Fifteen
Harlow
“I don’t know how you do it.”
I was practically bouncing in my seat, a smile plastered on my face, as I stared at Blaze in awe.
He glanced over at me, and the amusement was written all over his face. “Do what?” he asked.
Shaking my head in disbelief, I said, “You plan these incredible dates with me that always have me so excited about what’s to come, and somehow, they always seem to be precisely what I need at that moment.”
Smiling, Blaze reached across the console. He curled his fingers around my forearm and squeezed. “I’d like to sit here and tell you I’ve got some sort of superhuman powers that make it all possible, but I’d be lying. I just have that list of yours in the back of my head and plan things accordingly. And if I’m completely honest, I don’t think it’s about the actual thing we wind up doing together. I can’t say for sure how it feels for you, but I’m guessing it might be something like it is for me.”
“And how is it for you?” I questioned him.
“I don’t think there’s anything I could come up with to do with you that wouldn’t result in me having the time of my life. Not to sound cliché, but I think this is less about what I’m doing and more about who I’m doing it with that makes it what it is. Spending time with you is never dull, and I always enjoy myself whenever I’m with you.”
So, he had a point. It was exactly for me as it was for him.
Learning that Blaze didn’t have superhuman power might have seemed a bit disappointing on the surface, but when I considered that he was just a regular guy who was responsible for making me this happy, it only made him that much more incredible in my eyes.
Plus, I couldn’t overlook just how much he cared about me. When I recalled how he’d come to my place two nights ago to bring me up to speed on the case he was working on and how it could impact my life, it was difficult not to fall a bit harder for him. I simply adored the way he looked after me and always put my needs above anything he might have wanted. And it was that realization which led me to feeling an overwhelming sense of determination to give him back just as good as he gave me. I didn’t know if I was nearly as successful at it, but from what I could gather so far, Blaze was happy with me.
Beaming at him, I declared, “I suspect that if we were traveling together and our flight got canceled twice, forcing us to be stranded at the airport for more than twenty-four hours, I’d still have the time of my life as long as I was with you.”
Blaze laughed. “Let’s hope we don’t ever have the opportunity to confirm your suspicions. And I hope you understand that has nothing to do with me not wanting to travel somewhere with you.”
“I do.”
“So, are you ready to do this?” he asked, jerking his head to the side and indicating our fun activity he’d planned for us this morning.”
I inhaled deeply, held my breath for a moment, and eventually blew it out. “I am very excited about the fun and laughs I know we’re bound to have, but I’m going to be honest and say I don’t think I’ll be very good at this at all.”
“No? Why not?” he asked.
I shrugged. “Well, not only have I never gone paintballing before, I’ve also never done anything that requires me to have good aim. No shooting, no archery. Nothing.”
Blaze laughed again. “It’ll be okay. I’m sure you’ll manage to hit me a couple of times.”
I raised a disbelieving brow. “Are you sure that’s not going to happen simply because you’ll purposely move into the line of fire, only so I don’t feel bad about myself and my lack of skills?”
“I don’t think you give yourself enough credit,” Blaze replied. “I have faith in you, and I’m certain you’ll give me a run for my money. Of course, that might be because I’ll be too distracted by something you’ll say or the way you’ll look, and it’ll give you that advantage.”
I pressed my lips together to stifle a grin. I loved how open he was with me about the way he felt. It didn’t embarrass him to get a bit emotional with me, and it was so comforting to know he was that kind of guy. “Now I know you’re just buttering me up for something. I’m going to get blasted by paintballs this morning, aren’t I?”
Blaze sent me a look of mock horror. “I would never.”
Before I could respond, he exited the truck and rounded it to meet me on my side, where he opened my door for me.
Then the two of us made our way to the entrance, so we could spend our morning playing paintball with one another.
Admittedly, there was the part of me that wondered if I’d actually be able to enjoy myself doing something like this. Granted, I didn’t doubt Blaze or his ability to turn any situation into a good one, but there was a slight edge of nervousness about whether I’d find this enjoyable when I didn’t possess the skills to do well at it.
