Chapter One #3
“That’s not what I meant. I am proud of him,” Harper insisted. “He’s my entire world. I just . . . was trying to . . . never mind.” She looked down at her fingers in her lap.
She was always saying the wrong thing around this man.
She felt tongue tied and inferior to him.
He’d done things after high school. Had made a difference in the world.
She’d wanted to, but all she’d managed was to screw up her life before eventually running back to her daddy with her tail between her legs.
She and Linc couldn’t be more different.
“Trying to what?” Linc asked.
She sighed. “Let you know that I admire you. That I’m grateful you’ve taken such an interest in Kash. That you and your family were there for him when I couldn’t be. That you haven’t let my dad’s prickliness taint your feelings for my son.”
“Victor’s an asshole, but deep down—deep down—he’s a good man.
He wouldn’t have reached out to Chad when he saw my mom being kidnapped if he wasn’t.
He wouldn’t have spent all day on the water looking for Marit if he wasn’t.
I’m not saying I want to hang out with him or anything, but I kind of understand him. ”
Harper lifted her head and looked at Linc. “Understand him?”
“Yeah.”
He didn’t elaborate, and Harper was kind of scared to ask for details.
She certainly didn’t understand her father.
He’d always been extremely hard on her. Expecting perfection when she was anything but perfect.
She felt that pressure from him now more than ever.
Felt his disappointment that she wasn’t successful.
That she’d had to come back home to live with him.
That she wasn’t married. That she’d had a child outside of marriage.
“Say yes,” he said again. “If things don’t work out, on either of our parts, you can always go back to your dad’s.
Or better yet, the smaller house on Lobster Cove will probably be fixed up by the spring.
You and Kash can go there if you can’t stand my piece-of-shit house—or me—any longer.
Say yes for your son. He worries about you.
Feels as if he needs to look out for you.
He’s your protector, and he should be sleeping in the middle of the night, not awake and texting me because he’s concerned about where you are and what might be happening to you. ”
It was kind of a cheap shot, but Linc was right. Harper was well aware that her son was older than his years. That he had a tender soul. That he wanted to take care of her. They’d been taking care of each other for years now.
“All right. Thank you, Linc. I accept. But if at any time you get tired of us, and you want us out, you have to tell me. I won’t be mad. I can always go back to my dad’s place. I still don’t really understand why you’re being so generous and gracious, but I’d be stupid to say no.”
To his credit, Linc didn’t look smug or crow about her giving in. He simply nodded. “You need help moving your stuff over tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow?” Harper asked in surprise.
“Why not?”
“Well, I have to work.”
Linc stared at her for a beat. Then asked, “What time?”
“Ten.”
“Can you go back to your dad’s house and get some sleep?”
Harper frowned. “Yeah, why wouldn’t I be able to?”
“Kash said Victor kicked you out.”
She snorted. “He did—after I was already halfway out the door. I’ve learned that when things get heated, the best bet is to put space between us. He’ll be fine.”
“All right. I’ll come over with Chad tomorrow, and you can show us what you want moved. We’ll do the heavy lifting, and when you get off shift, you can come straight to my place and put things where you want them.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Harper said, stunned that he’d even offered.
“I know I don’t.”
“Well . . . okay. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I usually wouldn’t suggest waking a kid, but maybe you should let Kash know you’re back when you get home. So he doesn’t worry anymore. You can tell him about the new living arrangements and figure out the bus thing tomorrow. I don’t know how that works.”
It wasn’t quite that easy, but in the scope of everything else, they’d figure it out.
Then something occurred to Harper—and she felt the need to be clear. “Just because I’m moving into your house, that doesn’t mean I’ll be obligated to you . . . sexually.”
The look on Linc’s face made Harper regret her words instantly. She saw shock, then anger flash over his features before he quickly masked his emotions.
“I’ll follow you back to your dad’s house,” he bit out, reaching for the door handle.
Before he could throw himself out of the vehicle, Harper grabbed his arm. He froze with one foot on the ground, halfway out of her car.
“I’m sorry,” she blurted. “I didn’t mean to offend you. It’s just . . . I didn’t want there to be any misunderstandings.”
“Did I give you any indication that there were strings with my offer?” Linc asked quietly.
“No. But that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. I’ve learned the hard way that most men have hidden agendas.”
“I don’t,” he said firmly. Then he stood from the minivan, nodded at her, and shut the passenger door. He walked back to his SUV and climbed behind the wheel.
Harper closed her eyes for a moment. She’d screwed up. Big time. And yet, Linc hadn’t rescinded his offer to have her and Kash stay with him. She still wasn’t sure why he’d offered in the first place . . . but a huge weight felt like it lifted from her shoulders.
Not having to pay rent, being able to save such a big chunk of each paycheck, would go a long way toward padding her bank account. She could be independent again, which seemed surreal after so many years of struggling.
She hated that she’d offended Linc, but she had to be sure of his intentions. As she’d told him, she’d definitely seen the worst in humanity over the years. Experienced it firsthand.
Looking in her rearview mirror, she saw him waiting patiently for her to pull out of the parking lot. He didn’t really need to follow her home. The weather was clear, there was no snow on the ground yet. She could certainly drive to her dad’s house without worrying about getting there safely.
But she couldn’t help feeling a twinge in her heart that he wanted to make sure she got there all right. Lincoln Young really was a good man. Better than so many people she’d met over the years.
She had a lot to atone for. She’d been terrible to him when they were kids, and there was nothing she regretted more.
Sighing, she started her engine, absently noting that she needed to get gas in the next couple of days, before pulling out of the parking space where she’d fully intended to spend the night.
As she headed toward her dad’s, Linc’s headlights stayed right behind her. And when she pulled into Victor’s driveway, he flashed his lights after pulling in behind her, then immediately backed out again, turning around to head to his own house.
Harper’s mind spun with all that had happened in the last thirty minutes or so.
How her life had once again turned on a dime.
She had no idea if she was making the right decision to move in with Linc or not.
She knew her dad would definitely have something to say about it.
He’d probably disapprove, but then again, he’d pretty much disapproved of everything she’d ever done, so why this would be any different, she didn’t know.
But for the first time in ages, she was looking forward to what was to come. The change would be good for both her and Kash. Her boy was struggling, and maybe, just maybe, living with a man who was full of praise and compliments, instead of judgmental looks and frowns, would help Kash flourish.