The Allure of You | H + R Chapter 1

The Art of Silence

“Some wounds speak in silence.”

Somberness blanketed Harmony and Rayna as they reached the door of Harmony’s townhome. Unlocking the door, Harmony pushed forward, leaving her suitcase in the foyer, too consumed with her thoughts to bother dragging it further to unpack. Rayna followed closely, moving like a silent, heavy, and emotionally wrung-out shadow. 

The two hadn’t spoken much since returning to West Hayven, as neither had the strength to untangle what had happened on the island. Peeling off her coat and hanging it up with precision, Harmony released a sigh, caught in the space between heartbreak and anger. 

Pushing her feelings aside, she turned and put all of her energy into focusing on her friend. “You okay?” 

Rayna offered a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m fine. Just trying to get my mind right.” 

Instead of pushing Rayna to express her true feelings, Harmony gave a nod of acceptance, gesturing for Rayna to follow her into the kitchen. 

The silence stretched again. 

35 hours. 

It’d been 35 hours since she’d overheard a phone call that upended her entire life.  Thirty-five hours since she’d been forced to face that, she’d fallen a hell of a lot harder for Remington than she should have in such a short period. 

If anything, Harmony should have appreciated the forced separation as it jolted her back to reality. 

But appreciation was the furthest emotion from what she currently felt, especially when she replayed the last night on Isla de Paz on a loop again.  

Jackson’s voice thundered through the beach house like a tidal wave, crashing over everything Harmony had tried to shield Rayna from. Harmony had reached the bottom of the stairs just as Rayna opened the door—and froze. 

That man didn’t deserve to breathe the same air as her friend. 

“What the fuck are you doing here?” she’d barked, stepping between them without hesitation. Rayna hadn’t moved. She simply stood there like someone struck by lightning, stunned and silent. 

Harmony’s blood had boiled when Jackson reached for Rayna. She hadn’t even thought, just smacked his hand down like he was reaching for something that didn’t belong to him. Which he was. Whatever they’d had between them was over forever. 

She remembered Remi’s voice—low, dangerous, cutting through the tension like a blade. “Move, Harmony.” It wasn’t a suggestion. She’d never heard him sound like that before. That wasn’t the man that she’d clashed with from the very beginning. He was a man on a mission. A failed mission. 

That night, she’d barely looked at him. Her pride wouldn’t let her. She couldn’t stomach the ache in his eyes as she and Rayna packed and left, ignoring his quiet, “Harm, just wait … please.” 

But she couldn’t wait. She’d seen what it looked like when women waited on men who only caused pain. Rayna had just lived through it. And Harmony… Harmony had spent too many years watching her mother pretend her father’s affair hadn’t splintered their whole family. She wouldn’t let herself stay in the shadow of a man who kept secrets—especially not Remi. 

Opening the fridge, she yanked out a bottle of wine and then retrieved two glasses from the cabinet. 

“I know we’re technically still supposed to be on vacation, but would you hate me if I went back to work tomorrow?” Harmony murmured, digging through a drawer for a bottle opener. 

“I’ll be fine by myself. I need to get used to it anyway.” 

“Never mind,” Harmony immediately shut her down, pouring the first glass. “I’m staying.” 

“Harm, I love you, but I don’t need you helicoptering over me. I’m okay.” 

“You could maybe get away with that lie if you were talking to anyone but me,” she challenged. “But I saw how you froze when you saw him, Ray. I can’t believe he had the audacity to show his face even after you filed an order of protection against him.” 

“I’m not sure that protection applies in a different country, Harm,” Rayna accepted the glass Harmony slid her way.  

“Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to ask Brix when I Facetime him in just a few minutes.” 

Slipping off the stool she’d taken a seat in while Harmony was playing bartender, Rayna pushed it back into place. “Well, be sure to let me know how that goes. I’m going to bed. I’m exhausted. Goodnight.” 

“Night,” Harmony called to her back as she exited. “Love you.” 

“Love you too.” 

Collecting her glass, Harmony retreated to her bedroom and, after a quick shower, climbed into her bed before following through with her Facetime call to Brixton. 

“Hey, best friend,” she smiled when his face appeared on the screen. 

Brixton’s observant trait reared as he narrowed his eyes, checking out her background. “Why do you look like you’re in your bedroom?” 

“Because I am,” Harmony confirmed.  

“And you and Rayna left the island a day early because…” he trailed off, waiting for her to fill in the blanks. 

“Because shit went downhill when I found out Remi is engaged just before Jackson pulled up and made a scene.” 

Lifting his arm, Brixton stuck a finger in his ear as though he were cleaning it. “Hold up, I clearly can’t hear right now. You said what?” 

“Despite you being geriatric, ain’t nothing wrong with your hearing.” 

“I’ma let that slide since you just found out your man has a girl.” 

“Remington is not my man. And he has a fiancée. Not a girlfriend. Which he should have disclosed before we slept together.” 

“See where being hot in the ass gets you?” 

“Now is not the time, Brixton.” 

“My bad, my bad,” he sighed. “You okay?” 

“Honestly, I don’t know how I feel. It’s triggering as fuck considering everything that’s happened with my parents. I would never want to be the other woman, even if he claims the engagement is a business arrangement and he doesn’t love her.” 

“Do you believe him?” 

“Does it matter?” 

“Yes and no,” Brixton answered. “You’ve made up your mind, and you aren’t wrong, but I suggest you deal with your feelings, Harmony. Don’t bottle them up as you always do.” 

“Hang up on you; not in the mood,” she snorted, smiling as his rumbling laughter echoed through the phone. 

“You never did like it when anyone tried to tell you about yourself.” 

“Whatever, sir. I gotta go. I need to mentally prepare to tackle whatever dumpster fires are waiting for me at the office tomorrow.” 

“You sure going back to work so soon is the best idea?” 

“Yes. Yes. I am. I love you, goodnight.” 

Seemingly accepting that she didn’t want to discuss her feelings, Brixton nodded. “Goodnight. I’ll talk to you later.” 

Ending their call, Harmony tossed her phone aside and downed her wine, hoping it would be enough to silence her mind and let her sleep. 

But she doubted it.