Read Online Spring River Valley: The Winter Collection (Boxed Set) by Clarice Wynter - Free Book Online

up and threw herself on the couch. Tears stung her eyes, not for ending her relationship with Brad , but because she couldn’t figure out when it had gone bad. It hadn’t been just two weeks ago that everything fell apart. If she couldn’t figure out a relationship wasn’t working, how would she ever be able to tell for sure if one was?

Chapter Eight
     
     
    “I scared him off.” Harper sighed and sank into the smooth cushions of the faux leather booth at Colette’s.
    Across from her, Audrey sipped a piña colada. “I don’t believe that.”
    “No, really. I went last night to meet with him and Mrs. Moriarty from the Women’s Auxiliary Club , and I don’t think he glanced in my direction the whole time. When we were done he shook my hand and said good night.”
    “He’s giving you space.”
    Harper glared at Audrey. Her friend had become so nonchalant about men and dating. It was easy for Audrey. She was surrounded by good-looking men, between the interns at the hospital, the EMTs who were mostly male, the firemen and the police officers who had plenty of occasions to show up in the emergency room, she met new guys all the time. Granted she hadn’t found one in the past twelve months who was worth a second date, but maybe she was becoming jaded because she had too much of a selection to choose from.
    Harper had only dated a couple of guys before Brad, a high school boyfriend, a college boyfriend , then a fiancé. That was three men, not counting Grant, in ten years. “I don’t want space.”
    “So go over there and tell him that.”
    “That’s easy for you to say. And besides, what will he—”
    “Don’t say think.”
    “Think.”
    Audrey growled. “He’s a guy. He’s not going to analyze your motives, trust me. They don’t do that. If you go to his office and plant a big wet one on him, he won’t be wondering why, he’ll just be kissing you back.”
    Harper wanted to believe that, but after the very professional meeting she’d had with Grant and Mrs. Moriarty, she was certain he’d lost interest in her. The kiss, the husky whisper, must have been just a spur of the moment thing that he’d wisely reconsidered.
    Why had she rushed off like a frightened kitten that night? Now she had two weeks to get over him before the she had to see him again to deliver the decorations for the Auxiliary dinner, so seeing him again wouldn’t leave her knees weak and her thoughts in a jumble. It was a miracle she could even remember the details she’d discussed with the Auxiliary Club President when all she’d thought about during the meeting was Grant’s hands on her ass and his breathless whisper in her ear. “I want you.”
    Now he didn’t anymore.
    “What if you’re wrong, and I make a complete fool of myself?”
    “Besides him, who will know?”
    “Well, me. And him. Isn’t that enough?”
    “Harper, Harper, Harper.” Audrey set down her drink. “You are never going to be happy until you stop worrying about how everything you do looks on the outside. Be spontaneous. If it backfires, it backfires. Apologize and walk away with your chin up.”
    Harper sighed. Hadn’t she used Brad’s reliance on what his parents thought as an excuse to end their relationship? Why was she worried about strangers’ opinions? She’d dealt with all the sympathetic looks, the commiserating phone calls from her family, even some of the unkind whispers she’d heard around town from people speculating on why the wedding really hadn’t happened. She’d let it all slide, ignored the hurt, and carried on.
    “All right. I go talk to him.”
    Audrey rolled her eyes. “Don’t talk.”
    “But I need to explain to him —”
    “Don’t explain. Grab him, kiss him, tell him you’re a free woman and you’ll try anything once.”
    “Oh , God. No.”
    “Okay, you’ll try certain things once as long they’re legal.”
    Harper stifled a laugh at Audrey’s droll tone. “You’re making me rethink