Page 66

Could a morning get any more perfect than this?

When Travis disappeared to take a shower, Harper brought a book over to me and asked me to read to her.

She didn’t turn on the television. She didn’t grab her iPad. She read with me.

Then she sat on a stool watching Travis and I dance around each other as we made pancakes. It was literally the type of morning right out of some idyllic dream, but it was my reality.

I need to go home and shower, but I can’t seem to make myself leave. I don’t want to leave, and it’s a strange realization that hits me from out of nowhere.

I know Travis is looking for help with Harper, and while I also know it won’t always be sunshine and roses, I’m starting to wonder whether I should volunteer to help him out the way he volunteered to accompany me to a family wedding.

I could help get her to and from school during the season. I could help her with her homework and make her meals and take walks with her.

I could essentially be her nanny, except also…not. I guess it’s something he and I can talk about later. I don’t want to bring it up in front of her, and I’m not entirely sure it’s a good idea, especially when I’m still sort of transitioning from not really liking him all that much into…whatever this is.

Liking him a lot.

Too much for my own good.

Maybe I shouldn’t volunteer. I don’t want to give Harper false hope with her father and me when we’re both hot messes who aren’t ready to figure out what the hell is going on between us.

“Do you like cats?” Harper asks me as I finish setting the dishes in the dishwasher.

“I’m one of those strange people who likes both cats and dogs,” I say, and I make a face of shock at her.

She giggles. “Me too. I want an animal.”

“Have you asked your dad?”

She twists her lips. “Not yet. I’m trying to find a good time.”

I laugh at her honesty as I dry my hands on a dish towel. “Well, sweet girl, my guess is the morning after a hospital release might be as good a time as you’re going to find.”

“True…” she trails off, and then she glances around. “Do you think I have a better shot at a dog or a cat?”

I lean forward on the counter across from her. “Well, your dad is going to be gone a lot when the season starts, so you probably have a better chance of the type of animal who can be self-sufficient.”

“Cat?”

I shrug. “Depends if he’s a cat guy. Have you done the recon work yet?”

Her brows dip as if she doesn’t understand what my question means.

“Reconnaissance. You know, an investigation.”

She shakes her head. “I need to do that first?”

“Well, you’ll get the best chance of getting a yes if you put the work in first. What if he hates cats and that’s what you lead with? That’ll be an immediate no. If he loves cats and you lead with dogs?” I shake my head. “Another no. So do the work.”

She squints off into the distance as she considers that.

I reach over and tap her nose. “Or just come out and ask for it. He has a hard time saying no to you.”

“Come out and ask what?” Travis asks, appearing from around the corner. “And what the hell are you telling my daughter?”

“Swear jar!” Harper exclaims gleefully.

I nod at Harper. “Now see? You don’t want to punish him right before you ask for something.”

“Oh, right. Good call. Never mind, no money needed for the swear jar. Unless…” Her brows draw together, and she looks over at Travis as he pulls his wallet out of the back pocket of his jeans. “You did say I could get whatever I wanted with the swear jar money, right?”

“Within reason,” he says, narrowing his eyes at her. Then he glares at me, too. “What exactly are you teaching my daughter?”

“The art of persuasion.”

He shakes his head. “This is all I need. You two teaming up against me after the thing I just did for you…”

“What’d you do?” Harper asks.

“Yeah,” I say, straightening. “What’d you do?”

Harper hops down from her stool and starts jumping up and down as she holds onto his arm. “Tell me, tell me, tell meee!”

He shrugs nonchalantly. “I bought three front row tickets to the Imagine Dragons show this July. Know two people who’d like to go with me?”

Harper’s jaw drops, and then she pretends to faint as she falls to the floor.

And wait a minute…was that an invitation?

His eyes flick up to mine. “Are you busy on July seventh?”

I think about pretending to faint, too. Is he freaking serious?

Front row tickets to my favorite band?

“Uh…”

“Say you’ll come, Ms. Hartley!” Harper yells from the floor.

I finally manage to find my voice. “I would love to come. But are you serious? The back row was out of my price range. I can’t afford to—”

He holds up a hand. “I can, and I would love to treat you both to the show. And you can each get some merch while we’re there.”

“Wow, I…uh…” I can’t seem to find the right words. “Thank you.” There they are. “I don’t know what else to say but thank you.”

“Happy I’m able to do it.” He offers a tight smile and a nod, as if he doesn’t quite know how to accept the thanks. It’s more insight into him. He seems to enjoy doing nice things for others, but maybe he hasn’t really been given the opportunity to do them before.

Or maybe he hasn’t found someone he’s cared about enough to do them for…until his daughter stepped into his life. And maybe when I stepped into his life right behind her. Or, technically right in front of her, I suppose.

Whatever the case, we’re not only taking a vacation together in less than two months, we’re also going to a concert together in three months. I guess I better start getting on board with whatever these feelings are because I’ve got a lot more Travis Woods coming up in my future.

And I’m not mad about that.