It didn’t take long for me to learn that my line of thinking was all wrong.
Spending the morning paintballing with Blaze was exactly what I needed, what we both needed, especially after our discussion last night. We had an absolute blast—running around, hiding, and shooting at each other—and I never stopped smiling the entire time. It was crazy to me, because every moment I spent with him somehow seemed to lead me to thinking I couldn’t remember a time when I’d laughed so much in my life.
Best of all, it was clear I wasn’t the only one who was getting something out of it. Blaze was, too. All the stress and worry he had been feeling last night seemed to have vanished, and I loved that. Even more than I could appreciate what this morning’s fun had done for me, knowing that Blaze was able to let go of his work situation meant everything to me.
When our time was over, it was safe to say I was worn out. I had more paint covering the camo jumpsuit, goggles, and helmet I had on than Blaze had on anything he was wearing, but that didn’t diminish the experience in the least.
After stripping out of the safety gear and the jumpsuit we’d put on to protect our regular clothes, I said, “I’m really surprised by how much fun I had doing this with you.”
“Yeah?” Blaze returned. “Would you want to do it again?”
“I wouldn’t mind coming here again. I’ll just want to have some target practice between now and then. Maybe I’ll have to come into Harper Security Ops and do a bit of training beforehand,” I reasoned.
Blaze took me by the hand and led me out of the building. “I’d be more than happy to do that with you whenever you want. For now, how about you let me take you out for lunch?”
“Ooh, that sounds wonderful. You sure do know the way to a girl’s heart,” I teased.
Releasing my hand once we stepped outside and into the parking lot, Blaze wrapped his arm around my back and allowed his hand to settle on my opposite shoulder. We continued to walk as he curled me slightly into his body, and he glanced down with a curious look on his face, the corners of his mouth twitching. “Is that really all it would take to get your heart? Just a Sunday afternoon lunch date?”
Though I could tell he was being playful, there was no question Blaze was looking for a legitimate answer to his question. While I was certain he didn’t believe that all I’d need was a simple lunch date, it was clear he wanted to know what it would take.
“If only it was that easy, right?” I fired back, keeping my voice just as light and flirty.
We were a matter of a few feet away from his truck when Blaze declared, “I don’t need it to be easy, baby. I just want to know what it takes.” When we came to a stop on my side of the truck, Blaze turned my body to face his. Once my eyes were locked on his, he pressed his finger right over the center of my chest and asked, “What would a man need to do to have what’s in here?”
My eyes searched his face, taking in every line etched in his curious expression. I didn’t know what was compelling me at this very second to do this, but I felt this moment was too important to waste. “I’m not sure there’s anything a man could do to get in there.”
Blaze tipped his head to the side, his brows furrowing as he frowned. “Really?”
“Yeah. I mean, a man would have to have the opportunity to get in there, and that’s just not possible, because it’s not an option for anyone else. You already have it, Blaze. You’ve already done all the work, and you continue to do it. Why would I ever give it to anyone else?”
Blaze stared at me in silence. I couldn’t read his expression, and it made me nervous. It was impossible not to feel even the smallest twinge of regret. Had I said too much?
Needing to backtrack, I stammered, “I’m… I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me or why I would say that to you. I was… I just thought?—”
“Don’t apologize,” Blaze ordered about half a second before his lips landed on mine.
I was momentarily stunned, but considering Blaze was as good at kissing as he was, it didn’t take long for me to snap out of it and melt into him and his kiss.
Truthfully, it wasn’t that hard to do, considering this kiss was unlike any other kiss Blaze had given me. If one thing was becoming abundantly clear, it was that Blaze wasn’t a man who did the bare minimum in anything. He always went above and beyond, and if he felt compelled to give me something he’d never given me before with his kiss, he was going to do it.
His tongue teased and explored the warm, wet recesses of my mouth, the taste of him minty and fresh. My heart skipped a beat with the possessive hold he had on my body and in my hair. Blaze’s lips were soft yet firm, and the way he was clutching me tight to his chest was unraveling me.
