by Brea Viragh
“Oly!”
Her frantic cry broke his heart in all the best ways, and Olympia immediately burst into tears. She got down to her knees with her arms outstretched. “Hi, baby!”
Renee wasted no time. She flew across the room and launched herself into those waiting arms. Her nose buried in Olympia’s neck, the two held each other for the longest time.
Olympia kept hold of the child as she rose on shaky feet, her knuckles white. She turned to stare at Harlan over Renee’s shoulder and he noticed her lips trembling.
Renee twisted in Olympia’s arms until she could see him. “Harlan?”
“I’m here.” He didn’t hesitate another second, drawing them both into a hug. “I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”
“You came to get me?” Renee asked tearfully.
“You bet I did.”
Then she noticed Reggie. “Hey, pumpkin!”
Renee smiled but clung shyly to her new mother, arms wrapped around her neck and face pressed tight to her shoulder. Olympia looked from Reggie to Harlan, her eyes were soft with gratitude. “Thank you,” she said. “Thank you both for everything.”
“Hell of a storm we had to weather,” Harlan said, resting his cheek on the top of Renee’s head. “But it’s over.”
“For now. I’m sure there will be others.” Olympia reached for him.
He grasped her hand, kissed her knuckles, and just looked at her. “With the immediate crisis over, can we please talk about this attraction you feel for me? Because frankly it’s overpowering and it’s making me uncomfortable,” he joked.
Her smile drew him forward. “It is a little intense, isn’t it?”
“I’ll say. You can barely keep your hands off me.”
He glanced down when she twined her free hand with his. “Oh, Harlan. I didn’t think I had any room in my life for love.”
“There’s always room for love.”
“I wasn’t prepared when I was given custody of Renee. I wasn’t equipped to handle a child when I had given up on the thought of ever having one. And I certainly didn’t know how to handle you when you came waltzing through my door. But I love you, Harlan, I really do, and I’m going to make you the happiest man in the world even when I’m irritating and nagging and bossy.”
“Those are the things I love about you,” he said. “No question.”
“I know. And I appreciate you. I know how lucky I am to have found love twice in my life. And to find it with such a good, good man the second time around.”
“Wow, you finally said it.”
“What?”
“That I’m a good man! I’ve been trying to convince you of that since the moment we met. I didn’t waste any time in falling for you. But the wait was killing me.”
“It might have taken me a little bit, but I’m there. I’m solidly there.”
His heart fluttered. “Tell me more.”
She cupped his face, shifting Renee on her hip. “I’m so excited to see where we go from here. To watch our little family bloom. And I know I was wrong to push you away. I couldn’t have done this without you, Harlan. I guess...I guess it’s okay to lean sometimes. Especially when I can lean on someone like you.”
“Being vulnerable isn’t a weakness, my love,” he commented.
Her eyes began to water. “I was wrong about that. I was wrong about you. I’m ready to finally admit it to myself. You were perfect for me all along. Perfect for us.”
Reggie cleared his throat. “A time and place for everything, but this ain’t it. Let’s go home, shall we?”
She cradled Renee in one arm and wrapped the other around Harlan. He took off his jacket and wrapped it around them like the precious cargo they were. With his arm around her shoulder, they walked toward the car together. Ready to start their new life.
Epilogue
Summer was finally in the air. They pulled into an already crowded parking lot, with the sun streaming down on them between puffy white clouds. The perfect day for an outing. The perfect day to break away from the comfortable routine she’d established for herself over the past few months.
“I bet you used to be fun,” Harlan was saying, pulling the bag of beach towels closer and shifting his grip on Renee’s tiny hand.
Olympia shook her head like she was denying the earth was round. “I’ve had plenty of fun in my life. Trust me. I didn’t just used to be fun. I am fun.” The look in her eyes told him what he already knew. She’d proved how fun she was last night, and he’d loved every minute of it.
Still, he couldn’t help teasing her. “You’re going to have to prove it to me. To us,” Harlan insisted. “Because from where I’m standing you look like an old fuddy-duddy.”
