All Because I Met You (Morgan's Bay, #2)

by Theresa Paolo

“Anything.”

  “You haven’t even heard what I’m going to ask.”

  “I don’t care, it’s yours. Whatever you want.”

  She leaned up and pressed a kiss to his lips. “No matter what happens…”

  She didn’t have to finish. He knew exactly what she would say. “I’m not going anywhere, Harp. I promise.”

  “Even if…”

  “Even if things don’t work out. I’m not going anywhere.” He held his pinky up. “Pinky swear.”

  With a smile, she looped her finger through his, and they each kissed their hands. “We don’t have to spit now, do we?” she asked.

  “I think we’ve matured past that.”

  She poked his side. “Maybe one of us has.”

  He opened his mouth, feigning shock.

  He pushed his knee in between her legs and came down on top of her. Without hesitation, she reached for him, running her fingers up his chest and wrapping her arms around his neck. Their lips met in a frenzy of need and want. He shut down every warning his body and mind were sending to have him walk away before it was too late.

  It was already too late. He was falling, and he never wanted to be caught.

  Chapter 16

  At Milo’s request, Harper picked up Isla and Olivia on her way to the beach. Neither of them had any idea what Milo was up to, and she was curious to finally find out. She paid the parking fee and pulled into the parking lot. She immediately spotted Milo’s car and drove to the open space beside him.

  “Is that my grandma?” Isla asked. “She can’t walk on the beach, and her wheelchair can’t go through the sand.”

  Liv glanced over at Milo’s car, her brown hair falling over her face and hiding her expression. “What is he up to now?”

  “Good question.” Harper put the Jeep in park and hopped out.

  Clouds had given way to partly sunny skies and there was a nice ocean breeze, keeping the temperature at a comfortable eighty degrees. It was the perfect beach day. She followed the girls and gave Mrs. Garrick a hug before settling her attention on Milo.

  “What’s this about?” she asked.

  “We’re going to the beach!” he exclaimed.

  Isla sighed. “Unless you’re carrying grandma, that’s not possible. We’ve tried.”

  “That’s because you didn’t have this.” He opened his trunk and pulled out what could only be called a contraption. A beach chair sat folded up in a PVC pipe frame that donned massively wide tires.

  Harper took in the creation. “What is that?”

  Milo unfolded the chair and placed the contraption on the ground. “This?” He closed his eyes and shrugged. “Mrs. Garrick’s chariot to see the ocean.”

  Isla gasped, placing a hand over her mouth. “Does it work? Have you tested it?”

  Milo met her gaze. “It works, Iz.”

  “Then what are we waiting for?” She helped Milo transfer Mrs. Garrick to Milo’s beach wheelchair and Milo stepped out of the way, letting Isla take the reins.

  He threw his arm out and pointed toward the ocean, legs bending slightly as he overexaggerated his movements. “Who’s ready to hit the beach?”

  “Me.” Mrs. Garrick’s voice was loud and clear, excitement clinging to the single word.

  If Milo would have told her this is what he had planned for Friday, she would have canceled her date in a heartbeat. Now guilt weighed heavy on her shoulders. She had been such a bitch about the whole thing. If he didn’t have to turn everything into a surprise… Then again, the look on Mrs. Garrick’s face and on Isla’s, she understood why.

  Isla took off with Mrs. Garrick, and Liv kept pace beside them. Harper reached out, taking Milo’s hand in hers, and stopped him from following.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked.

  “And ruin the surprise?” His brown eyes twinkled with delight, and a satisfied grin crossed his face. “Never.”

  “I’m sorry I was—”

  “Don’t worry about it.” He went to walk away, and she tugged on his arm.

  “No. I was out of line and I’m sorry. Now accept my apology before I push you in the ocean.”

  His lip quirked. “I’d like to see you try.” She reached for him, and he jumped back. “You have to be quicker than that.”

  She held his gaze, ignoring the memories of their night together, and focused on her target.

