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The morning seemed to fly by, most of it with their walk, though Harper wasn’t complaining. The sun was out and the day was beautiful, just perfect for strolling down the boardwalk and listening to the ocean. In fact, it had been a little too perfect.
Layla had discovered a grand love of the water and sand...especially the sand.
“Upsy-daisy,” Harper said as she helped Layla stand in the bath. Holding on firmly, Harper poured bucket of water after bucket of water, trying to get the little girl’s skin clean from every tiny grain. It made Harper feel bad for those mothers who had two, three or more children who tracked sand in every day. Living on the beach was beautiful...but messy.
“Out we go.” She lifted Layla out and wrapped her in a fluffy towel, making faces to encourage the toddler to laugh. Once the sound began to emerge, it only encouraged Harper to get even more silly. Was there anything better than a baby’s laugh?
A deep chuckle came from the doorway.
Okay...there might be something better.
Embarrassed, but knowing she wouldn’t change her behavior even with an audience, she sheepishly grinned up at him.
“I had no idea you were such a comedian,” he teased.
Harper rolled her eyes and rubbed her nose against Layla’s again. “Only to two year olds.” She grinned back up at Mason. “Adults don’t find my sense of humor quite so appealing.”
“I do.”
Those two simple words sent such a rush of pleasure through Harper that she almost jumped to her feet to kiss him then and there. Only Layla’s yank on her hair was able to pull Harper’s attention away from the intensity of Mason’s eyes. “Ouch! No, no, Layla. Owie.”
Layla frowned and tried to reach for Harper’s hair again, but Harper pulled back.
“Nope. Not happening.” She turned the child around and scooped her up. “Time to get dressed.”
“What can I do?” Mason asked.
Harper plopped Layla into his arms. “Get her dressed and I’ll get her a sandwich. I think she’s starting to get hangry.”
Mason gave her a half grin. “Yes, ma’am.” He turned and walked back to the sitting room where his bags were, chatting with the little girl the whole way.
Harper almost hit a wall as she followed, her eyes unable to leave the scene. Mason might still be learning, but he was definitely going to be a wonderful father to Layla. And the thought of that warmed Harper’s heart in a way that she couldn’t quite express. This wasn’t something she would be able to transfer onto canvas, or write about in her poetry notebook. This was...she rubbed her sternum.
It was pleasant, and anxious and good and eager...it was so many things at once that Harper didn’t even know how to name them. One thing she did recognize though, was that her heart felt so full, she was positive it would burst as she watched Mason and Layla.
I don’t know if there’s any other way to describe it...I’m falling in love. Harper knew she should be shocked. She should be angry. She should turn the other way and run for the hills, but she couldn’t. Her heart had been attached for a while now and putting the feeling into words was just her finally being honest with herself.
It wasn’t just his looks, or his size, or the careful and methodical way he went about life. Harper was starting to see him on a deeper level and everything pulled her in. She didn’t just enjoy looking at him, she wanted his touch. She didn’t just enjoy chatting, she wanted his opinion, wanted to share the hidden parts of herself and know the hidden parts of him. She found joy in watching him work with Layla, in his learning and growing and willingness to adapt. Each and every thing he did called to her and Harper realized she was starting to think on a much more permanent level than she had before.
There’s no other word for it, she told herself. It’s love. And it goes for Mason AND the cute little tot.
Holding back a sigh of pleasure, Harper went to the kitchen to grab that sandwich. A hungry baby wasn’t going to care that she’d just had an emotional revelation. Layla would want to eat and eat now.
“Here she is,” Mason said, holding his niece in the kitchen entryway.
Harper smiled. “Great. Put her in her chair. I’ve got a sandwich and some strawberries for her.”
After Layla was settled, Harper turned back to the fridge. “I’m assuming you’re hungry as well?”
Mason scratched his beard. “Maybe.”
Laughing softly, she opened the fridge. “I’m just going to assume from now on that the answer is always yes.”
“I hate to say it, but that will always be a safe assumption.”
