Page 109 of Harper

Oh my god. Lying.

Suddenly, I realize what’s going on. Shit.

He wants to trust me, but after everything that’s happened between us, he doesn’t. Not completely. Not yet. Yes, I promised never to lie to him again. And yes, he’s working on trusting me again. But there will be times when trust doesn’t come easily—when he questions my words or motives out of a need to protect himself.

It breaks my heart a little bit. But now that I understand what’s going on, I rush to reassure him.

“Joe,” I say gently, waddling toward him and putting my palms flat on his chest, “I love you. I definitely want to marry you. No question.”

“Don’t lie to me, Harp. If I’m not what you want—”

“You are everything I want. I promised never to lie to you again as long as I lived. Please believe me, Joe. I want to be your wife. More than anything.” I tilt my head to the side. “This is solely about the timing. I want to marry you, but not right now. Not while I look and feel so, so…crappy.”

“But I think—”

“I know what you think. You look at me through eyes of love, and you think I look beautiful. I love you for that, Joe. ButI feel enormous, and my feet are swollen, and my face is covered in pimples. I don’t want to look like that in my wedding photos.” I reach down for his hand, and when he lets me take it, I feel relieved. “I want to feel beautiful on my wedding day. I want to look as happy as I’ll feel.”

He scans my face, then leans down to kiss me. It’s sweet and soft, but I can tell he’s still worried.

“How about this?” I ask, braiding my fingers through his and setting our feet in motion again. “How about we use the next six weeks to start planning our wedding instead?”

“Planning it?”

“Sure!” I say, leaning into the subject now that he understands where I’m coming from. “Where we want to have the ceremony and the reception…who’s going to be in our wedding party…all of that fun stuff. We can even book the places and start looking at invitations.”

A little of the worry leaves his expression. “Are you choosing Parker for your maid of honor?”

“Of course. And Reeve and McKenna as bridesmaids.”

He’s quiet for a moment, then asks, “What about Sandra?”

I grimace. “Sandra doesn’t like me very much.”

“She’ll come around. I’d really like for her to feel included.”

I don’t know if she’ll come around or not, but I’m anxious to please Joe, and whether or not she likes me, she is his cousin.

“Then yes to Sandra. I’ll ask her to be a bridesmaid, too. How about you? Who are you asking to be your groomsmen?”

“Hunter, Tanner, and Sawyer, of course. And I was thinking Bart for best man.”

“Four and four. That’s perfect,” I tell him. “But head’s up. I don’t want my reception at the Purple Parsnip. I’m always worried that Bruce will stage an impromptu bandit robbery or something.”

“You know what I was thinking?” asks Joe. “How about the Glacier Lounge at the Westmark.”

Hands down, the fanciest place in town. How I love this man.

“In the early fall?” I ask, grinning up at him. “When the tourists are mostly gone, and I can fit into any wedding dress I want?”

“It’s a plan,” he says, kissing me again.

***

Joe

“My water broke.”

“Huh?” I blink my eyes open to find Harper sitting on the edge of our bed in the dark, looking at me over her shoulder.

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