CHAPTER 16

The morning seemedto fly by, most of it with their walk, though Harper wasn’t complaining. The sun was out and the day was beautiful, just perfect for strolling down the boardwalk and listening to the ocean. In fact, it had been a little too perfect.

Layla had discovered a grand love of the water and sand...especially the sand.

“Upsy-daisy,” Harper said as she helped Layla stand in the bath. Holding on firmly, Harper poured bucket of water after bucket of water, trying to get the little girl’s skin clean from every tiny grain. It made Harper feel bad for those mothers who had two, three or more children who tracked sand in every day. Living on the beach was beautiful...but messy.

“Out we go.” She lifted Layla out and wrapped her in a fluffy towel, making faces to encourage the toddler to laugh. Once the sound began to emerge, it only encouraged Harper to get even more silly. Was there anything better than a baby’s laugh?

A deep chuckle came from the doorway.

Okay...there might be something better.

Embarrassed, but knowing she wouldn’t change her behavior even with an audience, she sheepishly grinned up at him.

“I had no idea you were such a comedian,” he teased.

Harper rolled her eyes and rubbed her nose against Layla’s again. “Only to two year olds.” She grinned back up at Mason. “Adults don’t find my sense of humor quite so appealing.”

“I do.”

Those two simple words sent such a rush of pleasure through Harper that she almost jumped to her feet to kiss him then and there. Only Layla’s yank on her hair was able to pull Harper’s attention away from the intensity of Mason’s eyes. “Ouch! No, no, Layla. Owie.”

Layla frowned and tried to reach for Harper’s hair again, but Harper pulled back.

“Nope. Not happening.” She turned the child around and scooped her up. “Time to get dressed.”

“What can I do?” Mason asked.

Harper plopped Layla into his arms. “Get her dressed and I’ll get her a sandwich. I think she’s starting to get hangry.”

Mason gave her a half grin. “Yes, ma’am.” He turned and walked back to the sitting room where his bags were, chatting with the little girl the whole way.

Harper almost hit a wall as she followed, her eyes unable to leave the scene. Mason might still be learning, but he was definitely going to be a wonderful father to Layla. And the thought of that warmed Harper’s heart in a way that she couldn’t quite express. This wasn’t something she would be able to transfer onto canvas, or write about in her poetry notebook. This was...she rubbed her sternum.

It was pleasant, and anxious and good and eager...it was so many things at once that Harper didn’t even know how to name them. One thing she did recognize though, was that her heart felt so full, she was positive it would burst as she watched Mason and Layla.

I don’t know if there’s any other way to describe it...I’m falling in love.Harper knew she should be shocked. She should be angry. She should turn the other way and run for the hills, but she couldn’t. Her heart had been attached for a while now and putting the feeling into words was just her finally being honest with herself.

It wasn’t just his looks, or his size, or the careful and methodical way he went about life. Harper was starting to see him on a deeper level and everything pulled her in. She didn’t just enjoy looking at him, she wanted his touch. She didn’t just enjoy chatting, she wanted his opinion, wanted to share the hidden parts of herself and know the hidden parts of him. She found joy in watching him work with Layla, in his learning and growing and willingness to adapt. Each and every thing he did called to her and Harper realized she was starting to think on a much more permanent level than she had before.

There’s no other word for it,she told herself. It’s love. And it goes for Mason AND the cute little tot.

Holding back a sigh of pleasure, Harper went to the kitchen to grab that sandwich. A hungry baby wasn’t going to care that she’d just had an emotional revelation. Layla would want to eat and eat now.

“Here she is,” Mason said, holding his niece in the kitchen entryway.

Harper smiled. “Great. Put her in her chair. I’ve got a sandwich and some strawberries for her.”

After Layla was settled, Harper turned back to the fridge. “I’m assuming you’re hungry as well?”

Mason scratched his beard. “Maybe.”

Laughing softly, she opened the fridge. “I’m just going to assume from now on that the answer is always yes.”

“I hate to say it, but that will always be a safe assumption.”

Harper began grabbing sandwich fixing out of the drawers. “Turkey or ham?” She turned when he didn’t respond. “Let me guess. Both?”

Mason shrugged. “Sorry. Should I offer to help pay for groceries?”

Harper shook her head, a too-wide smile still on her face. “Nope. I invited you two over. This is my day.” She set the containers on the counter. “Besides, you’ve paid for my lunch several times now.”

She set up an assembly line on the counter and began putting mayonnaise on bread. “Come on over,” she said. “Help me know what you want.”

A broad arm rested against her shoulder. “I had no idea that building a sandwich could be so intriguing.”

Harper glanced up from under her eyelashes. “Intriguing?”

Mason raised a playful eyebrow. “Usually I’m focused on the food. But this time, there’s something even better pulling my attention.”

Harper dropped his gaze and bumped her hip against his leg, since she was too short to bump his hip. “Stop flirting and get lunch.”

“I can’t help it,” Mason said, reaching around her to grab the lettuce. “You bring out an appetite that I didn’t know existed.”

Harper’s hand hit the counter and she dropped her head back. “Oh my gosh, stop!” she cried while he chuckled in that low tone she adored. “I think you’re going to have the dad jokes thing down pat by the time Layla can understand them.”

“That’s a low blow,” Mason said, feigning being offended. “I’m not making up puns.”

“No. Just cheesy flirtatious remarks.”

His beard twitched. “Sorry. I can’t seem to help myself.”

“Where’s the famous self control of yours when we need it?” Harper grumbled, making Mason laugh again.

“Fine, fine,” he said, then bent down, his mouth to her ear. “But I’ll only behave until naptime. Once Layla is sleeping, all bets are off.”

A shiver ran down Harper’s spine. She gave him her best coy look. “I think I’m alright with that.” The silence between them grew heavy and thick and oh, so delicious. Harper’s pulse was already beating hard in anticipation. She wanted another kiss from Mason and she wanted it now. Perhaps she needed to borrow a little of Mason’s self control just to get her through the next hour.

Layla slapped her hand down on her sandwich, causing a loud smack.

Or not... Layla was proudly smearing peanut butter and jelly in her freshly washed hair and Harper realized the time would pass, and would probably pass both quickly and slowly at the same time.

Still...she and Mason hadn’t had a moment together in several days and no matter what, Harper was determined to make the most of the few moments they would get.

*****

Tags: Laura Ann Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net