Page 23 of Make Her Mine

Scott and Peyton are quite a pair.

One of the most fascinating things for me about Harlow Hansen, however, is that I think there’s more of her mother in her than she likes to let on. In fact, I think she squelches those tendencies. And sometimes I think that’s difficult for her.

So do I believe there could be an instance where someone pushes her too far?

Yep.

And I know it would be because that someone did something to someone she loves.

So yes, I would help her cover it up. No question in my mind.

“And you think I would come tell you about the murder over scones and coffee?” Harlow asks her mom.

“Yes,” Peyton says. “You wouldn’t be able to keep it quiet and you wouldn’t tell Mia or Austin. And you definitely wouldn’t tell your dad.”

I agree that she wouldn’t tell her sister or brother. She protects them. She’d never want them to know something that might burden them somehow.

For some reason that annoys me. Who does Harlow lean on? I don’t know why the question suddenly goes through my head, but I can’t ignore it.

Probably because the answer is Graham.

Or was.

Before he went to Colorado.

I blow out a breath. Do not let her get to you. Not already anyway.

It could be a really long week if I start feeling things for Harlow. Like soft. Or sorry.

Harlow’s eyes find mine across the shop. “I don’t think I’d need to tell anyone else if Jefferson was in on it.”

Peyton tips her head and looks at me as well. “Oh really?”

“Nope,” Harlow says. “I’d have my partner in crime. Why would I need to tell you?”

“To assuage your guilty conscience?”

She snorts. “You’ll always love me no matter what. And you would totally believe that whoever it was deserved it. But I would definitely make sure Jefferson’s hands were just as dirty as mine, so I’d be able to hold that over his head forever. He’d have a direct stake in keeping it quiet. And that would be way more fun. He’d start being an ass at some family picnic and I’d just say, ‘anyone know how to get blood out of cashmere?’ and he’d shut right up.”

I just shake my head, but she smirks. Because she knows she’s right.

Peyton laughs, then raises her voice, “Adrianne, come out here!”

My mom emerges from the back, wiping her hands on a towel. Her eyes widen with pleasure when she sees Harlow, then she notices me, and her grins widens. “Hi.”

“You should know that we are pretending to be madly in love for this week,” Harlow says without preamble.

Our moms both just look at us for a couple of seconds, letting that sink in.

Then my mother says, “Sounds good.”

Peyton nods. “Okay.”

Harlow frowns at both of them. “You don’t want to know why?”

My mom laughs. “Well, it’s the two of you. I assume there’s a good reason.”

“Same,” Peyton agrees.

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