Harper began grabbing sandwich fixing out of the drawers. “Turkey or ham?” She turned when he didn’t respond. “Let me guess. Both?”
Mason shrugged. “Sorry. Should I offer to help pay for groceries?”
Harper shook her head, a too-wide smile still on her face. “Nope. I invited you two over. This is my day.” She set the containers on the counter. “Besides, you’ve paid for my lunch several times now.”
She set up an assembly line on the counter and began putting mayonnaise on bread. “Come on over,” she said. “Help me know what you want.”
A broad arm rested against her shoulder. “I had no idea that building a sandwich could be so intriguing.”
Harper glanced up from under her eyelashes. “Intriguing?”
Mason raised a playful eyebrow. “Usually I’m focused on the food. But this time, there’s something even better pulling my attention.”
Harper dropped his gaze and bumped her hip against his leg, since she was too short to bump his hip. “Stop flirting and get lunch.”
“I can’t help it,” Mason said, reaching around her to grab the lettuce. “You bring out an appetite that I didn’t know existed.”
Harper’s hand hit the counter and she dropped her head back. “Oh my gosh, stop!” she cried while he chuckled in that low tone she adored. “I think you’re going to have the dad jokes thing down pat by the time Layla can understand them.”
“That’s a low blow,” Mason said, feigning being offended. “I’m not making up puns.”
“No. Just cheesy flirtatious remarks.”
His beard twitched. “Sorry. I can’t seem to help myself.”
“Where’s the famous self control of yours when we need it?” Harper grumbled, making Mason laugh again.
“Fine, fine,” he said, then bent down, his mouth to her ear. “But I’ll only behave until naptime. Once Layla is sleeping, all bets are off.”
A shiver ran down Harper’s spine. She gave him her best coy look. “I think I’m alright with that.” The silence between them grew heavy and thick and oh, so delicious. Harper’s pulse was already beating hard in anticipation. She wanted another kiss from Mason and she wanted it now. Perhaps she needed to borrow a little of Mason’s self control just to get her through the next hour.
Layla slapped her hand down on her sandwich, causing a loud smack.
Or not... Layla was proudly smearing peanut butter and jelly in her freshly washed hair and Harper realized the time would pass, and would probably pass both quickly and slowly at the same time.
Still...she and Mason hadn’t had a moment together in several days and no matter what, Harper was determined to make the most of the few moments they would get.
*****
MASON KNEW HE SHOULD probably be embarrassed that he was in the hallway bouncing on his toes like a young school boy, but he couldn't help it. He was restless with the desire to have some time with Harper.
Harper came out of her spare bedroom, softly closing the door, then looking up at him with a wide smile. “She was pretty tuckered out.”
“So she’s asleep?”
Harper shrugged. “Close to it. She didn’t give me any trouble about laying down even though she isn’t used to the playpen.”
“Thank heavens.” Mason didn’t even bother to take Harper to the couch or somewhere more comfortable, he simply grabbed her and pulled her in, covering her mouth with his.
Apparently, she didn’t mind his lack of finesse, since her arms were around his neck immediately and she rose up on tiptoe in her eagerness.
“This is so much harder than I thought it would be,” he murmured against her skin, his lips moving across her face, kissing her cheeks, her cheekbones, her eyelids, her forehead...anything and everything. He wanted to feel her soft skin and he wanted to make it his.
His time with Harper felt so limited and yet, each and every moment had him falling deeper and deeper. Watching her bathe Layla had nearly brought him to his knees. The two year old was Mason’s top priority, and seeing Harper fit so well into that part of his life was like putting honey in front of a hungry bear.
“Then I guess we better make the most of what time we have,” Harper replied breathlessly.
Mason brought his mouth back to hers, then shifted his body so he could scoop her up, cradling her against his chest while he walked them to the sitting room and away from Layla’s door. He grinned at her squeak of surprise, but didn’t miss the opportunity to deepen the kiss.
