issue.”

My mind was swirling with confusion. What the hell was Tenley talking about? “Layken is going to pay for my dress?”

“Yes, dress, hair, the whole shebang.”

“We aren’t together,” I mumble, while nibbling my bottom lip nervously and fumbling with my fingers.

“Oh, I know that, but you will be, and soon, I’m sure. Do me a favor, will you? Either stay with me tonight or get yourself a hotel room. It’s supposed to rain cats and dogs, and the lakes around here flood over. I don’t want to worry about you being out there in your car all night.”

My mouth hung open in shock, and I couldn’t utter a reply to Tenley. My plan was to stay in my car for the night to save money, and I would not be dishonest with her. It sucks that I was honest with Layken. But I didn't want him to know. Last night I stumbled across a stunning park with a pond and I plan to stay there tonight too. I would have to park further away from the pond tonight since Tenley said it might flood. I hoped to get to Tenley’s a bit early so she could let me use her shower.

Also, she’s talking as if Layken and I are already some kind of thing. I felt a little offended that he would give her his credit card to pay for everything. But I was also grateful at the same time because Lord knows I don’t have that kind of money. But Tenley didn’t need to know any of this, and I didn’t know how to tell her my feelings for Layken. I had never felt this way. Thinking of him makes the butterflies in my stomach come back full force. I miss him and want to see him again, although he has only been gone from my sight for five minutes.

“Shit, customers, I better get back to work.”

Saved by the stranger who just walked in, thank goodness. Tenley handed me the paper she had scribbled her address and phone number on and rushed off to help the guest at the door.

This was my chance to clear my plate and leave before she returned. I was going to end up spilling everything to her otherwise. My feelings for Layken and sleeping in my car were things no one needed to know about but me. At least for right now, until I could figure out what the hell was going on with me.

I hopped in my car and went to the park. What was I going to do for four hours until it was time to go to sleep? I got out of my car and walked over to a bench, and stared out into the water. The park I’ll be staying at, at least until Monday, is beyond beautiful- lush, vibrant green grass that you can sink your bare feet into. Tall willows and other trees fill up most of the park’s landscape. There are also various wildflowers and different plant life scattered throughout. I imagine Heaven being like this, except a thousand times more beautiful. Who would want to stay in a stuffy hotel when they had this park at their disposal? I actually slept better last night than I have in the previous month since going on my road trip. It’s so peaceful at night. What Tenley doesn’t know won’t hurt her?

It’s probably a bad thing since this is a public park. But I walked around for quite some time without my shoes on. To let the cool grass tickle and soothe my aching feet from being so busy at the restaurant last night and today. I found the perfect Willow to get up inside of, sat down, and rested my head back on the tree’s bark as I stared out at the pond once again. My eyes grew heavy as birds chirped and lulled me to sleep.

A clap of thunder sounded. Waking me from my slumber. I rushed to put my shoes on and sprinted back to my car, getting inside just before the rain started.

I checked my phone and noticed I had slept two hours, but it was too early to go back to sleep. So I took out my diary and documented the past couple of days. My goal was to understand my feelings for Layken. But I ended up more perplexed than before. After writing for a while. I tucked my diary back into my laptop case and pulled out a book to read.

The next thing I knew, I was being woken up by a loud pounding on my window. “Get out! Your car is about to go out into the lake!”

How did he find me?