A Million Kisses or More (25 page)

Chapter 11

Almost two weeks later while lying alone in Harrison’s bed, Ana realized she had all but moved into his house. All of her clothes were in his closet, her toothbrush was on his sink, and she slept in his bed. Even the damn cat was living there, his litter box hidden in the laundry room.

Within the walls of that house, it was easy to forget the outside world even existed. In the evening, he’d spend a few hours writing while Jolie did her homework and Ana read or worked on her resume or tried to figure out what she wanted to do with the rest of her life, especially if she was going to be spending it in Minnesota. Now that he was back on day shift, she managed to switch hours as well. Even though it meant less in tips, it meant more time with Harrison and Jolie.

But the nights were all hers and Harrison’s. She loved the nights.

Stretching, Ana smiled as she thought about the day ahead. She vacillated between sheer dread at having to feed Harrison’s entire family and terror that they secretly hated her and they were counting down the days until she left so they could convince Harrison that she was the wrong girl for him. Whenever she voiced her concerns, he always gathered her up into his arms and assured her that his family loved her, with the exception of Asher. Apparently, he was pissed she hadn’t dumped Harrison yet and gone running back to him despite all of the overtures he had made and gifts he had sent (and she had returned.) Harrison was so convincing, she almost believed him. No, she
did
believe him. She just really, really wanted them to like her, especially since she was leaving Harrison for an entire year.

But she wasn’t going to think about that until the moment she packed up her car and left.

After a quick shower, she pulled her hair back into a ponytail and skipped down the stairs with the knowledge that she had Thanksgiving dinner under control. The turkey was ready to be thrown into the oven, all of the sides were prepped, and the pies were all baked. She had a plan of attack for the dinner so theoretically everything would be ready around the same time. All in all, she was feeling pretty good about the Thanksgiving dinner ahead.

When she entered the kitchen, Harrison and Jolie were already there eating breakfast, both of them eyeing the pies that the three of them had made the night before. Going over and wrapping her arms around Harrison’s shoulders, she gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Hey, you two. You didn’t have to let me sleep in.”

“You looked so peaceful I hated to disturb you,” he told her, turning his head just enough to give her a kiss on the lips. Because Jolie was sitting there watching with too much interest in her eyes, it was only a brief kiss. “Besides, I know how late you stayed up last night.”

“I went to bed barely ten minutes after you two did,” she said, leaving a hand on his arm as she sat down in the empty seat next to him. She loved the peaceful mornings with him and Jolie. It was one of the best parts of her day. Snagging a piece of fruit from his plate, she popped it into her mouth as she added, “It was hardly all night.”

He wagged his eyebrows at her as he bent his head and whispered in her ear, “I’m talking about
after
you came to bed.”

Heat climbed into her cheeks as she looked away, afraid that if she said anything at that moment, it would be totally inappropriate. Clearing her throat, she took a few moments to corral her wayward thoughts before she finally managed to say, “Well, I’m heading across the street to cook the bird. Once I get that started, I’m going to take care of a few other things but then I’ll be back so the three of us can finish up the rest of the food. What time is everyone planning on showing up?”

“Four,” he said. “We have plenty of time to make sure everything is cooked and the table is laid out.”

She beamed, excitement and nerves battling in her stomach since this was going to be her first traditional Thanksgiving meal in forever. With a squeak, she gave him a quick kiss before she stood up and said, “This is going to be wonderful, Harrison.”

“Mreeow,” the cat said, reminding her that he was living there, too. The little beast was happier than she had ever seen him, loving the attention that Jolie showered upon him. He was positively spoiled at Harrison’s house and Ana wondered if the cat would be able to go back to a normal life once their time there was over.

“Angelico!” Jolie gushed, scooping the cat up into her arms and hugging him. The loud rumble of his purr filled the kitchen. Maybe her aunt and uncle would consider letting the furry creature stay. If they didn’t have to worry about taking care of a cat, they wouldn’t need her to watch the house when they traveled.

But then, if they had given Jolie the cat before, Ana never would have met Harrison and the thought of never meeting this incredible man left a hole in her heart. Pressing a hand against the stupid organ, she smiled, “I’ll be right back.”

