I wince, say quickly, “Sorry, I was expecting Harper.”
She pats my arm. “I’m teasing. She just pulled up, actually. I’m just going to drop my stuff inside and help her unload.”
I let her in then hurry outside and down the driveway.
Ollie is standing next to Harper, surveying the contents of her trunk with a skeptical expression.
“You like cookies?” Harper asks.
He nods.
“Harper makes the best cookies,” I chime in and they spin to face me.
“Leo!” Ollie exclaims, rushing over then seeming to catch himself, skidding to a halt a foot away from me.
“Hey,” I say, crouching down in front of him and offering my fist for him to bump.
He hesitates then presses his little fist against mine.
“Oatmeal raisin, chocolate chip, or sugar?”
We both look up, see Harper holding a large container of cookies.
“Oatmeal raisin for me,” I say, and yeah, I’m eager as fuck.
But Harper makes excellent cookies.
She rolls her eyes at me, but she hands me one then looks at Ollie. “How about you, sweetheart?”
An energetic nod. “Chocolate chip.”
“And that’s the right choice,” she teases me.
“What about for me?” Smitty asks, his volume making Ollie jump. “Sorry, big guy,” he says, softening his tone. “I just really like cookies.”
Ollie smiles. “Me too.”
“Sugar cookie for me, Harp-tastic.”
Harper huffs out a laugh. “For the record, I fully approve of dessert before dinner, but we do need to get the food inside before it gets cold.”
I kiss her cheek, nudge her toward the house. “Why don’t you take the cookies inside. The guys and I will grab the food.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean?—”
“I know. But let me do this?” I tuck her hair behind her ear. “You already banned me from your kitchen.”
An exasperated breath. “Just for the day.”
“I must have missed that part when you were shoving me out the door.”
“I did not?—”
“Why were you shoving my man out the door?” Sawyer says, clapping me on the shoulder.
She gasps and mock glares at him. “All right Mr. Ninja Skills, don’t you start either or you won’t get any food.”
Sawyer mimes zipping his lips and he moves by us, reaching into the trunk for a foil-wrapped pan.
