The Deputy's Unexpected Family by Patricia Johns

Author:Patricia Johns
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2018-05-03T16:04:26+00:00

Chapter Ten

“What was that!” Heidi said as the door shut behind Gabe.

Harper rubbed her hands over her hot cheeks and shut her eyes in a grimace. “I don’t know.”

“You do know!” Heidi retorted. “Kissing your police protection?”

“He just came to drop off a few things, and—” Harper shrugged helplessly. “He kissed me first for the record.”

Heidi grinned. “This is good for you. You’re too cautious all the time. Take a risk. Have some fun. My fun days are over, so you’ll have to do it for me.”

Harper shot her sister a sharp look. “No, this isn’t good for me. He’s Zoey’s father, you’ll recall. Zoey needs two functional parents in her life, and the one thing we have going for us is that we aren’t exes. Besides, he doesn’t want the life I do. I’ve known that from the start.”

“He’s Zoey’s dad—what could be more perfect?” Heidi countered.

“He’s not her father because he wanted her,” Harper replied with a shake her head. “He’s the same guy he was when he was with Andrea. He even told me that finding out about Zoey wouldn’t have sealed the deal for him and Andrea.”

“You told him—”

“I did.” Harper sighed. “I don’t want to argue about that, either. It was the right thing to do.”

Heidi put up her hands in silent retreat.

“He doesn’t want this, Heidi,” Harper went on. “And I do! I want a husband, kids, the white picket fence. Just like you—”

Heidi looked away, chewing the side of her cheek.

“What?” Harper prodded.

“Did he find Grandma’s veil?”

“Yes.” Harper picked it up from the counter. “Safe and sound. I’m bringing it home tonight so we can keep it somewhere safer than here in the store.”

Heidi nodded, then she looked down at the diamond solitaire on her hand. Harper knew that look...she’d seen it so many times with her sister.

“Heidi, what’s going on?” Harper asked, softening her tone.

“I think I made a mistake, Harper.” Tears misted her sister’s eyes. “A big one.”

“You mean lying to Chris?” Harper asked uncertainly. Please, let it be something so simple!

“I mean in getting engaged.” Heidi heaved a sigh. “I talked to him. I told him I was sorry and that I’d gotten together with Trent, and Chris was just furious.”

“Do you really blame him?” Harper asked. “A secret coffee with an ex-boyfriend. What if Chris did the same thing with some girl he used to date?”

Heidi spun the ring around her finger, and then closed her hand into a fist. “I know. I was wrong. I’m not arguing that. It’s just—now it begins. We tell each other everything. Any plans, we ask each other first. Any invitations are going to be assumed to be for both of us...”

“This is what you wanted!” Harper exclaimed.

“I thought so.” Heidi shrugged.

“I started the alterations on the dress,” Harper said hollowly.

“Maybe you should stop,” Heidi whispered.

“I took eight inches off the length!” Harper’s heart hammered in her throat. “Heidi, I was supporting you, and you told me the wedding was going forward! I cut the dress, Heidi!”

Harper’s voice was rising in a panic.

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