“Harper.”
“I’m Sophie. Welcome to Benevolence, Harper. How about some ice for that face?”
2
Sophie set Harper up with some Ibuprofen, ice, and an impromptu doctor’s visit in the ladies’ room.
“Okay, Harper, I’m thinking you may have escaped a concussion. You are very lucky,” Trish Dunnigan said, leaning in to check Harper’s pupils one more time. “I’d like to see you tomorrow morning though. I don’t think your arm is broken, but it could be a hairline fracture. Same with the ribs. You need an X-ray.”
“Oh, I won’t be here tomorrow. I’m just passing through.”
“All right, then make sure you see your primary care doctor ASAP.”
Harper nodded, knowing that that wasn’t going to happen.
“Thanks for the house call, doc,” Sophie said, leaning against the vanity.
“No problem. I was in the neighborhood getting some take-out. Happy to help.” She waved on her way out the door.
“Sorry to be so much trouble,” Harper said from under the ice pack.
“Are you kidding? You’re a hero. Glenn has been wailing on that poor Gloria since high school.”
Harper sighed. “What a dick.”
“You got that right.” Sophie leaned towards the mirror to apply a fresh coat of lip gloss. “So what’s your story? I know you’re not from around here.”
Harper sighed. “It’s a long story. Let’s just say I caught my boyfriend-slash-boss in a compromising position with a delivery girl today and stormed off with nothing but my car keys.”
“And then ended up getting punched out by a drunken jack-off in a parking lot?”
“Yep.”
“Wow. That is a bad day.” Sophie studied her for a minute. “So no wallet, no phone, no cash?”
“Nothing. Also, I ran out of gas in your parking lot.”
Sophie threw her head back and laughed. “Kid, it couldn’t have happened in a better place. I’ll take care of everything.” She tucked her gloss into her front pocket. “My shift’s starting, so meet me at the bar. I’ve got a beer and some nachos with your name on them.”
Harper watched as Sophie breezed out through the barn-style door. What she wouldn’t give for that kind of confidence in life.
She dropped the icepack and looked in the mirror. The bruise was nasty all right. It flowed from temple to cheekbone in a mottled purple. What if Luke was still out there?
Harper yanked her hair out of her ponytail and brushed her bangs sideways across her forehead to cover some of the bruising. She let the rest of her hair fall, tousled around her face.
Not great. But it would have to do.
She pushed through the door and into a very lively Friday night. The log cabin theme continued in the main bar with timber beams and a huge stone fireplace off to the side. Twin pool tables drew a crowd in a raised alcove overlooking the outdoor patio.
And there was Luke, standing at the long, rustic bar with a beer, waiting. He nudged an empty stool towards her with his foot. The gesture walked the line between invitation and order.
He was smoking hot. Dressed in jeans and a plain gray t-shirt, he was seriously ripped. Like romance-novel-cover ripped. And those eyes. Green and gray and brown. No wonder all she could say was wow.
She slid gingerly onto the stool as her muscles whimpered. They stared at each other for a minute. The silence hung thickly, cutting off the volume of the rest of the bar noises.
“Hi,” Harper said finally.
“Hi.”
“I’m Harper.” She extended her hand for the overdue introduction.
“Luke.” He took her hand in a strong grip and held it. “Come here often?” He smiled, and the dimple appeared again. Harper felt her heart stumble. Oh, good Lord. Not now. This was the worst possible time to develop a crush. She had sworn off men not two hours ago and promptly gotten her ass kicked by another one. She ordered herself to pull it together.
“First time. I hear the parking lot gets pretty rowdy on Friday nights.”
He straightened and brought his fingers to her face, gently brushed her bangs back. “How’s your face, Harper?”
“It’ll be okay, Luke.” She blushed saying his name. It felt strange to be so familiar with a stranger. “How’s your hand?”
He was still cupping her face, running his thumb lightly over her bruised cheek.
Someone nearby cleared their throat. Sophie was behind the bar, grinning like an idiot at them. “Sorry to interrupt, kids, but this is for you,” she said, tossing an icepack at Luke. “And this is for you,” she slid a beer bottle to Harper. “Nachos are on the way. On the house. Sit.”