Page 46 of Stopping Short

“Not yet. I think we need to date for at least… thirty-six hours before I propose.”

“Pretty sure you need my permission too,” Maddox’s voice cuts through the other side of the phone. I glance back at the device to find him resting his chin on Cali’s shoulder.

“Are you opposed to the idea?”

“Not as much as I should be.”

“Excuse me?” I rear back and my jaw falls slack as I stare at him.

“You’re not proposing this week or even this month, Jackson. I want to make sure you’re good for my daughter.”

I open my mouth to respond, but he gives me the look. One I know all too well and it means Maddox isn’t finished.

“I believe you are good for Harper. Honestly, I’ve known you most of your life… but I need to see the two of you together for longer than a month before I'm sure. Plus, there’s a lot going on right now. Let’s get her moved back to Philadelphia before we start planning a wedding.”

“On that note, I'm going to bed. I'm exhausted,” Harper cuts in before anyone else can say anything.

“Ok! I expect you to come over for dinner soon!” Cali says.

“Alright. After I get back from Pittsburgh, we can hammer out a day. Love you both.”

“Love you, guys. Night!” They say at the same time.

We end the call and I sink a little lower on the couch. I'm beat. More than ready for bed. My eyes slide closed as I hold her a little closer.

Yet I don’t want to let her go.

“Where are you sleeping tonight?” I murmur.

“Did you cut that branch yet?” She lays her head on my shoulder and her warm breath fans across my neck with each exhale.

“No, I forgot about it. I'm sorry.”

“Then I guess I’ll just have to sleep in your bed.” She lets out a dramatic sigh.

I peek one eye open and find a cheeky grin on her face. She’s so adorable.

“I'm not sure I want to cut it. It could hurt the tree.”

“Man, I wouldn’t want that to happen. That would make me so sad. You should probably let the tree grow however it’d like. We’ll just have to make a sacrifice and I’ll have to sleep next to you every night.” She runs her hand up my chest, up my neck, until her palm is cupping my face.

“I like the sound of that.” I smirk as I lean down to kiss her.

Chapter 27

Harper

“Dang, this is nicer than any place I lived in college.” Dad glances around as we pull into my driveway and shakes his head.

“Hey, idiot, you lived in my condo in college.” Mason glares at him. “Practically rent free I should add.”

“And it was very nice.” Dad glances at me and dramatically winces. “But Zander also lived there, so it was a little less nice.”

“Not my issues you were friends with a crazy person.”

“What are we doing tonight?” I sigh and stare at my house. It was a long drive. Five hours somehow always feels like an eternity. I hate being in a car… except when I'm in a car with Jackson.

“Searching this place,” Mason murmurs more to himself than to us. He’s already glancing around the outside of the house like he’s looking for something.