“He means that much to you, like I said, I’ll find a way to deal,” he says, and my eyes soften.

“Please give him a chance. I don’t know the future, or know what will happen between us, but what we have feels good. And I don’t want to feel like I’m choosing between the two of you.”

“You’d choose me, right?” he prompts, and for the first time in my life, the answer to that question isn’t an immediate yes. The truth is, I don’t know what I would do if I was forced to pick between Harlen and my dad, and I hope I never have to find out. Reading my expression, he mutters, “Fuck,” rubbing his jaw.

“I love you, Dad.”

“Love you too. But if he fucks you over, you get no say in the way I handle him.”

“Dad,” I sigh, shaking my head.

“Nope, that’s my stipulation,” he says firmly, in a tone I know all too well.

“Fine,” I mutter, rolling my eyes toward the ceiling.

When my eyes roll back down, I find him grinning. “So, when do I get to come over for breakfast?”

“Never,” I answer, and he kicks my foot with his boot and smiles at me. Seeing that smile, I stand up and give him a hug, and as soon as his arms close tight around me, I know we’re good.

“You got time to have lunch with your old man?” he asks, and I let him go and smile.

“Yep, but you’re buying.” I pick up my purse and settle it over my shoulder as he stands, bringing his coffee with him.

“When don’t I buy?”

“I don’t know.” I laugh, listening to him chuckle as we head out of the coffee shop. Tossing his arm around my shoulders when we hit the sidewalk, I feel his lips touch the side of my head, and my arm around his waist squeezes tight. Nope, I hope I never ever have to choose between him and Harlen.

Chapter 7

Harmony

“DO NOT COME.” HARLEN’S harsh breath growls against my ear as he thrusts back into me hard, causing my own breath to hitch and my core to spasm.

“Harlen,” I whimper, close, so close, yet then again, I’ve been close for a while now. But each time I’m almost there, he changes positions, throwing me off balance and forcing me to build back up to it again.

“Don’t come,” he repeats, sliding his hand around my hip and zeroing in on my clit with outstanding accuracy.

“Oh God!” I cry out, and my head flies back when his fingers from one hand swirl as his other hand smacks my ass hard, so hard it sends a wave of pleasure through me. “Fuck! Take me.”

He speeds up his thrusts, and I bite my lip, trying to counteract the building pressure between my legs. “Up.” His hand slides up my hip and side then wraps under my breast, pulling me up to my knees. Licking over my shoulder, neck, then ear, he nips my earlobe. “Mouth.” I turn my head and open my mouth under his, and his tongue sweeps between my parted lips.

Whimpering down his throat, I slide my hand down his arm and join my fingers with his at my clit. “Honey, please,” I breathe against his mouth, hearing him groan.

“Come for me.” His fingers and hips pick up speed while the hand under my breast slides up. Two fingers pluck my nipple, and send a shot of heat right between my legs. My hips buck hard against his and my head falls backward against his shoulder. I turn my head and give him my mouth, coming as the tip of his tongue touches mine. I feel his hips jerk erratically then he plants himself deep, keeping himself there as he comes and groans against my tongue.

Breathing heavy, feeling my heart pounding against my rib cage, I smile against his lips then whisper there, “We beat the clock.”

“Yeah.” He pulls back enough to look at me then smiles when my alarm goes off.

Giggling, I turn my head and tuck my face into his neck, breathing in his warm scent. It’s been a week since we stayed at his house, and when he woke me this morning with his face between my legs, he told me we were going to see how far we could get before my alarm went off. I think we did all right, since I got two orgasms before the alarm rang, the first one being from his mouth.

He gives me a squeeze, and my face comes out of his neck so I can look at him. “Are you getting up, or are you going to sleep for a while?” he asks, and I look at the clock, seeing it’s still early—a little before eight. He has work today, but thankfully, I don’t. Still, I do have stuff I need to get done today, which is why I set my alarm last night when we went to bed.

“I think I want to laze a bit,” I tell him, and he smiles, kissing the tip of my nose.

“Turn off your alarm, baby. I’m gonna take a shower then get to the shop.”

“Okay,” I agree, and he gently pulls out of me and kisses my shoulder before I fall carelessly onto the bed, too tired to hold myself up. Hearing him chuckle, I reach my arm out and shut off my alarm. Then I turn to watch him saunter naked into my bathroom, enjoying the view of the muscles of his back and ass flexing until he’s out of sight. I hear the shower go on and smile to myself, pull the sheet and blanket up over my shoulder, and close my eyes.

I wake, feeling my hair being slid off my forehead, and blink my eyes open, finding him dressed and sitting on the side of the bed. “Didn’t want to wake you, but figured I should,” he says quietly, and I nod, trying to keep my heavy, tired eyes open.

“I fed Dizzy and let him out. You’re good to sleep for a while.”

“Thanks, honey,” I murmur.

His eyes get warm right before he dips his head so he can place a soft kiss against my lips, whispering there, “Message me when you get up.”

“‘Kay,” I agree, as I lose the battle with my eyelids and they slide closed. I feel his lips touch my hair then he tucks the blanket tighter around me. After that, I don’t feel anything, because I fall back asleep.

Waking when Dizzy jumps on the bed and starts to lick my face, I groan. “Dizzy, come on. I’m tired.” I try to force him to lie down and cuddle with me, but he refuses. Instead, he licks my face and bounces around on the bed and my chest until I have no choice but to get up. I sit up, pulling him into my lap, then flip him to his back and rub his belly, watching his feet kick rapidly when I hit a good spot. “Do you want to run errands with me today?” I ask, and he rolls to his feet then starts to run in circles on the bed, giving me my answer.

I look at the clock. It’s a little after ten, so I still have plenty of time to get everything I need to get done, done. Part of what I want to do is cook dinner for Harlen, since he’s always cooking for me, which means I need to get to the store to buy the stuff for a cowboy casserole, one of the few things I know how to make, and make well.

I roll out of bed, find my nightgown on the floor, and pull it down over my head, and then I tug on my robe, tying the belt around my waist. I gather my hair up in a ponytail on the way into the bathroom, then clean up and brush my teeth. Grabbing my cell phone off my side table, I head out of my bedroom with Dizzy dancing at my heels. After opening the back door for him, I send Harlen a quick text letting him know I’m up before heading for the kitchen to make coffee.

Hearing my doorbell ring when I’m filling the coffeepot, I frown and shut off the water. No one I know would be here this time of day, since everyone I know works. Going to the door, I lift up on my bare feet and look out the peephole. When I see it’s a guy I haven’t met but know lives across the street, I open my door, staying behind it and keeping my body out of sight, since my robe is short enough to be inappropriate.

“Hey,” I greet.

He gives me a tight smile then steps back, forcing two boys that are maybe seven and fourteen out of hiding to stand in front of him. “Sucks to meet you like this,” he says, and I look from the boys to him. “I’m Gareth.” If I didn’t have Harlen, I would be finding out if he’s married, because he’s gorgeous, with lots of tattoos, dark, almost black hair, and piercing blue eyes. “This is Max.” His large hand wraps around the younger boy’s blond head, and his green eyes smile up at me. “And Mitchell.” He wraps his hand around the older boy’s shoulder, and I see that he looks like his dad, with the same dark hair and stunning blue eyes. “We live across the street.”