God, he was kissing me like I’d never been kissed. My belly dipped and tingles ran across my body, an ache pulsing between my legs. That ache being one so unfamiliar until I’d met Blaze.
When I whimper crawled up my throat and escaped, Blaze tore his mouth from mine and continued to hold me close. His hand that had been in my hair shifted, and he traced his fingers over my jaw while his eyes roamed over my face in a way that indicated he was trying to memorize every part of it, every feature.
“You’re not upset then?” I whispered.
His eyes locked on mine. “Not a chance. Did you really mean what you said?”
I swallowed hard, nodding slowly. “Yes. I would never joke about something like that.”
Blaze’s arm tightened around my waist. “Baby, what did I do to deserve you?”
There was an edge of disbelief in his tone, an indication he believed he wasn’t a man worthy of my heart, even if he knew he wanted it. “Everything.”
Air rushed from his lungs, and Blaze wrapped both arms tightly around me, hugging me close to him. He kept us like that for a bit before he loosened his hold, opened my door, and declared, “Come on. I’m taking my girl out for some lunch.”
Even though it had already been made clear to me that Blaze and I were officially together, something about hearing him call me his girl did something to me. A shiver ran down my spine, and a smile formed on my face. I allowed that feeling to sink in, but then I got myself in his truck, so he could take me out for lunch.
I spent the better part of the drive to lunch replaying the kiss Blaze and I had just shared. It felt like a turning point for us. Maybe for Blaze, it was hearing the words I’d said about him already having my heart that felt like the turning point for him, but either way, it was at that moment when everything changed.
I felt good about where we were and the direction things were heading between us. In a million years, I didn’t think it would have been possible to dream up a man like Blaze, and now I just had him here. He made every encounter we had better than the last, and he did it all so effortlessly.
Every minute Blaze and I spent together was so wonderful, it never dawned on me that there was a chance anything could happen to ruin it. Sure, I’d had a moment of uneasiness when he came to my place two nights ago to tell me about his work predicament, but once I took a second to think about it and consider the reality, I didn’t feel any fear. I trusted Blaze, believed he’d do precisely what he said, and leaned heavily into the fact that the people targeting Harper Security Ops not only wouldn’t likely be aware I existed, but also didn’t seem to be causing physical harm to anyone.
But beyond that instance of uncertainty that night, I’d never had a single doubt when it came to Blaze and the way he made me feel. The idea that anything could make my confidence about him or us waver was ludicrous.
And that was precisely when I got smacked in the face with it.
Blaze and I were out for lunch and having a wonderful time reminiscing over our morning of paintballing fun when it happened.
“Blaze?” a feminine voice interrupted.
When the two of us glanced to the side of our table, we found two women standing there, their eyes shifting between Blaze and me and ultimately settling on him. I was frozen to my seat, unable to touch my food.
“Izzy? Zoe? What are you two doing here?” he returned.
I couldn’t tell if he was shocked, concerned, happy, or a mix of all three. And those names sounded familiar, but I couldn’t recall where I’d heard them.
One of the women gestured between herself and the one beside her before she replied, “Oh, well, Zoe dragged me out for lunch today. I hadn’t wanted to come, but now I’m glad I did.”
“So am I,” the woman I now knew had to be Zoe added. “We definitely weren’t expecting to see you this afternoon.”
Smiling as she shook her head slowly, the woman I guessed was Izzy slid her eyes to me briefly before returning them to Blaze and said, “And yet, here you are, Blaze. What are you doing here?”
There was no missing the unasked question in her tone. Though the words indicated one thing, it was the sound of her voice that told a different story. She was curious about me and how I fit into Blaze’s life.
Since it seemed neither woman was paying me any attention, I dropped my gaze to the man seated across from me. He’d shifted his attention to me, and there was something lingering in his stare I couldn’t read. Hesitancy, maybe? Immediately, I assumed he didn’t want to tell these women who I was.
Maybe I should have helped everyone out of the awkward situation and spoken up, introducing myself as a friend of Blaze’s, but something forced me to remain quiet. If what happened beside his truck in the parking lot this morning had been a pivotal moment in our relationship, this felt like one, too. I guess I was curious to see how he’d react in this situation.
