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“Mmm … you smell nice,” she whispers. “Like pine trees and laundry.”
“Thank you?” I ask, hoping she means laundry that’s been freshly washed.
“Welcome, hottie.”
She doesn’t say anything else for the rest of the walk to the cabin. I manage to unlock the door and open it while I’m holding her. Moose sneaks in ahead of us and curls up on the rug in the living room while I carry Harper to her bedroom. I carefully take her shoes off and place them on the floor, before covering her with a blanket.
“Good night, Harper,” I say, forcing myself not to touch her cheek.
Her eyes open and she smiles at me. “Stay.”
Don’t say yes. Do. Not. Say. Yes. “I’d better not,” I tell her. “Not that I … you’re very … you’ve been drinking and you’re in a tender place in your life right now, so no.”
“Too tired for that. Just wanna feel arms around me. I need a hug.”
I would love nothing more than to lie down next to her, but I’m not sure I could trust myself if she tried to start something. “How about if I sit here while you fall asleep?” I say, rubbing the back of my neck.
“Lie down,” she murmurs before patting the bed next to her and closing her eyes.
Plunking down in the armchair on the opposite side of the room, I kick off my shoes and put my feet up on the ottoman. Moose makes his way in and lies down next to my chair.
I stare at Harper until my eyelids grow heavy. I know I should go, but I can’t seem to make myself do it. At some point, I give in to the long day I’ve had and drift off to sleep, wishing I were about four feet away, with her in my arms.
Chapter27
Harper
Dear Readers,
When I was just a wee lad of twelve, I, too, became embroiled in a love triangle. Me, Stacy Ferndweller, and Landon Post. I loved the sweaters Stacy wore—which at the time I mistook for lust. And Landon filled out a pair of red polyester gym shorts like nobody’s business. What was a boy to do?
I eventually decided to ask Stacy if I could borrow a sweater—baby pink with delicate chartreuse hearts all over it. I wore it to Landon’s soccer game and cheered him on like a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader. He was less than impressed.
After the game, Landon searched me out to delicately disclose his rampant heterosexuality. He broke my heart, but alas, not my nose, so I was grateful. I decided to set him up with Stacy.
It's for this reason that I’m so attuned to the “two humans in love with the same man” scenario. But unlike Landon, Brett Kennedy is no hero. He’s a cheater and defiler of nannies. He’s a wild card run amok in the landmine of love.
I’m not sure there’s a gesture big enough for Harper to consider taking him back. Tip: A boombox on top of your car isn’t going to cut it, dude.
I’m skipping my workout today in favor of a good, old-fashioned mud bath. My aura needs a righteous cleanse.
Dish,
Ferris Biltmore
* * *
I hurt everywhere—my head, my eyes, my belly button. Reaching under the covers I discover that I went to bed in my jeans and the button is digging into me. Popping it open, I roll over and release a world-class groan.
“Ah, you’re up.” It’s Digger’s voice but there’s no way he’s here in my cabin. “I just put on some coffee.”How is he here in my cabin?
Memories start to filter into my consciousness and the heat of embarrassment washes over me. The question at hand is, how much of what I’m remembering really happened and how much did I dream? I say the only thing that comes to mind. “Hi.”
“Good morning to you.” He walks fully into the room before sitting on the bed next to me. “How do you feel?”
“I’m … um … not great.” Lordy, this is one gorgeous man.
“You and Moira really tied one on last night.”
