“Don’t mention it. You know, sir, I love your daughter.”
“You definitely proved that to me over the last twenty-four hours.”
I made my way back into the house, grabbing a bag of frozen peas out of the freezer.
“Babe?” I put my hand on Harlow’s arm as her eyes fought to open. “Let’s get some of that swelling to go down.”
She winced from the cold wrapped in a towel.
“Thank you,” she muttered.
Without giving it too much thought, I dug my cell out of my pocket and dialed my mom’s number.
“Honey! I’ve been worried,” she answered on the first ring.
“How do you feel about Christmas at the cabin?”
Harlow’s eyes got wide as a crooked grin filled her bruised face.
“You’re not going to come home, are you?” Nothing got past my mom. She was too good and knew me too well.
“I kind of like it up here, and I think I’m in love.”
“Finally!” my mother exclaimed. “Harlow is perfect for you.”
I smiled down at Low as I laughed. “How’d you know it was her?”
“Son, you’ve been pining for that girl since you were eleven, and yes to Christmas at the cabin. I’ll call Abby and get it all worked out.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“I love you, honey, and next time you’re in a firefight, put some damn Kevlar on, for fuck’s sake.”
“Ryder needs to learn when to keep his damn mouth shut.”
“You know I have a way of getting the scoop out of him faster than that boy knows what hit him.”
“Love you, Ma. Talk soon.”
Harlow slid closer to me. “I think I love you too, Collin.”
I tucked her into my side, wrapping my body around hers. “I don’t have to think about it. I’ve loved you since I was a kid.”
“Good, because I have too.”
Chapter 9
Christmas, a few weeks later
Harlow
It was a damn Christmas miracle to have my entire family along with Collin’s all under one roof. Little Abel bounced around the tree with my three nieces as they rooted around to see what Santa had brought them.
“Oh boy, a Hot Wheels set!” Abel hugged the giant box under the tree.
Ryder scooped his son up in his arms. “Want to open this sucker up?”
Abel squirmed out of his father’s grasp, ripping at the box.