Page 99 of Singled Out

“Hey, favorite boy,” I said to him. “I’m happy to see you.”

“Hoppa,” he said, attempting my name for the first time ever. I’d never guessed how one word from a child could grab my heart and squeeze. Beaming, I caressed his pudgy cheek.

“Harper, I’d be honored to have you be part of my son’s life too. I’m sorry I ever tried to keep you away from him.”

“It’s okay,” I said. “I know it’s a big step.”

“It is. I’m ready. I trust you.”

Just when I thought I couldn’t get any more emotional, I had to dab tears out of my eyes. Because that meant the universe to me.

“What do you say we take Harper out on a date tonight?” he asked Danny. “Maybe for a boat ride after work and dinner on the lake?”

“Boat!” Danny said with glee.

“That’s the best idea ever. No football?” I asked.

“It’s a bye week. We’re all yours if you’ll have us.”

I kissed Danny’s cheek. Then I ran my hand over Max’s jaw, stood on my toes, and gave him another quick kiss. “I’ll have you two handsome gents all day every day, for as long as you’ll let me.”

Epilogue

Four weeks later

Max

I’d been fighting all evening to keep my hands to myself—and my nervousness about later under wraps—as Harper shined her gorgeous heart out.

She looked like a million bucks and then some in a short teal dress with spaghetti straps and a lace-up open back that had my fingers itching to untie it. She wore her gorgeous dark hair down with alluring waves cascading over her sexy shoulders. Around her neck was a piece she’d made with a stone that matched her dress. She wore multiple bracelets and rings as well. Even as I stood off to the side, I couldn’t help but track her every move with my eyes, counting down the minutes till we were alone.

I and dozens of other people were celebrating the grand opening of Earthly Charm with the three women who undoubtedly would make it a raging success and a fixture on the square for years to come.

I wholeheartedly believed that. I never would’ve invested half the startup costs if I didn’t. Yes, I was crazy in love with one of them and the brother of another, but I’d gone into this financing deal with a mind to business.

The other half of their costs had shockingly come from Ian Finley, Naomi’s billionaire brother, as it turned out. The guy apparently wasn’t the aggressive bastard he’d presented himself as that fateful first night Harper and I had gone out.

The town had shown up for the evening open house in droves. For the past two-plus hours, the shop had been full of people filtering in and out, checking out the merchandise, congratulating the girls, and spending their money liberally.

Harper’s dad was perched near the checkout counter like a proud peacock. My mom and brother had left a few minutes ago, taking Danny with them for a sleepover.

Harper, Dakota, and Cambria’s friends had shown up in force, as had my dad buddies, some of them with their kids. I couldn’t count the number of my students and players, past and present, who’d greeted me, then gone on to check out the goods.

All of it made me so fucking proud of the woman I loved that I could barely contain it.

“You still haven’t wiped that obnoxious grin off your face,” Ben said.

The two of us stood close to the door to the back room, Ben holding his six-year-old daughter, Ruby, who’d tired of the crystals her older sister, Evelyn, was obsessed with. Emerson Estes, single mom of Skyler and Xavier, had assured Ben she’d keep an eye on Evelyn since her kids were enthralled by the rock display as well.

“It’s a good night, with the potential to get even better.” I shared a look with him, as he was one of about five people who knew my secret plans.

“Have you seen any sign of Piper?” he asked.

“She’s still working away.” I glanced around to see if she’d snuck in.

“And Cash?”

“Verified.”