A slight hand gesture told him he should look at the bar, and when he did, he saw Harper.

She was still wearing her coat—had obviously just come in—and was standing with her back to him, talking to a woman who seemed about the same age, and a man who looked a few years older.

“That’s her, isn’t it?” Maddox said.

Tobias’s heart began to race. He’d been dying to hear from Harper for the better part of a week, and yet he’d received nothing. “Yeah. That’s her.”

He told himself to look away, to continue on to the gaming area behind the pool tables. The place wasn’t crowded, but it wasn’t empty, either. Depending on how long she stayed and what she did, he thought he might be able to play without her ever noticing him.

But then she turned—and saw him.

14

“Something wrong?” Karoline’s forehead creased as she watched Harper.

Harper tore her gaze away from Tobias. “No, nothing.”

Fortunately, the bartender interrupted at that moment, so instead of pressing her, as she normally would have, Karoline turned to order.

“This is okay, isn’t it?” Terrance whispered behind his wife’s back. “I know Karoline had to sort of strong-arm you into coming out tonight, but it’s only because she’s concerned about you, wants you to get out and have some adult fun.”

“So her answer is to almost force me?” Harper muttered.

“I choose to see her approach as…encouraging you,” he said with a wink.

Living with Karoline and Terrance was teaching Harper how Terrance, such a mellow man, coped with the steamroller that was her sister. He focused on her intentions, not how she fulfilled them. And Harper had to admit Karoline’s intentions were always good. That was why she put up with her, too.

“I know.” She could’ve argued that her sister occasionally pushed too hard, but her mind wasn’t on the conversation. It was on Tobias and his expression when he saw her. He hadn’t done anything to indicate he recognized her, hadn’t so much as smiled. He was letting her know he didn’t expect anything, not even a greeting. But that left what felt like a heavy stone lodged in her stomach. She should’ve responded to his text. She felt bad that she hadn’t. But she’d known that striking up any kind of conversation with him, even one in which she just assured him she was okay, would weaken her defenses.

Karoline cleared her throat in an exaggerated fashion. “Hello? The bartender’s waiting. Are you two going to order a drink?”

“I’ll have a Moscow mule.” To her own ears, her voice sounded tinny and mechanical, but Karoline didn’t seem to think anything of it. She looked at Terrance expectantly, and he said he’d have a scotch and water.