She Loves Me (Harmony Pointe #3) - Melissa Foster Page 0,115
problem,” Gary said. “We appreciate your business. Ike’s buddies own a company called Husbands for Hire in the cities where they live. They do handyman work, mechanics, running errands, that sort of thing. We’re joining forces over the next few months and expanding our services. We’d appreciate it if you’d keep us in mind.”
“Absolutely. With so many single parents and families where both parents work full-time, that’s a brilliant business concept.”
The last song of the night was announced, and Harley said, “I’ll definitely keep you guys in mind and help spread the word. I need to grab my niece for this dance, but if you’re ever in Sweetwater, I run Dutch’s Pub. Come by and I’ll buy you a drink and introduce you around.”
He found Jolie huddled with her friends from soccer. “Last song of the night, girls. Go find your fathers. I’m sure they’d love to dance with you.”
The girls ran off to find their fathers as “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack started playing. He offered his hand to Jolie, and they made their way to the dance floor.
“Did you have fun?” he asked as they danced.
“So much fun. Thank you for bringing me.”
“It was an honor to be your date.”
After the song ended, they said goodbye to Jolie’s friends and their fathers. On the way out to the truck, Harley said, “Listen, Jo. I may not be your dad, but I am your uncle, and I love you and Soph. I want you to know that you can always count on me, no matter what. If you ever want to talk or hang out at my place. If anyone bugs you at school, or a boy asks you out and I need to give him a shakedown.”
“Uncle Harley.” She giggled.
“I’m serious. If you, Sophie, or your mom ever need anything, I’m here, okay? And when you grow up and go away to college, you can bet I’ll visit you and send you care packages. I’ll dance with you at that wedding you’re not going to have, and I’ll even walk you down the aisle if you’re still talking to me by then.”
“Why wouldn’t I talk to you?”
“Because you can bet that I’ll shake down the guy who you end up marrying, too.”
She giggled again, the greatest sound of the night.
“Did Piper’s brother shake you down?”
“He did.”
“But you’re still with her.”
“Yes, and I hope to always be with her. A shakedown isn’t to scare guys away. It’s to weed through the wrong guys. Sort of like tasting ice cream to be sure the aftertaste isn’t horrible.”
Her brows knitted. “Oh. Then you should shake them out.”
“Shake them down. Gotta know the lingo, kiddo.” He unlocked the passenger door and said, “Just know I love you and you can always count on me, okay?”
She nodded and climbed into the truck. As she put on her seat belt, she said, “I hope when I’m twenty I meet a guy like you.”
“Didn’t I say thirty?”
“Yes, but that’s old. Twenty is better.”
He looked at her out of the corner of his eye and said, “Twenty-five.”
“Nineteen,” she countered.
Delaney was in big trouble with this one, and he told her as much when he dropped Jolie off after the dance. He was still chuckling over Delaney’s response—“Guess that means you’ll be sitting on my front porch with a shotgun during the girls’ teenage years”—as he pulled away from the curb and called Piper.
“Is this the woman who loves Harley Dutch?” he asked when she answered the phone.
“That depends. Is this Charlie Hunnam? If so, then, baby, I’m as single as a one-dollar bill.”
“That dude from Sons of Anarchy? He’s a squirrel.”
“A damn hot squirrel, which is a shame since I’m pretty sure my much hotter grizzly could shred him to pieces. How was the dance? Did Jolie have fun?”
“She was nervous at first, but I think she had a great time. She loved my outfit. Thank you for making me look good.”
“You always look good.”
She probably had no idea she revealed her heart in everything she did and said, and he loved it. “By the way, I’m never having daughters.”
“No shit. Girls are way too emotional and hard to figure out. Maybe you can train your sperm as well as you trained Jiggs and have only boys.”
He wanted to read more into her comment than she probably intended—that she might want kids with him one day and was totally up for boys, but he knew better. Besides, patience had worked so far; that’s