Holden grins at me. “Sounds promising.”
My lips quirk side to side. “It’s a little complicated, and now I’m in a totally new realm. A new side of me has opened up, and quite frankly, my patience is confusing me. Never in my life have I had that. Normally, I demand, and I get. But here I am.”
He crosses his arms. “That’s a sign. Will I get to meet her?”
I snicker. “Hell no. I’m not bringing her to lunch with you. Last time I tried to enjoy a meal with you, your nanny number six called to say she quit because your kids are little devils. We can’t even sit through a normal meal.”
Holden gives me an awkward look. “True. Hopefully, they will calm down as they get older.”
“Yeah… good luck with that.”
I glance at my watch and know I need to head out. I want to clean my house a little and pick up a few flowers from The Flower Jar on Main Street. It’s cheesy as hell, but I know it will make Harlow laugh until her stomach hurts.
“Gotta head out.” Holding up the box of cookies, I tell him, “If these don’t hold up to my standards then you best believe we’re having a corporate meeting,” I joke.
“Do that and I’ll play hardball. Say goodbye to your access to the gym and pool, buddy.”
I ruefully drop my head. “See ya, Holden.” I get up and begin to walk away.
“Hey, Stone.” I glance over my shoulder. “Nothing is ever as it seems. Tread carefully,” he warns.
I ignore everything he says, except there is a small pit somewhere in my stomach that tightens slightly.
* * *
Waiting outsideon the tarmac of the small regional airport, I’m confident with how this is going to go. It just doesn’t mean the nerves I feel are any less.
The moment Harlow steps off the plane, she stills, our eyes lock, and a gentle smile appears on her lips. She has a beret on, and her scarf matches, with complete Paris vibes. But it doesn’t matter, it’s our frozen moment that is the starting line for the next few days that has us entranced.
That is until the passenger behind her must grumble to speed up, so Harlow walks down the steps.
Her slow walk toward me causes a pounding in my chest.
What the hell are we doing?
What abyss are we heading down together?
And why is neither one of us running?
It’s when she is within touching distance that all thoughts leave my head, and I reach my fingers out to skim along her arm as she surveys the small bouquet of red carnations, because roses seemed too romantic, wilting in the cold. As expected, she bursts out laughing.
“What a welcome,” she says as she reaches to take them from my hands. “You clearly read one of my books that you called garbage when we first met.”
“Ha-ha.”
Her laugh fades away, as does the hesitation for us. We step into a deep hug where I rub her back and she squeezes me tightly. I wish I could inhale the smell of her coconut-scented hair, but the cold air won’t allow it.
Neither of us let go and our heads angle slightly. It feels natural to kiss, which is why we do it. A soft gentle kiss, near a peck, until we meld into a stronger sealing of our mouths. It’s a welcome and nothing crazy. It just leaves us with droll smiles, and we break our embrace to keep our day moving.
Reaching down, I swing her bag over my shoulder.
“What service,” she teases.
“You have no idea,” I nearly mumble, and admittedly, I have thoughts in my head that have been on a constant rotation. I want to do a lot of things to her if she’ll let me.
We head to my car, and on the fifteen-minute drive back to my house, we keep conversation simple about her flight, weather, and the latest in Lake Spark. Thanksgiving passed, and Harlow spent it with friends, while I spent time with my niece, as my brother had an away game the day after.
When we get to my house, that heightened feeling from earlier returns. We head in, and she surveys my house. It’s a condo that is by no means modest. Everything is new, and the three bedrooms and four baths are something I probably don’t need. There are a few cactuses to contrast my mostly light gray interior.
