at Marshall. She’d noticed Harley’s hulking body language seconds before he’d tried to tell her to go inside. The source fueling his rage had become blurred by her own protective instincts.
Harley’s eyes remained trained on the floor as he wore a path behind the couch. “Fucking Marshall was here when I showed up.”
“What did he want?”
“Who the fuck knows?” he snapped. “He probably needs money or some shit.” He pulled his phone from his pocket. “I have to warn my mother and Delaney. Damn it. I should have run the fucker out of town.”
“Whoa, Harley.” She touched his arm, trying to lower the phone. “Stop. Take a deep breath and think before you make that call. Did he say he wanted money?”
He whipped his hand away. “He didn’t say shit. I didn’t give him a chance to.”
“Has he asked for money before? I thought you haven’t heard from him in years.”
“What the hell else could he want? He fucking shows up out of the blue and acts like he didn’t abandon our family years ago? Who does that?”
“I don’t know!” Her voice rose, matching his.
“I need to warn Delaney and my mother.”
“Don’t.” She put her hand over his.
His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Now you’re on his side?” His eyes flashed with sudden outrage. “Did he come see you first? While I was at the dance? Goddamn it,” he growled, breathing erratically. “I never saw this coming. I should have kicked his ass.” He lowered his chin, and his eyes impaled her. “You’re not over him, are you? Maybe you didn’t even realize it until you saw him, and suddenly you can’t see past your feelings. What a fucking idiot I—”
Her palm met his cheek with the sting of a thousand bees. She was shaking all over, anger exploding inside her like bombs.
He blinked several times. “Did you just slap me?”
“You’re lucky I didn’t punch you, the way you were spouting nonsense like it’s the truth. Are you insane, saying all that shit after I bared my soul to you?”
The blood drained from his face, and he sank down to the edge of the couch, grinding out a curse as he scrubbed a hand over his face. “Jesus, Piper. I’m so sorry. I lost my mind.”
“You should be. I am always on your side. But you don’t know what he wants, and you can’t make things worse between Marshall and your family just because you’re angry with him.”
“Make things worse? Is that what you think I want?” His voice escalated again as he pushed to his feet, agitated and pacing. “I’ve spent my whole damn life protecting them from his shit. Racing home on weekends from the city to help with the girls and make sure my sister didn’t spiral into depression. Picking up all the pieces of our family, and the business, when my father was sick and after he died. Dealing with the aftermath of Marshall disrespecting our parents by showing up high as a fucking kite to my father’s funeral.” He grabbed his head with both hands and looked up at the ceiling as if he were trying to keep from shouting. He threw down his arms, pacing again. “I’m so angry with him for turning his back on my sister and mother. We didn’t know if he was alive or dead for all this time. You shouldn’t be around me right now,” he said without looking at her. “You should get out of here.”
She stepped into his path and put her hands on his chest, feeling his heart hammering against her palm. “You made me fall in love with you, and I am not leaving just because you’re so angry you can’t see straight. You’re allowed to be in a crappy mood. That’s what I’m here for.”
“No. It’s wrong, Piper. I said awful, hurtful things to you.”
“And I probably would have said worse if I were in your shoes, which means I get a free pass for when I say things I shouldn’t.”
His lips almost twitched into a smile, but stopped short, sorrow rising in his eyes.
“You have every right to be pissed and resentful. You might not realize this, but you said you were mad that he turned his back on your mother and Delaney. What about you, Harley? Where do you fit into that equation? He turned his back on you, too. Maybe somewhere deep inside, you miss the brother you hung out with as a kid. The brother you could relate to on some level.”
He