As she started to leave, he grabbed the back of her shirt and pulled her back to him, spinning her around as he did. Wrapping his arms around her, he bent his head and gave her a slightly more thorough kiss, using the fact that they were both standing to his advantage. In a rough voice, he rasped against her lips, “Hurry.”

“Okay,” she said dumbly, tasting him on her lips. God, she loved his kisses even if they intoxicated her. Especially because they intoxicated her. Stumbling out of the house, still a little drunk off his kiss, Ana managed to snap out of it when the cold wind smacked her. It would have made more sense to keep the turkey at Harrison’s but she hadn’t wanted it to get in the way of making pies. It took up too much space in the fridge and there had been nowhere else to put it. Plus, they were planning on baking the side dishes at his house so it just made sense to keep it and cook it at her aunt and uncle’s house. It was only a twenty second walk between the two houses.

With a skip in her step, she let herself into the house and immediately went over to the thermostat and turned the temperature up because it was a little weird to cook while wearing a winter parka. Huddling in her coat, hoping the house would warm up to a comfortable eighty instead of a frigid sixty, she made her way into the kitchen and grabbed the bird out of the fridge. Pressing her finger into it, she frowned because there was barely any give. She thought she had given it plenty of time but it wasn’t all of the way thawed out. Maybe the house was too cold for the turkey to thaw out properly.

Maybe if she turned the heat up a little when she cooked it, it would make up for the frozenness.

A few hours later, she rang Harrison’s doorbell, too distraught to realize she could just walk right in. When he opened the door, the tears that she had been fighting broke free and she started babbling, “I ruined the turkey, Harrison. It wasn’t fully thawed so I cooked it at a higher temperature but then I burned the outside and the inside is still partially frozen and I realized too late that I forgot to pull the insides out and it’s ruined.”

His eyes widened with every word she spoke until he finally grabbed her shoulders. “Ana, is there any way to salvage it?”

“No,” she sobbed. “It’s black on the outside and my oven is smoking and it’s awful. What am I going to do? Your parents are going to hate me for ruining Thanksgiving.”

“I have some frozen chicken in the freez….”

“But it’s not a turkey,” she interrupted, visions of the perfect Thanksgiving dinner going up in flames.

“But it
is
poultry,” he offered, sounding almost desperate. Wiping the tears from her face, cupping her cheeks in his hands, he continued, “They thaw quickly, Ana, and if necessary I can grill them or we can fry them up or bake them in the oven…. Please, Ana, please stop crying. It kills me to see you cry. We’ll figure it out.”

She blinked her eyes up at him and found herself falling into the chocolate depths. Calmness washed over her as Harrison matched his breathing to hers and then slowed his breaths down. How had she survived panic attacks before him? Catching her lower lip between her teeth, she began to accept an alternative plan. “Are you sure you don’t mind grilling? It’s freezing outside.”

A slow, relieved smile spread across his lips as he nodded, “It’s never too cold to grill. An hour before everyone is set to arrive, we’ll fire up the old girl and you’ll get to witness a master in action.”

She bit her lip to keep from laughing but it didn’t work. Draping her arms around Harrison’s neck, she grinned up at him. “I adore you, you know.”

“I know,” he returned, bending his head and kissing the tip of her nose.

*****

Ana’s heart pounded furiously in her chest as Harrison’s family started arriving, beginning with his mom and dad, Jillian and Paul Miller. His mom spared her a glance and an almost-smile before she turned to Harrison and said, “So, I’ve read your books.”

Harrison’s brows drew together as he tilted his head to the side and Ana saw the effort it took him to remain calm. “Uh, what did you think?”

“Why didn’t you ever say anything?” Mrs. Miller scolded, frowning at him. Ana’s nerves were vibrating in sympathy, and she was dying to hear what his mom thought.

“I just didn’t,” Harrison said slowly, a look of panic crossing his face. Smoothing his tongue over his lower lip, his eyes darted to Ana as he carefully asked, “How did you find out?”

“Um, I might have spilled the secret,” Ana admitted in a voice that squeaked, taking a step away from the small group. Harrison’s hand shot out and snagged her wrist, preventing her escape. With a gentle tug, he pulled her back against his side.

