Page 8 of A Home for Harmony (Blossoms #16)

SLICE OF BACON

“ W hat’s the female version of bacon?” he asked. “Do you have a word for that?”

Harmony laughed and her eyes seemed to glow.

Micah had completely misjudged Harmony. Or so he thought.

It wasn’t like him to feel this way, but there was something so genuine and grounded about her. He’d noticed it in his car nearly two weeks ago, and again in the few videos of her he’d found online.

There was nothing overly personal in her videos, and it took some deeper digging before he even realized who her father and brother were.

He didn’t let her know he knew that.

“I don’t have one,” she said. “What would you call me?”

“Smoking.”

“That might be burnt bacon,” she said, squinting her eyes at him. “That doesn’t smell good and you made a comment on how I smell, so I’m going to assume it was pleasant.”

“It was,” he said. “It is. Jesus. I can’t believe I’m sitting here having this conversation.”

“Why is that?”

“Because you’re closer in age to my daughter than to me.”

“Which is a good thing for you,” she said, winking. “Twenty-two is still fairly young to have a child for most people.”

“It is,” he said. “It was.”

“Want to tell me about it?” she asked. “And don’t be so surprised that we’re having this conversation. You’re older than me, not dead. Enjoy life a little. I’ve told you about me.”

It wouldn’t hurt to talk some.

“Are you single?” he asked. “You haven’t said that.”

“I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t,” she said. “I haven’t been in a relationship in over a year and even then it was brief. It’s been that long since I’ve had myself a slice of bacon.”

He rolled his eyes over her grin and eyebrow wiggle.

“Just putting that out there?” he asked.

“Yes. I don’t want you to think I’m loose or anything. I’m not. I’ve gotten that sign hung on me enough in my life based on my looks and personality. I’m not a dumb blonde or an airhead. I happen to be a really nice friendly person who most mistake as something other and it’s frustrating.”

“Could be because you put yourself out there so much.”

“Are we going to argue about my career choices?” she asked. “Because you can see I don’t put myself out there that much.”

“True,” he said. “And it’s wrong of me, but having a teenage daughter, I can say I don’t always approve of what she is drawn to or watches in those things.”

Maybe if Scarlet watched some more of Harmony’s videos he might not care.

No, that was wrong.

He would have still because he didn’t know her as a person.

Now that he did, he realized he might have hung a sign on her too and was ashamed to think that.

“Are you going to tell me about your ex and what happened in that relationship or is that too personal to share?”

“It’s not a secret,” he said. “We were in our last year of college and Trinda got pregnant. We married. I went into the academy before Scarlet was born. I was gone a lot, and missed plenty in my daughter’s life and my marriage. My wife wasn’t understanding of it and maybe I couldn’t blame her.”

“She signed up for it marrying you,” she said.

His head went back and forth. “I don’t know.”

“Do you think if she didn’t get pregnant you wouldn’t have gotten married?”

He shrugged.

He’d never say that because Scarlet was the best thing that had happened in his life.

“There is no use speculating about things you can’t change.”

“True,” she said. “So that’s why you’re divorced. You weren’t around much?”

“That and I’m not fun in my ex’s eyes. My daughter says the same, yet she and I have a good time together.”

At least he thought so since his daughter wanted to spend more time with him than her mother.

“I think you’ve got a unique personality,” she said. “From what I can see. Maybe she wasn’t a good fit for you or couldn’t handle it. I don’t know and I won’t judge that. It’s not for me to do it. I like to think I can make my own fun in life and who I’m with can choose to join me or not.”

“That wouldn’t bother you if they didn’t?” he asked.

“I haven’t had to worry too much about it. I’m good at doing things on my own and if I’m with someone that understands that, I’m not sure I’d have a problem with it.”

“Is it because most of your friends are online?”

She’d told him before she didn’t have any friends close by to call.

“I don’t know that I’d call anyone I meet online loyal friends unless I’ve met them in person and there are very few.

I’m cautious about who I let in for several reasons.

I talk to people online but am smart enough to realize everything they tell me could be false.

I’m not as na?ve as people think I am. I make my living at instructing people how to put the best content out there or get followers and what they choose to do or make a living doing is on them. ”

“People lie,” he said.

“A lot,” she said. “I won’t even be offended you were so blunt about that. I’ve seen plenty, but would never call anyone out on it either.”

“Who hurt you?”

The overwhelming urge to hunt the bastard down shocked him.

“No one and everyone,” she said.

“What?” He pushed away his plate and grabbed his egg roll. She did the same.

“I think most teenage girls will say they experienced hurt at school. I’ve been labeled behind my back and lied to by friends. Not all of it was even that horrible. Normal stuff. But I’ve always turned my head and put on a friendly face.”

“Forced it or it came naturally?” he asked.

Her head went from side to side. “A bit of both. It’s more natural than forced.

Being angry sometimes makes things worse, and I know in this cancel culture society it’s not worth the risk.

