The next time I open my eyes the daylight has long since made its first appearance. I feel the need to take my morning stretch, but my efforts are being drowned by Harry's sleeping arm draped over my torso.

Despite not being able to move I can't stop smiling, taking my time to relive the memoir of my evening with him. The memories float peacefully around my brain while monopolizing my thoughts. I enjoy quietly lying next to him, and I'm holding onto these moments as long as I can.

Eventually I hear someone shuffling around in the kitchen. I slither my body out of Harry's loving clutch and head to the bathroom. Before leaving my room, I stare at Harry's beautiful toned and tattooed body, tangled in my sheets. He's breathtaking, I don't want to take my eyes off him, but I decide to stop watching him so I don't feel like a creeper.

I slip into my favorite sweatpants and hoodie then make my way to the kitchen. My feet are making a soft padding noise on the hardwood floors beneath my feet. I'm trying to make a little noise to alert Sam that I'm heading her way. I'm not trying to sneak up and scare the shit out of her. I step into the kitchen to see the beautiful California sun is forcing its presence into the room.

"Morning Sam, how was your night? What time did you get home?"

Sam sarcastically glares at me with pursed lips while she is pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"My night was great, but somehow I think yours was a little more eventful than mine. I shared a cab with Niall, and I got here around 3:30 or something."

"Well, it seems we are both lacking in sleep this morning."

I reach my hand into one of our refinished off-white cupboards and grab my favorite mug. My girls made it for me at one of those paint your own pottery places for Mother's Day two years ago. The sight of it is making me feel sentimental, taking my thoughts to another place, somewhere else, but not in this room.

Sam's voice retrieves my thoughts bringing them back to this moment.

"Hello...Willow Jasmine Wishart...is there anybody in there? You have a bad case of the, next morning post sex brain, don't you?"

I shake my head and blink a few times to gather myself.

"I'm sorry Sam, what were you saying?"

The moment these words leave my tongue I feel Harry's arms wrap around my waist from behind. He sensually greets me by kissing my neck in three different places. After each one he pauses for a moment then continues. My body melts into his when he quietly utters in my ear.

"Good morning Beautiful."

Sam turns away from the counter after making herself a bagel and she's startled by his presence. Her knife drops to the floor making a clinking sound when the metal lands on the linoleum.

"Shit...Harry I didn't know you were here. Damnit, you scared the crap out of me."

My voice is still heavy from lack of sleep and a raspy chuckle rises from inside me.

"Oops sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

Harry apologizes sincerely.

"It's fine. I don't know why the thought never crossed my mind that you were still here. Never mind, none of my business. Anyway, how was your sleep?"

Sam nods implying the question is for the two of us.

In unison we reply.

"Wonderful."

Harry tucks his hands into the front pocket of my hoodie rubbing small circles around my belly. He's slumped over with his chin perched on top of my head. It becomes obvious that Sam has no idea how to navigate this conversation without making it awkward, especially for herself. Let's face it, we're all adults and we know what happened last night and it was far from innocent.

"I'm gonna go take a shower and leave you two alone."

Sam playfully rolls her eyes and grabs the remainder of her coffee and bagel then heads to her room.

Shifting my weight, I spin around facing him. He makes sure to keep hold of my waist.

"Hello there handsome. So how did yesterday rank as far as birthdays are concerned?"

I know the answer, but I want to see his reaction.

Leaning down to my level and kissing me passionately, he speaks in between motions of his tongue sliding over mine.

"It was the best Darling, that was a really silly question though."

Smiling under his kiss I'm pleased by his reaction.

"Mmm, can I get you anything? Coffee, tea, bagel?"

I'm trying to make some distance between us. Now that the effects of our night have disappeared, I'm just waiting for him to make an excuse to leave. I'm apprehensive about the situation. My heart wants to believe we could really be in a relationship, but my head knows it's not possible.

I know I could fall madly in love with him for so many reasons, but I don't want to get hurt when he decides he wants someone with less baggage. He said he loves me, but that's not possible. Honestly, James made me believe that I was unworthy of this kind of love and I never really unlearned the concept. I know it's wrong now, I just can't shake it.

He brushes a lock of hair from my face then places his forehead on mine.

"I don't need anything except you right now. Mmm, kiss me Baby."

Damnit his lips taste so sweet and their fullness is a cushion for each movement. Everything about him is seriously dangerous to my health.

"Okay Cassanova, but let me make you breakfast before taking you home. What would you like to eat?"

