Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 103008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
I kinda do, but I keep telling myself she couldn’t have known her iPhone fix-it guy was a psychopath.
“You want to turn this room into a studio or something?” I ask.
“No. I want to turn this into your father’s room.”
I blink at him. Then blink again.
“Hear me out. I want to do this for you. I want to hire two full-time nurses to trade off shifts with him. You’ll get to see him daily unless we’re on tour. But maybe we could arrange for you to fly back every other week or something. I don’t know all the details yet, but I was thinking”—he goes to the middle of the room—“we could put the bed here. All the medical equipment should fit, and if he was propped up a little, he’d have a great view of the pool—”
“Harley, I can’t … I can’t accept this. I want to. Fuck, I really want to, but … you do know what kind of undertaking this is, don’t you?”
Harley takes calculated steps toward me. “I knew this is how you’d react which is the only reason I didn’t go ahead and already organize it behind your back. But, you said it yourself, we’re a team now. You and I are in this, and I want to do this for you and your dad. Because I love you more than anything, and I want to give you everything you give me.”
“What’s that?”
“The kind of love I deserve. With all my shit, my baggage, and a career that tries to hold me back, you break through the fog of it all and give me hope. And you always give me a sense of normal. You make me feel loved. Please let me in. Please let me do this for you.”
Tears prick my eyes. I’m not a crier. I didn’t cry when my mom died. I never cried after Dad’s stroke. But watching him wither away in that box I put him in … yeah, that I cry over.
“Okay.”
Harley’s face lights up. “Okay?”
I manage a small nod. “Just like your new security team, the nurses need to be vetted. You do know what you’re doing here, don’t you? You’re inviting strangers into our home. They’ll know we’re together …”
Harley jumps up and down. “That’s what NDAs are for. I hate NDAs, but for this, it’s worth it.”
“And what happens if the paparazzi or tabloids catch wind of you housing an old man who’s the dad of one of your employees? That won’t arouse suspicion?”
“You’re my full-time bodyguard. You live with me. They’ll think I’m an awesome and caring boss.”
I don’t buy that.
“Or they’ll totally figure out we’re together, but I’m so far past giving a shit what will happen if that can of worms is ever opened.”
“You really don’t care?”
“I’m not going to be shouting our relationship status from the rooftops or anything. I understand why this still needs to be kept under wraps, but I no longer fear the day my sales drop because of who I am. If it happens, it happens. I have the most important thing right here.” He pulls me close. “I’ve learned from past mistakes, and I won’t make them again.”
I lean in to kiss him, but he pulls back and starts his excited jumping again.
“Ooh, I also didn’t tell you the best part.”
I love seeing this side of Harley. I love that he’s excited about doing something for me and that the gesture is more than I ever could’ve asked for. I’ve been doing this on my own for far too long, and having someone there for me … it’s hard to get used to, but I want to.
It’s impossible to love this man more than I do right in this moment.
“What’s the best part?”
“Do you know they have these computer programs for Morse code? If your dad can squeeze your hand, I’m guessing he can tap with his finger. They have this pad thing, and it’s connected to a computer, and it can type out what he’s saying. I know communication is hard, especially between your dad and his nurses, and—”
I can’t take anymore. My heart feels full, but if he doesn’t stop talking, I’m going to cry all over the place.
I close the gap between us and crush my mouth to his.
He grunts in surprise but then melts into the kiss and lets me take control. I try to own him with my lips the way his heart owns my soul.
“I love you so fucking much.”
He pulls back and looks up at me with a smug expression. “I knew you’d love the idea eventually. I was prepared to convince you with a blowjob.”
“Can I take it back? You can’t do the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. I won’t let you!”
“No backsies,” Harley sings. “I’m going to go and get the process started.” He kisses my cheek and rushes off.