Page 63 of The Attraction

“I think dinner is ready, let’s head to the table,” I announce, dragging Harper behind me and leaving everyone there just staring at us.

Pulling out her chair, I almost shove Harper down into it before pulling out the chair Mum is to sit in. “You can sit here, Mum.” Her seat is at the other end of the table from both me and Harper.

“Forrest,” Harper growls under her breath at the same time my mother is also calling my name.

“Forrest, what’s the hurry?” she asks as she walks to the table. Flynn has taken her bag from her and is looking at me like I’m such an idiot, and I have to agree with him right now. “I didn’t even get to say a proper hello to Harper. I’m so sorry, my dear, I taught him better manners than that. He must be‘hangry,’you know, when men get angry because they are hungry.” She giggles to herself as she sits in the chair almost to hide how uncomfortable I have just made it for everyone.

“So, it’s not just Flynn that gets that way,” Felisha jokes as she takes a seat too. “Now I know it must be a Taylor thing.” Looking at me, she gives me a wink like she understands what I was trying to do by protecting Harper so she wasn’t ambushed by my mother.

I might have been hard on Felisha when I first met her because I was worried that Flynn was being pulled into a huge mess and that she was all wrong for him. But I couldn’t have been more wrong.

They are perfect together, and we have started to form a strong bond between us. She has my back, and I will always have hers. But the way she is looking at me now, I have a feeling that she and I will be getting closer as we will start to share Harper’s protection, who we both care deeply for. I think Felisha has carried that responsibility for a long time, but it’s time to share the load.

Flynn is busy in the kitchen plating up dinner, and we all know it’s safer to stay away from him when the chef is trying to make the plates all pretty.

I don’t care what it looks like as long as it tastes good.

I’m busy pouring the wine that Flynn brought with him to match the meal.

Luckily the moment the food hits the table, it slows Mum down from her twenty questions that she was starting to warm up for. I tried not to laugh at Harper as Mum asked her the first question about why she was staying with me. Harper answered quickly that there was a problem with her renovation, and she needed a temporary place to stay, and then straight away, she asked Felisha something about the wedding, which turned my mum inside out with excitement.

Now that we have settled into the dinner, the conversation is flowing nicely, and I can relax a little. Topics have ranged from, of course, the wedding, to work, to travels, and then Felisha offered my parents to stay at her villa in St. Tropez if they ever want a few nights away. Which of course my mum nearly jumped out of the chair to hug her she was that excited. Flynn and I have sent them on a few holidays that we paid for, but my dad is not a huge traveler, plus he is still working. We wanted him to retire early, but he wouldn’t have it. He has passed retirement age, but I think he likes his job, and the truth be known, he is probably worried about being with mum twenty-four seven.

Harper and I make our way to the kitchen to prepare dessert where she looks down at her pie.

“It looks shit.” Her confidence from earlier today has diminished.

“Stop being so hard on yourself. It looks great, and I can’t wait to taste it.” I put my hand on hers on the counter. She doesn’t pull away, and I think she appreciates the reassurance.

“Where is the mousse?” she asks as I stand beside her, slicing up the lemon meringue pie.

“Oh, didn’t I tell you? That’s not for dinner. That’s my dessert for later tonight. The one I intend to eat off your body,” I reply in a low voice only she will hear.

The hitch in her breath is enough for me to know that I have taken her mind off her pumpkin pie. Not giving her time to worry any more about it, I pick up both pies and carry them to the table.

“Harper made a special pumpkin pie that is her mother’s recipe. A true American specialty. Who would like a piece to try?” I pick up the pie server, and before Harper can say a word, Felisha jumps in.

“Oh my God, I love your mum’s pumpkin pie. I used to love going to your house every year for Thanksgiving. They had all these foods we don’t really do in England, plus Lori is an amazing cook too. You are in for a real treat.” She holds up her plate for me to put a piece on it for her.

I can see Harper sitting nervously, waiting as my mum takes her first bite.

“Harper, sweetheart, this is divine. I can’t believe I have waited this long in my life to taste this sort of pie. You must give me the recipe, or is it a family secret? All the good recipes usually are.” My mum gives a chef’s kiss gesture to Harper, and I can see her light up on the inside.

She might tell me that we are just a fling, but she was desperate to impress my mum, and to me, that is a woman who wants to stick around in this family.

And I couldn’t be happier.

As we all devour dessert and lean back in our chairs, full of sugar, Mum picks up her glass of wine and looks toward Harper and me.

“So, how long have you two being sleeping together?”

I choke on my red wine and spray it across the white tablecloth.

Flynn bursts out laughing and thumps the table with delight.

“Marion, you can’t say things like that.” Dad takes the wine glass out of her hand, and Harper is still in total shock.

And all I can say to reply is, “I told you it would be written all over my face.”

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