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“I got that. I’ve always accepted Layla’s needs are your priority, but one day she will be grown. Before then, it’s up to you to teach her how to live. The life you lead means she will undoubtedly be of interest to the public because of who you are. I can teach her manners, humility, caring, kindness, assertiveness, and etiquette, but I can’t teach her about wealth and fame.” I sighed.
“You are a fabulous person, you know that?”
“Ah, now he gets it,” she teased and flashed me a soft smile.
“I don’t deserve someone like you in my life,” I stated with the self-loathing view I had of myself since I’d lost Grace.
“Yeah, you do, and you deserve to have fun.” Harper’s eyes darted around my features, taking me in, then in a softer tone she squeezed my hand. “You deserve all that life brings. So far you’ve only seen its extremes, the fame, adoration, fortune, and all the ugly, painful and heart-wrenching misery it has to offer. Maybe it’s time to learn about all the simple pleasures in between.”
“You’re a philosopher, you know that?”
“Not really; just someone who cares.”
“Then I’m a lucky man you landed on my doorstep.”
“Indeed. I was wondering when you’d notice,” she replied and winked.
My lips curved in a smile and I was thankful for the frank exchange, because nothing I’d confessed had made any difference to the way she looked at me.
“I’m excited to get to know you, Harper,” I told her, finally accepting it was okay to take a chance. “I may fuck up from time to time, but if you are willing to tolerate my demons then I’m looking forward to seeing what happens between us.” Lifting her hand in mine I turned it over and placed her palm to my lips. “You’re a lifesaver, you know that?”
“Mm, what flavor?” she joked, referring to the LifeSavers brand of hard candy.
“Obviously not cherry,” I replied, referring to her non virgin state, chuckling and ducked a swat again. “No, you’re a combination of lemon and lime, because this feels kind of bittersweet.”
“Damn, you’re corny for a rock star,” she teased, laughing softly.
“And you’re way too much of a distraction to be my child’s nanny,” I retorted back. We both grinned, and I pressed my lips into her palm again. “Thanks for putting up with me,” I muttered.
“Does this mean I get a raise?” she asked in a serious tone.
“No, I’m the one that gets the raise, Baby, but if you’re good I’ll let you play with it sometime.” My double entendre made us both laugh aloud. Letting go of her hand, I sat back in my chair, my hands clasped behind my head and I knew I sounded cocky. As I did this move, Matty bustled her way back into the kitchen.
“Jeez, guys, never get old. I’d forget my head if it wasn’t attached these days,” she muttered. Opening the pantry door, she pulled out her purse, looped the straps over her arm and headed back over toward the door.
“Matty, don’t bother with dinner tonight. I’m driving up to the mountains later. I’m taking Harper and Layla with me.”
Turning to look at me she smiled. “That’s a great idea and the fresh air will do Harper good after all that alcohol she had last night.”
My eyes went wide, and I glanced back at Harper with a smile, wondering where Matty had been and how much she’d heard of Harper’s drunken disclosures when she came to my room the night before.
As soon as she knew Matty had gone, Harper exhaled heavily. “Ah fuck,” she muttered, and I chuckled at how mortified she looked.
“You think anything gets past her? Matty’s nose is far superior than any bloodhound’s. There’s not an event that goes by in this house she isn’t aware of.”
Harper’s face grew scarlet, and I figured she was remembering the noises she made the night before I left. Leaning her elbows on the table she rested her chin in her hands and groaned.
“Tell me something personal about you,” I asked, because I felt ashamed she had lived alongside me, and apart from knowing her parents lived nearby in Draper, she hadn’t disclosed much and I’d never asked.
Everything I had needed to know about her was on her resume and background check, but I knew very little about Harper’s life before she came to live with us.
Gazing up to the ceiling she gave me a soft smile. “Well, I’m the middle child of three children.”
“Three?”
“Yeah, there’s my brother, Baxter; I went to his wedding remember? And I have a younger sister, she’s twenty-one in a few weeks.”
“Oh, yeah,” I agreed, a little embarrassed when I remembered the information which was in the background check we ran on her.
