Page 26 of Laying it Bare on the Run

Harper stared at me for a beat and then burst into giggles.

When I realized what I had said, I erupted into laughter as well. After my chuckles subsided, I smirked at her. “You are a lot of fun to be around.”

“I like being around you too.” She grinned before taking a bite of her rice.

Once we finished with our dinner, Harper pushed her plate away. “That was delicious but I’m bummed I didn’t leave room for cookies. Can we take them out on the swing with us?”

“I don’t think I could eat anything else now either so I like that idea.”

Harper helped me clean up the kitchen.

“Do you mind if I grab a shower? That way you can throw in the load of clothes when I’m finished. I can be quick.”

“Take as long as you’d like. The laundry isn’t going anywhere. Can you bring out all of the dirty stuff when you come out then? Oh and do you have something clean to put on?” She could always wear one of my shirts and a pair of my boxers and I wouldn’t mind at all. My dick twitched, signaling he liked my train of thought.Sorry buddy, didn’t mean to give you ideas but I agree I really like that plan too.

“I’m pretty sure there is another pair of yoga pants in there and I thought I saw a sweat suit too. I’ll put on one of those for now and when the laundry is done, I’ll change back into those pajamas. I’ll bring everything out to you then and you can show me where your washer and dryer are. That way I can help out too.” She strolled down the hallway toward the bathroom that connected to where she had stayed the first night.

I wandered down to my room to grab my dirty clothes and towels and such to make a load before making my way to my small laundry room that sat off of my kitchen. Then I dropped the items onto the floor in front of the washing machine.

While I waited for her to finish, I headed into the living room and clicked on the television. Settling on a crime show, I half concentrated on the episode. About ten minutes later, feet padding down my hallway drew my attention completely away from the police chase going down as they had figured out the identity of the killer and I turned.

Harper stopped just on the other side of the couch, her arms full of laundry.

Rising quickly, I circled the couch and snatched the items from her. Then she followed me to the other end of the kitchen. I dropped the load on top of the pile on the floor and turned on the machine before grabbing a bottle of detergent from the wire rack that hung above it and dumping a capful into the washer.

“I kinda figured this was where you would be hiding a laundry room since I didn’t see a door to a basement.” Harper picked up a few articles and tossed them into the filling tub.

“No basement. I have a small crawl space attic that I store decorations in and the tiny garage attached to my house I use for storage too.”

She shot me a puzzled look. “I didn’t notice a garage.”

“Both times you were at the front of my house it was dark and you had other things on your mind. The back yard is the only outside you’ve had a chance to really explore.”

“That’s true. The first night I couldn’t believe I had actually agreed to come home with you and last night I was reeling from almost being attacked. It’s funny how I don’t seem to be dwelling on the bad stuff but am more focused on feeling happy, content, and safe here.”

“I want you to be fixated on the positive. It’s better for you and I’m going to do my damnedest to make sure you always feel that way. We’ll get through this together.” I dumped the rest of the laundry into the machine and closed the lid. “You ready to head outside? I promised you cookies and a swing. You sound like a little kid.”

She giggled. “Even big kids love cookies and swings. Especially when wrapped up in your arms.” Her cheeks blushed that adorable pink before she rolled her eyes. “Fine. I like being in your arms. I might as well just put it all out there because apparently my mouth is a traitorous bitch.” She glowered at me like it was my fault.

“Well I like your mouth. She can admit to anything she would like to, I won’t object. And I like you in my arms too. I’ve already told you that. To make you feel better, I’ll make some confessions too. And I’ll always be honest with you.” Grabbing the container of cookies off of the counter, I clasped Harper’s hand in mine and the two of us headed to the back of my house. After we stepped outside, I led her over to my swing. Then I sat down and tugged her down beside me, placing the goodies on my lap.

We spent the better part of the evening snuggled together on the swing, scarfing down a few cookies each between small bouts of conversation. However, I did have to leave her for a few minutes to rush into the house to toss our laundry into the dryer. And while most of the time it was comfortable silence between us with only nature providing the background noise, at times, I would share something from my childhood or she would do the same. But the majority of the time stretched on in quiet relaxation. Harper sat snuggled in my arms as the sun began its slow descent behind the trees, leaving in its wake a spectrum of colors ranging from vibrant oranges and reds to the warm and soothing colors of magenta and purple trickling in through the branches and small gaps between the leaves.

“It is absolutely breath taking out here. Thank you for sitting out here with me. You had to have been bored out of your mind. I mean aren’t cops constantly in motion by nature?” She played with the fingers on one of my hands that was currently wrapped around her stomach.

“Sometimes I like to keep busy so I don’t feel like I wasted a day. But I don’t feel like I wasted any of today. I really enjoyed spending the day with you.” I wanted to spend a whole hell of a lot more time with her, doing all sorts of things. Shit. I had to keep my thoughts under control so that my dick didn’t poke her in the back and make her uncomfortable.

She leaned her head back against my chest and sighed. “I still keep thinking this is a dream and I’m going to wake up to the nightmare that is my real life.”

“This is your real life. And I’m going to make sure the nightmare doesn’t touch you here.” I tightened my arms around her as I leaned forward slightly to kiss the top of her head. “I work the early shift on Sunday so the delinquent kids shouldn’t be up that early causing trouble yet so that will give me some time to do some digging. But I don’t want to talk about that now and upset you. Just enjoy right now. I don’t get to watch the sunset often because it would be kinda weird for a guy to do that when he was all by himself. Sharing the experience with a beautiful girl makes it manlier, don’t you think?”

She giggled. “You should be confident enough in your masculinity that things like that don’t bother you. Come on, big bad cop boy.”

I wanted to show her just how big and bad I could be but would have to wait so instead I just chuckled. “I am extremely confident in my manliness. I just would rather enjoy the beautiful things in life with a beautiful girl.”

Twisting slightly, Harper burrowed herself into my chest.

Fireflies sprinkled little bursts of yellow light across the expanse of my yard and on into the surrounding trees as we rocked back and forth in the humid night air. But the stickiness didn’t bother me as Harper was so at peace soaking in the evening warmth.

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