“Don’t let her embarrass you. Let everything she says roll off your shoulders. Don’t show her any emotion. Kenzie will spiral pretty damn fast if she doesn’t get a rise out of you.”
She looks up and locks eyes with me. “I don’t know if I can do that.”
“It’ll get easier the more you try.”
She smiles softly. “I hope so. It’s tough right now. Then again, I’m still hungover.”
“Feeling any better?”
“Yeah. And, Ford, I’m sorry about the kiss last night—”
“Don’t,” I interrupt, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Her gaze searches mine, and I hope she sees the truth I’ve kept hidden since the day we met: how much I care for her and desire her.
We lean closer until our lips meet. Her cheeks warm beneath my palms as I trace my thumb along her jawline. The faint scent of her shampoo—something floral and sweet—fills my senses.
Her lips part slightly, hesitant at first, then more certain. The truck’s heater hums in the background, fogging the windows around us into our own private world.
My heart hammers against my ribs as her hand finds my collar, fingers curling into the fabric. The taste of coffee lingers on her tongue—stronger, more deliberate than last night’s whiskey-tinged kiss. This is Harper fully here, fully choosing this.
She pulls back suddenly. Her pupils are wide, darkening her blue eyes as she stares at me. Her fingertips hover over her mouth, trembling slightly. The rapid rise and fall of her chest matches the pulse pounding in my ears. I wait, watching her swallow hard, the silence stretching between us.
“I did it again.”
“No, you didn’t. I did.”
I can feel her panic, and it frustrates me. “Ford—”
“I want to clarify, Harper. What happened last night was exactly what I wanted. Just like now.”
Her panic lingers, and I see it reflected in her wide blue eyes, still tracing her fingers along her lips.
“Better get inside before the wind picks up. You might get lost between the driveway and the house,” I joke lightly.
Her smile flashes quick relief, and something twists inside my chest. She tucks her hair behind her ear, eyes darting to her lap, then the door handle. My fingers grip the steering wheel tighter, knuckles whitening. The heater keeps humming, but the air between us has cooled. I force myself to nod, to return her smile, even as I notice how she’s shifted her body slightly toward the passenger door, creating just enough distance.
“Thank you, Ford. For the ride. And for everything else.”
I watch as she climbs out of the pickup, her boots crunching in the fresh snow. My hand twitches on the gearshift, body leaning forward slightly before I force myself back against the seat.
The porch light catches in her hair as she fumbles with her keys. Three steps to her door. Four seconds of restraint. My knuckles whiten on the steering wheel as memories of Asher’s arm around her shoulders flash through my mind. How easily he discarded what I’d give anything to have.
My hand hovers over the door handle. One quick movement and I could follow her, catch her before she disappears inside. My throat tightens watching her silhouette against the porch light.
I force my fingers back to the steering wheel, exhaling slowly as frost forms with each breath. The engine idles beneath me while I count her footsteps away.
Five years I’ve watched her smile at someone else. Five seconds now to let her go inside alone. The truck remains in park until her door closes, until the yellow rectangle of light vanishes, until the ache in my chest subsides enough to drive away.
Chapter 11
Harper
“Where is everyone?” I ask, glancing around and hoping Mom or Eric won’t suddenly appear as I confide in Gina about the chaos swirling in my mind.
“Um, Mom and Dad are out running errands, and Eric? Who knows? He’s not home. Did you get the cake?”
I place the box on the kitchen counter and settle onto the couch beside her. “Help.”
