She veered to the right, then started pedaling again. “I still owe you some chocolate chip cookies. We could make them tonight after our run if you’re free.”
“I’d help you even if I had something else to do.”
Harper laughed. “I hope I’m the reason and not the cookies.” The wicked grin Owen sent her melted her heart. Anyone would think she was a lovestruck teenager with the way her pulse was pounding. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
“It’ll always be a yes,” Owen told her.
With a warm blush heating her cheeks, Harper rode through a pile of leaves scattered across the trail. Before she knew it, her days of riding around Sapphire Bay would be over until late spring.
But, for now, she was in her happy place.
They stayed on the trail, an easy silence making the journey even more special. At the halfway point, they stopped at a picnic area overlooking a view of the entire bay. Harper held her bike as she enjoyed the incredible scene below them.
Owen stood beside her. “The view never gets old,” he said softly, his gaze on the horizon.
“No, it doesn’t,” Harper agreed, her voice barely above a whisper. She felt Owen’s gaze on her, and she met his eyes, finding a concern there that mirrored how she felt.
“Are the nightmares about the accident or when you were at the hospital during COVID?” Owen asked.
The weight of the past few days pressed down on Harper. “They’re about the hospital. I thought I’d be okay, but it brought back a lot of bad memories.”
Owen reached out, his hand finding hers, and their fingers intertwining. “I’m here, Harper. Whatever you need.”
Tears pricked at her eyes. The kindness in his voice brought everything rushing back. “I know,” she said, squeezing his hand. “But it’s hard not letting the past overshadow everything else.”
Owen pulled her into a gentle embrace. “I know. I feel the same way, but we’ve got each other. We’ll get through it together.”
As they stood there, overlooking Sapphire Bay, a sense of peace settled over Harper. The fears and worries that had haunted her since the accident didn’t disappear but, with Owen’s arms wrapped around her, they felt less overwhelming.
“We should head back,” Owen said, his tone reluctant.
She stepped away but kept hold of his hand. “Have I told you how amazing you are?”
“Not today, but I’m glad you think I’m amazing. You are, too.”
With her lips brushing Owen’s, Harper whispered the words she’d never told anyone. “I think I’m falling in love with you. And I’m not sure what to do about it.”
Owen rested his forehead against hers. “You don’t have to do anything about it. I love you, too. We can figure out the rest while we’re eating chocolate chip cookies.”
Harper laughed. “Trust you to think about your stomach. We’d better head home before you remember what’s in my backpack.” Before he moved, she jumped on her bicycle and pedaled away from the clearing. Her smile widened when she glanced over her shoulder.
Owen was standing with his hands on his hips, his expression happier than it had been in a long time—even though she had his yummy muffin in her backpack.
As Owenand Harper walked into her granddad’s kitchen, Harper’s face lit up with a warmth that filled the entire room. Benjamin, already bustling around with cookie ingredients, turned and smiled, his expression mirroring Harper’s affection.
“Granddad, you started without us.” Harper pretended to be disappointed, but she couldn’t hide the smile creeping into her voice.
They’d called Benjamin on the way home to make sure he had all the ingredients they’d need to bake the cookies. He hadn’t been kidding when he said he’d give them a hand. With the flour, sugar, chocolate chips, and lots of other ingredients on the counter, he was more organized than Owen thought he’d be.
Benjamin chuckled, a sound rich with fondness. “I had to make sure we had everything ready. Can’t have you two complaining about my preparation skills, can we?”
Harper hugged her granddad. “As if we ever would,” she said softly, pulling back to look at him with an expression full of love and respect. “You’re the master chef around here.”
Owen watched, feeling a deep appreciation for the scene unfolding before him. It was clear that Harper and her grandfather shared a special connection full of shared moments like these.
“All right,” Benjamin said with a playful expression on his face. “Let’s make these cookies the best Sapphire Bay has ever seen.”
Harper and Owen washed their hands at the sink before joining Benjamin at the counter.
