. She's angry with me for a stupid thing and threatened to not forgive me until I post another chapter. 😒

This felt good.

It felt as if I finally have a family as Gareth's mother kissed my forehead. I smiled and sighed in satisfaction.

She looked between Gareth and me and said. "So, when are you both are getting engaged for real?"

Gareth and I exchanged a confused look. Gareth looked at his mother in disbelief. "Mother...we...um..."

His mother chuckled. "I'm just kidding. No need to be so scared."

Gareth sighed in relief so did I.

Gareth suggested that we all spend this afternoon and have lunch together here to which everyone agreed.

Carmel asked Gareth to give her a tour of his house and Gareth took her hand in his before giving her a tour of the ground floor and then took her upstairs.

Aeryn and I sat beside each other on the couch and chatted while Everette sat with his mother.

A minute later we heard Carmel scream from upstairs and a second later she came running down the stairs with a book in her hand with Gareth chasing her. "Carmel! Give me back my book!"

"I just want to read it, uncle!" She came running to Everette and sat beside him on the couch and hid the book behind her back.

"Brother..." Gareth breathed heavily. "Tell her to give me back my book."

Everette didn't say anything and just rolled his eyes.

Carmel stick out her tongue. "No."

"I swear, Carmel, if anything happens to it, you will regret it." He warned her.

Carmel rolled her eyes. "It's just a book."

Exactly!

Carmel stood up on the couch, with the book still behind her back and as she was about to jump off the couch to the back, Gareth caught her by her waist and lifted her up in his arms making her shriek as she held her hand up to keep the book away from him.

Gareth being taller than her, effortlessly snatched the book from her and dropped her on the couch before checking the book for any damage. Carmel pouted angrily and folded her arms across her chest.

A small chuckle escaped my mouth on Gareth's obsession for books as he kissed the cover of the book looking cute and Aeryn raised a brow at me.

Clearing my throat embarrassingly I looked away from him and down at my lap and my cheeks heated up realising I just admitted that he is cute.

Aeryn nudged my shoulder and I faced her. "Y-yes?"

"Why are you blushing?" She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

"Oh...um...I am feeling a bit...hot you know..."

"The air conditioner is on, Harper. I wonder why you are feeling so hot." She smirked.

From the corner of my eyes I saw Gareth going back upstairs to keep the book and I glanced at him.

"Can't take your eyes off him, huh?" She grinned mischievously.

"Shut up. It's not that."

"So what is it?"

"Nothing, Aeryn. It's nothing."

"I beg to differ."

I groaned. "Stop teasing me!"

Gareth came back down and beside Carmel on the other couch and explained how he is possessive about his books and said sorry to her.

"Cute, isn't he?"

I hummed in agreement but on realising what just happened, my eyes widened and my head snapped to Aeryn who was smirking.

"Stop playing mind games with me!" I slapped her shoulder making her chuckle loudly and everyone looked at us.

"What mind games?" Gareth spoke looking between us curiously.

Aeryn started explaining. "I was just saying that--" I shrieked and placed my palm over her mouth stopping her from speaking.

"I'm very curious now..." Everette said amusingly and I glared at him and removed my palm from Aeryn's mouth cautiously.

"Yes, aunty do tell us." Carmel said and I frowned at her. "Aunty?"

"Aren't you and uncle getting married?" She asked.

"We are not getting married!" Gareth and I shouted at the same time.

Oh God! Get me out of this situation. Please.

Everyone laughed while Gareth and I were too embarrassed to say anything.

"Oh...I'll make sure it happens." Carmel muttered and Gareth and I glared at her making her grin.

"Gareth." Maria(Gareth's mother) said. "The media is going crazy. You need to officially announce your engagement."

"Yes, brother." Everette added.

Gareth sighed. "What am I supposed to do? Hold a party or something?"

"Yup." Everette replied.

"A party! Yay!" Carmel chirped in, feeling excited already.

Gareth ran his fingers through his hair as he ruminated about it. "I'll see what has to be done."

"Make it soon." Everette advised and Gareth hummed in response.

"By the way...can we all have lunch now? I am getting hungry." Aeryn said.

"I can cook something..." I suggested.

"No. Keep sitting where you are." Gareth ordered making me scowl.

He then called out. "Diana?"

Diana appeared from inside the kitchen. "Lunch is ready." She announced and Gareth smiled at her. "Thank you."

Everyone stood up and made their way to the kitchen where Diana was setting the table and Gareth and Carmel helped her while we all sat down.

As the table was set, Gareth sat beside me and we all started eating. I always wondered how it felt to have lunch with your family and now I know, it is an amazing feeling.

