“I don’t hate you,” she said reflexively, realizing then that in some ways she did. Fortunately, this talk was helping her to get beyond those feelings—not too far, but it was a start. “Okay, I did hate you, but I kind of hate most people. Don’t take it personally.”

His eyes fell to her mouth as he asked, “Do you hate me still?”

“You gave me a job.” She shoved a forkful of eggs into her mouth as soon as she spoke those words, hoping to turn his attention elsewhere.

And his unblinking gaze moved to her eyes. “That’s not what I asked.”

Harmony finished chewing and swallowed hard. The eggs had gone cold on her tongue. “No, I don’t hate you, Nolan, but I don’t share your interest, either.”

“Because of my sister? I’m sorry she made school hard for you. She did the same thing to me, too. We weren’t close then, and we aren’t close now, so please don’t assume I’m anything like her.”

She took another bite to avoid talking. What else was there to say?

Nolan seemed to have it figured out. His eyes flashed with something she couldn’t quite identify, then he said, “Would it help if I told you she dropped out of college and works as a cashier at Publix and is generally a very unhappy person?”

“No, seeing as I never went to college, am newly hired as a waitress, and am as unhappy as they come.” There she went acting ungrateful again. She was happy to have the job, but she needed Nolan to lose that light that shone in his eyes whenever he looked at her. The fastest and easiest way to do that was to quash the beginning sparks of his attraction before they had the chance to grow into something truly dangerous.

He leaned toward her again, apparently not even the slightest bit deterred. “I don’t believe that.”

She shrugged. “Believe it or don’t. It’s no skin off my nose.”

“Why’d you come back to Charleston? Why now?”

“It felt the safest place for me,” she answered honestly, even though she knew full well it would be the first place Alan searched for her when he realized she’d left Alabama. She’d just have to deal with that when they got to it.

Nolan leaned forward again; his eyes held a new intensity as he studied her. “Are you in danger?”

“Not any more than usual,” she answered truthfully. “Anyway, I’m sorry I was rude to you. Please don’t fire me. I’ll be better, I swear.”

“I’m not going to fire you, Harmony, and I’ll stop pressuring you to go out with me, but I would really like to be your friend if you’ll let me.” He put his hand on hers so that her much smaller fingers disappeared beneath his palm. A warmth she couldn’t deny spread from her hand all the way up her arm and into her heart.

“I guess I can live with that,” she whispered, hoping that it would prove to be true.