Free Engaging the Competition by Melissa Jagears

me?”
    She took the box and, surprisingly, said nothing.
    Harrison frowned at the lack of footsteps and turned to see the delivery man still there. Why hadn’t he left? If the man knew him, he would have spoken up once he realized Harrison wouldn’t recognize him without his glasses. Maybe he needed a tip. Harrison searched for a coin in his pocket and gave it to him.
    â€œThanks. Good day, Mr. Gray. Charlie.” The man finally retreated.
    Harrison squinted at the departing man. “You know him?”
    â€œYes.” She blew out her breath, handed him his unopened box, and jammed her fists against her eyes.
    He fished out his pocket knife. He was tired of not being able to see enough to gauge what was going on inside her head. “What’s wrong?” He flipped open his knife and felt for the twine that blended in with the paper.
    She wrapped her hands around the box and took it from him. “It’s no longer my word against Royal’s.”
    He blinked. Even if he could see perfectly, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to figure her out. “What’s that mean?”
    â€œThe delivery guy was Lonnie Moore.” She sliced through the twine and peeled off the paper from the little crate. “He’s Royal’s cousin.”
    â€œSo?” A good quarter of the town was probably related to the Whitakers. He jiggled the box top to get it to move out of its groove and fished out one pair of glasses.
    â€œWhereas Cash saw nothing, I can’t tell August that Lonnie saw nothing.”
    He rubbed his forehead. Evidently his feelings for her hadn’t changed her plans. Maybe he’d been wrong. Maybe she felt something for August, and he’d been too blind to see. Maybe that’s why she hadn’t kissed him back much. He opened the slim glasses case.
    â€œAugust won’t marry a two-timer.”
    Trying to unfold his spectacles, his jittery hands dropped them. Just what he needed to do—break them on the first day. He knelt to find them. “I didn’t mean to get you in trouble.”
    â€œAre you going to marry me, Harrison?”
    â€œWhat?” He blinked up at her. “Marry you?” This woman clearly wanted to be married posthaste.
    â€œYes.”
    His mouth turned dry and his heart raced. He was on bended knee, but not for that purpose! “I . . . I only just kissed you.”
    â€œThanks a lot. Royal’s threat was just bark, but now it’s got teeth. As soon as August hears what Lonnie has to say, he’ll jilt me.”
    He felt along the floor but couldn’t find his blasted glasses. “But maybe that won’t happen.” But what if August did jilt her?
    Did he want that to happen? It certainly seemed she didn’t.
    â€œBut what if he does?” She bent over and snatched up something from under his desk.
    No wonder he hadn’t been able to see where his glasses had fallen. “I don’t know. Perhaps it won’t matter to him.”
    She thrust the glasses into his hand. “Right. No reason to be worried that August would care about a kiss that meant nothing.”
    â€œWait.” He stood and unfolded the temples.
    But just as he slipped his glasses on and could see that her plain, white shirtwaist was actually printed, she was stomping out between two incoming students. He glanced at the clock and sighed. Even if he ran after her, what could he say in five minutes that would fix anything?
    And how exactly did he want to fix things?
    His shoulders slumped. What had he just done to her for a kiss that wasn’t even that great?
    And yet he wanted another one. What did that mean exactly?
    Did it mean he wanted another kiss badly enough to fight August for her? Could he be sure he was any better for her than a Whitaker?

Chapter Seven
    Charlie tucked the sheet again. Then pulled it out to retuck. Then yanked it out and plunked down on the bed with a huff. She might as