Page 85 of Redeeming Harmony

“You can,” he said, his hand stroking her thigh again.

“Look, this has been a lot of fun, but…”

“But you don’t want it to happen again,” he said.

“You’re worried about my father quitting,” she said. “Remember?”

He sat up, scrubbing a hand across the stubble on his jaw. “I am, but we’re both adults, right? The clinic and my relationship with your father would only be affected by us sleeping together if we allowed it to be.”

“I’m not looking for a relationship right now,” she said.

She had a sudden and intense urge to take the words back. But it was too late. They were out in the open, hanging in the space between them like a big fat sign that had ‘mistake’ written all over it.

She patted his chest before sliding off the bed. She quickly dressed as Nathan watched silently from the bed. When she finished dressing, she said, “This was a lot of fun. Thanks, Nathan. Don’t forget to send me the file for the reward poster, okay?”

“What about friends with benefits?” he asked.

She paused near the doorway. “People have to be friends to have a friends with benefits relationship.”

Hurt flickered in his eyes. “I thought we were starting to be friends. I apologize for the misunderstanding. Good night, Harper.”

Fuck, she was such a bitch sometimes.

“We are starting to be friends,” she said. “I was being a dick.”

He studied her silently. She shouldn’t even entertain the idea, but the thought of never being in Nathan’s bed again made her feel anxious and a little weepy and… lost.

“It’s fine if you don’t want that,” he finally said. “I don’t want you to feel pressure or -”

“It’s not that,” she said. “I’m more than good with it, but I don’t want you to agree to this while secretly hoping it’ll turn into something more. It won’t, Nathan.”

“I know, and I’m okay with that,” he said.

“Are you?”

“Yes. Honestly, it’s my preference too, but suggesting it would have made me sound…”

She grinned. “How annoying is it that a guy suggesting a sex-only relationship makes him an asshole, but a woman suggesting it makes her empowered?”

“So, we both want the same thing then?” he said.

“Seems like it.”

“Good,” he said.

“Excellent,” she said. “I guess I’ll see you around then.”

“Bye, Harper.”

Chapter 20

Harper scowled at her sketch before throwing the sketchpad onto the couch next to her. “This is the worst thing I’ve ever drawn in my life.”

Addie set her knitting down and picked up the sketchpad, studying the drawing. “Are you high right now? It’s amazing.”

“I told you before, I’m too broke to get high,” Harper said.

Addie laughed and studied Harper’s sketch again. “Seriously, honey, this is really good. Whose cat is this?”

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