"Home? I don't wanna go home; I was hoping I could spend the whole day with you. I want to spend as much time with you as I can while you're a free woman."

I believe he's implying that he wants to spend every moment with me while the girls are with their dad. Looking up into his eyes like a lost child I have to ask him why. Honestly no man has ever cherished my company the way Harry does, and none of this makes any sense to me.

"Really, why would you want to do that?"

"Because I don't wanna let you out of my sight. I wasn't lying when I told you I wanted to be with you."

He's lifting my chin so I can see the sincerity in his eyes.

"When I say that I'm gonna do something or that I want something, I mean it. You'll learn that about me real quickly. We have a connection and I know you feel it too. We can't ignore it. Well we could, but I don't want to."

For the second time in 24 hours he brings a tear to my eye. I let my fingertips crawl up his chest and I wrap my arms around his neck.

"I'm sorry for being apprehensive. I have no doubt that you're being genuine. I'm just second guessing myself, it's difficult for me to imagine you wanting to be with someone with so much personal stuff going on."

Smiling sideways he chuckles at my bashful apology.

"You're beautiful and amazing in every way. It's all part of who you are, and I want to be with you, I want to know more about you. Stop worrying yourself, we have something here. Let's just enjoy it."

He pulls me in clutching my body and kisses me on the forehead again.

"Okay, now that we got that out of the way, go get dressed. I'm cooking breakfast for you."

He pats me on my ass playfully implying he wants me to scoot along.

I return wearing one of my favorite pair of skinny jeans and an airy white button-down shirt.

"Wow, you look stunning. You light up this room Darling. Are you hungry?"

His compliment makes my cheeks rosy and flushed.

"Thank you. I'm famished, what are you making, it smells great?"

He displays a massive amount of confidence in his cooking abilities, he seems to be confident in everything he does. It's sexy and it feels safe. He serves me a plate of pancakes with warm maple syrup on the side. He leans down and quickly kisses my lips.

"Go ahead, eat before it gets cold."

I don't know what he did to these pancakes but they're spectacular. Everything he does seems to be sprinkled with magic. I finish my plate of food and drink the orange juice he poured for me.

"Thank you babe, that was excellent. So, what do you want to do today?"

He shrugs his shoulders while swallowing a bite of his own food.

"Don't know, still working on that plan. Don't be nosy, I'll make sure you enjoy it."

"Okay bossy."

I love having playful conversations with him, I reach over and place my hand on his to let him know I appreciate it. He responds by lacing his fingers through mine and giving three gentle squeezes back.

***

After eating breakfast, we go out to the patio with his tea and my coffee. We scoot our chairs close to one another and hold hands joining them on my lap. We're at peace, silently looking out over the city. Harry finally breaks the silence.

"The weather is beautiful; how would you like to do something outside?"

"That sounds like a great idea."

Carrying on our conversation we decide to head to his house and get him a change of clothes. I go to my room to grab my shoes; I yell down the hallway.

"I'm almost ready Babe."

But there's no response, and my blood runs cold. I hear the girls outside and James in the living room running his mouth. What the hell is he doing here?

He's shouting at me, then at Harry, and then back at me.

"What the hell is going on Willow? Who the fuck are you anyway? Damnit you said we wouldn't introduce the girls to any new partners before we discussed it with each other."

I enter the room and see James irritated, his face red trying to be intimiding by getting in his space. It's ridiculous to watch because Harry towers over him and he obviously has greater strength too.

"It's a pleasure to see you too James." I greet sarcastically. "First of all, we did make that agreement, but you weren't supposed to be here today. Remember? If I knew you were coming, then I wouldn't have had a house guest."

"I don't give a shit Willow; this is crap and you're a damn slut."

Now he pissed Harry off who's been trying to stay out of the situation. He protectively takes hold of my hand and steps in front of me before addressing him.

"I know you don't know me, but I'm only going to tell you one time that you WILL NOT speak to her that way again. Am I understood?"

James backs off a bit, but there's still rage in his eyes. He really should just give up the tough guy act, Harry is a gentle soul, but I get the idea that he would fight to the death for someone he cares for.

"Whatever man." He scoffs. "Willow, who is this clown?"

"James meet Harry, Harry meet James."

I humor him with an introduction and I'm happily impressed with Harry's response. After giving him a verbal lashing, he extends his hand towards James to give a polite British greeting.

"Nice to meet you mate."

James insincerely retorts to the introduction with a simple humph.

