Page 24 of A Home for Harmony (Blossoms #16)

JUST A PERSON

“ I knew it!”

Micah turned his head a month later from where he was sitting on the couch with Harmony to see his daughter standing in the kitchen pointing her finger.

He’d heard the garage door open and knew she was home.

There was no reason to overreact or try to have Harmony hide.

“What did you know?” he asked.

“That you were seeing someone,” Scarlet said, coming forward. “Oh my God. You’re Harmony James.”

His girlfriend stood up and walked toward his daughter. Shit, in the dim light on a Saturday night, they looked like they were only a few years apart in age.

Jesus, was everyone going to think that when they saw him with his girlfriend?

He wasn’t even sure when he thought of her as his girlfriend , but there it was.

“I am Harmony,” she said. “And you’re Scarlet. It’s so nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Scarlet was almost starstruck, and he wasn’t sure why.

Harmony was just a person to him.

Maybe it was a good thing he didn’t know who she was beforehand.

Nah, it wouldn’t have mattered. Or might have made him look more negatively at her. Thinking of that, he was glad he hadn’t known.

“I have heard nothing about you,” Scarlet said. “Dad!”

“I thought you had to work until nine,” he said, looking at his watch. “And then you were going to your mom’s.”

“They let me leave early,” Scarlet said. “It wasn’t busy and it’s supposed to snow soon.”

It was only seven and he knew the weather forecast. Harmony was going to stay the night.

Maybe he was pushing having her here more because he wanted to be caught by his daughter.

Fuck. That sounded like he was a coward on top of it.

“You still didn’t answer why you’re here and not with your mother,” he said. “Does she know you’re here?”

“No,” Scarlet said. “I only came to get my phone charger. I left it here.”

He was damn well going to buy her another one, so she had one at both places, and wasn’t sure why he hadn’t before.

“Come sit down,” he said. “We can talk if you want.”

“Are you really dating?” Scarlet asked when Harmony rejoined him on the couch. “Like I don’t know I’ve ever seen you with a woman before other than Mom.”

He took a deep breath in and let it out.

This was what he was trying to avoid.

“We are dating,” he said. “We have been for about two months.”

Scarlet frowned. “Why couldn’t you tell me?”

“I wanted him to,” Harmony said, smiling. “But I’ve learned your dad is pretty stubborn. And since it’s between the two of you and I’ve never known when my father was in a relationship either, it wasn’t much of my say.”

Harmony had only brought it up to him once.

More like picking on him they were going to get caught if he didn’t tell her.

Guess she was right.

“Why didn’t your father tell you when he was dating someone?” he asked.

“Don’t turn this on me,” Harmony said, patting his leg. “We can have that conversation another time. But this is about you and your daughter. I can leave if you want while you talk.”

“No,” Scarlet said. “Please don’t go. I don’t want my father to get mad and think I drove you away.”

His lips were twisting. “I’d never think that, Scarlet. Why would you say that?”

It was the last thing he needed aired in front of Harmony. That he was some dick that didn’t care what his daughter thought.

Hell, he had said nothing to her before now because he didn’t want to hurt her more than anything.

“Mom always made comments like that when she was dating someone. Now that she’s back with Randy, she’s been in a better mood.”

“I didn’t know they were together again,” he said. Last month, they’d been fighting and taking a break again. He couldn’t keep up.

Scarlet shrugged. “I think they like fighting and giving each other space.”

“Is your mother not home tonight?” he asked. “You’re not allowed to be home alone.”

“She’s there,” Scarlet said. “Randy had to go out of town for work this weekend. I would have told you I’d be here if Mom wasn’t home.”

“Good,” he said.

“How did you two meet?” Scarlet asked Harmony. “My father hates social media. I can’t ever show him things I’ve seen on it because he gets annoyed and lectures me it’s not real.”

He rolled his eyes.

What a great way for his daughter to insult what he thought of Harmony’s career.

“It’s a funny story,” Harmony said. “My car had some electrical issue and died on the side of the road. I was waiting for a tow truck and the roads weren’t great. I’m freezing my butt off because I only ran out in my sweats and slippers to get creamer for my coffee.”

