Harper’s belly growled. “You mean I can have some Sugar and Spice goodness without even going to the store?”
“Yep.”
“God, this town’s dangerous for my waistline.”
He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. “Eat the cupcakes. You’ll always be beautiful.”
Oh, Jesus. Every time she thought he couldn’t get any better, he said sweet things like that.
Her smile was short-lived though, because when she looked up, it was to see Vanessa standing a few stalls away with a group of women. Her friends were talking around her, but her attention was fixed on her and Cody.
For some reason, Harper felt the urge to tug her hand out of Cody’s. Maybe because she didn’t want to attract any more trouble. Maybe because she felt neither Cody nor herself had the energy for a confrontation when so much else was going on. But when she tried, Cody’s fingers tightened, preventing her from going anywhere.
He frowned at her. “Hey, you okay?”
“Yeah, I just…I don’t want to cause any trouble with Vanessa.”
He stopped and faced her to cup her cheek with his free hand. “Harper, I don’t care about Vanessa or what she thinks or does. I care aboutyou. Touching you is as natural and necessary to me as breathing. And more than that, Iwantto touch you.”
More sweet words that made her pulse race. “Can I tell you something? Every so often a part of me still wonders if you and I are a good idea…if falling for you will just make it hurt worse if things don’t work out. Because thingsneverwork out for me, Cody. But then you go and say something like that.”
He lowered his head, his lips grazing hers before his mouth moved to her ear. “There is no part of me thateverwonders if you and I are a good idea. Iknowwe are.”
She sucked in a sharp breath, no idea how to respond to that. There was a part of her that was glad he was so confident. She needed that because it wiped away some of her own hesitation.
She opened her mouth, not exactly sure what words were about to come out. But someone else spoke first.
“Maybe you two lovebirds should get a room.”
They both looked up to see Kayden grinning at them, Eastern by his side.
Cody straightened. “What are you guys doing here? You never come to the market, Kayden.”
He lifted a shoulder. “Decided to change things up.”
“It’s good to see you both.” Eastern shoved his hands into his pockets, his gaze returning to Cody. “I got a call from Nylah last night.”
“Really? She still loving life in Cradle Mountain?” Cody asked.
“Yeah, I don’t think she’s ever coming home.”
As the three men spoke, Harper’s gaze wandered to a vendor who sold small handmade wooden houses. One of them in particular caught her attention. The details…they were exactly like the home she’d always envisioned she’d buy one day. A white picket fence. Adorable shutters. It even had the charming feel of a country cottage.
The crowd kept blocking her view, so she took a step away from Cody. “I’m just going to look at the stall over here. I’ll stay within sight.”
She ducked under the pop-up and lifted the small house, tracing the intricate details. It was beautiful. Whoever made it had even gone to the effort of adding details inside. Beautiful furniture. Wall art. It must have taken hours.
“That’s my favorite too.”
She glanced up at the lady behind the table. There were half a dozen people around her, also looking at the houses. “It’s beautiful. For a long time, I dreamed about buying a home just like this one.”
Her smile was soft. “Maybe one day, you will.”
“Maybe.” She set the house back down, and the woman turned to another customer.
Harper looked for Cody, but the crowd had thickened and she could no longer see him or his brothers. She inched to the end of the stall, maneuvering around locals, and took a step in the direction she’d last seen him.
Suddenly, she was violently yanked around the canopy. She opened her mouth to scream, but a hand clamped over her lips and she was half carried, half dragged toward a border of trees.
