Page 98 of The Paradise Plan

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Cass couldn’t believe the spread in her kitchen.She’d known something was up when the front door wasn’t locked, but she hadn’t commented on it.Then, right there in the foyer, she could smell the fruity-floral scent of the air freshener she loved.That definitely wouldn’t still be hanging in the air after so many weeks away.

The blinds over the back windows had been raised, but Cass hadn’t frozen until she’d seen the food on the dining room table.The desserts carefully laid by each plate.The giant arrangement of daisies, lilies, and roses.

That was when she’d screamed, and she turned into Harrison as he arrived at her side.“You’re too good to me,” she whispered.

“I wanted everything to be perfect for you,” he said.“Ready to just relax for the evening.”

She gazed up at him.“You cleaned my house.”

“Guilty.”

“You ordered dinner.”

“And dessert.”

She tilted her head to the side, finally realizing what that sound was.She’d been trying to locate and identify it for a solid minute.“The Osmonds are playing.”

“Will you dance with me?”He took her effortlessly into his arms, and they swayed right there between her island and her dining room table, just the way her parents once had.

She closed her eyes and pressed her cheek to his chest, enjoying the warmth of his body, the scent of his clothes and skin, and the bumping of his heartbeat.

“Mama,” Jane said, but Cass ignored her.“Look at this view!”She slid open the back door, and Beryl went barreling out.

“I got him a new ball,” Harrison said.He stepped away from Cass for a moment to hand the toy to Jane.“He loves to chase it in the water.”

“Be back soon!”Jane yelled as she left, and Harrison once again wrapped Cass in his arms.

“She seems to like the beach house more than your other kids,” he murmured.

“Yes.”Cass snuggled into him, so many things storming and then quieting within her.They danced, but after one song, she knew she had to say something.She looked up at Harrison, finding such softness in his eyes.Kindness and love—for her.

“Cass,” he said, tension flying into his face.“I know it’s fast, and I know it’s early, and you don’t need to say anything, okay?”He took a breath.“I love you.I’m in love with you.I know you don’t want to rush things, and that’s fine.I just wanted to…tell you.”He visibly relaxed, his smile making a reappearance.

She smiled up at him too.“Okay, good,” she said.“Because I love you too.”

He kissed her then, and that was all the answer she needed to what he’d said, to what she’d said, to this puzzle that had become them in the past couple of months.

Cass sighedas a flurry of texts came in right as Lauren opened the door to her house.“Hey,” she said, and she looked downright domestic in a fifties-style dress with a white apron tied around her waist.

“Evening,” Bea said evenly.Then she broke into a squeal as she high-stepped it into the house.Several others had clearly already arrived as more screams met Cass’s ears.

She stepped out of the doorway and over to Lauren’s porch railing, for she’d just received no less than eight texts from Sariah.

The house hasn’t sold, Mama.

Robbie and I are talking to a loan officer.

Can we maybe talk to you about it?We might need some help with the mortgage.A loan or a partial loan or something.

Mama?

Oh, you’re flying for Supper Club.I forgot.Call me when you land.

Cass obviously hadn’t called, as she hadn’t gotten any of these texts until this moment.Sariah’s next three weren’t as nervous or as nice.

I know you’re there now.I can see your pin.Why aren’t you answering?