“Well at least there’s that,” I mumble, enjoying the sound of his laughter when he does it again, and then his eyes come to me briefly as we pull onto the road that will take us to my parents’ house.

“You worried about dinner?”

“A little.” I pull in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I want tonight to go well. I want my dad to see me with you, and see how happy you make me, and maybe, just maybe, be happy for me that I found this,” I confess, and his fingers tighten around mine. “Are you nervous?”

He glances over at me and frowns. “No.”

I’m not even a little surprised by the firmness of his answer. I can’t imagine he’d be nervous about anything. He’d probably be just as blasé if he was the one who had to decide whether or not to press the button that would set off a nuclear bomb that could possibly start World War III.

“Should I be nervous?”

“I don’t know.”

“You gonna end things with me if things don’t go well?” he asks as we pull up and park in front of their house.

I laugh. “No.”

“It’ll be okay. It’s dinner, and your mom will be there. Even if your dad’s unhappy, he won’t let that show in front of her.”

“How do you know that?” I whisper, stunned. I know that, because I have spent my life around my parents. Dad always shields Mom from anything that could make her uncomfortable or upset her. But Harlen hasn’t been around my parents enough to know Dad will do that for her.

“I know, ‘cause I’ll do whatever I need to make sure tonight is good for you.”

“You and my dad are a lot alike,” I tell him as he shuts off the engine and looks at me doubtfully. “It’s true.” I slip off my seat belt then lean over the middle console between us, resting the hand that’s not holding his, against his chest. “You’re both protective of the people you care about. Gentle, even though looking at you, you’d never know you could be gentle. You’re both sweet, and kind.” I hold his eyes then whisper, “You’re the best men I know.”

“You love me.” It’s not a question; it’s a statement. And looking into his eyes, I realize I do. Holy shit, when did that happen? Holy shit, how did that happen?

“I…” I try to sit back, but before I can get away, he drags me out of my seat and settles me on his lap between him and the steering wheel.

Framing my face with his big hands, he pulls me close—so close, all I see is him. “I love you.”

“What?” I breathe, staring into his beautiful eyes, his breath mingling with mine between us.

“I love you,” he repeats, and I shake my head, trying to wrap my head around the fact that he’s telling me he loves me, when I just realized I’m in love with him.

“How?” I close my eyes, dropping my forehead to his chin, feeling like an idiot for asking that question.

“Do you want a list of reasons?” he asks, sifting his fingers through the hair at the side of my head, and I know from his tone he’s smiling.

“No.”

“That’s good, since it’s a long fucking list.” I open my eyes and tip my head back to look at him, finding he’s still smiling, and also finding his eyes soft and a look, that can only be described as love, shining brightly back at me. Sliding his hand down my cheek then neck, his fingers circle my throat then slide back into my hair, and he pulls me in, pressing his forehead to mine, where he whispers, “You love me.”

“Yes.” That one word comes out in a rush, and I feel my nose and eyes start to sting. I grip his shirt at his sides as my chin wobbles. “I’m going to cry.”

“No, you’re gonna kiss me.”

“No,” I deny, shaking my head. “I think I’m seriously going to cry.”

Using his hand in my hair, he tips my head to the side and brings my mouth closer to his, and then his tongue slides across my bottom lip. Feeling that, my lips part automatically and I taste him and kiss him back, completely forgetting about crying.

Ripping his mouth from mine, he mutters, “Fuck,” and I realize there is a light blinking on and off through my closed lids.

“What th—” I open my eyes and turn my head, feeling my eyes widen when I see my dad standing on the front porch with a flashlight directed our way—something he used to do when I was in high school and had a date drop me off and we were making out. “Seriously?”

“Fuck me,” Harlen grumbles, and I fight back the laughter I feel bubbling up inside my chest and look at him.

“We should go in,” I whisper, knowing just by looking at him that he does not want to go in to have dinner, but is doing this for me.

“Yeah,” he sighs. “Come on.” He opens his door then helps me get out, which is a little awkward, seeing how my back is to the door. Once my feet are on the ground, he gets out, slams the door, and then grabs the crab dip I made from the back seat.

I smile up at him, and he grins before his eyes go to the front porch and his smile disappears.

Seeing his smile fade away, I look at my dad, who’s watching us, looking—you guessed it—still pissed, and I do something I never ever in a million years would have done before. I grab Harlen’s hand firmly in mine and walk toward my dad, saying loudly, “I just realized I’m in love, so if you’re going to be a jerk, don’t be. I like my bubble right now, and I don’t want you to pop it.”

“Christ.” Harlen chuckles, and I look up at him, finding his eyes on his boots and a grin on his lips. Better.

“Boom,” I hear a familiar voice rumble, and my eyes widen and shoot back to the porch.

“Shut it, Dad,” my dad growls, and I keep scanning the dark until I find him, my grandpa sitting in one of the rocking chairs with a beer in his hand. The second our eyes lock, he smiles at me.

“Hey, sweetheart.”

“Grandpa,” I whisper, and he stands, taking three steps across the porch and stopping at the top of the stairs. “What?” I look at my dad and back again. “What are you doing here?”

“Me and your grandma are here for a visit. Your grandma was gonna call to tell you we were in town, but your ma said you’d be here tonight for dinner, so we thought we’d surprise you,” he says, and I rush up the stairs and wrap my arms around his waist. His arms close around me while his lips touch the top of my hair. “You doin’ okay?”

“Yes!” I squeeze his waist then tip my head back to look up at him. “Even better now.” I grin then whisper, “I’d like you to meet someone.”

“All right.” He touches his lips to my forehead again, then wraps his arm around my shoulders, tucking me into his side as I slide mine around the back of his waist.

Turning him to face Harlen, I smile huge and throw my hand out. “Grandpa, this is Harlen. Harlen, my grandpa.” I wave my hand between them.

“Nice to meet you, sir.” Harlen sticks out his hand, and Grandpa takes it, smiling at him.

“You too.” Grandpa looks from Harlen to my dad, and something I don’t get passes between them before he releases Harlen, looks down at me, and smiles.

Okay, super weird, but whatever.

“Is grandma inside?” I ask on a squeeze of his waist, and he shakes his head.

“Nope, your mom and her had to run to town to pick something up.”

“Oh.” I frown, and he grins.

“They’ll be back soon.”

“How long are you in town for?”

“About a week.”

“Are you here to look for a place to live?” I ask hopefully, and he shakes his head.

“No, sweetheart.”

“Darn,” I whisper. “I’ll keep wishing.”

“Or you could bring your man and come for a visit,” he suggests, hugging me into his side.

“Yeah,” I agree, looking at Harlen and wondering if he’s ever been to Florida before. Then I wonder what he would look like in swim trunks. Probably hot.

“Can your old man get a hug?” Dad asks, sounding impatient.