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Harper nodded and gestured between us. “I don’t know what’s happening here.”
My heart pounded hard in my chest. I swear she could hear it from where she stood. “Whatever you want to happen.”
Then I waited for her to absorb those words and interpret their meaning.
Finally, she sighed. “I want you. I’ve always wanted you, Leo. But you’ve never shown any interest.”
The blood rushed south as I erased the distance between us, murmuring sweet words in Italian to her as I cradled her jaw and anchored her hip with my free hand. “Say it again.”
Her eyes fluttered open as her gaze met mine. “I’ve always wanted you.”
Then I crushed my mouth to hers, needing to absorb the vibration of those words on my lips. She tasted like a combination of lime and vanilla. As I explored her mouth, I tipped her chin higher so that I had a better angle. Her lips parted, allowing our tongues to tangle together. I couldn’t believe I was kissing Harper.
A tingle traveled through my body, making me feel light-headed. But we needed to talk. I pulled slightly back and waited for her eyes to open. Her lips were swollen from our kisses.
“Did you say you’ve always liked me?” My voice sounded like I was chewing gravel.
She nodded. “I thought it was some silly teenage crush, but then it only intensified these past few weeks.”
I rubbed the scruff on my jaw. “I can’t say I felt the same way. You were younger than me and Gia’s best friend.”
Harper carefully schooled her expression. But I didn’t want to put space between us. Not after that kiss.
“I thought of you as off-limits.” In the back of my mind, I knew she was still forbidden. My parents wouldn’t approve.
Harper nodded. “And now?”
Now was the time to tell her how I felt about the situation, not how everyone else would perceive it as wrong. “The more time I spend with you, the more I want you.”
She gestured toward the hallway. “You can see I’m a package deal. I have Evie.”
“I love Evie.” That part was easy. It was my feelings for Harper that had me twisted up in knots.
Harper’s expression softened. “Is that why you like me, because you adore my daughter, and Mrs. G. is always pressuring you to settle down and give her some grandkids?”
“What? No. Why would you say that?” This had nothing to do with my mom or Evie. “This is about me and you and this uncontrollable desire I have for you. Believe me, if I could like someone less complicated, I would.”
“You like me but don’t want to,” Harper said a little flatly, and I didn’t like it.
“I’m sorry. I’m screwing this up. Let me start over. Can we sit?”
When she gave me a slight nod, I held my hand out for her and moved to sit on the couch. “I haven’t liked you since we were kids. It was more recent, but I think I knew deep down there was something there, but I just kept reminding myself you were Gia’s friend.”
“That makes sense.”
“When I realized it, I thought about how I should approach you with these new feelings. I thought I’d spend time with you, get you used to the idea of me, and see if it was real or just a fleeting emotion.”
She turned her head slightly. “What did you decide?”
I raised a brow. “You really need to ask that after that kiss?”
If she didn’t have a child sleeping in one of her bedrooms, I wouldn’t have wanted to stop.
“I just want you to be sure of your feelings before we do anything else. I don’t want you to regret anything, and a lot of people would be affected by this.”
“I can’t say I haven’t thought about that. Extensively. Can’t help but think that my parents wouldn’t be okay with us.”
Harper grimaced. “Gia has a rule against dating her brothers.”
