“It’s true. Dalton and Iusedto be together, but that ended. I truly didn’t know that of all the people I cross every day, I’d meet someone who was connected to him in this situation. If everyone is uncomfortable, I can go. Dalton was here first, but I assure you there’s no bad blood here.” Even I am remotely stunned at Harper. She is calm and collected, and she continues to rub slow circles on my back as she talks. She turns to look up at me, giving a soft smile before she continues. “However. I plan to continue to see Xavier,” she says as she turns her attention to the rest of the group. “I want to see where this relationship goes, because Mrs. Hawthorne—”
“Please, call me Penelope.” My mother interjects, but motions for her to continue.
“Sorry, Penelope. You’ve raised a great man, one who treats me well.”
My mom starts, approval coating her tone. “That settles it then. Darling, let the kitchen know we are ready for our meal. Xavier, get your girlfriend here a beverage and let's all sit down.”
“But,” Chloe begins.
“Oh hush, Chloe! They’ve spoken their peace. Just let it be, and let's have a nice dinner.” Penelope chastises.
I have to hold back a laugh at the look on Chloe's face. I don’t think my parents have ever let her not get her way. I’m honestly a little shocked that they said something, but I do what my mother asks, getting Harper’s drink. I head over to the bar where Dad and Dwight were standing. Dad is still there, and I feel his eyes on me.
Turning to face him, I raise my eyebrow question. His lip twitches slightly before he raises his glass to me, and goes to take his seat next to his wife. I quickly make up a vodka soda with cranberry juice, and a whiskey for myself, before returning to the table. As I sit beside Harper, I lean over, placing a peck at the crown of her head as I set her drink in front of her. I hear her breath hitch, and I pause briefly before settling next to her. It wasn’t my plan to initiate physical touch like that, but I know we are technically dating in everyone's eyes. My head briefly spins at the intimacy of it all. I haven’t done small touches or kisses in, well, in a long time. Before I can fully spiral at the weight of what is an ordinary gesture, we’re wrapped into a conversation with my parents, and I take pleasure in Harper’s smile. Maybe these small intimacies aren’t so daunting, after all.
The rest of the dinner goes relatively smoothly. I mean, other than Chloe seething, and Dane looking like someone has a vise on his balls. They quietly argue after dinner when everyone is making their way into the living room. I make my way over to the couch and take a seat. Harper hesitates for a minute, glancing at Chloe and Derek arguing. I grab her hand, pulling her down to sit next to me and place my hand on her thigh. I lean over and whisper in her ear. “You good?” My breath heats her skin as I watch her.
She turns her head to look me in the eyes, and I catch the change in her breathing when she realizes how close we are. Her cheeks begin to turn a soft shade of pink as she nods her head. “Yeah, I’m good. This is actually nice.” I watch the emerald in her eyes shine with sincerityin her statement before I catch them drift to my lips and then back up to my eyes. They widen when she realizes she’s been caught. A smile tugs at the corner of my lips, and I return the favor, my gaze landing on her plump lips. Once again, I find myself imagining how soft they’d feel. My heartbeat begins to race at the thought of placing my lips against hers, until that’s all I can think about. I can’t help the sudden need to lean forward and close the remaining distance between us. Before I can convince myself to back away, I move.
My lips lightly brush against hers. Harper is still for a moment before she melts, her resolve softening and I feel her lean into the moment. There is no urgency in this kiss. The smell of vanilla and lavender cloud my senses. I struggle to deepen the kiss as we become familiar with each other.God, I was right.I pull away slowly, and when I open my eyes, I see her follow me, chasing the way our kiss made her feel. Her eyes open slowly as the blush blooms a bit deeper on her cheeks.
“That was…unexpected.” She says, almost breathlessly.
I clear my throat, trying to steady myself before I answer. “We have to make it believable, right?” The moment the words left my mouth, they tasted sour. That kiss was so much more than just an act to prove we’re together.That kissshook me to my core, a tsunami of emotions I’d sworn to never feel again crashing into me.
The moment her face drops, I instantly regret saying something.
“Right. Very convincing indeed.” She pulls back, and I long to bring her back to me. She hasn’t moved from the couch but she has crossed one leg over the other
, leaning slightly away from me. To others, she is just sitting comfortably as we have a group discussion about the holidays. To me? I see that I hurt her, and she’s closing herself off. I let her have her space.
There is a tightness in my chest that makes me rub the spot over my crown tattoo again trying to ease the ache. I need to somehow make this right, and I have no idea how to do that. I’m so caught up in my head, I’m not listening to the conversation that’s happening right now.
“You simplymustjoin us Harper! It’s such a dream up there.” My mothers words bring me out of my trance.
“What?” I snap before wincing at how rude that sounded. “I mean, sorry. I was just thinking about work. What’s going on?”
“The ski lodge, Xavier! I was just telling Harper here how we will be leaving the second week of December until after the New Year, and how you simply must bring her with you! You are coming up this year, aren’t you?” My mother gives me her signature “mom eyes”, the ones that allow no arguments but also remind me of a puppy dog pout. It normally doesn’t work on me, but I think about going to the lodge. Having Harper there. I haven’t gone to the ski lodge in years. The bad memories have always haunted me. However, the potential of new memories with Harper? The added satisfaction that Dwight is going to be there with my sister and my presence will make them miserable? It is more appealing than I want to admit.
I look at my mom and give her a genuine smile. “We’d love to come this year.”
Chapter Fourteen
Harper
IlookoveratXavierin disbelief. Did he really accept an invite for us to spend three weeks with his family at some ski lodge? I mean, I’ve never been anywhere like that, but that means three weeks of watching Dalton and Chloe all over each other. Three weeks of seeing her baby bump grow. The idea makes me want nothing more than to stay home with Winnie and Evie instead.
“Oh, I couldn’t impose.”
“Nonsense! We have more than enough room, and I would just love to have you out there with us! Oh, I must take you to the farmers market! I won’t take no for an answer!” Penelope gets up with her phone in her hand, “Excuse me, I must get things ready for everyone's arrival!” After tapping a few things on her phone she brings it to her ear and begins speaking to someone about redecorating the room as she walks off.
I look over at Xavier in exasperation. “I mean–” I huff out a sigh. “I guess I need to start packing.” The smile taking over his face makes my stomach flutter. His smirk is downright panty melting, but when hereallysmiles? It’s hard not to get entranced, and the chin dimple that appears there? Somehow makes him hotter.
“But I'll need to figure out work. I have at least a week of work I have to do. I have meetings and a deadline for one of my clients. Is there any way I can work remotely at the lodge?” I fiddle with my hands, feeling my anxiety creep in. I know I took a couple weeks off because of the holidays already, but I can’t afford to take another week off.
“I’ll make sure you have your own space set up to get some work done for that week. There are enough rooms at my parents lodge that we can get you sorted somewhere you can focus on work.” Xavier reassures me, so quickly and easily, that the butterflies in my stomach from earlier return. I squash them just as quickly, reminding myself that this is all for show. We aren’t really dating, and he’s doing this to display the good boyfriend role. I force a smile. “That would be perfect, thank you.”
Xavier looks like he’s about to say something when Penelope bursts into the room with a huge smile on her face. “It’s all settled! We will be leaving next Friday, so make sure you’re all packed up and ready to go! Oh, this is just perfect!” She clasps her hands together with a dreamy look on her face. “I’m so excited to have the whole family together at the lodge this holiday!”
