"Jonathan and I have to go Baton Rogue today."
"Something wrong?"
"Mais, non. One of our foundations has its annual meeting today. Board meetings during the day; then a charity dinner/dance tonight. Personally, I look forward to the evening."
I laugh, enjoying the honesty of the admission. "I can understand. I don’t like meetings much myself."
"C’est la vie. If they somehow protect one more woman or child, then I don’t mind. But, I am glad Jonathan is there with me. He makes my life fun."
"I think your family specializes in that, Cécile."
"Harper is fun, is she not?" She begins to fry some sausage on the stove, its spicy aroma immediately filling the kitchen. Is this what mothers do in the morning? I certainly wouldn’t know.
Is Harper fun?
"Yes, she is," I admit. When she’s not being irritating, maddening or exasperating.
She can read minds, I swear. "Except for when you want to strangle her. I know the feeling. I am her mother." She turns the sausage, and pours the eggs into another frying pan. "But, she has a good heart. I have never seen her hurt anyone intentionally. Not in what is important."
"I see." This is my standard noncommittal answer.
"And you are important. To her."
Cécile keeps her back to me, allowing me the privacy I need to absorb her words. I take each one to carefully weigh and measure, knowing their importance instinctually.
"She’s never brought anyone home before," she continues after a long moment.
This surprises me and I admit so.
"Why? Do you think my Harper would bring home the usual women she goes out with?"
I try to imagine the woman from the motorcycle here in this home. It does not compute. "You know about them?" I ask weakly.
She begins serving up breakfast, putting a full plate in front of me. "Please." She sighs, retrieves her plate, and sits across from me. After a brief prayer, she resumes. "A mother knows her child. I have prayed long and hard for her to be as happy as her father and I are."
"I am sure she will be one day. With a family like this, she knows love."
"Merci. And, I believe you are right."
Now what did she mean by that?
Papa slows as we approach the house. His sweatshirt is stained with sweat, as I know mine must be as well. Nothing like a three mile run to get the blood flowing. "You’re getting slow in your old age," he teases.
"Yeah, right. Who was pacing who the last mile?" I give him a gentle backhand to the stomach. It’s as hard as a rock.
"I just didn’t want you to feel bad, runt." He flashes a huge smile, the one I know I inherited, and waggles his eyebrows at me. "What’s on your mind? Or should I say who?"
"That obvious?"
"Been through this four times before, Harper. I know the signs."
I shake my head. "I’m not there yet, Papa. I know Mama has plans for Kels. Dammit, she practically chained her in the kitchen yesterday. It wasn’t fair."
Papa laughs and grabs my forearm, slowing us down to a walk. "Mama doesn’t play fair, Harper. Ask Gerrard. She wants to see her baby happy. And Kelsey seems to do that."
Does she?
"What do you think of her?" I ask. My father is one of the best judges of character I’ve ever known.
"Mama or Kelsey?"
I glare at him.
"I think Kelsey is scared. But, I like her a great deal. She’s good people and darn pretty. You two would make beautiful grandchildren for your Mama. Or, at least, have fun trying," he adds with a wink.
"Papa!" I groan.
"Come on, lazy bones, let’s see if our women are up." He claps me on my shoulder and runs toward the house.
Our women. Maybe bringing her home wasn’t such a smart idea.
Okay. I came, I saw, I enjoyed. Now, it’s almost time to go back to LA, where we will go back to work and all this will be left behind.
But, I kissed her. Again. Oh hell. Why does she keep kissing me? Why do I keep enjoying it so much?
I slide my sneakers on as I consider it. No big deal. It was just a kiss, one kiss on the porch. Not likely to happen again.
Damn it.
"Okay, Kels, get a grip and stop it." As I tie up my laces, I hear her clear her throat. I look up to find her in the doorway between our rooms. She’s still in her running clothes. Which, to my dismay, consists of a sweatshirt and shorts that show off those wonderful, long, tanned, muscular legs.
I need a hobby.
"Good morning, Little Roo." She seems almost shy this morning.
I can’t help but smile at her. "Good morning. Good run?"
"Yeah, Papa always manages to put me through my paces."
"Seems to be the norm for your family." I straighten my pants and stand up.
"Did Mama say anyth-"
I wave off the question. "Don’t be silly, Harper. I love your family. They’re great." Oh shit. Tell me I didn’t just say that.
She gives me a little smile and nods. "What’s not to love?"
I sigh, then nod my agreement as well. "You’re very lucky."
"Yeah, so I’m finding out."
Quick, change the subject or she might kiss you again. "So, what’s on the agenda for today?"
She sniffs her sweatshirt and grins at me. "A shower first and foremost."
"Good choice." Oh yeah, that mental image was a great change of pace. Thanks a lot, Tabloid.
"No one would want to get close to me while I smell like this."
Want to bet? Stop it!
She pulls off the sweatshirt, revealing the black tank top underneath. I think I may have swallowed my tongue.
"Meet me downstairs in a few minutes?" she asks.
I scratch my throat trying desperately not to stare at the absolutely gorgeous body in front of me. "Sure," I manage to choke out. Oh, that was articulate, Kelsey Stanton. For some reason I find myself crossing the room to stand close to her. Mother would be so proud if she could see me now. Standing here almost drooling. She’d have a coronary. Okay, so there’s another positive to having Harper in my life. It’d kill my Mother.
"Maybe we can go out and I can show you some of the sights," she offers as she untucks the tank top from her shorts.
Oh, damn, she’s only talking about the city. Stop it, Kels! Think about going home. Going back to LA. Going back to work. Things getting back to normal. I can see Susan, and Harper can see everyone else. Eh, I don’t want to think about that.
"Meet you downstairs," I reply. "Go get cleaned up." I give her arm a little squeeze. Great muscle tone in those arms.
I’m in so deep.
Once again I find myself near tears as Robie tells me another story. Now I have dirt and he was willing to give it up for free. I like Robie.
"I swear to you, Kelsey, it’s the God’s honest truth. Took us two hours to get her loose. Mama thought we were gonna have to call the fire department."
"Oh, I’d love to have seen that!" I laugh and take another sip of tea.
"We have pictures," Rene offers as she settles Clark at her breast for his morning meal.
Nothing seems to phase these people.
"Oh, do you now? And what would copies cost me?"
"Copies of what?" Harper asks, entering the kitchen. She gives Rene a kiss on the temple and strokes Clark’s cheek. She is about to give her brother a hug when he tells her.
"Pictures of you stuck in the dog door. You know, the time Mama and Papa caught you trying to sneak back into the house."
"Oh my God! Don’t you dare! I can’t believe you told her that!"
Is that a blush I see? Who would have thought it? The mighty Harper Kingsley actually embarrassed about something.