Page 12 of A Home for Harmony

“Because I’m an old father,” he said.

Scarlet giggled. “You are.”

“You don’t have to agree with me.”

Scarlet shrugged. “I don’t have to, but I did. Did you lecture this woman about not being prepared?”

“No. We just talked.”

“You talked?” Scarlet asked. “About what if you weren’t lecturing?”

Ouch! “I’m not that bad,” he said. “What did I say about men and their egos?”

“My father’s ego can take a hit now and again. Nothing bothers you.”

Because he never let her see that. Or tried not to.

“Sure,” he said, agreeing. “She did most of the talking. She said she did a bunch of online stuff. I’m not sure. It made me think of those videos you’re always watching of people trying to be someone they aren’t.”

“Influencers, Dad?” his daughter asked, sticking her tongue out.

“Yeah, whatever. She says she teaches businesses to do those things or people. I don’t know. I didn’t really follow.”

Because he was too busy being lost in her eyes and trying to control the feelings in his body.

Things that had been dead for years.

It wasn’t just a physical reaction. It was something deeper, something he wasn’t ready to name, let alone face.

“What’s her name?” Scarlet asked, picking up her phone that was on the table.

He put his hand up. “You know the rules.”

No phones during dinner.

“I just wanted to search her, then you could know more about her.”

“First off, I can’t give you her name. Second of all, I don’t need to know any more about her.”

Which was the truth. He didn’tneedto, but maybe hewantedto.

“Like I said,” Scarlet said. “No fun.”

4

RIDE ON HER BACK

“You’re sure you’re okay being by yourself tonight?” Erica asked Harmony on Christmas Eve ten days later.

“I’m fine,” Harmony said, waving her hand. “I’ve got some work to do anyway. Go be with Tucker and his family at his grandfather’s tonight. We’ll all be together tomorrow.”

“I wish Dad was coming tonight,” Erica said, frowning. “So you aren’t alone.”

Her father called an hour ago, said he got called into emergency surgery and he could be there for hours, that he’d want to check in on his patient after and would arrive here early in the morning.

“We are used to this with Dad,” she said. “Go have fun. I’m a big girl.”

She didn’t want her sister giving her night up with Tucker because she thought Harmony couldn’t stay home alone.