Heartbreaker

Harper Reed looked down at the message she had just received from Logan, staring as if if she blinked, it would disappear. The message... it was—

She didn't know how to even describe it, let alone how to answer it.

Mind if we go out, Princess?

She read it inwardly again. Was he asking her out, or was it all about the fake dating deal?

Harper sighed. Her heart had skipped at least three beats when she first read it. Now it was just straight-up running laps in her chest.

"Harper Reed… why do you look like you just saw a ghost?"

Tyla's voice snapped her out of her daze.

Harper looked up to see her best friend standing at the bedroom door, towel still wrapped around her hair from her shower, one eyebrow raised in suspicion.

Without a word, Harper shoved the phone toward her.

Tyla snatched it instantly and scanned the screen. Her eyes widened.

"No freaking way," she gasped.

"Ty, talk to me. Did he just ask me out?!" Harper pressed, eyes pleading for the quickest response.

"Hell yeah!" Tyla squealed.

Harper nodded slowly, as though she was questioning Tyla's response, still in disbelief.

Tyla tossed the towel onto Harper's bed and did a little happy dance in place.

"This is major! This is like… a full-blown movie moment!"

Harper let out a nervous laugh, tugging at the hem of her oversized T-shirt.

"I don't know, Tyla… Should I go? What if this is some weird joke? Or a dare? Or he's just trying to mess with me again?He said it's to promote our fake relationship."

"Promote the what—?"Tyla said in an accent.

Next,she grabbed her shoulders dramatically.

"Girl, listen to me… When Logan Hayes wants to take you out… you say yes. Period."

Harper bit her lip, trying not to smile… but failing.

"Okay… but what do I even wear?" she mumbled.

Tyla's eyes lit up.

"Leave that to me."

Thirty minutes later.....

Harper stood in front of the mirror, smoothing her hands down the soft fabric of her light denim skirt and fitted black top. Her curls framed her face perfectly, and Tyla had even added a little shimmer to her eyelids.

"Dang… I'm good," Tyla said from behind her, proud of her work.

Harper grabbed her phone again, just in time to see another text pop up from Logan:

"I'm outside. Come down."

Her stomach flipped.

Tyla grinned wide. "Have fun!"

With one last deep breath, Harper grabbed her bag and headed downstairs.

****

Logan was leaning against his black motorcycle like he belonged on the cover of some magazine. Leather jacket. Messy hair. That lazy smirk that made her stomach flutter.

When Harper stepped out, he stood up straighter, giving her a quick once-over.

She looked hot. He could see her curves clearly, her light makeup was on point, and the glitter did everything. Her lips were glossed to perfection—subtle, but enough to make him stare a second longer,there was a rhythm in her walk, a slow sway of her hips that made him forget how to breathe. She was seducing him without even intending to.

"Wow, Princess," he said with a teasing grin. "Didn't know I was picking up a whole heartbreaker tonight."

Harper's face flushed instantly.

"You're ridiculous," she muttered, a smile at the corners of her kissable lips. "You think we'll find some of our college students there?" she asked.

"A lot of them will be where I'm taking you, Princess."

"Okay, I'm intrigued… Where though?" she asked, folding her arms.

"You'll see," he smirked, before reaching over and handing her a spare helmet.

She took it. "Don't do what you did last time, Logan. You already know how much I hate motorcycles."

"You're gonna be fine," he said, his tone softer now—calmer.

"I promise."

Something in his eyes showed that he was serious... He was being real.

"Do you trust me?" he asked, his eyes piercing her skin.

She scoffed, "Of course not!" she joked. Then, without another word, she climbed onto the bike behind him, slipping the helmet over her head.

Harper swallowed, heart thudding.

"Feel free to hold me," he said, looking over his shoulder at her.

"Stop teasing!" she hit him playfully, and they both giggled.

Then, he started the engine.

Harper shut her eyes tightly…