“I’m glad you told me.”
Harper reaches behind her and holds out a bundle of fabric toward me. “Here’s your hoodie back. Sorry for taking it yesterday, I didn’t mean to. But thanks again for lending it to me.”
“Keep it.”
“What?” Her arm drops, and she shakes her head. “But it’s yours.”
That stubborn streak I noticed before is written all over her face. Just like on Sunday when she went to the hospital by herself. So I shrug like the hoodie isn’t anything special instead of telling her I liked seeing her in something that’s mine. Especially knowing she’ll go back to New York soon, and I won’t be able to visit her a lot with my schedule.
“I have a closet filled with hoodies, so no worries. If you want it, it’s yours.” I do have a ton of hoodies, that’s not a lie, I just don’t tell her I only wear a few of them and the one I gave her is my favorite.
She regards me from under her eyelashes, her cheeks a little pinker than before. “Are you sure?”
“Yup. One hundred percent.”
“Well, thank you.” Her hands tighten in the material before she puts it back on the counter.
“You might need it tonight again anyway if you’re cold.”
“Why? Are we going outside again?” She scans the kitchen as if she can find any clues.
I press my lips together to keep from laughing. She’s just too cute for her own good. “Maybe? It’s a surprise, which means . . .”
“Which means what?”
I wasn’t really planning on making this an even bigger production, but I just had an idea that I can’t let go now. “I need to get something quick. Stay here and wait until I get back. No peeking.”
Harper swallows but nods. “Promise.”
“Good girl.”
I turn and run upstairs. Maybe this is a bad idea, but this insistent urge is too overwhelming to ignore. This could be fun.
When I jog back down the stairs, Harper’s next to the fridge, taking a sip of water from a glass. Knowing she felt comfortable enough to get it herself makes my blood buzz.
She smiles at me from behind the rim, and I keep one of my hands firmly behind my back.
I take slow, measured steps toward her and raise my eyebrows. “Are you ready for your surprise?”
She puts the glass down and nods.
“Turn around.”
Her eyebrows furrow, but she does as I ask.
I step close enough to see the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.
Kiss her neck.
My body yearns for hers. The memories with her are still so fresh in my mind it’s impossible not to imagine being with her again. It takes all of my self-control to not taste her. Instead, I focus on the silk scarf in my hands. Wrapping it around both palms, I lift it over Harper’s head, stopping in front of her eyes.
“Close your eyes.”
She complies once more, exhaling a harsh breath in the process.
I focus on the scarf, making sure it covers her eyes before tying it in the back. Once I’m satisfied with my handiwork, I grab Harper’s hand and squeeze.
“Ready?”