Page 24 of His Gift
"You have a mouth on you, sweet girl." I don't know why it's so funny, but it is, so I kiss him for saying it. For lightening the mood. And we don't stop until we're home.
eighteen
Conrad
Iwatch my sweet girl eat her salad as I plan for her husband's demise. I won't kill him, but he deserves a good beating. He's made her cry one too many times. And I'm not happy about her eating habits either.
"You had a muffin for breakfast, probably too much coffee, and now you're eating a salad. It can't be healthy."
"No, you're right. But… I've lost my appetite on the way here."
"You're not dieting, are you? Because you don't need it." The grimace on her face tells me she's doing it, and she doesn't believe me.
"I'm seriously fine. And I'm happy you brought your meal with you." Harper looks at my empty travel mug with a small smile. Yeah, I'm not as happy, but I want to spend the rest of my life with this woman. It makes no sense hiding from her.
"Can I ask you something?"
"That was already a question."
"Funny, sweet girl. Why don't you want to publish your novels?"
"Nope, you can't ask me that question. It just reminds me how you violated my privacy."
"I enjoyed reading them. What's the harm in publishing them and seeing what people think? They're clever, funny, and keep you on the edge of your seat. You'd make a good PI if you weren't a lawyer."
"Can we drop the topic?"
For now. I hate that she doesn't see how wonderful she is. "Fine. Go take a shower, relax. I'll do the dishes, then we can decide what's next."
"I'm used to doing things on my own. To being alone. I don't think it's working—"
"Stop. Stop before you say something foolish. I have work to do, books to read. We can do our own stuff while being together. Maybe it wasn't like that for you before, but it's how it's going to be with me. You can push me away to a degree, but I'm still the same guy you met the first day."
"Then you're not a guy I want in my house."
I sigh. I've nagged her about her books and she's lashing out. Maybe it's my fault for choosing the wrong night, but I'm not going to let it fly.
"Come here." I move my chair and make space for her.
"What are you, out of your mind? Oh, well, yes. The answer is yes."
Before she can dig a deeper hole for herself, I pull her from her seat and trap her on my lap.
"Harper, do you really want me gone? Don't answer out of anger or fear. Think about it for a second. Is what I'm proposing so hideous to you? Or are you just pissed about the phone call and because I pushed you?"
She squirms in my arms, grumbling, then goes limp against my chest, her lips pressed into a tight line.
"You're a smart woman, my gift. And I will not press you for an answer. Just go take your shower. Okay?"
She nods, and I let her stand, watching her pick up her favorite comfort clothes and head into the bathroom. I'd love nothing more than to follow her and melt away the bad day, but I'll give her space. Time to think. Then I'll show her how our relationship will be.
Because she couldn't say she wanted me gone.
"I might have overreacted."
She has, but I just pat the spot beside me on the couch and she curls up at my side.
"Do you still have work to do? Do you want to read something?"