My point is many people lie for some kind of gain.

I just can’t do it. It’s more important that I can put my head on the pillow at night to count my sheep. ”

“I can’t get a read on you,” he said, shaking his head.

“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be confusing. I’m being honest, but you have to decide if you think that or not.”

“I think you are being honest,” he said.

Because he remembered the person who feared him not that long ago when he was walking up to her car.

It wasn’t just normal fear, but etched on her face and tightening every breath.

He didn’t know if she had it in her to fake something that much.

That her feelings and emotions were there for people to see.

“I am,” she said. “Back to you. When did you get divorced?”

“Ten years ago.”

“So Scarlet was six. That had to be hard on her unless you’re not close.”

“We’re close,” he said. “Maybe too close at times.”

“There is no such thing as being too close to your father,” she said. “Can I share something with you?”

“Nothing has stopped you yet.”

“That’s right,” she said, grinning. “Remember that. My mother and I aren’t close.

She’s not close with any of her kids. It’s just her personality.

She’s very uptight and, well, no reason to go into too many details and bore you.

But I’m the baby and can do nothing right in her eyes. It’s always been that way.”

“What about your father?” he asked. “You say you live in your father’s house, not your parents’ house.”

“My parents divorced when I was younger too. Like you, my father didn’t have much of a personality.”

“Hey,” he said indignantly. “I’ve got a personality.”

She winked at him. “I think you do. I just wanted you to admit it yourself.”

That was a low move that Scarlet would have done.

“So your mother wanted someone more fun in her life too?”

She laughed. Laughed hard. “God no. My mother wanted someone she could control. My father didn’t like to be controlled.

His career was his focus, and he prioritized it over his children.

I saw him the least. I’d say it hasn’t been until the past four years he’s realized that he wasn’t there for us as kids. ”

“And it’s too late?” he asked.

“It’s never too late,” she said softly. “He wasn’t the best caring father in my teen years and maybe he didn’t know how to be.

But now, he’s there more. Or he’s there at the right times and I know I can count on him.

I don’t think I thought I could count on him before. That’s more important than anything.”

“I never want Scarlet to think she can’t come to me for anything.”

“Does she come to you?”

“I can’t tell you the number of times I come home and she’s waiting for me. She’s been doing it for five years.”

“At eleven, she’d be sitting in your house alone waiting for you?” she asked, frowning. “How did she get here? Who would just drop a child off at that age and leave them?”

“Whoa,” he said. “Slow down. I bought this house five years ago to be closer to her. She lives on the same street with her mother in the house we had when we were married. I moved closer to my job when we divorced. About thirty minutes away from her. It was good for my commute but not my daughter.”

“And you wanted to be there for your daughter?” she asked.

“That was more important than anything else,” he said.

“Being a good parent is the most important thing out there.”

“I think so,” he said. “Maybe being a good partner too, but I failed there.”

“It takes two to fail in a relationship,” she said. “I believe that one hundred percent.”

He thought so, but Trinda wouldn’t.

“And there you go.”

“You said your daughter just shows up,” she said. “Could she come now with me here?”

“No,” he said. “She wouldn’t. She’s with her mother at her grandparents’ house and the rest of that side of the family, but she’ll be here tomorrow.”

“I guess that is something to consider if we decide to do this dinner thing again.”

“Do you want to?” he asked, stunned.

“I’m not sure why you’re so surprised. I hope it’s not the age thing. It’s just a number. And the fact you have a teenage daughter that you make a priority in your life only turns the heat up on the pan for me.”

He laughed. “It might start smoking if it gets too hot.”

“Then we can be smoking together since you said that is what I am.”

He was still grinning and knew he didn’t do that often, but he actually felt happy in the moment and didn’t remember the last time he could say that. “It’s a good thought to have.”

“You’re even more handsome when you laugh or smile. You should do it more often.”

“Don’t get too used to it,” he said, the smile dropping.

“Then you can save it for special occasions.” She picked up her dinner to bring her dish to the sink to rinse out.

He did the same with his and put it in the dishwasher.

“Do you have to leave?”

“I should,” she said. “Because if I get any hotter you might see smoke coming off my body.”

“We haven’t even kissed yet,” he said.

She turned and leaned on the counter. “What are you waiting for?” she asked.

He yanked her close, no hesitation. She’d learn soon enough there was nothing gentle about him. Not in the way he moved, and definitely not in who he was.

His mouth slanted over hers, her arms went around his neck, her lips parting, his tongue sliding in rough and sure.

She let out a low moan, the sound vibrating in her throat. If he didn’t put some distance between them soon, he’d have her in his arms and halfway to his room.

She hated being judged, and assuming she was the type to just give in—that was on him. But even he had limits, and his control was hanging by a thread.

“Now what do you think?” he asked when he lifted his head.

“I smell something burning,” she said, fanning her hand in front of her face.

“That’s us. Imagine how much worse it’s going to get.”

“Not worse,” she whispered. “Better. So much better.”