Carefully, he sat down, keeping Harper in his lap. His hands came up to cup her face and rubbed his thumbs against her cheekbones. “So...soft,” he murmured, tilting his head for a better angle.
He nearly groaned when Harper’s hands found his hair. She ran her fingers through it and the sensations were overpowering.
“Do that again,” he whispered.
Harper laughed softly and followed his orders. “You like that?”
“Mmm...” Mason rested his forehead against hers, his eyes closed in contentment while she continued to play with the locks. “Harper, I—”
A knock on the door had them both jumping to their feet. Harper pushed her hair out of her face. “Geez, that nearly sent my heart through the roof.”
Mason cleared his throat and tried to get himself back under control. “I, uh, guess you better answer it.” He couldn’t quite bring himself to be grateful for the interruption, since he’d been looking forward to this time with Harper, but he’d been about to confess his feelings for her and now that the moment had passed, he found himself a little reluctant to take that leap forward.
To declare his love would be moving much faster than he was ready for, especially when he wasn’t even sure how deep Harper’s feelings went yet.
“It’s probably just a package, or something,” Harper assured him before heading to go find out.
Mason waited next to the couch, fully planning to resume their interlude when she returned, until he heard, “Aspen! Maeve! Hi!”
Letting his chin hit his chest, Mason gave up. If the sisters had come for a chat, he knew there would be no more kissing or holding until somehow they managed another break. A heaviness settled within him. His fears were coming true. How was he supposed to win Harper’s heart if he couldn’t ever spend time with her?
“Mason!”
Mason jerked upright. “Oh, hey, Aspen. Hi, Maeve.” He swallowed hard, trying to bring moisture back to his dry mouth. His embarrassment at being caught on Harper’s couch brought heat up his neck, but Mason knew his beard would cover it. He stood, feeling incredibly awkward among so many women.
But Layla’s asleep. I can’t just leave.
He bit back a curse. He was stuck. With three women who probably wanted to gossip, and two of them didn’t even know he’d become a guardian in the last two weeks.
“What brings you here?” he asked, trying to break the silence. Aspen, for her part, didn’t look particularly surprised to find him there, but Maeve was grinning like a madman.
Aspen put her hands on her hips and tilted her head. “We came to visit. How about you?” She jerked when Harper whacked her arm. “Sorry,” Aspen said through her laughter. “We didn’t know you were entertaining.”
Harper rolled her eyes and walked over to Mason. She took his hand and rested her head against his arm. “Come on in, ladies. Grab a seat.”
Aspen held up the box in her hands. “Does it help that I brought treats?”
Harper smirked at Mason. “Considering he’s always hungry, I think you’re probably forgiven.”
Harper brought the box to Mason. “It’s strawberry lemon. See if you like it.”
“I’ll grab forks!” Maeve announced, walking toward the kitchen. It was evident the sisters had been there before. She came back and handed forks to Mason and Harper. “Dig in.”
Mason looked wide eyed at Harper. “Uh...” It felt weird to eat in front of the ladies, while they didn’t have anything.
Harper shook her head. “This is how it goes with Aspen. She brings food, but never eats it herself.” Harper shrugged. “Might as well get used to it.”
Aspen crossed her ankle over her knee. “I eat all day long at the shop. It’s someone else’s turn.”
Mason opened the box and took a large bit of the cake. As usual, it melted on his tongue and he groaned. “So good.”
All of the women laughed.
A thud brought the noise to a halt.
Every head jerked toward the hallway, where Layla slowly shuffled out of her room, her blanket clutched in her hands and her eyes half closed. She rubbed them with her free fist and yawned.
“What in the world are you doing up?” Harper scolded. She set her fork on the coffee table and went over to scoop the little girl up. When she came back to the couch, Layla began to crawl into Mason’s lap and he hurriedly set the cake aside.
Once the tiny head was resting against his chest, Layla’s fingers in her mouth, Mason turned to address the two wide eyed women on his right. “Aspen, Maeve. I’d like you to meet Layla. My...sort of daughter.”