When I arrived to pick up the groceries, they weren’t ready. “You can pick them up after five,” the woman at customer service explained. “Sorry, but that’s the best we can do since you wrote six as the pick-up time.”

I nodded. “My fault. You’re right.”

So, I left the store and began to walk around the shopping center. There had to be something for me to do. At first I considered a bookstore, but then I passed a nail studio and glanced at my hands. Though I hated plastic surgery, I was a big fan of spas. Unfortunately, I’d been working late for so long, I hadn’t even done the bare minimum to take care of myself. I pulled open the door and decided to spend a couple of blissful hours away from everyone so I could think. By the time I arrived at the new place, I had made a few decisions. Now I simply needed to follow through with them.

Harry frowned as he helped me carry everything in. “I was beginning to think you’d changed your mind,” he commented.

I paused and studied his eyes. There was an undeniable fear in them. “Oh, Harry.” I sighed. “It’s not you. It’s me.”

“Shit. This is worse than I thought.” He tried to make it sound like a joke, but it fell flat.

I cupped his face and pressed my body against his. “I did change my mind, but not about this and not about you.” I bit my cheek and turned away. There wasn’t really a Harry yet, but I really wanted there to be.

He brightened considerably. “In that case, I have a surprise for you.” Harry helped me put away the groceries in record time. Then he brought me to the master bedroom. “Let’s drop off your stuff.”

My brows rose. At first, I thought it was rather presumptuous, the way he assumed I’d stay with him. Then I realized the closet was empty. “Hey, where’s your stuff?”

His brow furrowed. “I’m in the room across the hall and Drew will be in the room next door to me.”

“Oh.” Hiding my smile was a huge struggle. This was probably the best guy I’d ever known and I’d been around him for all of three days. “Is this my surprise?”

Harry grinned. “No. Your surprise is on the patio.”

“At the risk of sounding ungrateful, I’m exhausted, so I hope the surprise is quick. I still need to make us dinner.” I winked and let him direct me through the French doors.

“No one should ever have to get groceries and cook the same night.” Harry wrapped his arms around my waist. “What do you think?” He walked me over to a patio table covered in a white tablecloth. There were candles in the center, and white lights everywhere.

Completely awed, I gasped. “This is positively magical. How did you manage it?” I pulled his arms tighter. If he didn’t hold me together, I feared I’d fall apart. His generosity seemed like so much more than I deserved, or at least more than I was used to.

“Come on.” He leaned low and kissed my neck before whispering in my ear. “You know, before the salad is warm and the meal is cold.” He chuckled.

“I love…this. I really do.” My heart fluttered in my chest. How was I ever going to walk away from this unscathed? This man had already left his mark on me, like some invisible brand.

Harry directed me to my seat, pulled it out, and draped a linen napkin across my lap after I sat. A moment later, a waiter arrived and began to pour wine into our glasses. We didn’t even have time to toast before the man returned with warm sourdough bread and whipped butter.

“I’m not going to be able to roll out of bed tomorrow,” I mourned as I prepared my second slab of bread.

“Note to self, Laney will need breakfast in bed.” Then he grinned at me and though he appeared to be joking, I could actually see him doing this. For some reason, I had already started to imagine the kind of life we could have together. Much like the meal, it was frighteningly delicious.

By the time we gave up on dinner, I’d only managed to pick at my food. Though I was starving, my nerves were out of control. I couldn’t get my stomach settled long enough to eat. Instead, I stared longingly at the pool and hot tub, hoping for a chance to relax.

“What if we get changed and meet back here for a swim? I ordered dessert, but we can probably serve ourselves.” He grinned as he wandered around to my side of the table and helped pull out my seat.

Only, I didn’t stand. I held onto my seat and frowned as I studied him. “What are we doing here? I just need to understand, need to know where I stand. You have me all…ugh.” I shook my head.