  “I like the intensity,” he said. “But you’re going to need more than intensity to catch me.”

  “Has anyone ever told you you’re cocky?”

  “You, many times.”

  “Keeping you on your toes.”

  “You’re about to be off your toes.”

  “Huh?”

  Before she could react, he bent his shoulder and came at her, taking her in his arms and lifting her off the ground. He twirled her around, her hair whipping around and covering her face.

  “Milo!” she yelled through laughter as he ran them past the girls and toward the beach. “I swear if you throw me in the water, you’ll be sorry.”

  His hold tightened on her, and for a moment she relished in the strength and warmth of his arms. Memories from the other night popped into her head, reminding her of how good it felt to have his mouth on hers, his hand gripping her hips and his fingers exploring every inch of her body.

  When she snuck out of his room, she instantly wanted to go back, and thought about doing just that until the first rays of sun filtered through her blinds. He hadn’t touched her since.

  She forced the disappointment away and relished in the now. She kicked her legs as they got closer to the water. “Milo! My cellphone.”

  He came to a stop at the edge of the water and placed her on the ground.

  “Saved by the electronic,” he said.

  She smiled her victory and shoved him as hard as she could. He lost his footing, his weight shifting to his bad leg before collapsing into a crashing wave.

  “My cell phone is in the Jeep.”

  Water dripped from his hair and down the strong lines of his face; his t-shirt clung to taut muscles. She could make out the light splattering of hair on his chest. “You lied!”

  “Being quick on your feet doesn’t necessarily mean speed.”

  She turned away victorious when wet arms wrapped around her and dragged her under the icy cold water of the Atlantic.

  ***

  Milo shook off the water and sat in the sand beside Mrs. Garrick. There’d been a permanent smile on her face since she got into the wheelchair he’d masterminded.

  “I can’t thank you enough,” she said, her eyes following the girls. “This is everything. I never thought I’d see the ocean again.”

  “I was happy to help and so were Jasper and Shane.”

  “Yes, those sweet boys. Please send them my sincere gratitude. I’d bake them brownies, but… I don’t have the strength anymore.”

  “It’s okay. I don’t need them thinking you make baked goods for just anybody.” He gave her a wink, and her smile widened before her gaze drifted back to the water.

  Isla and Liv had run off toward Harper. Milo watched as Harper wrung her hair dry as she spoke with their friends.

  “When are you going to tell her?” Mrs. Garrick took her gaze away from the girls who were now standing where the water met the sand and looked at Milo.

  Confusion tugged at Milo’s brow. “Tell who what?”

  “I might be dying, but I haven’t lost my wits. You’re in love with Harper. Always have been, but now you know it.”

  He shook his head. “No—”

  “Don’t argue with a dying woman, it’s bad form.”

  A smile played at the corner of his mouth. Even with her days numbered, Mrs. Garrick didn’t pull any punches. And she was right. He did love Harper. Always had. Always would. Somewhere between the nightly cuddles on the couch and the never-ending banter, he’d fallen in love with his best friend. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Of course it matters.”

&nb
sp; “She doesn’t love me, at least not in that way.”

  “Did she tell you that?”

  “No, but—”

  “Butts are for sitting and not for lame excuses.”

  Milo couldn’t help himself, he laughed. Mrs. Garrick always had a way with words.

  “You need to tell her.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Oh, but you can. You just don’t want to, which if you ask me, is foolish and depriving yourself of true happiness.”

  Harper had always wanted a life that was more than Morgan’s Bay, and Milo was everything that made up their small town.

  “Or taking my true happiness away.” He tried to be positive, but sometimes he had to play devil’s advocate. “If I tell her, and she doesn’t feel the same way, things between us will change. I can’t lose her. I’d rather keep my feelings to myself for the rest of my life than risk our friendship.”

  Mrs. Garrick’s hand slowly reached out and grasped hold of his. Her hand was brittle, and he was afraid if he moved, he might shatter her bones. “Sweetie, you will only live to regret it.”

