Fair Lakes Series Box Set - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,62

paint and furniture.

“That’s good for today,” I say, glancing at my phone. “I’m heading out, we can wrap up the signage in the morning.”

“If we don’t get it ordered today, it’s going to add another week to the install.”

“Why would you not tell me that four hours ago?”

“You said you wanted to start with paint.” She shrugs.

“Fine. Since you failed to tell me all the necessary information when you knew I had to leave, you can handle pushing the opening back a week since we won’t have signage.”

“What? That’s going to take days.”

“Not my problem.”

“Harrison.” She stomps her foot like a child.

“Gina, you knew I was leaving, and I’m not staying because of your mistake. You fix it.”

“But you wanted to open in four weeks.”

“It’s a week,” I remind her. “Not the end of the world. We open when it’s ready.”

“But I have vendors scheduled, and refreshments ordered.”

“Reschedule them.”

“An hour tops,” she says.

“Not happening. I’ll see you in the morning. Oh, and I want a report by the end of the day tomorrow where we are with rescheduling everything.”

“What if I walk?” she asks, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Are you?” I counter.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“We’re all replaceable, Gina. All of us. You want to walk? I’m not going to stop you.”

She steps close, too close. “You could let me go that easily?” she asks, her voice dropping low, almost as if she’s trying to be sexy. It might work for some guys, but not on me. She’s not my wife.

“Yes.” My one-word answer is not what she wanted to hear. I can see her eyes grow dark as anger takes hold. “If you’re here tomorrow morning, I’ll see you, if not, I’ll mail your last check.” I turn and walk away from her

“Harrison.” I hear her stomp her foot again. I don’t have the time or the energy to deal with her bullshit today. She’s running on thin ice. She interviewed well, and she’s a friend of Gabby’s, but I’ve had about all I can take.

“I told you I’m leaving at five. It’s three minutes after,” I call out, not bothering to turn and look at her.

“Fine,” she calls out. “See you in the morning.”

I wave over my shoulder and keep on walking. She can try to play games all she wants. It’s not going to work with me. The drive home is short, and as soon as I pull into the driveway, my mood brightens. I make a mental note to get the rest of my clothes from my apartment this weekend, and let it go. I’m exactly where I need to be. Climbing out of the truck, I make my way to the house, pushing open the front door. “Honey, I’m home!” I yell out.

I hear laughter, more than just Winnie’s, and I follow it. I find her and Gabby sitting at the kitchen island, Winnie’s laptop open between them. “How are my girls?” I ask, bending to kiss Winnie on the lips.

“Not your girl,” Gabby fires back.

“Good thing I wasn’t asking about you, now, was I?” I reach over and give her a one-armed hug, and she doesn’t protest—that’s progress.

“What?” she screeches. “You’re having a girl and didn’t tell me?”

“No,” Winnie rushes to tell her. “Harrison just thinks we’re having a girl. We find out at our next appointment.”

“You.” She pokes me in the side, causing us all to laugh.

“What are we doing here?” I ask Winnie.

“Registry. Well, kind of. We’re making a list.” She points to the notebook paper in front of her.

“I tried to get her to let me register her online, but she said you were taking her.”

“Babe, you do it however you need to. If online is easier, then we’ll do that.”

“No, I like the idea of going to the store and strolling up and down the aisles.”

“We going tonight?”

“Yes.” Her eyes light up with excitement. “I wasn’t sure if you’d be home early enough,” she comments.

“Told you I would be.” I know it’s going to take some time for her to get used to this, to get used to the fact that she can trust my word, and I hate that. I never once stepped out of our marriage, but not keeping my word is just as bad in my eyes.

“Can I go?” Gabby asks.

“That’s up to you, Winnie. I’m going to go grab a quick shower while you ladies figure it out. We’ll grab dinner while we’re out.”

“Harrison,” Winnie calls, and I stop in my tracks turning to look