Page 74 of A Home for Harmony

She returned the brief hug and then went back to her lunch as steady as she could.

“I feel better doing it. My form of telling her off,” she said, forcing a laugh. “I was happy enough to point out that I’m making more money than she thought.”

“She did sound surprised, but it won’t change her opinion on it.”

“Nope,” she said. “Nothing will change her mind on anything. That’s on her.”

“I understand you not wanting to tell her about Micah. How do you think she’ll react when she finds out?”

She shrugged. “You’re getting ahead of yourself. She might not find out. I have no idea where things are going to go.”

Erica shook her head. “Harmony. I can see it on your face where you want things to go. Tucker and I will be married within a year. I’m not waiting nor giving Mom much time to drive me nuts. I might even elope or do a small destination wedding to avoid it all.”

“Hawaii sounds nice,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows.

“It does,” Erica said. “My point is, Mom and Dad will most likely meet Micah. I’m positive you’ll still be together.”

“And they are going to notice he’s older than me,” she said. “Got it. Oh well, Mom will blame Dad for not being around and say I’ve got a daddy complex. I don’t. At least I don’t think so.”

It’s not like Micah had been taking care of her. Other than the day her car broke down, but he’d do that for anyone.

Since then, she’d like to think they were equally taking steps and caring for the other.

“You don’t,” Erica said. “Not at all.”

“That’s right,” she said. “But I will say that dating an older man has some benefits.”

Erica grinned. “I know what you’re thinking.”

“Because you’re getting it too,” she said. “Oh, that patience and control in bed.” She was wiggling her shoulders.

“You’re assuming it’s from being older,” Erica said. “Maybe he’s only like that with you.”

“You don’t think I’m going to ask him that, do you?”

“Maybe you should, so you realize that people see more than a pretty face.”

She leaned on the counter and grinned at her sister. “He’s not even on social media,” she said.

“I’m not talking about social media, Harmony. I’m talking about in person. Maybe he sees what is inside like the rest of us. That’s when you’ll be happy. When you find someone who sees you that way.”

23

JUST A PERSON

“Iknew 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.