Page 20 of Caramel Apple Cupcake

Entering Anders’ driveway, Harper parked her car and got out to wait for him. The moment Anders stepped out of his truck, he walked over to her, taking her in his arms. “I’ll take care of you, Harper,” he whispered into her ear, his voice firm and reassuring. She clung to him, feeling a strange combination of panic and calm settle over her.

Harper was surprised to see several cars parked along the street and in front of Anders’ large house. He lived ina neighborhood filled with large family homes and manicured lawns. Not quite what she expected, but it still fit him. Anders noticed the look of apprehension on her face and tightened his hold on her.

“Don’t worry, I’m friends with the people next door. They’re having a small gathering and invited me to join in. The plan was for me to stay at your place tonight, so I told them I couldn’t make it. What do you want to do? Go inside and be alone, or distract ourselves with some fun?”

Harper breathed a sigh of relief. She was still unsure about the situation, but decided to have a bit of fun to take her mind off things.

As they entered the house next door, they were greeted by the faces of Anders’ friends. She listened as they shared laughter and stories, creating a sense of belonging that Harper had never felt before. Throughout the night, Harper leaned heavily on Anders, seeking the comfort and security he provided. He never hesitated to offer his support, wrapping his arms around her, whispering soothing words in her ear. In his presence, she felt invincible, like they could conquer anything.

As the evening progressed, Harper noticed herself relaxing more. These were Anders’ friends, and seeing how much they cared for him filled her heart with warmth. It was then that she knew. No matter what happened, she belonged here with him.

The night went on, and as they danced together, Harper realized she had fallen in love with Anders. He was her safe haven, her rock, her everything.

The music slowed, and the room seemed to follow suit, dimming into a soft, ambient glow that served as a background to the voices of the people surrounding them. Harper’s hand rested confidently on Anders’ chest, her doubts dissolving into the rhythm of their slow, synchronized steps. The world outside ceased to matter as they found themselves cocooned in a bubble.

A slow song bled into a quieter moment, and Anders led Harper to a secluded corner of the room, away from the dwindling chatter. He looked at her with an intensity that made her heart leap.

“I’m glad you came with me tonight,” he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. “It means everything to me that you’re here.”

Harper nodded, her eyes locked on his. “I’m glad too,” she replied, her voice steadying with resolve. “I was nervous at first to meet your friends, but now… now I feel like I’m part of something special. Part of your world.”

Anders smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “You’ve always been part of it, Harper. From the day we met. I hope you know that.” His fingers brushed against her braids, tucking some strands over her shoulder. “Come on. Let’s get out of here. It’s time we get started on our own party.”

Harper couldn’t agree more.

As the song ended, Anders led Harper outside as they walked the short distance to his house. The night was crisp, with a gentle breeze rustling through the leaves. As they walked inside his home, she had a feeling everything was going to be just fine.

Chapter 11

The email with the subject line “URGENT” came through while Harper was typing up a report at her desk. A colleague from a professional organization she was a member of had sent it to her, asking if she could attend a conference and be a keynote speaker in two weeks. Turns out, the scheduled speaker could not attend.

When Harper read the location of the conference, she smiled. Boston, MA. Her fingers flew over the keyboard as she responded, letting them know she would be happy to fill in. If her geography was right, her cousin Camille was less than an hour from there. She could not only do something for her career, but take that trip to see her cousin and her new family.

The smile on her lips would blind anyone who looked at her.

Heart racing, Harper’s first thought was about Anders. She couldn’t wait to share the news with him. With a sense of urgency, she hastily gathered her belongings and headed out of the office, eager to see his reaction.

Once she arrived at her apartment, she parked her car in the building garage. She took a moment to drop off her briefcase and remove her heels. Her work clothes would have to do for now, but she slipped on a pair of canvas slide-ons just before she left her apartment.

A grin spread across her face as she opened the door to Callahan’s and saw Anders behind the bar. He was wiping down glasses with a rag. “Hey, you,” she greeted.

“Hey, beautiful. What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at the office right now?”

As soon as Harper walked through the door, she saw her seat had a reserved sign in front of it. She stopped and pointed at the sign as a spark of warmth ignited inside her. “For me?”

He motioned toward the chair. “Sit down. Yeah, that’s your spot now. I don’t want anyone but you sitting your pretty ass in that chair. Now, tell me why you’re here in the middle of the day.” He pulled out a glass and poured some soda inside before sitting it in front of her. “Hungry?”

Harper shook her head, too excited about her news to eat anything. “Thanks.” She tipped the glass at him and took a swallow. “No, I’m okay. Not hungry right now, but maybe later.”

Anders’ piercing blue eyes swept over Harper’s form, taking in her short black dress and the way her braids fell loosely around her face. “Okay, so what’s this good news you couldn’t wait to tell me?” he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

“You know that trip I wanted to make up to Providence?” Harper nodded eagerly, excitement bubbling within her. “Well, I got an email today asking if I could speak at a conference in two weeks. It’s in Boston!” Her smile widened as she explained, feeling relieved after all the stress she had been through with her family recently.

But Anders’ first reaction was not positive. He didn’t want Harper leaving town for any reason, even though he knew it was important for her career as a lawyer. His protective instincts kicked in, and he couldn’t help but worry about her being alone in a strange city.

As they continued to talk, Anders realized he had forgotten Harper had mentioned her cousin getting married, and that there was something unusual about her husband. All he could focus on was the thought of Harper being away from him and needing him while he couldn’t be there for her.

It wasn’t until Harper reminded him of how important reconnecting with family was for her that Anders realized howselfish he was being. He reluctantly gave his support for her trip, although his tone was still somewhat snarky. “Then you need to go.”

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