Page 95 of This Feeling

“Hey, guys!”

Harper’s voice made my insides zip with an energy I only felt when she was near me. I looked over and saw she was outside the floral shop, watering the plants.

“Hey there,” I said when I reached her, kissing her gently. “I’ve missed you.”

Her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink. “You just saw me earlier this morning.”

Winking, I lowered my voice. “Then I miss being in bed with you. Naked.”

When she looked away, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Once she recovered, she looked back at the three of us. “Doing your daily Main Street walk, I see. I’ve had a lot of people tell me they love seeing you guys out and about like this.”

“Good,” Gavin replied. “That was the goal. Makes us seem a bit more accessible.”

Harper smiled. “I’ve noticed more people stopping and talking to you, so you’re right about that.”

“Is that…Brystol?” Gavin asked, trying to see around some tourists.

Harper glanced over her shoulder. “Yep. She’s watching Winnie today.”

Brystol came walking up the sidewalk with a sleeping Winnie in her stroller.

“Wow, she’s crashed,” James said, bending down to peek at Winnie.

“I know! I’d barely started our walk and she was out like a light.” Brystol smiled down at Winnie.

“God help you if she poops.”

Brystol shot Harper a dirty look. “Hilarious, Harper.”

“What are you doing with her?” Gavin asked.

Brystol must not have noticed him, or she’d chosen not to pay attention to Gavin when she’d first joined us, but once he spoke, her smile vanished and she stood taller, her shoulders squared off as if she were preparing for a battle.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m helping Liam and Hope by taking Winnie for a few hours.”

“Who’s watching the toy store?” James asked.

“Melanie.”

Melanie was Brystol’s only full-time employee. She also had two part-time girls who worked the weekend.

Harper bent down and brushed back one of Winnie’s curls. “How long are you watching her for?”

“We’re actually on our way back to her house. I just took her for a couple hours to give Liam and Hope some alone time.”

“That was nice of you,” Gavin said.

Brystol snapped her head so hard, I was surprised it didn’t break. “Thank you, but it’s the least I can do.”

“Do you want to come in for a drink before you head back?” Harper asked her.

“No, thanks. I’d better get her back. We’ve been gone for a bit longer than I’d promised, but I had so much fun at the park with her. She loves the swings!”

I couldn’t help but notice how Gavin was staring at Brystol as if seeing her through new eyes. He finally turned away and started to continue on down the sidewalk.

“We should get going. Bye, Harper, Brystol.”

“Bye, James,” both women said in unison.

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