If You Only Knew (Harper Falls Book 3) by Mary J. Williams Read Free Book Online Page B

else saw it. Not her friends,
not Miranda. But he did.
    “Ready to go?”
    Miranda gave him an exasperated look. Honestly .
    “ Yes.” She huffed out the word. “I’ve
been ready for ages.”
    “After you.”
    Drew pulled out his wallet, tossing enough money on the
table to cover their drinks and a healthy tip.
    He paused at Tyler’s table, not focused on her, but on Rose.
    “Long time, no see.” Not the most brilliant of
lines, Drew admitted to himself. “How have you been, Rose? We miss you at
the Academy.”
    Rose looked over his shoulder at a toe-tapping Miranda and
smiled.
    “I’m sure they’re crying in the halls. How are you,
Drew?”
    “Good, all’s good.”
    “Do you know my friends? Dani, Tyler, this is Drew
Harper.”
    “Hi.” Dani gave him a little wave. She was a
looker, Drew thought. All that white, blond hair and deep, emerald eyes.
Any guy would be drawn to her.
    “Drew.” Tyler said his name with a straight face
but a twinkle in her eyes. Today, they were silvery, sharp, and laughing.
    “I think I’ve seen you around.”
    His eyes held Tyler’s for just a second longer. He would
have stayed, used the opportunity to be near her. Unfortunately, Miranda had no
desire to exchange chitchat. Not with three girls she considered so far beneath
her lofty social status.
    “Drew.”
    Had Miranda always had that whiny quality to her voice? Or
was he just starting to really listen? He did know that he was ending whatever
it was they had going on. Today was the last day. Bye-bye, Miranda.
    “It was nice seeing you again, Rose. And it was a
pleasure to meet you, Dani. And you, Tyler.”
    “We are late.”
    For what? Drew wanted to ask. They didn’t have any
fixed plans, or any plans at all, for that matter.
    “Just a second. I have to tie my shoe.”
    Drew knelt to retie his perfectly fine laces. He fiddled for
a moment, not looking up, instead enjoying his view of Tyler’s long, tanned
legs. Under his breath, he whispered, “Ode to Billy Joe.” Then stood
and continued out of the restaurant.
    He wanted to look back. It took all of his willpower not to.
Had she heard him? Understood what he said?
    If he had given in, glanced Tyler’s way, he would have seen
a sight that would have taken his breath away.
    “What are you grinning at?” Rose asked, exchanging
puzzled looks with Dani.
    Tyler just shrugged and picked up the conversation about
what movie they were going to see next week on their trip to Spokane. She
peeked out at the street, keeping another grin to herself. Drew Harper. Who
would have guessed?

 
CHAPTER FOUR
     
     
    DREW JOLTED AWAKE.
    Unsure of where he was or why he was there, it took him a
moment to shake the cobwebs from his brain and focus.
    Tyler. Right. He was outside the Jones house and it was — he
looked at his watch — six in the morning. He had fallen asleep sometime after,
maybe three o’clock? That was the last time he remembered.
    Drew shivered slightly. He wore a heavy leather coat but
damn, it was six in the morning. And October. It was still dark. That was
something. At least he could get away before the neighborhood started stirring
for the day.
    Shaking his head and taking a deep breath, he reached to
start the car when his phone signaled a text from Jack.
    Where the hell are you?
    Drew sighed. What a worrier.
    I’m fine, he typed. Go back to your bed and your
woman .
    In bed, with woman . Jealous?
    Hell, yes. What sane straight man wouldn’t be? Warm bed,
loving woman. Not Jack’s, his own. But these days, his bed was not welcoming
and he was miles and a good decade away from the woman he wanted.
    Nine o’clock conference call, see you then.
    Drew shut off his phone before Jack could respond. He knew
his partner worried. They were also best friends — double whammy in the worry
department.
    He pulled the Mustang onto the street and headed towards
H&W headquarters. He wasn’t going home. Any empty house, no