Page 85 of Capture The Moment

“No thanks,” Harper replied, suddenly anxious to leave the restaurant.

After Finn had paid, they stood up, and he helped her on with her coat. It was no surprise that given the balmy winter weather, he hadn’t worn one. But it was somewhat surprising that he grabbed her hand before leading her out of the restaurant.

They walked past Will and Megan’s table on the way out, and Will winked at Harper and said, “Have a good night, you two.”

“Will do,” Finn replied and hurried her out the door.

Harper thought he might let go of her hand once they were outside, but he didn’t. Instead, he walked her to the truck and gave her a boost up before closing the door behind her.

They were quiet on the short drive to her house, where, once again, Finn helped her out of the truck and followed her up the walkway to her front door.

It was almost like they were communicating telepathically and no words were necessary. Daisy gave a few yips of greeting and then sniffed Finn’s pant legs as if she were conjuring up memories of Hunter.

Squatting down, Finn scratched her behind the ears and said, “Sorry, Petunia. Your boyfriend isn’t with me today.”

Daisy replied with another yip before Harper scooped her up and took her outside. When she came back in, Finn had made himself comfortable on the couch, long arms stretched casually along the back of it.

“Come and sit with me,” he said with that gleam in his eye that she now recognized.

“Here?” she replied, holding onto Daisy for dear life. Why was she nervous? They’d already done this several times over. And then she realized that was exactly why she was nervous: because they both knew that this wasn’t a casual fling. Finn was right. She never would have gone to bed with Will, because she didn’t have feelings for him. Not like she did for Finn. The cocky bastard!

“What’s wrong with here?”

Harper cocked her head at Daisy a few times instead of speaking, like parents do when they’re trying to hide something from their children.

“Are we playing charades now?” Finn asked, looking amused.

“I don’t want her to see.”

“Afraid it would scar her for life?”

“Do you want to get lucky or not?”

“Hell, yeah,” Finn said and pushed himself off the couch. “Where do you want me?”

Harper set Daisy down on her doggy bed and patted her head before heading upstairs with Finn right behind her. When they reached the top, Finn automatically turned toward the spare room where they’d made love the first time, but Harper put a hand on his arm to stop him.

“In my room.” She’d said it so quietly that Finn didn’t appear to have heard. “My room,” she repeated, a little louder that time.

She’d acted on impulse, something that was happening far too often these days. For some reason, she wanted him in her own bed this time. Because that’s what it was now—her bed.

He followed her into the dark room and waited for her to shut the door behind them. Her heart was pounding so hard that her ears were ringing as she stepped up to him and leaned her head against his chest.

His arms immediately closed around her, and he held her tight, his lips barely grazing her forehead. After what felt like a long time, he said, “You didn’t have to bring me in here.”

Realizing the enormity of her action, she almost dragged him back out of the room, but she held firm. She could do this. Needed to do this. Not for him but for her. And maybe a little bit for him too. She was trying to show him with actions instead of words that he was right. She did have feelings for him beyond friendship, and this was another step in the direction that she wanted to go with him.

After all, he hadn’t hesitated to share his life with her both personally and professionally. He wasn’t the one who was afraid or who had made her afraid. She’d done that to herself, and she was tired of it. She wanted to love and be loved again, and she knew that to have that, she’d have to put herself out there. Take a risk. And who better to take a risk with than this man? A man who had meant so much to her before he’d ever laid a hand on her. A man who was patient, kind, and generous. Not just toward her, but with others too.

If there was anyone she could give her heart to again…

“Harper? Baby? You’re shaking.”

“I’m sorry. This feels…different. Having you in here.”

“Are you sure you want to?”

Nodding vehemently, she said, “I’m sure.” And with that, she took his hand and led him to her bed.