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Harper wrapped her arms around me and sighed into my chest. "How about I go with you to the bakery? I could figure out how to turn the water off, so the place doesn't get flooded. A buddy of mine is a plumber. I'll see if he has an opening to help you."
She looked up at me with so much hope, I vowed then and there that I would fix this problem for her, even if I had to watch videos on how to fix the pluming myself. "You'd do that for me?"
I kissed the top of her head. "Of course, Firefly. I’d do anything for you."
***
We walked the half a block down to her bakery. Harper had a prime location and her bakery always had customers. Rightfully so, because her desserts were some of the best I'd ever tasted. And I wasn't saying that because I was in love with her.
Holy shit, where did that come from?I wasn't in love with her- was I? Were you in love with someone when they were the first thing you thought of in the morning and the last thing before you went to bed? Were you in love with someone when you were willing to reschedule your business hours to help them? Were you in love with someone when you'd miss them like crazy when they weren't around?
Fuck. I was in love with Harper.
Luckily, when we walked into the bakery I stepped in two inches of water which effectively cut short the epiphany I was apparently having.
Harper usually got to her bakery around five a.m. every morning because she and her two trusted employees made some of the baked goods fresh. She opened the bakery around nine a.m., and they closed shop at six p.m.
I remember Micah talking about when she first opened Sweet Treats, how she would work herself to death, and how he begged her for three months straight to hire some employees. She was worried she would hire someone who couldn't meet her standards but in the end she found Ellie and Anna. They had been working for her for about two and a half years and they were great.
Ellie came out of the bathroom in rain boots and rubber gloves, looking like a hot mess. "Shit, I'm so glad your parents made things weird for you and you came home. I don't know what I'd do if I had to figure this shit out myself. No plumber can come out until next week and I can't figure out how to turn off the damn water."
Harper glanced over her shoulder at me, eyes pleading for help. I kissed her head and strode by. "I got this Firefly." I walked toward the bathroom and passed by Ellie, I didn't miss her jaw hanging wide open or the hushed whisper to Harper, "What the hell was that."
Harper had to close the bakery for the rest of the day due to the flooding and she'd have to close tomorrow too. After messing with pipes for a few minutes, I turned the main water switch off which stopped the overflow.
I reached into my pocket and dialed my friend's number; he picked up on the second ring. I explained our problem and he said he was in the neighborhood and could drop off a shop vac for us to clean up the water and some extra equipment to help dry everything out. He'd stop before his other appointments tomorrow morning to fix the pipes. "Thanks, man; I appreciate you helping my girl out."
We exchanged more pleasantries and locked in a date to grab a beer and catch up before I ended the call. I walked out to find the girls using some towels they had in the kitchen to start soaking up the mess.
"Mike will be here first thing tomorrow to fix the problem. He's going to fit you in before his other jobs. He also said he's just around the block and can drop off some equipment for us to clean up this water before anything gets ruined."
Harper dropped her towels and ran over to me, kicking up water as she jumped into my arms. I was shocked so it took a second before I wrapped my arms around her. She clung to me like a koala on a tree. Harper looked into my eyes and said, "Thank you so much. You are my hero."
Hearing her call me a hero did something inside me. I didn't have words to respond so I smiled back at her. Our faces were so close if I leaned in two more inches, my lips would be on hers. A few minutes passed and we just stared at each other while I held her in my arms. I never wanted to put her down.
Ellie cleared her throat, breaking our moment and said, "Asher can you quit playing grab ass with my boss and maybe grab a towel instead. We can still soak up some of this mess before Mike gets here."
Harper's face blushed; neither of us realized I had indeed been holding onto her luscious ass when she jumped into my arms. I let her down gently and grabbed a towel. The three of us continued soaking up as much water as possible while we waited.
***
After about twenty minutes, Mike showed up with the equipment he promised and confirmed his appointment time for tomorrow. Ellie volunteered quickly to be here bright and early to help Mike. And it didn't go unnoticed how Mike gave her his personal cell phone number,just in casesomething came up.
"Mike, please take some baked goods with you before you leave. We had to close the bakery for the rest of the day. So, all these will go to waste if you don't take any."
Harper was already behind the counter with a box in hand, waiting for Mike to pick some of her sweet treats. Any leftover baked goods she had, she rotated and took to either the fire station, police station or the homeless shelter down the street. "Dude, she is a baking wizard. You're gonna want to grab some stuff. Take some baked goods to your mom too."
When I came home, Mike and Tyler’s mother, Mrs. Williams, made sure I had a hot meal at least three times a week and checked in on me every day. All while she was mourning the loss of her son Tyler.
"Ma would probably kick my ass if I didn't show up with something for dinner tonight. Thank you, Harper."
He filled up a whole box of my fireflies' cookies and brownies. Harper insisted on him also taking an entire chocolate cake that no one had ordered any slices from yet. "Thank you so much for letting us use your equipment and fitting me into your schedule tomorrow. Just give Ellie the bill, and she will cut you a check."
Mike glanced over at me; I subtly shook my head no. Harper wasn't paying for this, I already talked with him and told him to invoice me the bill. He told me he wouldn't charge her, but he had a business like me and I insisted, so he said he would give me the family discount. I took care of what's mine.
He smiled, giving my girl his attention and changed the subject, "Harper, it’s nice to officially meet you. I've heard many great things about you, so it's nice to finally put a face with a name." He looked at me, "You should bring her to Sunday dinner sometime. Ma would love to meet her."
The fucker gave me a cheeky smile, and I know damn well he would be telling his mother so she would be on my ass about it.Asshole.
