Page 52 of Redeeming Harmony

“Because they caught us half-naked and about to have sex?” Nathan said.

Harper shrugged. “Wouldn’t be the first time someone’s caught me having sex. Hell, it wouldn’t even be the third time.”

Nathan stared blankly at her before laughing. “So, you’re an exhibitionist?”

“No. Just really unlucky,” she said. “But my dad catching me boning a dude is my worst nightmare, so let’s get out of your office before he comes into the clinic.” She straightened her shirt. “How do I look?”

“Good,” he said. “Normal.”

That made her laugh, and he grinned at her before sobering. Her stomach dropped as he gave her a careful and considering look.

“What?” she said.

“What just happened? Shouldn’t have happened.”

“That’s quite the one-eighty,” she said.

He grimaced. “Yeah, I know, and I’m an asshole for leading you on. I’m sorry about that. But as much as I want you, there are multiple reasons we shouldn’t have sex.”

“Like what?” she asked.

“I like and respect your father a great deal, and I don’t want him pissed at me for sleeping with you.”

“It’s none of his business who I sleep with,” she said. “I’m an adult.”

“I know, but I work with him. I don’t want it to be awkward.”

She thought it over. “That’s fair. Why else?”

“What do you mean?”

“You said multiple reasons. What are the other reasons?”

“I’m way too old for you,” he said.

She snorted. “Please, the age difference is not that big.”

“You’re what? Twenty-five?”

She nodded, and he muttered a curse under his breath. “I’m thirty-five. A decade is a huge difference.”

“Maybe if I was eighteen and you were twenty-eight,” she said, “but a decade at our ages is nothing.”

“It doesn’t matter anyway. I enjoy working with your father, and I don’t want him to quit. The clinic is on shaky ground as it is, and if your father left…”

She tried not to show her hurt at his words. Nathan barely knew her, and just because they wanted to fuck each other, that didn’t equate to having feelings - for either of them. Of course, he would be more concerned about what might happen to the clinic if her father left on bad terms. Especially with how poorly the clinic was doing since King died.

“I’ve upset you,” Nathan said.

“Nope, you haven’t.” She made her voice light and plastered on a cheery smile. “The age difference is a bullshit reason, but I’ll give you the other one. We’ll chalk this up to a fun mistake and leave it at that.”

“Harper, I don’t think it’s a mistake, but I -”

“Don’t worry about it,” she said. “I understand, and I agree.”

“Do you?” he asked.

“Yes.” She opened the door to his office. “We should go talk to Rayna and Savina about Izzie.”

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