"Yes, thank you." I lean against the headboard, resting as I take in my surroundings once again. There's a bank of windows across the entire wall opposite the bed. The blues and tans are soft with billowing sheers on the windows. "This is gorgeous."
Emerson scans the room with an endearing smile. "He did well, didn't he? Ridge surprises most people, but this is his heart, it's what I see when he hugs me."
"Love." I murmur as my chest tightens. Don't do it, Harper. You can't start with him right now, not like this. "He always doted on you when you were little. I bet Aksel lives hard."
She snickers. "That he does! It's all in good big brother fun, though. Or at least that's what he tells me."
"I'm sure it is!" I snicker. "He was always so serious around me but if it was just the guys, he was the ringleader."
"He's still all brooding and silent." Her eyes look to the ceiling. "I'm pretty sure his go to answer is actually a grunt."
I shift in the bed, turning my face from her. "How's his relationship with Mackenzie?"
"Still best friends. They have several shops together and then he has a few on his own." She leans against the wall by the door. "Mackenzie's daughter has him wrapped, she's gorgeous and I love babysitting when he lets me."
My head whips around. "Mackenzie's back?"
"Oh! You need dets, don't you?" She grabs the chair closest to her, spinning to face me. "After years away, Mack came home, and Boone happened to come back at the same time. There were fireworks! Lots of terrible decisions and words flew around like spit but girl, they got married and Mack's about to pop a lil' ole boy out."
My mouth hangs as I take in every word, process it, and close it. "Weston stayed close to me; he didn't like for me to reminisce. He always monitored all of my relationships to the point; I didn't have any."
"He's a dick." She holds her hands up. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said anything."
I chew on the inside of my nail, releasing it slowly as I realize the fact, I can say what I want now. "He's so many things, that only scratches the surface."
"Let's see, we need more hot gossip." She taps her chin. "Walker married a red-headed attorney, after an ugly breakup with Thayer. You weren't here when she married One's best friend, Hardy. That was huge, but he got over it. Maisyn married the hottest and richest man on the planet, Lachlan. Think ink, hot, and Scottish."
Her words bring back so many memories and a young, sexy Ridge coming out of the ocean. Sweat beads on my top lip. Damn, he was fine. "It's so hard to find out things about your family and friends you should already know, and I beg to differ, I know one that's always been fire."
"Well, now. Do tell." She swings the chair, grinning. "Wait. Ewe! You mean my brother! Oh, gross!"
I bite my lip to stop my smile from spreading across my face. It elicits memories of times I've given way to more times than I care to admit too. "Trust me, if you weren't his sister, you'd see it differently."
"But you two never officially dated, did you?"
I drop my head, hating to admit my second biggest mistake. "Nope! That was his fault and maybe mine a little."
"Now who's got the gossip! Spill!" She leans forward, waiting with bated breath.
I slide from the bed, slowly standing. "I need to get my phone and call my parents. We have plenty of time for you to fill me in and you need to show me the security room."
"You might get outta this now but I'm holding you to a girl's night with all the details." She narrows her eyes as she stands and approaches me.
I hold up my pinky. "Betcha don't remember this, do ya?"
"I do!" She squeals, wrapping her pinky with mine. "I am shook! I used to love when you did this with me, I felt so grown up."
"Well, now's your turn to be my sitter." I shake her hand, holding her finger.
"Please! We can do better than that," she wraps her arm around me. "how about a little sister?"
My heart: you know, the cold and black thing in my chest that's been dead for far too long, thrums with her term of endearment. "You used to tell me I was your favorite sister, and I'd laugh." I lay my hand over hers.
She tilts her head. "Why would you laugh?"
"I would've been your only sister." I cut my eyes at her, as they giggle.
"True, but still meant from the heart." We stroll into the hall, tenderly hugging one another.
I lean in, whispering. "I would love to have a girl's night; I haven't had one since my freshman year of college."
"We can have as many as you want! I mean, it's Cherry Grove, there's always something happening here and lawd knows these people are poppin' out babies like it's a business."
My eyes widen. "Good to know, I'll keep her under wraps."
"Same, girl." Her lips purse. "Same."
Our descent to the security room is fairly easy, although Emerson's doing her best to make me comfortable, I'm still slightly off kilter. I'm surprised how at ease I am; it actually scares me.
Emerson points toward the hallway on the right as we stop at the second floor, she directs me to the third door on the right and pushes it open.
I squint, shielding my eyes from the glow of the monitors. "Bright light, bright light."
"Ahhhh ha haha. Good one." She clicks a few buttons, and the panel glows red. "And we are locked down."
"The entire place?" I cut my eyes at her.
"Yup!" She smacks her lips. "The compound is on lock."
I can't help but to snicker. Yes, she funny but to me, I'm safe. "Don't tell anyone, but I kinda love your brother."
"Never a doubt." She mumbles under her breath. Same girl, but not right now.
"What in the hell is Emerson doing with her?" I shift, trying to get a better look at the house. "It's a damn country song goin' on up in there." I cock my brow as I watch the lights in my house come on and go off, room by room.
"Why is she taking so much time giving her a tour of the place?" I step out from the under the cover of my hiding place. I can't stay away; I keep imagining he'll break in on them and I'll hurt a man over those two.
The hair on the back of my neck stands on end, I whip around, searching the dark. I tense up when a shadow catches my attention. "Who you lookin' for?"
"Fuck!" I clutch my chest, recognizing the voice in the dead of night. "What the hell, Chord?"
"Dude," he inches closer to me. "you're jumpy."
I double take. "I'm on a stakeout! I gotta keep my eyes peeled for intruders."
"A stakeout?" He snorts as he tries to hold back a chuckle. "I'm here for this. Let's do it."
I cut my eyes at him. "Asshole."
"What? I'm here to assist. I'll be Joyce to your Hop." He elbows me and is rewarded with a glare.
"By the way, you need to be careful sneaking up on people. I could've been packin'."