Page 97 of Seeing Harper

“What if she doesn’t feel the pull.”

“He says he believes she already has. He mentioned that he thinks he might have found his mate and she got a little peeved. He said she hid it well, and tried to be excited for him, but he could scent her irritation, so he thinks she feels it, too.”

“He thinks she feels it. This is a hell of a lot to bank against him thinking she feels something.”

“He’s always been the most level-headed of the bunch. If Summer or even Bastian did something like this, it wouldn’t be all that surprising, but Clay? After seeing the sincerity in his eyes, seeing his soul come alive when he talks about her, and talks about his dreams for the future with her, the only thing I can do is to support him. To be happy for him and trust that he’s making all the right decisions.”

Riley thought about it for only a second before he smiled and shook his head as he remembered his own grand dreams before he’d claimed Maia. “I did the same thing more or less. I planned a whole future for myself and Maia, and I was right — I mean, look at us all now. But before she knew what my intentions were, she thought I was leaving her behind and renounced me. It can be tricky, but I well remember planning a surprise for our future. I know what he’s feeling.”

“And?” Richie asked.

“And I’m hoping it works out for him. They would make a strong, even match.”

“I think so, too. I’m excited to see it all come to fruition.”

~~~

At 6:30 the next morning, Harper opened the passenger door of Summer’s car and put one foot on the ground in front of her home. “Thank you for driving me so early.”

“Mmhmm,” Summer responded.

“Don’t worry about coming back to get me, I’ll drive my own car over so you don’t have be my driver anymore.”

“Good,” Summer half-growled.

“See you later!”

“I’ll be sleeping,” Summer grouched.

Harper laughed. “Don’t go to sleep until you get back home.”

“Fine.”

Harper got out of the car and grinned as she watched Summer back out of her driveway, flip her off right before she pressed the accelerator, and head for home. Harper was laughing when the front door opened behind her. She turned to see who was at the door and her smile widened. “Mom!”

“Good morning. I made your favorite.”

“Gingerbread,” Harper said.

“And it’s right out of the oven.”

“Where’s everybody else?”

“They are already out taking stock of the farm.”

“Good. Then we have time to visit,” Harper said. She hurried to the door where her mother stood waiting and hugged her tightly, then together they went into the house.

Libby served her a huge piece of gingerbread topped with homemade sweetened whipped cream and sat down across from her with a cup of coffee.

Harper took a bite of her gingerbread and moaned. “If I ever move away, you have to come so you can make this for me every week.”

“Consider it done,” Libby said.

Harper took another bite, licked the whipped cream off her fork, then looked at her mother. “Did you start an argument with Dad?”

“Not yet. I told him I was unhappy with him, and it was increasing by the moment. I’ve been distant to both him and his business associate, crapwad…”

“Joel.”