Page 61 of Irreplaceable

She laughed and then schooled her face into a neutral expression.

“What?” I asked, frowning. What was there not to like? The property was gorgeous. It had all the features Alexis had mentioned and more. A great backyard with a pool. A generous owner’s suite and walk-in closets. Wasn’t that every woman’s dream?

“Let’s just say…I can’t imagine Harper living somewhere like this.” She clutched her tablet to her chest.

“Too modern?” I asked.

She nodded. “And too big. Too showy.”

I glanced back up at the house. “Really?”

She smiled and nodded again, though I sensed there was something more she wanted to say.

“Can you find some houses she would like?” I asked.

“Yes. But just to be clear, you want me to continue looking at houses for you, as well as ones I think she’d prefer?”

“What?” I jerked my head back. “No. I want one house that we can both live in.”

“Oh, um.” She glanced down at her phone. “Okay. Does Harper know about this?”

I shook my head. “It’s a surprise, and I’d like to keep it that way. At least until we narrow it down to one or two options. She’s already got enough on her plate, and I don’t want to stress her.”

Alexis chewed on her lip and nodded but said, “Sure.”

“I get the feeling you don’t approve of me,” I said.

She ran a hand through her hair. “It’s not that I don’t approve. Harper’s one of my best friends, and I want what’s best for her.”

I stepped closer, jabbing my chest with my finger. “I am what’s best for her. Her and the baby.”

She held up her hands. “I’m not disagreeing, but you haven’t done the greatest job of showing that so far.”

“I’m trying,” I said. “I want to be a good partner. A good father.”

Harper wasn’t just the mother of my child; she owned me. And I wanted her to be mine.

“Just…” She sighed. “Be there for her. Harper’s not the type of woman who wants expensive things or big houses. Don’t get me wrong—she’d spend her whole paycheck on travel.” She laughed, and I could see the love she had for her friend. “But deep down, her family—and her friends—are more important to her than anything. She values loyalty and honesty above all else.”

I nodded, knowing she was right. “Which is why I could really use your help.”

She tensed, and I wondered if she’d tell me no. Still, I had to try. Everyone had a price, and I’d find Alexis’s, even if it meant buying a house I didn’t want just to get the information I needed.

“I want to do something special for Harper—surprise her. But she refuses to see me.”

“Maybe you should listen. Give her space until she’s ready.”

“I have.” And I was done.

I’d also been going about this all wrong. I was going to show Harper that I knew her, and that we belonged together. I was going to take her back to the beginning.

I explained what I needed to Alexis, and by the end, she seemed… Well, she’d at least agreed to help me.

“Don’t make me regret this.” She glared at me.

I crossed my heart. “Promise.”

After we said our goodbyes, I made some calls and then headed to Harper’s. I pulled my baseball cap low on my head and made sure I hadn’t been followed before getting out of the car and heading up the stairs to her apartment. The first thing I noticed was that there was no elevator.

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