Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
N yla stared out the window of Harrison’s SUV replaying their earlier conversation through her mind.
I believe in you.
His words played around in her head, and she smiled to herself. He always seemed to know the perfect thing to say, and she had needed to hear those words.
During her shower that morning, she had made the decision that she’d be moving out of Cree’s place in the next week or two. Unless she found an apartment sooner. In deciding that, she had also planned to talk to Gordon and ask if he could give her a few more months.
But then Harrison came along and made her an offer she didn’t want to refuse. The timing couldn’t have been better. Even if she had some reservations about mixing business with pleasure, she couldn’t deny that he was making her an offer of a lifetime.
A silent investor. Not a silent partner. That was something she could get with. She just hoped he didn’t change his mind, though she didn’t think he would. He was ready to get it all on paper whenever she was available.
It was the end of January, if she and Harrison could finalize the details of the contract over the next few days, she could own Moody Days before the end of February. Then she and Gordon would get what they wanted. She’d be a business owner, and he’d get to finally retire.
Harrison pulled in front of the walkway that ran along the side of the B & B that led to her parents’ cottage and parked.
“I still don’t want to let you go,” he said, pushing his black-rimmed glasses up on his nose.
For most of the weekend, he’d worn contacts, but this morning, she was surprised to see that his glasses were back. He was handsome either way. As long as she could still gaze into his intense, almond-shaped eyes, he could wear whichever he wanted.
“Two days with you aren’t enough.”
“I know.” Nyla tried keeping the whine out of her voice but failed. She wasn’t ready to say goodbye either. She undid her seatbelt and leaned over the center console. “This has been the best weekend ever. Thanks for coming to my rescue Friday. Thanks for making me feel extra special Saturday and thank you for your business offer this morning.”
“All of that was my pleasure,” he said and ran the back of his fingers gently down her cheek. “I should be thanking you again because I feel freer than I have felt in a very long time. I feel like a new man. I know that has everything to do with spending time with you, as well as our talk yesterday.”
Harrison cupped her cheek and stared into her eyes, and Nyla’s heart thumped a little faster. It was too soon to call what she saw brimming in his dark orbs love , but she had no doubt that he cared deeply for her. The feeling was mutual if not a little scary.
His large hand slid to her chin and nudged her forward until her mouth was a breath from his. Nyla smiled. She couldn’t help it. Giddiness swirled inside of her at his nearness, and the way he was still looking at her made her fall a little harder for him. Then, his lips met hers in a sweet, tender kiss that was as light as a summer breeze, and she moaned against his mouth.
No one had ever made her feel so cherished. One would think this was their first time making out, but of course it wasn’t. Yet, each time her lips connected with his, he roused a passion within her that she hadn’t known existed.
She wanted this. She wanted to always feel this sense of happiness that filled her whenever he kissed or touched her intimately. To think, she’d been with men who she thought she had loved, but no one ever made her feel this…complete.
When the kiss ended, Harrison touched his forehead to hers. “While we were talking earlier, I mentioned that you and I are a couple. I shouldn’t have assumed, but Nyla, I want you in my life. I know we’ve only known each other a few months, but this feels right. We feel right.”
Nyla knew she should say something, but the words didn’t come. Instead, she pulled back and diverted her gaze as her pulse amped. She wanted to be with him more than anything, but all she kept thinking was that he was out of her league. Sure, he might still be working on himself emotionally, but in every other aspect of his life, he had his stuff together.
“Considering you look like you want to bolt, was I being too presumptuous in thinking we could be a couple?”
She glanced at him. “Harrison, you’re a remarkable man and can have any woman you want. Why me?”
He frowned and his confused expression looked sincere. “Why not you? You’re beautiful, smart, fun to be with, and more than anything, you make me smile. Which is something I haven’t done much of in years, but when I’m with you, I feel… I feel exhilarated.”
“I feel the same way,” she said, her heart squeezing at the conviction in his words. “But I’m still trying to get my life together, and right now, I have nothing to offer you.”
“Nyla, you have given me more in the last few months than I’ve received from anyone in years. You make me happy. You bring me joy. Do you know how valuable that is in the world we live in these days? I understand that you’re putting your life in order while preparing to become a business owner, and I’ll support you anyway I can. I’ll also accept whatever time in your busy days that you can share with me. I just want you in my life.”
