same to Lydia, her mom swatted it away and embraced him in a quick hug. Harper didn’t know who looked more surprised, Manny or her dad, who knew Lydia took a while to warm up to new people.
After Harper bid farewell to her folks, she followed Manny out to his car, waiting until the front door closed before collapsing against his chest.
“I’m so glad that’s over.”
“Your parents are fine, they love you, you’re lucky to have them.” He placed a finger under her chin and tipped it up. “But I have to admit, I almost lost it when your dad called you his little harp.”
“Please don’t ever refer to that again.” She grimaced, not surprised to see a cheeky glint in his eyes.
“Why? I don’t mind a little harp, as long as I get to pluck it all night.”
A bubble of laughter escaped her. “You are so lame.”
“Only because you love my bad puns.”
“And the rest,” she murmured, unable to believe she could be this happy, this quickly. She wanted to say I love you, but it didn’t seem the right time while they were trading banter as usual and with her parents probably spying on them through the front window.
From his proposal last night to now, Harper had been floating, caught up in the fairy tale she’d always dreamed about. Gaining her parents’ approval had made it all the more real. She knew they had a lot to learn about each other, and they didn’t have to rush into a wedding anytime soon.
Because she still hadn’t revealed her secret to Manny, and she couldn’t get past the bone-deep fear that the last time she’d done it, the man she thought had adored her walked away.
Colin was nothing like Manny. They were worlds apart. But until she told Manny the truth, she couldn’t fully embrace the excitement of being engaged.
Now wasn’t the time, with his grandmother just out of surgery, but over the next few days she’d take the final step in trusting this amazing man with her heart.
54
It had been a long ten days.
Taking time off for that medical conference in Auckland, then tacking on extra vacation days, meant Manny was still struggling to get on top of his workload now.
It didn’t help that he spent his limited downtime at the hospital with Izzy. Not that he begrudged the time by her bedside—she was the only family he had—but it meant he was more sleep-deprived than during his stint as a resident many years ago.
And it left him with no time for Harper.
She’d been incredibly understanding, but he still felt guilty they hadn’t been ring shopping. Nor had she met Izzy, but that was more his doing.
His grandmother wasn’t recovering well.
Physically, her cardiologist and registrar were pleased with her healing. After a few days in rehab, they would discharge her. But mentally, it was like Izzy had checked out. She didn’t smile at his jokes. She feigned interest in the soap operas she was usually glued to. She hardly touched her food, even when he brought in a tiffin carrier of dahl and rice he’d made especially.
The only time she showed any sign of life was when she grilled him about his engagement. How had he proposed, where, when, what had Harper said, when was the wedding, blah, blah, blah, on and on it went, and he was tired of ad-libbing.
Interestingly, in all her focus on his nuptials, she hadn’t asked to meet Harper beyond the first day, when he’d fobbed her off with a She wants to come but doctor’s orders say you can only see family.
He’d half hoped Izzy would refute his claim with Harper is going to be my family too, I want to meet her, but with his grandmother in this strange mood he’d rather wait to foist her onto his fiancée.
His fiancée.
Even though they’d barely seen each other lately, the thought of being engaged to Harper brought him a comfort he’d never experienced before. She grounded him. Not that he’d ever been particularly jittery, but she brought calmness to his life that he loved.
Izzy managed a half-hearted wave as he entered her room, and he knew she wouldn’t like what he had to say.
“Hey, Gran. A few more days in rehab and then you’ll be home.”
She mustered a weak frown. “Good. But I don’t need any of that home nursing rubbish. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
He’d expected this battle and had an argument prepared. “I know you are, but I was