One that can't be replaced.

I lowered my head as tears welled up in my eyes and I tried holding them back. These tears were of both happiness and sadness. Sadness because I never had a family and happiness because I am finally getting to feel this.

"Harper?" Gareth whispered.

I immediately sniffed back my tears and putting a small smile on my face, turned to him. "Y-yes?"

"Are you okay?" He asked in a whisper making sure others don't hear it, concern hinting in his tone. And my stupid heart skipped a beat.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Why?"

"You looked lost. Anything wrong?"

I shook my head. "I was just thinking about something. Everything's okay."

He didn't look convinced yet he nodded. "Okay." And continued eating while joining in a conversation between Everette and Aeryn.

The lunch ended and everyone left soon leaving me with him again.

"I am thinking of holding a party this Saturday to announce our so called engagement. What do you say?" He asked a few minutes later after everyone left. I was sitting on the couch infront of the TV, switching between channels.

I switched off the TV. He stood in front of the couch, hands in his pockets. "I don't know...do as you wish."

He sighed. "If I start doing as I wish, you won't like it, honey."

I rolled my eyes. "Stop calling me honey. My name's Harper."

"I know your name's Harper. But honey sounds better." He grinned.

"Keep calling me that and I will punch you." I warned.

He smirked. "You told me that I can't touch and I think the same goes for you. Because if you touch me then indirectly I am touching you so..."

"That's a horrible way to put it."

"But it's true."

"Whatever..."

"Anyway." He spoke taking a seat beside me, at a distance, of course. "Will Saturday be fine for you for the party?"

"Any day will do. I'll have to take a leave from the restaurant anyway."

"Fine. And yes...for your information, Isaiah will be there."

"Why?"

He scowled. "It's necessary. I don't wanna invite him but I'll have to. Whatever backstory you two have, just make sure you don't cause any drama."

"I never cause any drama. It's always him!" I raised my voice.

"Just stay away from him. He's not a good man."

"Believe me, I know." I mumbled underneath my breath.

"Okay, then... buy yourself a nice dress for the party." He then took out his wallet from his pocket and opening it, pulled out his card and extended it towards me.

I opened my mouth to protest but he cut me off. "Please don't say you don't need my money. I know you don't. But please take this."

I eyed the card, contemplating whether to accept it or not. It's not that I have enough money to buy a decent dress that's up to his standard.

Sighing, I accepted the card. "Thank you."

He hummed walking back upstairs, to his study most probably.

.

.

.

Night fell and since I was feeling hot, I took a shower before going to bed.

After I came out, Gareth went in to change his clothes or to get out of them actually. I rolled my eyes at that thought as I dried my hair with a towel, standing in front of the mirror.

Coming out of the bathroom he glanced at me once and proceeded to spread out his duvet.

His back was towards me when he spoke. "During lunch, what were you thinking so deeply about?"

"Nothing important..."

"Was it about mother?" He turned around. "Did she freak you out or something?"

"No... she's sweet actually."

"Then what is it, Harper? Please don't take any stress..." He said softly. "If you want, you can share things with me."

"Thank you... it's just..."

He took a few steps towards me and I turned around to face him properly.

I gave him a small smile. "I was just thinking about how I got the family I never had. You know...I never saw my parents. Never had any family. Aeryn was the only family and support I ever had."

"It just felt good today to have lunch with everyone..." I added in a whisper.

He stepped ever more closer and I had to tilt my head a bit, considering he's taller than me, to look at him. A tiniest of smile gracing his lips.

"I'm glad you consider us your family." He said, his voice low.

Biting my lips, I nodded subtly.

He leaned down and his voice turned husky and teasing. "But what relation do I have with you in this family?"

I said playfully. "Just an asshole who fucked me."

"You encouraged me. I was just being a gentleman and dropping you home."

"You could have continued being that gentleman and pushed me out of your car and drove away." I retorted.

"Well...then that wouldn't be so gentleman of me to do, would it?" He smiled.

His smile was so contagious that my lips tilted into a smile too and his eyes flickered down to my lips.

"You kissed me first..." He whispered huskily.

"I know..." I whispered back.

He leaned in even more and his lips hovered mine yet not one part of our bodies touched.

His lips were a breath away from mine...how soft had they been that night.

For a second, I closed my eyes, memories from that night flooding into my mind. For a second, I wanted to forget everything and relive that night. For a second, I wanted to kiss him just like I did that night.

For a second--

The ringing of his phone broke out our trance. Making me realise what the hell I was about to do.

Cursing underneath my breath, I took a step back and he ackwardly turned around to his bed where his phone was lying and receiving the call, he left the room without looking at me.