Page 43 of When You Blush

“The housekeeper does an excellent job.” I let her go and walk through the kitchen. “I’ll be twenty minutes.”

“Take your time.”

I’d invite her to join me, but I haven’t had her naked and writhing since Thanksgiving, and I want to take my time with her.

I want to fucking savor her.

Just fifteen minutes later, I walk out and findHarper curled up at the end of my sofa, a book in her hands, chewing on the cuticle of her thumb,crying.

The fuck? Absolutely not.

“What’s wrong?”

Her gaze jumps up to mine, startled, and she laughs and wipes her eyes. “Oh, it’s fiction. Stupid books make me cry sometimes. I went to one book club meeting and got hooked. I’m reading this for the next one, and I’m a mess.”

“What is it?” I ask her as I squat in front of her and wipe the tears from her soft cheek.

“It’s calledCamera Shyby Kay Cove, and it’s justso good.” She sighs, tucks the bookmark in to hold her place, and sets the book aside. “Okay, how can I help? What do you need?”

“Just the pleasure of your company.” Taking her hand, I pull her to her feet and lead her to the kitchen. “Have a seat. This won’t take long.”

I get a pot filled with water on the stove to boil and pull ingredients out of the fridge and pantry. When I turn back, Harper’s leaning on the counter, her chin in her hand.

“Who taught you to cook?” she asks.

“My mom. She’s an excellent teacher, and I paid attention. Actually, all of us can hold our own in the kitchen. How about you?”

“I just figured it out with time.” She shrugs. “I was pretty young when I started cooking, actually.”

The reminder of how she started out in life makes mefrown. Ihatethat she had shitty parents who didn’t take care of her the way she should have been.

My phone rings, and my eyes meet hers as I reach for it.

“Déjà vu,” she says with half a smile.

I glance down and see that it’s my sister.

Rather than answer, I shoot her a text.

Me: Emergency?

The dots dance on the screen as she answers.

“It’s my sister,” I tell her. “Just making sure it’s not urgent.”

Harper grins.

Billie: Nope. Just wondering if you want to come over for dinner on Sunday. Dani’s comfortable bringing Bryce for everyone to meet and celebrate.

Me: I’ll be there.

With that, I power off the phone and set it on the opposite end of the kitchen, on the charger.

“Did you just turn your phoneoff?” Harper asks, her eyebrows raised in surprise.

“Yes. I refuse to be interrupted tonight. I’m not on call, and my family is fine. I want time withyou, sugar.”

She watches me for a moment, then pulls her phone out of her pocket, powers it off, and sets it next to mine on the counter,making me smile.