Page 24 of Bittersweet

He laughed and went about what he was doing. “So, Brett,” he said.

“Yes, that was my boyfriend, Brett.”

“He seems nice.”

Harper was the one to laugh this time.

“What? He’s not nice?”

“He’s nice, but I’m sure you don’t really care how nice he is.”

He stopped and stared at her. “Of course I do. I don’t want you with someone who doesn’t treat you right, Harper.”

His concern for her was touching, but she didn’t know how sincere it was.

“You don’t get a say in it.”

He nodded once and resumed making the plates of food just as little feet shuffled into the room.

“Daddy?” Kayla rubbed her sleepy eyes.

“Good morning, Kay Kay.” He dropped what he was doing and scooped her up for a bear hug.

Kayla wrapped her little arms around him and squeezed tight.

“You are the best hugger.” He squeezed her extra hard then pulled back and tapped his cheek with his index finger.

Kayla leaned in and planted a kiss on him then giggled as he rubbed his nose against her cheek.

“Can you tell Harper good morning?”

Kayla’s eyelashes fluttered as she grinned in Harper’s direction. “Good morning, Harper.”

“Good morning, Kayla. How did you sleep?” Harper asked.

“Your bed is like a giant, puffy cloud.”

Harper laughed. “Oh, it is, huh?”

Kayla nodded excitedly. “Can I sleep in the clouds again tonight?”

Logan sat her on the kitchen counter. “You have your own bed at our place. Harper was nice to let us stay last night, but we have to go home.”

“No!”

“Kayla.” Her name came out as a warning.

“I hate my bed.” She jumped down from the counter suddenly, making Logan lunge for her and Harper’s heart stop momentarily. Thankfully, Kayla landed on her feet and went running across the kitchen, wrapping her arms around Harper’s legs, and bursting into tears.

Harper caressed the top of her soft head and looked at Logan, who was watching the scene unfold before him.

Kayla pouted up at Harper, who felt panicked. She hadn’t been around kids much. How was she supposed to handle this? Kayla wasn’t her child.

“Maybe you can come visit another time.” Harper looked at Logan and shrugged.

A smile crept across Logan’s face as he watched them.

Harper didn’t understand why he was just standing there, not interceding. She tried to send him a mental message to speak to his child, but he didn’t, so she bent down and picked Kayla up, resting the little girl on her hip. She moved across the kitchen and grabbed a tissue from the box atop the refrigerator then wiped Kayla’s tears away before she pinched her nose. “Blow.”

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