Page 38 of Redeeming Harmony

Harper rested her forehead against Izzie’s neck. “I didn’t like her very much either.”

“You’re not like her, Harper,” Savina said. “I know how much you worry about that, but you aren’t. All right?”

“I’ve been gone, and I… I’ve changed in the last year,” Harper said.

“Maybe,” Savina said with a soft smile, “but you’re still our Harper. You’re a good person, honey. Are you a little hot tempered? Sure, but you care about people, and you don’t think the world revolves around you.”

“That’s not what Nathan thinks. He thinks I’m a spoiled brat.”

“And that bothers you,” Savina said.

Harper shrugged, picking at a small, dried patch of dirt on Izzie’s fur. “No, not really.”

“This is me you’re talking to, Harper,” Savina said.

“Fine. Yes, it bugs me. But mostly because I have been acting like a spoiled brat around him. Which is ridiculously embarrassing,” Harper said.

“Back to the, you know how Nathan kisses, part,” Savina said. “Want to go into a bit more detail about that?”

“I was dancing with Daniel at the Hitching Post last night, and he got a little handsy with me.”

“Daniel Moore?” Savina said in surprise. “He treats you like his kid sister usually.”

“Yeah, he was drunk,” Harper said.

“Apparently, that’s been happening a lot lately,” Savina said.

“It has. Addie and her parents are worried about him, but he refuses to talk about it. Says he doesn’t have a problem,” Harper said. “Anyway, I stopped him from getting into a bar fight by making him dance with me, he put his hand on my ass a few times, and Nathan came to my rescue.”

“Hard to believe you needed rescuing,” Savina said with a grin.

“I didn’t, not really. But it was kind of nice that Nathan thought I did,” Harper said. “I never thought playing the damsel in distress role would get me all hot and bothered, but it did, so Nathan and I made out, and then I found out he was buying my childhood home, and it went south from there.”

“So, you made out with him because he tried to rescue you,” Savina said.

“And because I was horny and looking for a fuck buddy,” Harper said.

Savina burst into laughter. “Seriously, Harper?”

“What? There’s nothing wrong with some casual sex,” Harper said. “You should try it. It’s been three years since Uncle Alan died. If you don’t have sex soon, things are gonna permanently dry up down there.”

“That’s not how it works,” Savina said with another snort of laughter. “Besides, there aren’t that many eligible bachelors my age in this town.”

“Well, that’s some horseshit right there. This town is loaded with single dudes in their forties.”

“And they all come with major baggage, or they’re emotionally immature,” Savina said.

Harper raised an eyebrow at her. “How do you know? Have you been on some dates while I’ve been gone?”

“I may have dipped a toe into the dating pool,” Savina said.

“What?” Harper squealed so loudly that Izzie made a woof of surprise before jumping off the couch and stretching out in front of the fireplace. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I hopped back out after only a handful of dates,” Savina said. “It did not go well.”

“Who did you date? I want names,” Harper said.

“Not worth mentioning. Just trust me when I tell you prospects in this town are slim for a woman in my age bracket.”

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