Page 81 of He Has Charm (Boston Brawlers Hockey)
“Bout time you answered your phone, Knight. I thought you were supposed to be quick.”
“Hello, Delaney.” I smile into my phone because I have a thing for ball-busters with a heart of gold and Delaney is like the godmother of that group with Harper as her up-and-coming protégé.
“I have a deal to offer you on the town house.” She pauses and my mind goes blank.
“What? What are you talking about?” She lets out an annoyed huff.
“Didn’t Harper say anything? No, of course not. She probably wanted to surprise you. Well, surprise. The Brawlers organization is unloading the place and Harper negotiated an option at a bargain price for you to purchase it. She had the crazy idea you might want it.” My heart thuds hard and I wrap my head around the crazy efficiency and knock-out generosity of the brilliant woman that is Harper St. John.Jesus. I don’t come close to deserving her.
“Well?” Delaney prods me.
“Fucking A. You bet I want it.” I don’t even ask how much it is because if Harper negotiated the deal I know it’s a good one and she’d know I can afford it.
“If you want to stay while we’re waiting for the closing, we’ll add a lease addendum and I’ll send you the paperwork.”
“I can’t believe you’re selling me the townhouse.”
“Believe it. Harper convinced me--or rather she strong armed me into agreeing to offer you the first option to buy once the Brawlers made the decision to sell. She talks a good game, that one. You could do worse. Gotta go.” The air goes dead and I look at my phone. Harper’s been everywhere behind the scenes and I miss the fuck out of her. Damn it.
* * *
By the time I try calling again, her phone is off but she’s texted me she’s on the plane and on her way back to Boston. Now the only thing on my mind is planning the kind of welcome for her that will make her want to stay.
I’m taking the chicken and vegetables from the pan and hear a knock on the back door. Who the hell can that be? I wipe my hands on a dish towel and then open the door.
Harper stands there, her luggage behind her and a big uncertain smile on her face. My heart blows up and I pull her and her bags inside.
“Since when do you knock?” My chest tightens as I realize I may not like the answer to that question and I back up a step to give her space.What if she came to her senses and came to say good-bye?
“Since I don’t live here anymore.” She tries to maintain her smile. “But I wanted to see you.”
“Do you know how fucking much I wanted to see you? How much I miss you when you’re not here?” Fuck it. I pull her in for a kiss because I can’t resist those lips and I watch her sparkling eyes flutter closed as I touch my lips to hers. The soft cushion of her mouth against mine soothes the longing and reassures the fear. But I have a lot to say to her, so I lift my head after a few seconds and step back.
“That was the kind of welcome I was hoping for, dreaming about, if I’m honest,” she says. “But I know I had some work to do to prove that I love you, so I wasn’t sure.”
“What are you talking about? You’ve been nothing but loving and giving every day since I met you, even when you didn’t like me or respect me or—”
“I’ve always liked and respected you, Maddox. I didn’t want to.” I laugh. “But I knew you needed more than words to understand how I feel. So I wanted to prove by my actions how much I care, how I feel.”
“You negotiated the option deal to buy the townhouse for me.” She nods. “And you convinced the Brawlers to keep me on until the end of the season.” I’m blown away by how much she’s thinking about me, taking care of me and that it has nothing to do with her job. There’s no money, nothing in it for her.
“I’m the one with something to prove to you, Harper, but I swear to god, if you choose me in spite of my damaged heart and my damaged genes, I will love and cherish you and make you the most important thing in my life every single day for the rest of my life.”
“You had me sold at hello and that kiss,” she says, her green eyes glistening, her passion glowing like she’s about to burst into flames.
“You know I love you and want you more than anything, including hockey.” She smiles and leans in, her face against my chest listening to my heart.
“I’m so sorry you lost hockey, my love. If I could fix your heart and get it back for you, I—”
“Don’t be sorry, sugar buns. I’m over hockey.” The flood of heat that runs through my body has nothing to do with sex and everything to do with the realization that I truly mean it. “Hockey is nothing compared to you. You mean everything to me.”
She lets her tears escape and kisses me, devours me with her mouth as she laugh-cries, murmuring how much she loves me. Holding her tight, I return her kisses, with deep hungry exploration and the hunger turns to hot need. She feeds my heart and soul and my body chimes in with a vengeance and I groan with need as my cock stiffens and all the blood travels away from my mind.
Harper separates from me, her plump kiss-swollen lips enticing me as she speaks.
“I have news, a surprise for you.” Excitement lights her face and I pull her hips against mine to make sure she knows where I’m at.
“I already heard from Delaney about the townhouse, sugar buns. Sorry to spoil your—”