  If there was only a way, he could make Harper see that staying in Morgan’s Bay didn’t make her a failure. That she could still be everything she ever wanted to be and have everything she ever wanted right in their hometown.

  “Do you have any regrets?”

  Mrs. Garrick’s gaze moved across the beach to Isla. “My only regret is that I won’t get to see my granddaughter walk down the aisle or have children of her own.”

  “You might not be here, but you’ll see her. Wherever it is you wind up, I’m sure you’ll find a way to be front and center, cheering her on the entire way.”

  A slight smile formed on her sunken face. “Damn straight.” Silence spread between them, the sound of the waves crashing into the shore filling the void. “You’ll watch after her, won’t you?”

  “You know I will.”

  “I know. Just feel better saying it out loud.” She exhaled; her breath not as smooth as it once was. “These girls are lucky to have you in their lives. We all are. I never thanked you for taking me to so many doctor appointments when I didn’t have the strength to drive.”

  “It’s my job.”

  “Except the charges never went through on my credit card.”

  Milo ran a business, but he also had enough money to keep him afloat. He wasn’t going to charge Mrs. Garrick to bring her to an appointment that was dire to her health. He just couldn’t do it.

  “You would have done the same. At the end of the day, we’re a community, and we help each other out.”

  “It’s nice to hear the younger generation carrying our values.”

  “My parents raised me right.”

  “While I don’t doubt that—your parents are both lovely people—it also has a lot to do with the individual. Take Harper for example. Her father took off, and let’s be honest, Judy hasn’t always been the best parental figure, but that girl… she’s good right down to the bone. If she could only see it for herself.”

  “I’ve tried to tell her, but she’s stubborn.”

  “Sometimes a stubborn heart needs a little more convincing.”

  “Unless I smack her over the head with it, I’m not sure there’s much more I can do in the way of convincing.”

  “Do me a favor.”

  “Anything.”

  “Don’t give up on her. She’ll figure out her way eventually and that path will lead right to you.”

  Whether Mrs. Garrick asked or not, Milo knew in his heart that giving up on Harper had never, and would never, be an option.

  Chapter 17

  The humidity had been staying away, and the days had been sunny and beautiful. There was a slight ocean breeze that helped keep the days from getting too hot. It was the perfect weather, and Milo tried to be out in it as much as possible, and when he was working, he had his windows down and sunroof open.

  Some customers complained it was too loud, and Mrs. Wheeler didn’t like her hair being blown, but when Milo was in the car alone, he had every window open, taking in the weather while he could. Plus, without the humidity or the rain, his leg didn’t act up as much. It was almost as if he didn’t even have an injury that had sidelined his entire future.

  He and Harper walked down Main Street, heading toward the vacant storefront. He had an offer to make and prepared for the battle that was sure to ensue.

  “Isla hasn’t answered my text. I hope everything is okay.”

  Mrs. Garrick had taken a turn for the worse over the last week and was in the care of hospice now. Isla had been spending her days at her side, while Milo, Harper, and Olivia did all they could in the form of phone calls, dropping off food, and Milo even took a few shifts down at Isla’s family’s florist, so the family could be with Mrs. Garrick.

  It had been a long week, but Milo hoped it wasn’t about to get longer. He wasn’t exactly sure how this was going to go, since with Harper it really could go either way. He crossed his fingers and prayed for the best.

  Just as they came upon the location, he stopped abruptly and turned toward her.

  “Why are we stopping?” she asked, and he stepped around her, placing his hands over her eyes. “What are you doing?”

  He pressed a kiss to her neck, and she let out a satisfied moan. “I want you to close your eyes for a minute.”

  “Why do I need to close my eyes if you’re covering them?”

  He sighed. “You always have to be difficult.”

  “You love that I’m difficult.”

  He couldn’t argue there. “Just go with it. For me.”

  “Okay fine. Eyes are closed.”

