“Something’s up.” Emma moves to stand in front of me. “Sin kept looking at you during brunch. He hardly took his eyes off you, no matter how hard I tried to get his attention.”
I bury my head in my hands. “How did my life get to be such a damn mess?”
“Oh, Harlow.” Emma lovingly rubs my shoulder. “You’ve been through so much.”
“I’m leaving James,” I choke out the words.
“Yes!” Emma doesn’t hide her enthusiasm. “But is there something up with Sin?”
I let my hands fall down to my sides and look at Emma. “There can’t be anything with him. Ever.”
Footsteps approach me from behind, and then stop. I smell Sin before I even know he is standing by me. That earthy leather scent, it will always be him to me.
“Emma, can I speak with Harlow for a moment? Alone?” Sin stands next to Emma and she nods before walking to the driver’s door of her car.
I glance over my shoulder and don’t see James from where I’m standing. I have a few precious seconds to tell Sin goodbye. I wipe my eyes and try on a feeble smile. I don’t want his last memory of me to be this sobbing mess.
“Thank you for everything.” I stare up into those beautiful whiskey eyes of his and my control fades away. My vision blurs again and I give in to the emotion.
“I’ve done nothing for you yet, Harlow, but I want to.” Sin brings a finger to my cheek and wipes away my tears. His finger caresses my skin with the lightest of touches, but I feel it all the way to my toes. “Seeing you cry like this is breaking me up inside.”
“You can’t get involved with me. I’m going to leave James and he will be looking for me. I won’t come between you two.”
“It’s too late. I slipped a phone in your bag earlier when I dropped my napkin.”
“What?” I peek into my purse and see something wrapped in paper. “Why?”
“It’s why I went to the store this morning. I need to talk to you without James knowing. There is more going on with him than you know. I don’t just want to help you. I need to. I’ll call you from my car.” Sin peers past me and I assume he’s looking for James by the front of the club. He bends down and kisses me on my forehead. My breathing stops, and maybe my heart too. I close my eyes and let the kiss of his full lips soak into me. For the moment, the warmth of his touch helps soothe away some of my worry.
“James is getting in his car and I need to follow him, so I have to go. Be ready for my call. And Harlow, it’s going to be okay. I promise.” He crosses his heart as he walks backward a few steps. Then he turns and runs toward the white Porsche a few cars over from where I stand. I reach into my purse and grab ahold of the phone. This time, the lifeline I’m reaching for has a wonderful, kind man on the other end.
Chapter Twenty-One
Sin
James waits for me at the circle drive entrance in his car. When he catches sight of me, he pulls up next to me in his Mercedes. He rolls down his window and I do the same.
“We’re not too far from downtown. Follow behind me and try to keep up.” He raises his window with a shit-eating smirk on his warped face—one I hope to wipe off as soon as fucking possible. I drive behind his car out of the club’s main entry onto the adjoining street.
Emma’s car was still parked in the lot when I passed by it to meet James. I didn’t see them in the rearview mirror as I left the club’s grounds either.
A protective part of me wanted to take Harlow away from James as I stood watching tears stream down her soft cheeks. I hated her breaking down for a man who wasn’t worth a single tear. Uncle or not, the man has ensnared a vulnerable woman to mold to his will. Controlling her to be his puppet to move and behave as he pulls the strings. Tangling her in a life she has no control over.
After I’ve driven a mile or two from the club, I retrieve my cell phone sitting on the seat next to me. I’m itching to hear Harlow’s voice. Her face showed such torment when I walked away from her in the parking lot. And that kiss on her forehead … what an innocent touch, but it affected me in a not so innocent way. I can’t deny the attraction I have for Harlow. Nor can I deny wanting to make her mine. But never in the cruel way James treats her. I will settle for helping her escape James’ clutches, and maybe I can somehow be with her, but only on her terms and desires.
I shake my head, knowing I am getting way ahead of myself here. First action I need to take is getting her away from my uncle. Now that I know she wants to leave him, one hurdle has fallen.
James stops at a red light and I ease to a stop behind him. I focus on the screen of my phone and pull up Harlow’s burner number. I hit call, bring the phone to my ear, and wait.
“Sin?” Harlow asks in hesitation.
“It’s me.”
“Your name came up on the screen, but I wasn’t sure.”