Sadie smirked. “It’s kind of obvious, Harper. You’ve had that dazed look all morning. So, what happened?”
Good question.
Harper set her roll down, then took a deep breath. “I kissed him,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “Me. I initiated the kiss, and now I’m freaking out.”
Lori raised her eyebrows, a playful grin spreading across her face. “Wait, you kissed him? That’s wonderful!”
Loni smiled. “And here we thought he’d make the first move. Look at you, being all bold and fearless. Good for you, Harper.”
She chuckled at their reactions, but her smile quickly faded. “Yeah, but now I’m not so sure it was the right thing to do. I mean, Cas is...Cas. And a former Navy SEAL. He’s the protector type. The last thing I need is to get involved with another guy who feels like he has to save me.”
“I get it.” Sadie nodded. “After everything that happened in Michigan, it’s natural to be wary. But Cas isn’t like—”
“I know he’s not like Alex or any of the guys I’ve dated,” Harper interrupted, frustration creeping into her voice. “That’s exactly what scares me. He’s so genuine. So real. And I don’t want to mess it up by rushing into something I’m not ready for. Something I mayneverbe ready for.”
Loni reached over, giving Harper’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “It’s okay to feel scared. But you’ve also got to give yourself credit. You know what you want and what you don’twant. And if you’re feeling something for Cas, maybe it’s worth exploring even if it’s a little scary.”
Lori nodded in agreement. “And you don’t have to have it all figured out right now. Take it one step at a time. Cas isn’t going anywhere. He’s solid, dependable, and honestly, he’s probably as confused as you are.”
True. The handsome guy had looked a little baffled when she’d left him standing in his driveway. Probably because she was supposed to start treating the wood they’d set aside for the master bedroom before leaving yesterday.
Instead, she’d run away.
“Did Cas kiss you back?” her cousin asked.
Memories of his amazing, soft, slow exploration of her lips sent heat through her body, especially into her face.
She cleared her suddenly dry throat. “Yeah.”
Sadie chuckled. “Then, let’s be real. If Cas wasn’t interested, he wouldn’t have kissed you back enough to put that blush on your face. He’s not the type to lead someone on.”
Harper sighed, feeling a bit of the weight lift off her shoulders. They were right. Cas had been nothing but respectful and patient, even when she’d stepped into his personal space and kissed him.
She bit into her cinnamon roll again and continued to think about the kiss. Despite her own doubts, she couldn’t ignore the way her heart had leapt at the feel of his lips on hers.
“I just don’t want to get hurt again,” she said quietly. “I’m not sure I can handle it.”
The chances were slim. She sipped her coffee and fought back a sigh.
Sympathy was warm in Loni’s eyes. “We get it, Harp. But you’ve got us. You’re not alone in this. And if it turns out that a relationship isn’t what you want, that’s okay too. But don’t close yourself off just because you’re scared.”
The knot in her chest eased a little more. She was grateful for their support and their wisdom. They’d always had her back, and today was no different.
“Thanks, guys,” she said, offering them a genuine smile. “I feel a little better.”
Sadie patted her on the shoulder. “Anytime. And remember, we’re here for donuts and coffee, but we’re always here for you too.”
Harper laughed, and the sound seemed to lighten the mood. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
She finished her coffee, and after a few more minutes of lighthearted banter about bakery mishaps and Lori’s latest cooking disaster, Harper decided it was time to get going.
“Thanks for breakfast,” she told them. “And for the talk. I have to go to Cas’ to work on his feature wall, and thanks to you guys, I now feel brave enough to face him again.”
As she gave them each a quick hug, they echoed a “You’ve got this” sentiment.
“Here, take the rest of these with you,” Loni said, adding what was left of the cinnamon rolls to the box of donuts before shoving them into her hands.
She smiled. “A peace offering. Thanks.”
