“I have to?” she asked sarcastically. If only he knew, he’d likely change his mind. If ever the time existed for the two of them to have the relationship talk, this was not it. Too many other things were currently unresolved. They needed to focus on dealing with Alan first, and then Harmony could decide whether she felt courageous enough to admit her new feelings.

“Yes, enlighten me. Tell me about those thoughts that are running through your busy, busy mind.” He smiled, but she couldn’t return the gesture. Why did everything have to be so confusing? Why was the only thing she could count on right now the fact that Alan would find her?

Should she tell Nolan how much his protection meant to her? That it made her realize things she wasn’t ready to admit aloud?

Maybe she could get by with a partial truth. “I’m just thinking that other than this Alan situation—which, yes, is a hugely negative thing—I’m actually really happy.”

He scrunched up his face and regarded her like she’d lost her mind. Maybe she had. “That’s kind of weird,” Nolan said with a quizzical glance.

“It is, isn’t it?” She shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I just like my life these days. And the people in it.”

“Well, we like you right back,” he said, erasing the doubt from his face and flashing her an enormous grin. “Is that all you were thinking about?”

“What do you mean is that all?” Harmony hissed at him. “It’s plenty!”

He shrugged. “Just seems like you’re holding something back.”

“How do you know me so well already?” She couldn’t help but laugh despite her worry.

“It’s a gift.” He picked up the pace, forcing Harmony to do the same.

Once she’d caught up, she shot him a scalding glance. “Really. I’m serious. I want to know. Tell me how you do that.”

“I just pay attention. I see you and your strawberry, marshmallow, gingersnap goodness, and you just make sense to me in a way little else has before.”

Harmony giggled, then gasped for breath. “We should really make s’mores again sometime soon. I’m afraid you’ve got me hooked.”

“See, I knew there was a reasonable person in there somewhere.”

Good, he’d picked up on the change of topic. This man really did love him some s’mores, and it seemed he had started to love Harmony, too. Even though he no longer pressured her for dates and she needed more time to sort out her past before she could focus on even the chance of a future…

She realized then that, when the timing was finally right, she wanted to be with Nolan now and forever.

Chapter 35

Pastor Adam

Abigail and Gavin were dead serious about that salad, and regrettably had a second to go with it the next day. Even given all of eternity, I’ll never quite understand the appeal of vegetables served without salt and butter. Now that Mrs. Clementine had turned on me, too, it looked like I’d really, truly be losing some weight and in the very near future.