"Wait a second, aren't you that guy from that boy band that Lark and Lil listen to?"

"That would be me." Harry rolls his eyes unimpressed with the conversation.

"I'm gonna go hang out in your room before the girls come inside."

He held my hand this whole conversation like a steady rock. As he strides away his fingers slide from mine leaving them lonely and unsure. I'm longing to have them back, but that will have to wait until later because it's not the right time for the girls to meet him.

"Jesus Willow, you've got to be kidding me. Don't you think he's a little young for you? And where did you find him by the way?"

"Not that I am obligated to answer your inquisition but he's not THAT much younger than me and I met him when Sam and I went dancing last night."

"So, you brought him home the first night you met him? Whatever, I don't care anymore. The only reason I'm here is because the girls forgot their swimsuits, so I thought I'd swing by and pick them up."

"You didn't think you needed to call first?"

My question completely dumbfounds him, he has no concept of boundaries or courtesy. He just shrugs his shoulders because he knows there's no good explanation for his behavior. He likes to play this little game; he still thinks it's his business to know who I'm friends with or who I'm dating.

"Enough of the games, you're trying to find out what I was doing and it's none of your damn business. Stop your shit..."

Lark and Lily come bouncing into the house, so I change my tone and end the discussion.

"Hi Mama, Lark and I forgot our swimsuits. Daddy is gonna take us swimming."

"That's great Sweetheart, did you tell Daddy thank you for taking you?"

"Uh huh, and he said he's gonna take us to get ice cream too."

Lily is bouncing up and down, she's so excited she can hardly contain herself.

"Yeah Mama, and we're going for pizza tonight too."

Lark comes over and gives me a hug. She's obviously excited that they're eating pizza for dinner, but I can tell she feels the tension in the room. She's at the age when she knows her father well enough, and has seen enough to know when his temper is about ready to explode. Being protective of her sister, she quietly takes her hand and walks her to the bedroom to grab their things.

It pisses me off that Larks' had to learn this stupid dance to avoid potential explosions from her dad. She's too young to be dealing with this shit, and it's not fair to her. For the sake of some sort of peace, I push my irritation aside. I'm trying to be the bigger person, when all I want to do is slap him in the face.

"It sounds like you have quite the big day planned. They should sleep well for you tonight James."

I hear footsteps coming from the direction of Sam's room. She walks in, and then tries to walk back out when she sees who's here. Unfortunately for her she wasn't quick enough. She can't stand him, and it takes all her control to be civilized when he's around. She thinks he's a snake, and let's just say she is a great judge of character.

"Hey Sam, what did you and Willow do last night?"

He's digging for information, but she knows better than to give him any.

"James, seriously? Knock it off!"

Sam looks like she is on the verge of strangling him, and she probably would if the girls weren't here.

"I'm just making casual conversation."

I glare at him as a warning to stop. I need to get them out of here before he stirs up any more trouble. The girls are back in the room, and although I don't want them to leave, things are not going well. I need to prevent any further damage from being done.

"You better get going so you can enjoy your big day. Mama loves you so much."

Lark and Lily come to my side and I wrap my arms around them. They both receive a kiss on the forehead as I scoot them along. Although, Lark lingers for a moment looking back and forth between her father and I. I nod my head signaling everything's under control, she timidly smiles back and waves while heading towards the door.

"I'll see you next week. I want you to call me before bed every night okay?"

She nods in agreement then runs out to James' rental car.

"You're not cute James, don't pull that shit in front of the girls again. You came in here bitching about how you were pissed that I had someone over here in front of the girls and then you try to start a conversation about him in front of them. I'm not going to argue with you about this, just don't do it again, go have fun with the girls and I'll see you next week."

He can't resist saying something nasty on his way out the door.

"Whatever, bitch."

"See you later James, you're a class act buddy!"

Sam has a hard time biting her tongue especially around him. She shoo's him out the door then shuts and locks it when he's gone.

"What a fucking dick! Willow what did you ever see in him?"

I scratch my head trying to think of a logical answer, I decide there isn't one.

"My only explanation is that I was in high school and I didn't know any better."

The more I think about it that isn't a good excuse either, but I have nothing else to offer.

"I'm gonna go check on Harry. I'm sure this encounter with James is going to send him running. Why does he have to ruin everything?"

Sam gives me a hug reassuring me that everything will be okay and sends me on my way.

"Hang in there girl. Don't let that asshole ruin your day."