Scarlet laughed. “It was you. That day, my father lectured me on the importance of always being prepared.”

Harmony turned and slapped his thigh. “You didn’t tell me that. Thanks a lot.”

“Hey,” he said, shrugging. “She needs to know. You learned not to do it again, right?”

“Don’t listen to him,” Scarlet said. “My father always has to plan it all out. If he could put a bunker in the garage for an apocalypse, he’d do it.”

Micah snorted. “I’m not sure I’d go that far.”

“Yeah, you would,” Harmony said. “I can see it.”

Scarlet laughed. “I’m trying to wrap my head around this. I can’t see you two together at all. You’re not much older than me, are you? My dad is so old.”

“Hey,” he said. “I’m not that old.”

“I’m twenty-six,” she said. “Ten years older than you.”

“But twelve younger than my father,” Scarlet said. “What can you two even have in common?”

Harmony turned to grin at him. “Yeah,” she said. “What do we have in common?”

“Great, you’re both ganging up on me. We don’t have a lot of time together.”

“Because of me,” Scarlet said. “I’m sorry. That’s why you should have said something. You didn’t want me to stop in and see you together.”

“If I was really concerned about that,” he said, “Harmony wouldn’t have been here tonight or any other night and she’s here half the time we are together.”

“But her car is in the garage,” Scarlet said. “So I don’t see it.”

“No,” Harmony said. “Only if I’m staying the night.” He groaned next to her and Scarlet flushed. “What? We can’t lie about it. Get a grip.”

His shoulders slumped. “I know,” he said. “Are you bothered by this, Scarlet?”

“No,” his daughter said. “Maybe because I feel like I know Harmony. Wait, do you live around here? I don’t know where you live. I thought it was around New York City or something. At least that is what I assumed. Don’t you work there?”

“Scarlet,” he said. “You can’t let it out where Harmony lives. She keeps that private for a reason.”

“Are you in trouble?” Scarlet asked. “Like, do creeps follow you around or something?”

He spun his head to look at her. It hadn’t come up, but it was a worry he had.

The fact his daughter said it made him think about it more.

He was always warning her about the dangers on the internet.

“I’m not in trouble,” she said, smiling.

“But I take precautions. When I worked in New York, people knew the company I worked for. It was part of my job. I opened my business over a year ago and left the city. I’d prefer it didn’t get out I live here, but I know if you’re following me your friends most likely are too.

Let’s just say I live in the area and not say what town I’m in. ”

“It’s not that we don’t trust you, Scarlet,” he said.

“I get it,” Scarlet said. “But my friends run their mouths even when they shouldn’t. Is this a secret? Like Mom can’t even know?”

“It’s not a secret,” he said.

“Have you met any of Harmony’s family? Do you have family around here? You never talk about anything like that online.”

“And there is a reason for it,” he said.

Harmony put her hand on his thigh. “It’s fine, Micah. She’s your daughter. I’m going to trust that for now she doesn’t talk about my siblings, but yes, I’ve got family here. My sister, Erica, and I live together, but she’ll be moving in with her fiancé soon.”

“How soon?” Micah asked.

“She hasn’t said,” she said. “I’m not bugging her, but she’s not there much.”

He’d asked her already and it hadn’t come up again. She assured him she wasn’t leaving the area.

He wasn’t sure why he was so worried about that.

Maybe that was why he hadn’t rushed to tell his daughter.

“So you just have a sister?” Scarlet asked.

“I have a brother too. He’s a doctor and his wife is a jewelry designer. Daisy Jones. I know you follow me on several social media outlets. I believe you follow her too. She works for Blossoms.”

“Dad!” Scarlet shouted. “So that’s three people you know there. I wanted him to put a good word in for me to get a part-time job there. He said no.”

“I don’t know the owners of Blossoms so that isn’t happening,” he said. “And I’ve never met Daisy.”

“How come you haven’t met any of Harmony’s family?”

“I don’t know,” he said, turning to look at Harmony. “How come I haven’t?”

