Page 9 of Daddy’s Little Charmer (Daddy #36)

Later that day, Harmony took her time and pampered herself.

After a long bath, she smoothed on her favorite peach lotion all over her body before sliding on her panties, bra, and dress.

She turned one way and then the other in front of the long mirror on her bedroom door and couldn’t help but smile.

She loved the dress, and she liked how it hugged her curves without restricting her movements or feeling tight.

She left her long, dark hair to fall freely down her back.

She curled it slightly to add body, and she applied a little makeup.

She found the comfortable, high-heeled black shoes she had had forever, but they were still in good shape because she rarely wore them.

She slipped delicate earrings on and a necklace before she spritzed herself with the perfume her father had given her their last Christmas together.

Tears burned her eyes as she stared at herself in the mirror. She shook off the sadness she always felt thinking about her father. A day didn’t go by that she hadn’t missed him, and she guessed it would be that way for the rest of her life.

She took one more look, grabbed the shawl, opened the door, and walked into the living room. She smiled as whistles of appreciation filled the room.

“It looks okay?” she asked and smoothed her hands over her hips.

“You look beautiful,” Nico and Connor said.

“Thank you,” she said and blushed.

Harmony was startled when a knock sounded at the door, and she quickly glanced at the clock on the wall.

She was glad she’d gotten ready early because Christian was close to half an hour early.

She watched Connor open the door. She heard him say a few words and then close the door.

She was confused when he handed her a large white box.

“What is it?”

“I don’t know, open it,” Nico said and stood against the wall by the living room windows with his arms crossed.

Harmony set the box on the table in front of the sofa.

She opened the lid and pushed aside the delicate white tissue paper and gasped.

She set aside the card that had been on top for a moment before she reached in and pulled out a silky blue dress.

The design was simple, and one she would have chosen herself.

It had cap sleeves and an A-line fit to it and would hit her just above the knees.

It truly was beautiful, but she still didn’t understand. She carefully laid it aside and pulled out shoes, also in her size, a purse, and a small box that held a necklace and earrings that matched.

The guys watched as she opened the card. Both their hearts sank as her happiness drained from her face.

“I don’t understand,” she said and turned to them.

Connor looked uneasy at Nico before turning toward Harmony. “Christian sent you the outfit for tonight.”

Harmony looked up, confused. “But I already have one. Didn’t you guys tell him?”

The men looked uncomfortable.

“We told him where you got the dress, and he wasn’t pleased,” Connor admitted.

Harmony’s hand slid down the front of her dress as tears burned the back of her eyelids. “I thought I looked pretty,” she said softly.

Nico wanted to growl at the disappointment and sorrow on the woman’s face.

“You do,” Nico exclaimed. “I just think he wanted to do something nice for you.”

Harmony sat down on the chair and stared at the card. “I would embarrass him if I went like this?” she asked without looking up.

“No, Honey,” Nico said and crouched in front of her. “You could never embarrass him.”

She sucked in a shaky breath and then finally looked at Nico.

A knock sounded at the door, interrupting her. Connor opened it as Nico moved away from Harmony.

Christian took one look at everyone and frowned. “What’s going on?”

Nico tilted his head at Connor but spoke to Christian. “We’re going to leave you to talk. We’ll be right outside.”

Christian listened to the door close while his eyes studied Harmony. He moved to her and crouched next to her as Nico had done, but he laid a warm hand on her leg.

“Tell me what’s wrong, Baby?”

Harmony played with the card in her hand as she looked up at him. “You sent the dress?”

He looked confused. “Yes. We can get something else if you don’t like it.”

Harmony shook her head sadly. “It’s not that. I already have a dress.”

“Yes, but the guys told me where you got it…”

Harmony stood suddenly and moved away from Christian. She took several breaths before she turned back to him. She tilted her chin up and looked him in the eye.

“I don’t think it’s going to work with us.”

Christian stood baffled and uneasy. “Why the hell would you say that?”

“Because you want a classy woman and I’m … not.” She shrugged. “I don’t ever think I’ll be that way. I like simple things, and I don’t think I’d fit into your world.”

Christian took a step toward her. Should he tell her where he’d come from? He didn’t want to face it, much less talk about his history. Later, when he felt more secure.

“That’s bullshit. I think you’re perfect, and I wouldn’t change a damn thing about you.”

She released a breath and held her hands out to her sides. “How do you think I look?”

For the first time, Christian’s gaze roamed over her. She looked incredibly beautiful. “Jesus, lady. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

Harmony stayed still, but she couldn’t help the ray of happiness that formed in her chest. “If you still want me, I want to wear what I bought.”

Christian saw the stubborn look on her face and sighed. Even though he wanted to see her in the clothes he bought for her, he wasn’t willing to fight over it.

He took the few steps that separated them and pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly against his chest. He pressed his lips to her forehead.

“I’m sorry, Baby. I didn’t mean to insult you.

I just want you to wear the clothes and things I buy for you.

I want to feel like I’m taking care of you. ”

“Christian,” she said, and leaned back to see his face. “You sound way too serious. We’ve only just met.”

“I don’t care. I can’t explain what I felt the first time I saw you.

What I can tell you is that it hit me hard.

I want you. All of you. And I hunger and have a need to be with you every day and fall asleep wrapped around you at night.

I know it’s fast, but I know how I feel, and I’ve never wanted something as much as I want you. ”

Harmony’s eyes widened and froze on his. She was speechless for a moment. “I … I,” she stuttered. Should she tell him the way she really felt, even though it sounded crazy? Then again, he seemed to feel the same way about her.

As crazy as it was, she knew she had to tell him the truth.

A spike of unease tightened his stomach. He cupped her face with his hands. “Tell me this, Baby. Since we met, have you thought about me at all?”

Harmony released a quick breath and nodded. She wanted to tell him that a minute didn’t go by that she didn’t think of him.

“Do you already have strong feelings even though you can’t explain them?” he asked.

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Good. Do you want to be with me all the time, like I do you?”

Harmony bit her lip. She couldn’t deny it even when she thought they were slightly crazy to feel this way after spending a short time together.

“Yes,” she murmured.

Christian released a tense breath and pulled her tightly against his chest again.

“Thank you, Baby. You will never regret giving us a chance. I’ll make sure of it.”

He leaned back enough to cup her face in his hands again. He gave her a moment to pull away from him. When she didn’t, he set his mouth on hers and nipped at her bottom lip. When she gasped, he plunged his tongue into her mouth and tasted her.

They both groaned and tried to get as close as they could to each other. The kiss seemed to last forever when Christian tore his lips from hers and then leaned his forehead against hers as they caught their breath.

“I think that answers another question,” he said, his voice rough with desire.

“What?” she asked breathlessly.

“I would say our bodies desire the other, and we’re pretty compatible.”

Harmony grinned and ran her tongue over her lips to taste him.

Christian groaned and leaned toward her again to take her mouth, but froze. His determination to keep things slow and make her comfortable was fading fast, and he knew he had to get them out of there quickly.

“Let’s go before I lose it,” Christian said and then grabbed her hand. “We have a dinner reservation.”