“Kyle, at least Sean’s dating someone. Your mom is going to want to know when you’re going to bring somebody home.”
Kyle’s eyes widened, and now it was Sean’s turn to laugh. Slumping in his seat, Kyle mumbled, “Yeah, are we gonna play poker or not?”
With laughter ringing out in the house, Sean turned his attention back to the table, but his thoughts remained on Harper.
By the end of the evening, he and Kyle were sitting in the backyard, settled deep into the Adirondack chairs. Since they were each driving, they had stopped drinking earlier in the evening, but their heavy coats warded off the chill. Eyes focused on the clear night sky, no one spoke for several minutes as they stared at the stars.
“Haven’t heard you talk about a woman that you’re interested in in a long, fucking time.”
With his body still reclined, Sean rolled his head to the side and looked at Kyle. “You know what it’s like in this job. It’s not hard to meet someone, but it’s hard as hell to try to make something happen with someone. Harper’s different. She gets it. She gets me.”
“That’s a lot, man.”
“That’s everything.”
“Happy as fuck for you, Sean.” Kyle’s voice cut through the chill of the night.
He grinned, his brother’s words settling deep inside.
Their glasses of wine were on the coffee table along with their feet as they perched on the end of the sofa, painting their toenails. Harper glanced over at Sandy, smiling as her friend decided to add a sparkling jewel to her big toenail. “Tell me again why you decided to do that. I mean, it’s cold weather outside so you’re not going to be wearing sandals. No one’s going to see it.”
Sandy pouted, her lower lip stuck out. “Why, you have no idea how many men might be seeing my naked toenails!”
“I wish.”
Sandy looked over and lifted an eyebrow as confusion filled her eyes.
Sighing, Harper said, “You know, Sandy, you can’t fool me. For all the world, you show a flirt, but I know you. I know that you always go home alone.”
Sandy’s face sobered, and Harper shoulder bumped her. “You don’t have to pretend with me. I love you just the way you are. I just want you to be happy.”
“It’s hard… hard to trust. I refuse to cower away from men, but neither do I want to be alone with them.”
Their toes now painted, the two women leaned back against the sofa cushions, their feet still propped up on the coffee table as the polish dried. Harper, resting her still-splinted wrist in her lap, wrapped her right arm around her friend. “I know it’s hard. But I also know that one day you’ll meet a man that you can trust. Someone who won’t hurt you ever.”
Snorting, Sandy said, “Okay, I think that’s going a little too far. After all, no man is perfect.” Harper grinned, and Sandy groaned. “Okay, I suppose Sean is perfect?”
Pretending to think, Harper tapped her chin with her forefinger. “Don’t know that I would call him perfect, but he’s pretty close!”
Laughing, Sandy threw out, “Wait until there’s dirty underwear to wash, belches after meals, and farts when—”
“Stop!” she cried, both women now laughing.
After a moment, Sandy admitted, “Well, I for one, am thrilled. If anyone deserves perfect, it’s you, Harper.”
Laying her head against Sandy’s, they continued to sit and wiggle their toes dry. “I feel like he gets me. We can talk and I don’t get bored. And when I’m talking, he looks at me and listens to every word. I can’t remember the last time I went on a date and someone actually listened to me.”
“Probably never?” Sandy quipped.
“You’re right. I can’t ever remember feeling as though someone was giving me all of their attention. He’s smart, dedicated, and oh so gorgeous.”
“Yes, don’t forget how gorgeous he is!” The two women laughed together again, continuing to sip their wine, then Sandy looked toward Harper. “I really am happy for you. And if he happens to have a brother or a good friend like him, I wouldn’t be opposed to meeting them.”
“You did meet his brother. Rory, remember? He was with Bill and that other firefighter that night at the bar.”
She watched as a blush hit Sandy’s cheeks, and her friend adopted a blasé expression. “Oh, yeah, I seem to remember meeting someone named Rory.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to tease Sandy, saying that she was sure she remembered him in more than just passing, but she