“Yes,” his mom continued, spearing her with another glance. Her gaze dropped to the hold Harrison had on Ana and she made a strange face, not entirely disapproving, but definitely concerned. “And if it weren’t for your friend, I never would have known what a genius my son is.”

“I was under the impression that parents always thought their children were geniuses,” Harrison said, his tense shoulders easing a bit now that he knew his mother approved of his stories. Subtly, he tugged Ana even closer and before she knew his intentions, his arm was around her shoulders and he was hugging her against his body. “I mean I know my daughter is a genius.”

His mom smiled as she patted his cheek, “Of course she’s a genius. She’s my granddaughter.”

“Well, I’m looking forward to having a traditional Thanksgiving dinner,” his dad boomed, smoothing his hands over his slight paunch. Grinning at Ana, he said, “There’s nothing better than a perfectly cooked bird with all of the traditional fixings.”

His words were a dull blade right to the heart and she gave him a stricken look. It must have been truly desperate because his face fell and he rushed forwards and clapped his hands on her shoulders. “I’m teasing, Ana. Harrison called us earlier and told us about the mishap. Turkey is overrated; I’d much prefer eating grilled chicken any day.”

She nodded her head but she still must have looked wounded since Harrison’s dad looked like he was about to bolt if she started to cry. Trying to make him feel better, she gave him a shaky smile and said, “I hope the rest of the food makes up for the lack of turkey.”

“Sweetheart, everything smells wonderful,” the older man said, desperately trying to reassure her. “I’m sure dinner will be delicious. The one and only time Jillian tried to cook Thanksgiving dinner was the first year we were married. She was pregnant with Tanner so she was already emotional but then she burnt the bird and undercooked the potatoes and pretty much destroyed the kitchen. The next year, I tried cooking and I fared much better.”

“Because you had your mom make everything,” Mrs. Miller snorted, wrapping an arm around her husband’s waist and resting her other hand on his stomach. Smiling at Ana, she added, “Obviously our talents lie elsewhere.”

At that moment Dan and Ellen walked in, the pair of them in addition to Harrison making an insanely attractive group. Ellen was a feminine version of her brothers, with dark hair and brown eyes and a smile that seemed to light the room. Harrison’s smile was warm as he held out his hands, “Ellie, you made it.”

“Of course I did,” the girl said, taking Harrison’s hands and giving him a kiss on the cheek. Turning to Ana with a sparkle in her eyes, she continued, “I had to see for myself if the rumors were true.”

“What rumors?” Harrison asked in all innocence.

“That you stole Annie away from Asher,” Ellie finished, eliciting a gasp from Harrison’s parents.

“It’s just Ana,” Ana said dumbly.

“And she was never his,” Harrison said through a tight smile.

“So it’s true!” Ellen squeaked, rushing over and giving Ana a huge hug, which she returned even though she felt a little awkward hugging someone she met once in her life. “I’m so glad my brother stole you away from my cousin. Harry’s so much better than Asher.”

Color flamed in Ana’s cheeks and she wasn’t sure how to respond to that. “Um, thanks?”

“She has to say that because he’s our brother,” Dan said, giving Ana a brotherly hug. “It smells fantastic, Ana. When can we eat?”

“Not until everyone arrives,” his mom answered.

Not two seconds later, the fourth Miller child appeared with his wife. Harrison bent his head and put his lips next to her ear as he said, “That’s Tanner and Brandy.”

Under her breath, Ana muttered, “Your parents’ talent lies in producing beautiful children.”

Harrison’s chuckle brushed over her skin as he stepped forward and shook his older brother’s hand and welcomed the couple to his home. Unlike the Millers, Brandy had pale blond hair and big, blue eyes, a perfect counterpart to Tanner’s dark good looks. With her delicate features, she looked like a blond version of….

“Hey,” Brandy said, stepping to the side and letting another person in. Carrie. “I hope you don’t mind but I invited my sister.”

Ana’s gaze flew to Harrison, whose lips were pressed together in a thin line. His brother was married to his ex-wife’s sister? That had to make family get-togethers a little awkward. Hell, Ana felt uncomfortable and she wasn’t even a part of the family. Of course, she was sleeping with Harrison and Carrie was well aware of that fact. The woman stepped forward and gave Harrison a half hug, touching her cheek to his as she murmured, “Harrison.”