Finally, after an extended and uncomfortable silence, Blaze’s features softened as he smiled at me. Then he said, “Harlow, these are my sisters, Izzy and Zoe. Izzy, Zoe, this is my girlfriend, Harlow.”
Sisters.
They were his sisters.
Until he’d given me that bit of information, I hadn’t realized just how anxious I felt about these women. I hadn’t ever been in a position to feel jealousy in a romantic relationship—Blaze certainly gave me no reason to—and I wondered if that was part of what I’d been feeling before I knew the truth. Had I been concerned that at least one of these women had dated Blaze before I came along? With him being the kind of guy he was, I didn’t think it was out of the realm of possibility that he’d remain friendly with a former girlfriend.
But there was no need to be concerned.
Because they were his sisters.
And he’d just told them I was his girlfriend. He really was the perfect man who always seemed to know exactly what to do in every situation.
“Girlfriend?” Izzy queried, her surprise evident.
“Yeah, Iz. Girlfriend,” Blaze confirmed.
Both women turned their attention to me again and assessed me. Ultimately, they smiled and extended their hands. “It’s wonderful to meet you, Harlow.”
One after the other, I shook both of their hands. “Likewise.”
“Since it seems as though our brother isn’t interested in sharing you with us, we’ll just ask you. How long have you two been dating?” Zoe asked.
“Oh, it’s only been a few weeks,” I answered, thinking it felt like so much longer than it actually was.
“How did you meet?” Izzy pressed.
“You don’t need to answer that, Harlow,” Blaze interjected. I immediately realized he wanted to save me from the embarrassment of having to share the truth about my horrible online dating experience.
“We just want to get to know her, Blaze,” Zoe informed him.
“I can appreciate that, but you don’t need to do it now when she isn’t prepared for this,” he retorted.
I loved the way Blaze wanted to protect me from everything, but I didn’t think it was necessary in this case. “It’s okay,” I insisted. After sending him a reassuring look, I returned my attention to his sisters and said, “I found myself in a bit of a horrible situation on a first date a few weeks back, and Blaze didn’t hesitate to step int to help me out, salvaging my first night out in a long time. We hit it off and have been seeing each other ever since.”
“That sounds like an interesting story, but we won’t ask you to share the details now,” Izzy returned. “Whatever happened, we’re glad he was there to help.”
I smiled brightly at them. “Me, too.”
Following a beat of silence, Zoe suggested, “Hey, why don’t you set up a time with Mom and Dad, and we can all sit down for dinner to get to know Harlow better?”
I had to take it to mean good things if Blaze’s sisters want me there for a family gathering. I sent a smile and nod of approval in his direction, wanting him to know I was more than okay with it as long as he was.
He smiled at me adoringly before glancing up at his sisters. “I’ll work it out with Mom and Dad soon.”
“Perfect,” Zoe bubbled.
“We’ll get out of your hair now, but it was really nice to meet you, Harlow,” Izzy said.
Nodding, I replied, “You, too. I’ll look forward to having the chance to talk to you more soon.”
I got two bright smiles in return.
After we all said goodbye to one another, Blaze’s sisters took off. “They were nice,” I declared.
“Yeah, they’re really sweet, even if they tried to give me a difficult time,” he noted.
Laughing, I said, “Well, apparently, they don’t like that you’ve kept me hidden.”
He shrugged. “What can I say? I want you all to myself.”
I was feeling so good about all that had happened today, I didn’t stop myself from leaning into the playfulness. So, I teased, “I am a lot of fun, aren’t I?”
“You have no idea,” Blaze returned, the smile on his face the biggest I’d ever seen.
Loving what was happening between us, not wanting it to end, I asked, “Do you have a plan for us for the rest of the day?”
He shook his head. “Beyond knowing I intend to spend the rest of my weekend with you, I don’t have anything specific planned. Why? Is there something you’d like to do?”
I nodded.
Blaze shot me an expectant look.
“Well, I was just thinking, if you’re okay with it, will you take me back to your place?”
The moment I got the question out, Blaze’s entire expression changed.