She lowered her gaze and nibbled on her bottom lip. Normally, she was a risk taker, trying almost anything at least once. But when it came to matters of the heart, not so much. Especially after John dumped her for not being enough for him.
“What’s this really about? What are you afraid of?”
“I’m afraid I’m going to fall in love with you, and then you’re going to break my heart by telling me I’m not enough for you. That I’m not smart enough, or pretty enough, or hell, even tall enough. I can’t handle another rejection like that.”
He reached for her hand and brought it to his lips and kissed the back of her knuckles. “Whatever asshole told you that you weren’t enough for him, didn’t deserve you. Nyla, I’m not him. Maybe I want something different in my life from what he wanted. Besides, don’t lump me into the same category as that jerk. I’m not going to hurt you. You already mean too much to me for that to happen.”
She searched his eyes, hoping he was telling the truth. Butterflies took flight in her stomach and sent her spirits soaring at the idea of being Harrison’s woman. Could she really be enough for him? And could she trust him with her heart?
“Yesterday, you told me that I can trust you, and I do. Now, I need you to trust me,” he said as if reading her mind. “Will you be my woman?”
“Yes,” she said, fighting an overwhelming desire to throw herself into his arms and hold on for dear life. “Yes. A thousand times, yes.”
Despite the center console being in the way, Harrison hugged her tightly and kissed the side of her head.
“Thank you for taking a chance on me.”
Just then, a car slowed and parked in front of them, and Nyla almost groaned when she realized it was Cree and their mother. She was fine with it being her sister, but her mother? Not so much.
She scurried out of Harrison’s hold. “It’s a good thing you suggested we date officially because I kinda told my mother I had a boyfriend.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Oh really. Who was the lucky guy?”
“Actually, you. I figured since you saved me from the ladder at Telecom that day, you automatically became my man.”
He laughed and like usual, the hearty sound warmed her. Though she didn’t think she had time for a relationship, Nyla wanted more than anything to make theirs work. Not just because they both needed some fun in their lives, but Harrison was like a dream come true. He had all of Prince Charming’s qualities and more.
She was definitely going to have to thank Jamie for insisting they get to know each other. But first, she needed to get through this day with her mother.
“That’s my mother, Virginia Priestly, climbing out of the passenger side door,” Nyla whispered as if her mother could hear her.
“I see where you get your good looks from. She’s beautiful,” Harrison said, his voice level matching hers.
They had apparently just come from church if her mother’s wide rimmed, navy-blue hat was any indication. Her heavy cream-colored coat hid the outfit, but Nyla was sure it matched the hat, her purse, and her navy-blue high heel boots.
“I should warn you. My mother has been hounding me and my siblings for grandkids. Once you step out of this car, I won’t be able to protect you.”
Harrison grinned, then started laughing. “Surely, she can’t be that bad.”
Just then, her mother stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and stared at the SUV, as if waiting for them to get out.
This time, Nyla did groan. She wasn’t ready to introduce Harrison to her family. Not that she was ashamed of him. No, it had everything to do with the fifty-million questions they might ask him. Especially her mother.
Nyla turned to Harrison. “She is that bad, and I’m being a hundred percent serious. She’s been on this mission to get me and my siblings booed up, married, and pumping out babies soon after.”
His grin dropped, and he glanced over Nyla’s shoulder out the passenger window. After a few seconds, he waved at someone, and Nyla assumed her mother was still standing there.
“Well, you’re already booed up,” he said, looking at Nyla with roguishness in his eyes. “And I can totally get with marrying you and having you as my babies’ momma.” He climbed out of the SUV without a backwards glance.
Nyla sat frozen. They were barely dating. No way would she allow her mind to go there and envision a family with Harrison. It would be a dream come true, but that would be getting way ahead of herself.
When he opened her car door and extended his hand to her, Nyla placed her hand in his. Her heart did a cartwheel inside her chest at what she saw in his heated gaze. Desire. Passion. Love.
If she wasn’t already in love with this man, she was pretty damn close.