Page 98 of Singled Out
He looked over the counter to the single dad group along the wall. “Chance, Luke, Ben, West? This is her. This is the lady friend I was so afraid of getting attached to. Just wanted to tell you the joke’s on me. It’s too late. I’m already attached.”
My eyes widened. Then I looked to Dakota. She watched us with avid interest, her eyes less sleepy, more sparkling with expectation.
“I was lucky enough to have Harper in my life for several weeks,” Max said.
An audible reaction filtered through the diner.
“I insisted on keeping it secret, and that wasn’t fair to Harper. I realize now it probably seemed as if I was embarrassed or ashamed of her. I wasn’t. I was being a big, dumb coward, hiding my feelings even from myself. I’m sorry, Harper. And I’m sorry I led you to believe your dad didn’t approve.”
I pressed my lips together and nodded, too confused, too overcome by this very public revelation to figure out what to say.
“Mills?” Max continued, his attention going to his colleague. “You called it correctly. I’ve been a jerk all week at work. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.”
“Anytime,” Dean called out, then ducked his head as if he didn’t like the spotlight.
I could relate but…what was Max doing? I hardly dared to get my hopes up, but it sounded like…
“Bob.” Max addressed my dad now. “You gave me your blessing to date your daughter. Told me you thought I’d be good for her, but here’s the thing. She’s the one who’s good for me.” He took my hand, entwined our fingers. I held on to him, his strong hand so familiar it made me catch my breath. I stepped closer to him without thought.
Staring into my eyes, Max continued, “Harper keeps me on my toes and makes me laugh. She helps me take myself less seriously. She reminds me when I need to be easier on myself and go with the flow.” He paused for a few seconds as if searching for the right words. “This woman has shown me what it looks like to have courage, to try new things, to take new risks that are uncomfortable and scary as you-know-what but have the potential to pay off thousandfold. Harper makes me a better person.”
“That’s my girl,” my dad said quietly. I couldn’t miss the pride in his voice. For me.
I slid my glance to my dad to acknowledge those words I didn’t remember him saying about me for years, if ever. Then I looked back to the gorgeous man who’d pulled me even closer.
I held my breath, no longer doubting what Max’s purpose was but not wanting to miss a second of his memorable, swoon-worthy speech.
He entwined our other hands, putting us face-to-face, as if no one else in the place mattered anymore. “I love you, Harper. Will you give me another chance to show you how much?”
My eyes teared up and my insides melted to liquid. I nodded with zero hesitation. “I love you too, Max. I’m… You planned this, didn’t you?” I laughed and waved a hand at the crowd, understanding he’d ensured certain people who were important to him or me or both had been here for this. “Like a formal unveiling.”
He brushed his knuckles over my cheek in the most tender, loving way. My eyes fluttered closed momentarily as I reveled in it.
“It doesn’t make up for my stupidity in the past,” he said in a low, more private voice. “I need you to know that was solely about me. Never about you.”
“What changed?”
With a sheepish chuckle, he said, “Well, to start with, there was an ass-kicking by your nosy roommate.”
We both glanced over at Dakota, who was holding Danny now and said something in his ear. Max’s adorable little boy pointed his index finger at us, grinned, then ducked his head into Dakota. I wiggled my fingers in a special wave just for him, making him giggle.
Max laughed, then sobered and turned his attention back to me. “I’ve missed you like crazy, Harper. Been miserable without you. I realized I need to be brave the way you’ve been brave these past few weeks if I want to be honest-to-God happy.”
He leaned down and kissed me, a lingering, longing, but PG-rated kiss. We were in the middle of the diner, after all, with his son looking on. Even so, our friends and family applauded us, making me laugh again.
“I can make that a whole lot more tempting later if you’ll let me,” he whispered so only I could hear.
“After this?” I gestured to the crowd in the diner. “You know I will. I can’t wait.”
We kissed again, just a short promise of a lip-lock this time.
“One more thing,” Max said when the kiss ended. He stepped toward the customer side of the counter, pulling me with him and attracting Dakota’s attention again, then nodded toward Danny.
Dakota set Danny down, bending over him, pointing at Max, and saying something to the boy. Danny nodded. Then Max squatted, arms out for his son, who dashed over to us.
Max stood with Danny in his arms. “You remember Harper?”
The boy nodded shyly.