When Harper awoke the next morning, Luke's side of the bed was empty. Stretching, she reached for some clothes, throwing on whatever was handy before bundling up her hair in a very messy top-knot. Moving to the kitchen she noticed a fresh pot of coffee and poured herself a mug before trying to find Luke, who ended up being in the small plot of grass on the side of the house with the puppies and Lucky.

"Good morning beautiful," he said as she joined him.

Harper had a moment of panic that it would be odd between the two of them, but it wasn't, it felt natural as he dropped a light kiss on her lips then pulled her close by placing his arm around her shoulders. "My shirt looks good on you." He smiled.

"It was all I could find," Harper said as she looked down at the shirt that fell to her knees.

They watched the puppies scamper around the grass and Lucky, who would round them back up when the wander off to far.

"I have to give her credit, she's a good mama," Luke said as he sipped his coffee.

"It's a shame we can't keep them all," Harper sighed as she watched Tank plow through them like a bowling ball.

"Don't start, I'll keep the funny looking one and the harlot, but the others have to find homes of their own." Luke looked down at her sad face and shook his head before dropping a kiss on her nose. "I mean it."

"I know," Harper agreed. But she didn't let her disappointment keep her from enjoying the moment. The early morning sunshine, fresh brewed coffee, cute puppies, and the man she loved holding her close. Life didn't get much better.

"What are you going to do today while I'm hard at work?" Luke reached down and grabbed Tank who was heading right for them.

The simple question made it feel as if they had been in a relationship for years not just a day.

"I thought that I would call Rita and talk to her about the possibility of her helping. Then I wanted to start researching local wines. I don't suppose your up for a road trip this weekend? We could check out a few of the local wineries, I could put together an itinerary."

"A romantic getaway, it sounds perfect. You'd better be careful or I might get spoiled, first Paris and now a tour of wine country." He gave he a squeeze and Harper's heart leapt at the idea. "Don't set it up until Saturday morning though, we have a family dinner with Mark this Friday to welcome him home."

Harper tensed, and Luke felt it at he dropped another kiss on the top of her head.

"It's not optional Harper, you can choose not to forgive them, and I won't blame you a bit, but you can't avoid them. I won't let you. They're my family too."

The sound of a car made them both turn. Mindy was pulling into the driveway and Luke gave Harper another squeeze. "I don't think I've ever seen Mindy outside quite so early before," Luke said as he turned them to face her as she got out of the car.

Harper noticed that she looked hesitant as she closed the car door and watched them from across the open space.

"Good morning Mindy," Luke greeted, the humor having left his voice.

Mindy seemed to gather her courage and walked towards them. "Good morning," she greeted softly as she bent down to pet a puppy.

"Would you like one, we have plenty that need good homes," Luke offered, never one to lose an opportunity.

"I'm sorry, my apartment doesn't allow pets," she said without looking at them as she focused on the puppies.

"That's a shame," Luke said as he whistled for Lucky and picked up the squirming pups, placing them in a large plastic bin. "Harper, you bring Tank when your done," he said as between him and Lucky they managed to herd the wiggling masses up the stairs, even when one tried to make a break for it over the side of the bin.

There was a heavy silence between Mindy and Harper, and Harper wished Luke's easy charm back to help ease the tension.

"You and Luke looked cozy," Mindy said as she cleared her throat.

"I don't see how that's possible, my boyfriend Richard might object," Harper drawled. Unable to stop herself. She saw Mindy wince in response to her words.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know what else to do! I panicked, Daddy would have killed me and you're so strong, you can handle his disapproval, I can't," she wailed.

"And that's supposed to make everything alright? He fired me Mindy, I have no job, how will I pay my bills? It's not so easy when Daddy stops paying them, you know? Oh, that's right, you don't know, he still pays for everything, at least for you, doesn't he? You have no clue how hard my life has been, I went into the business because I had to, you got to do what you wanted which was, oh right, you can't decide." Not that Harper could blame her on that one when she hadn't been able to decide for the longest time.

