"Well, maybe there's something there that could change things for you,” Harper said.
"Nothing can change the fact that he told me he loved me and wanted to marry me and, then in the span of thirty minutes of talking with his ex, he left me."
God, I hated myself for how I’d handled things. But Harper had a point. "She's right. Maybe if you knew what happened, that might change things."
Kate’s head whipped around toward me.
“You’re like a bad penny,” she muttered.
“Find a penny, pick it up, then all day, you’ll have good luck.” I smiled, wishing I could disarm her, even just a little bit.
She looked away.
It was clear this discussion was going nowhere, just as I knew it wouldn’t, so I decided to let it go. I turned my attention to Harper. "How is the new baby?"
She smiled serenely. "She's perfect. She and Mo and Noel are taking a nap. I really should be napping now too, but I wanted to catch up with Kate. How is the house?"
"It's great. I love it." A thought came to me. "I've made a few changes. Would you like to come up and see them?"
Harper glanced at Kate and then turned her attention back to me. "I would." She rose from the blanket.
"What?" Kate’s brow furrowed as she watched Harper start up the beach toward my house.
I looked down at Kate, knowing she was obstinate enough just to sit there and wait. "You're welcome to come up as well. Or not." I started walking toward the back of my house.
Behind me, Kate let out a frustrated growl, but I could hear her coming up behind me and I couldn't help but smile.
When we reached the terrace, Max wasn’t there. We entered the house, and I saw Max at the kitchen table, going over the plans for the new club.
"I'm not sure you've met my brother. Max, this is Harper St. Martin. She owned this place until she got married and moved next door."
Max smiled and extended his hand to her. "Nice to meet you. I never met your husband, but we have used his services in New York."
Harper laughed. "Was that when he was a mercenary or in security?"
Max looked at me, his brows rising. I knew his surprise. I’d only just learned that Noel was once a successful mercenary.
"Security,” Max said. Then he turned to Kate and smiled again. "Good to see you, Kate."
She gave a curt nod.
Harper arched a brow at her. "Don't be rude, Kate."
Kate scowled, then forced a smile. "It's good to see you too, Max."
"I’m giving Harper a tour of the changes I made to the place."
Harper’s gaze scanned the kitchen. "I see you made some changes here. I had the kitchen redone when I bought it too."
"I just switched out the appliances. I wanted something more commercial grade." I led them out of the kitchen through the living room and up the hallway to my office.
"Oh, wow. This is really nice," Harper said as she looked at the floor to ceiling shelves and cabinets I had installed in the office. Technically, it was a bedroom, but I took the doors off the closet and put built-in shelves there as well.
I led them to the master suite, and I couldn't help but watch Kate's reaction as she entered my bedroom. It was stupid because even though I’d fucked her on her desk, it wasn't like she’d be imagining herself in my bed.
"I didn't change anything in the bedroom, but I made some updates in the bathroom." I led them into the spacious room where I’d had the shower completely retiled and new rain faucets installed. The garden tub was replaced with a larger one with jets. It was now big enough for my tall frame... and a friend, if I wanted.
"You had a window installed in here. Why didn't I think of that?"