Sitting on the retaining wall, Harry stared at me with a mirthful look on his face. “I wouldn’t want you all ‘ugh.’ So, if you must know, I simply enjoy being with you. No games. Nothing but truth. It’s refreshing.”

My brow arched. “Then you’re going to love this.” I angled my chair to face him. “I don’t get it. I’m in my own room, but you have this out on the patio.” I gestured to encompass the table.

He nodded and tugged at his chin. “Yeah, I can see how the respect and adulation could throw a girl off. I thought this would be a nice gesture.” Harry sighed. “I listened to Ty and Kate. I heard how they never dated. I thought about how we’re being thrown into this situation that feels a lot like marrying a stranger, since we’re sharing a house and joint custody of Drew.” He smirked.

I bit my lower lip a moment. “Was this a date?”

He shrugged nervously. “I kinda hoped you’d think so. I know we weren’t out, but we haven’t had much luck with meals in public. I thought we might here.”

The way he looked at me, with those amazing eyes framed by strawberry blonde lashes, had my heart pounding. “I’m really analytical,” I murmured as I stood. “I’m an over-thinker. I’m a planner. I’m…sorry.” I laid my arms on his shoulders. To my delight, his hands circled my waist and for once, we met each other halfway. This time, when our lips touched, the kiss seemed sweeter, and not just because of the wine. Instead of electrical currents, when we touched, it felt like the warmest, welcoming-est hug. There was a level of comfort between us I’d never before experienced and while nothing about the description sounded particularly romantic to some people, in an instant, Harry had become my home, which actually felt incredibly special since I’d never had that kind of stability in my life.

Even after the kiss ended, we remained close, our foreheads pressed together. Finally, he broke contact. “Come on.” He stood and took my hand in his as we walked toward the bedrooms to change. Everything seemed more relaxed between us now after our conversation. We could still salvage this evening. We were definitely headed that direction. We might’ve made it, too, if the doorbell hadn’t rung.

“Another surprise?” I grinned as I waggled my brows.

Harry eyed me curiously. “I was about to ask you the same thing. I’m out of surprises for tonight.” He released me. “Stay back.” He peeked out the peephole. “Maybe you should go to the bedroom. Stranger danger.”

I watched as he stiffened, but I refused to leave him alone to deal with whoever was darkening our door close to eight at night. “I’ll be right here, ready to call 911.” I held up my phone, which I always kept close to me out of habit.

Harry pulled the door open just enough to peer out. “Can I help you?”

From where I stood, I could only hear him, not see him. So, I moved slightly. “Drew. Drew asked me to stop by.” The man’s hair was slicked back and his words were made far less intelligible by the toothpick he insisted on chewing.

“He’s not here.” Harry stiffened.

“Come on, man. Don’t leave me out here on display.” He shifted around nervously.

“I have no idea who you are. Why would I let you in?” Harry frowned.

The man leaned on the door, his eyes narrowed. I heard an all too familiar noise when he moved, the rattle of pills in a bottle. “Don’t let him in,” I hissed. “He’s Drew’s dealer.”

The man’s eyes widened, then fixated on me. “Watch yourself,” he warned as he glared my direction.

“You have exactly three seconds to get the hell out of here, then we’ll call the police. Never come here again, or I’ll have you arrested. Understand?” Harry crossed his arms over his body and puffed out his chest.

The man laughed. “Don’t threaten me. I know where you live,” he sneered. “Everywhere you live. By the way, you were a lot nicer in LA, when you were asleep.” Then he laughed and meandered back to his BMW.

Harry raked a hand through his hair. “I’ll meet you in the hot tub. I’m going to need a minute. Apparently, I have to clear up a few things.”

I could tell he was furious by the way he was practically shaking. “Take all the time you need,” I murmured as I stared at him. Some would run from this. Sadly, handling drug dealers wasn’t something I was altogether unfamiliar with. My heart ached for Harry, but he wasn’t in it alone, like I had been. “I’m not going anywhere.”