Two hours ago, he had walked into the cutest sight he had ever seen. He'd found Harper curled up asleep in his bed surrounded by babies and puppies. Instead of waking them he'd slipped from the room and left them there. Gideon had almost given in to the desire lay down behind her—hold her again.

She'd lived there a couple of weeks, and he looked forward to coming home each night. Harper even made a habit of spending some afternoons in the greenhouse with him. Their friends were strangely absent since he'd brought her home. If they were anything, they had reached Matchmaker: Professional status over the years. He'd heard all the stories the Crews loved to share.

“Why didn't you wake me when you got home?”

He glanced up from his laptop and smiled at Harper. Her hair was tangled around her face and shoulders, her beautiful eyes bright and sleepy. Harper lifted her arms, and she pushed her slender fingers through the dark blonde strands, attempting to work out the knots.

“You needed rest, you've been home with the kids all afternoon.”

“Gideon, I’m not used to sitting around and doing nothing, it’s all you’ve let me do since I got here.”

“Too much,” he asked with a smile.

“Yes, and you don’t appear very repentant.”

“I’m not.”

His smile widened as she threw her hands up in the air and pivoted on her bare toes, then exited his office. He pushed up from his chair and went in pursuit of his sulking Harper. No one would think it, but she had a temper he found extremely sexy. When they’d had their first argument, he prepared himself to back off at the first sign of apprehension. It hadn’t come, her cheeks had turned pink, and her eyes flashed with indignation.

He’d made a habit of riling her up since. The quicker she realized he wouldn’t ever lash out at her in anger, the sooner she’d realize she could trust him. Besides she was cute as fuck when she was in a snit.

Pots and pans clanged, cabinets slammed, and he leaned his shoulder against the door frame. Her long dress whipped around her legs.

“You're cute when you're mad.”

She huffed but ignored him.

He pushed away from the jamb and strode across the room, and he placed his hands on her slender hips. Gently he turned her to face him. He wrapped his hands around her sides and lifted her, settling her on the counter.

Her eyes were wide, and her lips parted as she stared at him. Pink highlighted her high cheekbones. Her breathing increased, but he didn't sense fear.

“May I kiss you,” he asked.

He resisted the allure of her pale pink lips for weeks. The farthest he’d gone were touches, fleeting moments to get her used to him. He kept it innocent and non-threatening.

“Why...wh…”

“The first night you were here, when I dropped you off, I wanted to kiss you.” He rested his hands flat on the counter beside her thighs. “You were skittish around me, I didn’t—”

“I’ve never—”

Harper paused and looked down at her lap, he wanted to see her eyes when she talked. He needed to be able to read the emotions in her gaze, lifting his left hand he nudged her pointed chin until she looked at him.

“Talk to me, baby, this isn’t going to work if I don’t know how you feel or what you want.”

“No one has ever wanted to kiss me before.”

He couldn’t believe no one had ever wanted to taste her before. The first time he’d seen her at the bookstore and her lush mouth curved into a small smile, he’d barely thought of anything else. He wouldn’t lie to himself, he wanted her in his bed, but first, he needed to earn her trust.

Gideon cupped her face in his palms, his thumbs teased the corners of her mouth. Her lips trembled under the tender stroke of his thumbs. Her breaths quick, sharp puffs of air.

“Do you want me to stop? You’ll always have a choice with me, Harper, a single no is all it’ll take.”

“You won’t be mad at me,” she asked as her eyes closed.

“No, don’t close your eyes.” He waited patiently until she looked at him. “You’ll never have to worry about me being mad about something as stupid as you telling me no. So, may I kiss you?”

He watched her gaze fall to his mouth, then return to his eyes, repeating the motions. He watched the silent battle playing out. Thankfully he still didn’t see fear only hesitancy. He tried to pretend it didn’t hurt, but her past colored her every decision—every move she made. That wasn’t what he wanted.

“Y…yes.”

It was all he needed to hear, but he still didn’t rush. He had waited too long, and it was her first kiss. He slightly bent forward so as not to nudge her thighs apart. No matter how much he wanted to feel her pressed completely against him, he would only do so if she asked. He didn’t take his eyes away from hers as he tugged at her bottom lip with the pads of his thumbs and gently brushed a kiss to the corners of her mouth, brushing the plump curve on each side to side movement.

Her cool fingers circled his wrists, her short nails pricked his skin, and he deepened the kiss. She tilted her head and leaned into the gentle caresses. He nearly groaned as she let out the most beautiful little whimper. She tasted of peaches and mint. The smoky scent of his favorite incense infused her skin, hair, and clothes. Her skin was silky under the pads of his fingers and palms.

Harper was perfection, and he wanted more. He only retreated enough to speak.

“Let me closer, please?” He’d beg her if it was what she needed.

She didn’t make him wait long, Harper parted her thighs, and he slipped between them. He dropped his arms to wrap them around her and tugged her flush to him. Her small breasts with their hardened tips flattened to his upper abs. She was warm and soft, he couldn’t get over how delicate she felt in his arms.

He didn’t tug her hips to the edge of the counter. He kept their lower bodies separated. Her lips quivered as they tentatively touched his. He let Harper have control. Whatever happened between them would always be at her pace.

The tip of her tongue traced his lips. She shook, retreated and advanced, as she chastely kissed him, but he had never felt anything as right.

She jerked back, and he cringed as he heard the back of her head hit the cabinets. He lifted his hands to massage the spot as heat bloomed in her cheeks turning her pale skin bright red.

“Are you okay,” he asked.

“Yes, I’m so—”

“Nothing to be embarrassed about. Do you need ice?”

“No, I’ve had worse.”

“I don’t like hearing that.”

“I can’t change my past.”

“I don’t want you to. Why don’t I go check on the kids and give you a minute?”

“Okay.”

He gave her a quick kiss before he forced himself away from her. Harper quickly pushed her dress down over her slender legs until it once again covered her to her ankles, then she nervously smoothed the wild waves of her hair.

He took a deep breath as he turned and strode to the stairs, ascended to find Gunner and Rage gently petting the puppies. Sawyer was laid between them.

“Y’all want to help with dinner?”

They nodded in unison but never looked away from the still unnamed puppies. He quickly slipped on the black and white tie-dyed sling and carefully picked up Sawyer to settle the still sleeping baby inside. He showed the twins how to place the dogs in a basket.

Strange and dangerous thoughts started to form in his head. What would a life with Harper be like? Did she think about a family one day?

He shook his head and attempted to rid himself of visions of more than what he had now with Harper. Gideon sat on the edge of the bed, and the twins giggled as they got him in a choke hold. He chuckled as he stood with them dangling and went to rejoin Harper in the kitchen.

Gunner and Rage probably needed a snack, it was time for the puppies next bottle, and Sawyer would probably be awake soon. He was going to enjoy his time with his nephews and Harper. He knew he couldn’t keep her there forever, and when the threat of Bill was out of the way, she would want to go home. Until then, he’d savor every minute and each smile she gifted him.