Finding Harmony by Jomarie Degioia Read Free Book Online

sweaty
and mussed and… Wow.
    “Umm,” she began. “Yes, I’ve heard they’re quite good.”
    “You don’t work out here?” It was his turn to run his gaze
over her and she held herself still. “Well, you’re doing something right.”
    “I canoe,” she rushed out. “I hike.”
    Rick nodded, a lock of damp hair curing over his forehead. He
waved a hand over his chest. “Sorry about… this. I was headed over to the swim
center and thought I’d just hit the showers there.”
    His shoulders were wide, his strong arms shown to nice effect
in his red sleeveless T-shirt. His silky black shorts draped low on his narrow
hips and she couldn’t look away from the sliver of pale flesh below his navel. What
was wrong with her?
    “You look fine,” she choked out.
    He studied her face for a moment and she prayed her cheeks
didn’t look as red as they felt.
    “Hey, wanna do dinner again?” he asked. That boyish grin
teased his mouth again. “Only this time I get to pick the place.”
    She opened her mouth to accept, darn her lack of control. She
took a breath. “No, I… ”
    “We can hit the beach, maybe?”
    An hour in the car there and back? No stinkin’ way. She’d
never be able to sit that close to him for that long. He’d know she was
attracted to him before the first mile-marker.
    “Thank you, but no,” she said.
    He waited, for some excuse obviously, but she couldn’t
think of anything.            The sparkle went out of his silvery eyes and he
lost his smile. He straightened his body and she could feel him pulling away. Good.
She had to stay focused. He certainly didn’t have tender feelings to be hurt by
her refusal to eat with him, for goodness sake.        
    “All right,” he said. He showed a smooth smile much
different from his previous grin. “I guess I’ll see you around, then.”
    She nodded and watched him walk toward the swim center
across the square.  He rolled those broad shoulders and swung those strong legs
and she should have felt nothing but relief that she’d effectively ended any
association between the two of them. They were at odds, weren’t they? On
opposite sides of the issue? She had to keep her work for the Institute first
in her mind and he had to press Chapman Financial’s intentions. Well, sort of. He
wasn’t asking to bulldoze the buckwheat. Not really. He was seeing to his
company’s interests. She was seeing to the Institute’s. If those interests were
opposed there was nothing she could do about it.
    For a fleeting moment she thought about what it would be
like to throw caution to the wind, to take a moment to feel something other
than duty and obligation. To the Institute and to her parents. To share a nice
dinner with Rick, maybe a real kiss afterwards…
    No. She had to stay focused.
    She jammed her helmet back on and started the scooter. As
she rode, her mind ran in circles.
    Her life was fulfilling, despite anything Hettie said. She
was doing work she loved. She was slowly repaying her parents. She was putting
aside any foolish hopes and dreams that died when Adam broke her heart.
    Rick Chapman had no place in her life or in her heart. He
wasn’t looking for anything more than idle occupation while the issue of the
worksite was resolved. Let him find it with Tammy at the Welcome Center. She
was more his type, Harmony was sure. Polished and perfect, cool and citified.
    And if the thought of the two of them together made her
almost miss the turn-off to her camp? That was surely a coincidence.

Chapter 5
    Rick was at the fitness center again. Over the past week
he’d tried to put Harmony out of his mind. No luck.
    Work didn’t do it. He was cooling his heels for the time
being, dancing to the tune the Cypress Institute played for now. Cooling his
heels and waiting for his father’s daily call. Bill wouldn’t be happy to hear
that he had nothing to report today, either.
    Play didn’t do it. Swimming and golf only filled his time,
not