and you don’t want to lose him. So you have to ask yourself, what’s the worst that can happen? That he might track a little mud inside? He’ll watch sports too loud?”
“I love sports, and I don’t care about mud.”
“Exactly. You know how to clean up messes, but broken hearts are a little more complicated.” He winked and said, “Have a little faith.”
Piper’s head spun. Faith in who? Herself or Harley?
Maybe she needed to have both. Maybe she needed to take a giant leap of faith and just go with it. She pulled out her phone and called Harley, her heart racing. What if she was interrupting their brunch?
“Hey, babe. Everything okay?”
Just hearing his voice brought a wave of calm. “It’s fine. I just . . . I wish I had thought ahead and found a way for us to be together and celebrate with both of our moms. I know that sounds clingy, but I miss you. I wish you were here.”
“I miss you, too. Remember when I said I’d never let you down?”
“Mm-hm.” He said it all the time, and she believed him.
“Turn around, darlin’.”
Piper spun around just as Jolie and Sophie ran around the side of the house, heading for Roxie.
“Happy Mother’s Day!” the girls hollered as they threw their arms around Piper’s mother.
Harley came into view with Delaney and Debra, and Piper’s heart nearly burst out of her chest. She ran across the yard and launched herself into his arms. He lifted her off her feet, kissing her as he spun them around like they were in a freaking Hallmark movie. Lord help her. She really was changing, because suddenly all that sappy Hallmark stuff seemed pretty damn good.
“Uncle Harley and Piper sitting in a tree,” Sophie sang, sparking laughter as Willow and Remi joined her in singing the song, and Mason said, “Get a room!”
“Why are you here?” Piper asked, her feet dangling above the ground.
“Because our sneaky mothers conspired.”
“I freaking love our mothers! I want you to spend the night at my house tonight,” she blurted out before she lost her nerve.
Harley kissed her again as he sank down to the grass with her on his lap. “Say it again,” he said. “I have to make sure I didn’t make that up in my head.”
“Don’t push your luck. Just say you will.”
“Oh, I will, baby, and you’re never going to want me to leave.”
Harley couldn’t think of anything that could make the day any better. Brunch was delicious, the kids were entertaining, and the company was wonderful, but nothing compared to knowing Piper wanted him to stay at her place tonight. He glanced at her as she talked with Delaney, and his heart thumped a little harder. It felt good to be with Piper and her family today. This was the last place he’d expected his mother to take them when she’d said she’d chosen a place for brunch. But man, when they’d turned down Willow and Zane’s street and Piper’s truck had come into view, it was like a dream come true. He’d been missing her as badly as she’d missed him. He wasn’t quite sure what was going on between their mothers now, as they sat at the other end of the table whispering like schoolgirls. They were definitely up to something, and if this brunch was any indication of what they could pull off, he was excited to see what else they had up their sleeves.
Harley felt a gentle pat on his leg and looked down to see a chubby little hand reaching for his plate. “Ah, sneaky Bea.” He lifted her onto his lap, and she snagged a cookie from his plate.
“Watch out, Harley,” Zane said. “Those adorable ones are contagious.”
He kissed Bea’s head, hugging her as he said, “I can think of worse things to catch.” He gazed out at Jolie, Sophie, and Louie playing in the yard, and his mind took a perilous leap. He imagined Piper round with their baby, more of their children running around the yard. It was a dream he knew might never come true, but he couldn’t help wanting it.
Willow nudged Piper and said, “Do not let him near Mom’s new potions.”
“Don’t worry. I threw out Harley’s body wash, and I never use her stuff.” Piper narrowed her eyes, looking at Roxie, and said, “I’m onto our mama and her matchmaking ways.”
“Doesn’t Mom have a key to your house?” Talia asked.
“So?” Piper asked as she bit into a cookie.
Talia, Bridgette, and Willow exchanged