Between that situation and the way she dealt with Raquel the other day, Harlow has more than proved that she’ll never be anyone’s damsel. Even the martyr-driven attempt to leave us behind at the hospital showed her for what she truly is, a white knight. A slightly misguided white knight with definitely questionable survival skills, but a white knight nonetheless. I don’t get the feeling that she needs me at all, but for the first time,Imight need someone, and I think she could be the person who saves me from my worst enemy of all: myself.
A bang on a window startles me into looking up. It must be later than I thought because my sister is standing at the glass doors to the patio with a coffee mug in hand, waving at me.
She pushes one of them open, a big smile across her face. I haven't seen her look that happy in a long time. What she’s up to? “Hey, come and have some breakfast. I made you a cup of coffee,” she calls, and I give her the thumbs up.
Exiting the pool via the steps, I try to think of a way to make up for all my bad behavior with Harlow. I’ve already arranged to have a gift basket of sex toys waiting in her room at the new hotel as an apology for my ungrateful overreaction in my office. I didn't want to presume anything, so I reserved three separate rooms, but they all have interconnecting doors, just in case.
Grabbing a towel from the nearby storage seat, I rub at my hair to stop the dripping water before drying my body and wrapping it around my waist. The pace of my steps starts to pick up as I head inside, eager for that coffee and some food after all that exercise.
Jacinta is already at the breakfast table, talking softly with Mrs. Heyton as she lays out a basket of toast and big platters of meats, cheeses, and spreads. Looks like we're having German-style breakfast today. Yum.
Leaning down and giving my sister a kiss on the head, I take the seat next to her. Her fingers are flying across the screen of her phone as she fires off a message. “What are you doing?” I ask, curious because the frown on her face is practically stormy.
“Bloody Lindy has sent me an update from the office. She says she misses me and hopes I’m enjoying my time off and the creative juices are flowing, but not to worry if they're not because the new designer is amazing. All capitals AMAZING. And I wanted to know why she had already started since they were supposed to be starting next week.”
“Who’s that, dear?” Nana asks as she walks into the living area. Jacinta turns her attention to Nana, not wiping the frown off her face.
“The new designer. Rochelle or something. Why has she started already? And when are you going to stop punishing me? I know I did wrong. I’m working on it. I even apologized to Harlow, and I think we’re going to be okay.” By the end, her voice has dropped, sounding more like that small insecure child she used to be. Fuck, that tugs at my heartstrings, and I know this is no act. Putting my arm around her, I give her a quick sideways hug and another kiss on the head as Nana examines her before her eyes soften.
Sitting down across from us, she sighs. “Jacinta, it was never really about punishing you. We just needed you to see your behavior for what it was: destructive. One day you would have done that to the wrong person, and it could very well end with you losing the business completely because we would be sued for all it’s worth. Not to mention it was never your place to decide about Harlow. Poppy and I have known this woman since she was a little girl; our trust in her should have been enough of an assurance for all of you. You should have trusted our judgment and known that we would never bring anyone into the family that we didn't fully believe in.”
Jacinta nods, and I can see her bottom lip waver with a mix of disappointment and frustration. Her estrangement with Dad has hurt her the most, but she’s always had her own special connection with our grandparents too. She wants to be cherished by Dad, but she wants to make Nana proud, and it’s become very clear that Nana’s pride in her has taken a hit. “But saying that, I think you've learned your lesson, and now that you realize what a good and kind and wonderful person Harlow is, she’ll get to see the same thing about you. You will see that you have so much more in common than you have ever realized. And I think you will find she will be a wonderful addition to this family and sister to you. In whatever capacity that may be.” Nana’s comment has me remembering what I wanted to say to my sister, but before I can, she keeps going. “I think you can start back at the company next week. Jace will be back and ready to start then, so you can work out how the three of you are going to work together. It will bring a new dynamic to our design lines, and I'm excited to see what happens. This is the beginning of something great, Jacinta, not the end of your leadership in the company. Hopefully this time, you’ll trust me.”
Despite being pleased about returning to the company, she’s no doubt put out by the idea of the new designers. It doesn't look like she has much of a choice at the moment, so I guess she’ll learn to deal with it. At least she’ll have another outlet for her grumpiness besides Harlow.
“Actually, I need to say something as well before we get surrounded with people.” I turn in my chair so that I’m facing her. She looks a little startled but recovers quickly while Nana leans in, an interested glint in her eyes. “You know I love you, don’t you? And how I always will?” She smiles and nods.
“Of course, doofus, I love you too.”
“Well, I wanted to let you know that I’m interested in Harlow, and I want to see where a relationship between us might go.”
With a roll of her eyes, she pats me on the knee. “Yeah, okay, becausethatwasn't obvious.” She turns back to her coffee and leaves me gaping at her.
“And?”
“Dude, go for it, she's hot. If I was into girls, I’d be wanting a piece of that too.” And just like that, Jacinta blows all my worries out of the water. Nana snorts on the other side of the table as I open and close my mouth like the idiot I apparently am.
“But... but, you don't like her.”
“Oh, Jaxon, that wassolast week,” Jacinta says, adopting a valley girl tone. “Keep up, please.”
“But...” She sighs loudly at my stammering, and I’m rewarded with another eye roll.What the fuck?
“Look, I know what I did was wrong, but seriously, after last night there’s no way I can continue being a bitch. So from now on, I will do my best to make it up to her, and what better way than gifting her all my brothers?”
Nana is just about rolling off her chair with laughter as Jacinta reaches over and closes my gaping mouth. “Heads up though, bro, those other boys have gotten a head start. You’ve got some catching up to do. Time to put on your big boy pants if you want to get back in the running.”
“What do you mean, they’ve got a head start?” Her words have brought me out of my shocked state, and I feel my eyes narrow as her comment really sinks in.
“Well, Kai was never an asshole, so he’s totally been in the top spot since day one. Clever boy. Plus, he’s Kai, so he’s got that big smile and upbeat thing down pat. The rest of you are kind of broody, to be honest. Now, Holden was shot, and that rockets him straight into second spot, and Oliver was pretty cozy with the both of them this morning, so I’m pretty sure he and Holden are working out their issues, and they’ve got you beaten there because some man on man action is hot.”
Looking toward Nana, I’m stunned to see her nodding her head. “Oh, I’m so glad they could sort things out. I was hoping this was the wake-up call they needed.” She has a slight glimmer of tears in her eyes, but that’s just typical Nana. The woman could always be a shark in the boardroom, but she’s got a huge soft spot for her family. With every new grandchild, her heart just continued to grow bigger, and she’s always been straightforward about wanting nothing more than for each of us to be happy. “And she’s not wrong about man on man action. If only your Poppy was so adventurous...”
That last comment is said with such a wistful sigh that I cringe, unable to hide my reaction.Eww, Nana, that's an image I didn't need.
“And Declan spent two whole days with her when they went up north with the horses. Plus, with the whole vet revelation? I’m sure his obsession with Princess is going to earn him points. I mean, a hot guy with a kitten is a winner to a normal girl, but a vet? Oof, you’re screwed. Thomas isn't even in the running ‘cause his head is too far up his ass, so that leaves you in last spot, buddy. But don't worry, I’ve got an idea.”
Jacinta has her scheming face on again, but I'm not concerned if it’s going to help me with Harlow.