She spared a smile at Renee, stomping her feet and shaking her bottom to show off her brand-new mint-green bathing suit. “Please don’t insult me in front of the kiddo. She’s going to pick up your foul language and then where will we be? I’ll be trapped in a house with two foul-mouthed individuals!”
“Who’s insulting you? You positively insisted that you were fun. We just haven’t seen it yet. Have we, darling?” Harlan looked down at Renee, who was tugging his hand in her eagerness to get going. “Come on. It’s a beautiful day and I know for a fact you want to race me down the Challenger.”
He used his head to gesture toward the dual water slides that looked like they were four stories tall.
Olympia followed his gaze. Swallowed hard. “Don’t you think Renee is a little young for the water park? Maybe we should come back when she’s a little older and can enjoy it.”
“I’ve never been to a water park before, but I’m old enough.” Her sweet voice still held the hint of a French accent, and although she said the words with her little nose in the air, it was adorable nonetheless.
“I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. There are pools to swim in, new friends to play with, and these giant slides where you can go really fast.” He looked back at Olympia. “And she won’t be let out of our sight. I think you’re stalling because you know I’ll win,” Harlan teased.
Both woman and girl eyed each other. Skeptical of how this would play out. “Do you think Harlan can beat me to the bottom on that big slide?” Olympia asked Renee.
Renee shook her head. “No way. You’re the fastest!” Then she jerked away from Harlan’s grip, leaping ahead, bound and determined to splash around in the kiddie pool. “Come on, Oly.” She still couldn’t pronounce Olympia. “I want to go play!”
Olympia and Harlan set off at a jog to keep up with the little girl, who more resembled a roadrunner than a child. “What time did your mom say they were getting here?”
“We’re supposed to meet them by the hot dog stand at ten thirty. We have a few minutes to splash around in the kiddie pool. I don’t think we’re going to be able to keep Renee from it even if we tried,” he said.
“Hey, hey, don’t go out of my sight!” She lunged forward and took Renee by the hand. “I think I see them. Isn’t that Reggie?” Olympia gestured toward a familiar head of hair. “They’re early.”
“They’re never early.”
“Well, they are today.”
“How about this. Let’s pretend we don’t see them,” Harlan said, letting his gaze linger on her. “Have a little alone time to ourselves.”
Harlan couldn’t take his eyes off of her. She was glowing, her hair left down in a loose braid flowing past her shoulders. It hadn’t taken much effort to get her out of her shell, not once she’d committed to the idea. To the idea of growth and change and, yes, even love.
And every day had been a beautiful adventure.
Olympia’s face warmed. “You’re serious?”
“Oh, I’m deadly serious. A little family time. The three of us. My parents and siblings can wait for a little while.” Harlan shifted to her other side, gripping her hand and pulling her closer. “I want to savor this moment.”
“I think you want to be able to take pictures of Renee’s first time at the water park w
ithout anyone getting in the way.”
It was true. Since he’d moved into the house with them six months ago, he’d done nothing but take photos to commemorate everything. Her first time trying boxed macaroni and cheese, haircuts, Christmas together...there was nothing he didn’t capture. Today was no exception.
Staring at Olympia, he couldn’t help leaning in to kiss her.
“What was that for?” she asked when they broke apart. Her lashes fluttered and Harlan was content to see a dreamy smile.
“That, my dear, was because I simply couldn’t resist.”
Olympia trusted him. Loved him. And it was more than he could ask for. He knew, when they tucked Renee into bed that night, and the moon began to rise, she wouldn’t hesitate to be with him.
But now, in the water park, the very air singing with laughter and joy, Harlan added his own voice to the melody.
THE END
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About the Author
BREA VIRAGH is a USA Today Bestselling romance author based in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She is a proud Gryffindor, a graduate of Brakebills, and a member of Fairy Tail. When she isn’t writing and daydreaming about her newest project, her hobbies include binge-watching HGTV, scouring thrift shops for goodies, and maintaining her alpha status among her puppy and three cats.
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