“Oh, you’re going to put me on the spot now,” she said. “I can give it right back. It hasn’t come up and I’ve been letting you take the lead since you’re the one that hasn’t had a girlfriend in so long. And you’ve got a daughter on top of it.”

“She burned you, Dad,” Scarlet said. “This is fun.”

His daughter was bouncing in the chair.

He was worried for nothing because Scarlet was finding enjoyment in this.

“Fun or not, it’s between Harmony and me. Go get your charger and go to your mom’s. You and I can talk tomorrow about this more.”

“Will you be here, Harmony? I’d like to know more about you. Can I come back in the morning?”

Micah looked at Harmony and she nodded her head. She had a soft smile on her face. “I’d like that.”

“Why don’t you come around nine,” he said. “I’ll make breakfast and we can all talk some more.”

“I won’t tell Mom,” Scarlet said. “Not yet.”

His daughter got up and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Not something she did often, but then moved over and hugged Harmony.

Harmony accepted it easily, as if they’d been friends for years.

“See you tomorrow,” Harmony said. “It was nice to meet you.”

The minute his daughter was gone, he said, “You’re okay with this?”

She got up on her knees and gave him a kiss. “I think the bigger question is if you’re okay with it.”

He frowned. “Yes, why?”

“Because I could see how worried you were that she’d be upset. I’m glad she’s not.”

“No,” he said. “I mean, yes, I was worried. She’s never seen me with anyone other than Trinda. You heard her.”

“Which is bad on your part. Your ex-wife dates. You’ve admitted you have. She needs to see that you’re human. That just because you’re not married anymore doesn’t mean you’re not trying. Everyone needs good examples in life.”

He closed one eye at her. “What makes you think I’m not a good example in my daughter’s life?”

“Because she was sad that she thought you were putting her first,” she said. “At ten, it’s great. At sixteen, she’s smart enough to know. You told me she’s made comments to you about dating before.”

“Am I going to get a lecture tonight on parenting?”

Harmony sat back down and the smile left her face.

“No. I’m sorry. I told you my father wasn’t around much when I was younger.

We weren’t close. We are more now, but that is why I never knew when he’s dating.

He doesn’t share those personal parts of his life with us.

It feels as if we aren’t worthy of it. Maybe think of it from that point of view too. ”

Shit. “I never have.”

“Not to lecture, but you should open your eyes. Your daughter seems pretty self-aware of things. She wants you to be happy, just like you want her to be.”

“What about you?” he asked. He wasn’t sure he was ready to talk too much more about his daughter with Harmony.

It was just as new for him as it was for her.

“What about me?”

“Are you happy?” he asked. “With me? With us?”

“I am. And you’re bothered that she asked what we’ve got in common, aren’t you?”

“A little,” he said. “We don’t do much and I hate that.”

“I think we don’t because there is a part of you that doesn’t want people to see us out. Are you embarrassed to be dating me?”

“No,” he said. “And now I think you might feel that way. Do you?”

“I’m not embarrassed to be dating a slab of bacon. I’ve been bragging about you to Erica for a long time. My sister-in-law, Daisy, and brother Theo know too. They’d all like to meet you.”

“But you’re not pushing,” he said. “And I feel like crap now.”

“Don’t,” she said. “But open your mind. Maybe I can teach you a thing or two if you let me.”

“Oh, baby, you already have.”

Her eyes were shifting around, looking into his, almost a little glossy. Definitely soft and tender.

Harmony wore her heart on her sleeve and maybe that was what scared him the most.

He wouldn’t want to hurt her and didn’t know if he could give her what she needed.

“Are you going to tell me what I’ve taught you?” she asked, her head tilted. “Outside of the bedroom because you’ve got the experience there.”

He laughed. She smiled with him, her hand coming up to trace his grin. She always gave him a hard time for not smiling much.

“You’ve taught me it’s okay to be myself.”

“Awww,” she said. “You don’t know how much that means to me. That’s all I want to do for anyone.”

He knew that. He also knew by saying those words it was as close as he could get to saying he was falling in love with her.

Baby steps and he was still wobbly on his feet.