  “Good. Now imagine the smell of paint drifting out from the open door. Me naked and waiting for you with a rose in my mouth.”

  A loud laugh burst from her lips.

  “Okay, it’s not that funny.”

  “You have no idea the visual I have in my mind right now.” She laughed harder, and though he loved the sound, he wasn’t sure if he loved it as much when it was at his expense.

  “Moving on. Imagine chairs and easels set up with canvases and people filling the chairs, drinking wine, painting and having a good time. You got that?”

  “Yeah, but I don’t—”

  “Shhh. I’m not done yet.”

  “Sorry, continue.”

  “Now imagine you are at the front of the room, holding your paintbrush and showing everyone how to turn the canvas from a blank white surface to a beautiful sunset.”

  “I do that at the senior center.”

  He took his hands from her eyes and turned her to him. “I know, but imagine doing it in your own place. Imagine the sign above the door, reading Pinot and Gogh.”

  She shot him a look, her eyes narrowing. “It’s a nice vision, but you and I both know it’s impossible. I can’t afford to open my own brick and mortar.”

  “I know, but I want to help you.”

  Her head shook back and forth. “No, absolutely not.” She stepped out of his reach and turned away from him. “Not going to happen.”

  He grabbed her elbow and brought her to a halt. Her head continued to shake and he took her face in his hands to steady her.

  “I can pay the first three months’ rent. By then you’ll be up and running, and you’ll be able to take over the bills.” He had no doubt with her talent, Olivia’s marketing smarts, and Milo’s endorsement to every person that came in and out of his car, Harper would be turning a profit in no time.

  “Possibly. But I wouldn’t be able to pay you back for those three months for who knows how long. If ever.”

  He knew she’d throw that excuse back at him, but he was prepared. “There’s no deadline; you pay me back whenever you have it. Want to give me a dollar a week? That’s fine. It’s not like I don’t know where you live.”

  “A dollar a week?” she guffawed. “It’ll take me a hundred years to pay you back.”

  “We’re both healthy, and I plan on
making it to at least a hundred and two.”

  Harper rolled her eyes. “I am not going to be in debt with you until we’re a hundred; that’s absurd.”

  “What’s absurd is you being unbelievably stubborn right now and not just saying yes and taking the damn money.” Her mom was right; her stubbornness would hold her back.

  “No, what’s absurd is you pushing this. I don’t even know if I’m ready to have my own storefront. That’s a lot of responsibility, and I already have so much going on. What if I fail? And I prove to everyone that no matter how hard I try I’ll always be the girl whose father didn’t want her and whose mom is the town drunk.”

  He hated that she let those things define who she was. Didn’t she see that she was so much more than where she came from? He stepped to her, cupping her face in his hands. He ran his thumb across the apple of her cheek. “What if you don’t?”

  Tears pressed firmly against her lids, and he could tell she was pissed that her emotions were getting the better of her, but he was happy. It meant that she was losing the internal battle to be strong in her stance. She was wearing down and debating his offer.

  “All I’m asking is that you think about it. Can you do that for me?” He didn’t need her to put a nail in the coffin yet. He wanted her to think about it for a second, make a pro and cons list if she had to. Any thought beyond her instant reaction of no.

  Harper inhaled and her lips parted. The sound of her phone halted her response.

  Harper answered the phone, her stubborn expression crumbling in front of him. “Isla, I’m so sorry. What do you need?”

  Milo’s heart sank as he watched the conversation unfold. Harper hung up, but she didn’t even need to say anything; he already knew.

  Mrs. Garrick had passed.

  Chapter 18

  The rain gave way to partly cloudy skies as Milo and Harper made their way into the funeral home. Milo held the door for Harper and took a deep breath as he followed her into the corridor. A man in a suit stood with his arms in front of him, hands linked together. He nodded as they approached, and Milo guided Harper toward the guest book.

  She picked up the pen and turned to him, a somber smile on her face. “Do you want me to write both our names?”