Recapturing Her Heart by Jennifer Slattery

Author:Jennifer Slattery
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-12-06T15:36:46+00:00

Chapter Nine

The next day, with extra time before she needed to leave for the library, Harper sat at the kitchen table with her laptop open before her. The whiff of hazelnut rising from her heavily doctored coffee merged with the lingering aroma of barbecued chicken and melted Swiss from lunch. She smiled at her mom’s off-key voice as she rocked and sang to Emaline in the living room.

Moving back home, and all that had precipitated it, had cut deeply, and living under her mom’s roof once again certainly wasn’t easy. But it did come with priceless benefits, like the fact that her daughter was getting so much time with her grandmother.

If only Sage Creek had more of a dance community, then maybe Harper could stay. But she couldn’t let go of her dream.

What if she found a choreographer’s job in Houston? Then she could see CJ on the weekends.

She frowned. Obviously, she was falling for the man; the one thing she’d determined not to do. Their lives were heading in completely different directions.

Right?

Could he, would he, follow her, whether to Seattle, Houston or whatever city offered her the career she’d spent her life working toward?

Highly unlikely. He may have found his passion, but he remained precisely where she’d left him—tied to this place and his parents’ store.

Was that the root of her frustration? The reason she’d not been able to commit to him, to promise the rest of her life to him, years ago? Because she’d known, if it came down to it, he’d choose his parents’ business over her. Just as her dad had chosen his job and, ultimately, whatever had appealed to him most in the moment, over her mom—only to leave her scrambling to make ends meet, raising her daughter alone, with a half-earned college degree?

With a huff, Harper refocused on her internet job search. Forty-five minutes later, she’d sent her résumé and some video clips to five companies. Later, she’d need to record some new videos for her Instagram account. Although a lot of places still conducted live auditions, they often spent time checking out applicants online. Social media was quickly becoming a vital dance portfolio.

She eyed the clock and stood with a moan. “Apparently, time flies when you’re trying to plan your life.”

Her mom glanced around Emaline, who stood, bouncing in her lap. “You heading to work?”

She nodded, grabbed her sacked dinner from the fridge and, entering the living room, her purse and water bottle from the coffee table. “Thank you for watching Miss Princess for me. Again.” She ran a hand over her daughter’s silky-fine hair and kissed her cheek.

“You know I love it.”

“I do, and I’m really grateful for all of your help.” Lack of dependable and affordable childcare had been her biggest challenge in Seattle. Next time she signed with a dance company, in any capacity, she’d make sure they paid enough for her and Emaline to live on. Maybe even spring for a movie or lunch out occasionally.

Until then, she’d juggle her job schedules and save every possible penny.

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