"I'm tired Mindy, I'm tired of taking the blame for your mistakes, I'm tired of trying to be the perfect daughter, but more than anything, I'm tired of not being able to do what I want to do. I'm done. I need a break." Harper picked up Tank and started walking towards the stairs. "If you want to try to make it up to me then try telling Dad the truth. Own your mistake." Then with out a backwards glance she ran up the stairs and into Luke's house.

He was nowhere to be found again, so she moved to the shower. Maybe she could take all of this negative energy and turn it into something positive.

She was letting the warm water rush over her skin when she heard the bathroom door open and then Luke's head pop around the shower curtain. "Nice view," he grinned as she threw a washcloth at him.

"I took your bag out of your car and put it on the bed, how did it go with Mindy?"

"Not good, I told her to tell Dad she lied and then I left," Harper said, leaning her head back to rinse the soap out of her hair.

"Maybe she will. Tell me more later?" Luke said as he dropped a quick kiss on her lips. "I have to go, I'll see you tonight." He gave her one last lingering look before he snapped the shower curtain back in place. "Don't try to cook anything, I'll cook when I get home," he insisted as he left.

Really, she wasn't that bad of a cook, she thought with a smile. Despite her conversation with Mindy she was happy. Something in her life that she wanted was going well.

*******

Later that night she was dishing up dinner as Luke entered the house. He froze an as his eyes narrowed at what she was doing.

"Don't worry, I didn't cook!" she insisted as she showed him the to-go bag. I had to run into town to get a few things, so I thought I would surprise you with dinner and a clean kitchen."

Luke walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist as he looked at what she was doing. "It smells good," he said before his attention turned towards all of the wine on the counter. "What's all that?"

"I thought we could have a little wine tasting after dinner. They're all Georgia wines."

"I get it, checking out the competition." Luke nodded. "Give me ten minutes to grab a shower." He dropped a kiss on her shoulder before moving away.

All day he had been pleased to think of her at his house, and walking in after a long day to see her waiting for him was even better than he had imagined. He was still curious to find out what happened between her and Mindy that morning.

Nothing at work had changed, Troy had been just as angry as she had been the day before, and everyone in the office was walking on eggshells. Luke, much like Harper, couldn't be bothered, he knew he had Harper waiting for him at home, and if he had anything to say about it, it was where she would stay.

He took a quick shower and rejoined her, sipping on the glass of wine she had poured for him

"What do you think?" she asked.

"It's nice," he said before he picked up his fork and took a giant bite of lasagna.

"That's all?"

"Harper, I'm not a wine expert, I like beer. All I can do is tell you if I like something or not." He took another bite of food watching a very put out looking Harper.

"Are you hungry?" she drawled as she watched him stuff another bite of food in his mouth.

"Yes, I am and, I thank you for the food." He grinned at her foul mood, thankful for it. There obviously wasn't going to a fake honeymoon period that happened in most new relationships. She was still the same Harper she had always been.

"What are you so please about?" she muttered with a frown.

"You, little miss homemaker with a bad attitude. What happened today?"

She sighed and leaned her head back as she looked at the kitchen ceiling. "It's not going to be as easy as I thought it was. Aunt Rita is willing, but there are so many international finance laws that it's a nightmare to navigate."

"Why don't you get your boyfriend, Richard, to help you out?" he suggested, eating his last bite.

"Ha ha!" Harper said.

"Are you going to eat that?" he asked, looking at her untouched plate.

"Yes," she nodded, still not touching the plate, watching him.

They stared at each other for a minute before Luke reached over and snagged the plate. Harper yelled at him and jumped up to grab it back, but he easily held it over his head where she couldn't get it.

"Come on Harper, you can do better than that," he instead as he spun and snatched a bite.

"You're eating my dinner!" She tried to get to him again, and he pulled her close with his free arm.

"Why don't you persuade me to give it back?" Suddenly he wasn't interested in the dinner anymore.

"Fine, but I do so under duress," she insisted as she wrapped her arms around him.

"Just shut-up and kiss me Harper, I've been thinking about it all day." He waited, wanting her to take the lead, but as her lips met his he couldn't wait any longer, and dinner was completely forgotten.