by Susan Meier
“Okay. Good night.”
“Good night.”
Wednesday morning, he was gone before she and Crystal came out of her bedroom. Knowing it was better for them to each have some personal space, she fed Crystal, ate breakfast, dressed to meet Bill at the first house and said goodbye to Mrs. Petrillo, who had agreed to stay with the baby.
She met Bill at the condo building, rode up in the elevator with him and strode down the hall like a businesswoman doing a job.
Just the thought straightened her spine with confidence. She’d liked working. Not for money, but to have a place in society. To provide a service. The task Seth probably considered a throw-away job reminded her of the sense of purpose that she’d missed for the five years she and Clark had been married.
Bill unlocked the door and presented the space to her.
“Oh.” She carefully eased into the beautiful home. “It’s lovely.”
Bill followed her. “I didn’t think old-style charm suited Mr. McCallan. But this modern floorplan does.”
She took in the gray hardwood floors, white wood trim, paler gray walls and modern furniture. “It’s gorgeous.”
They walked down a hall to the bedrooms. The entire condo was perfect. Very suited to Seth with clean lines and neutral tones that allowed for more colorful furniture and window treatments.
Riding down in the elevator, she told Bill that she definitely thought this one was a contender and he grinned.
“Good.” He paused for a second then said, “So how do you know the McCallans?”
“My husband was Seth’s best friend.”
His smile warmed. “I see.”
“I’m helping him find a new home and he’s helping me with a few things.”
Bill sniffed a laugh. “Don’t be angry but I thought the two of you might be dating.”
She pictured it. Having private dinners on the balcony of a gorgeous penthouse overlooking the city. Teaching him to love Crystal. More kisses like the first one they’d shared.
Her heart stuttered. Not just because the images gave her a warm, happy feeling, but because for a second, she’d forgotten about Clark.
She took a calming breath to steady her heart and ease the guilt. “No. Just friends.”
“Well, that’s good news for me then.”
She frowned. “It is?”
“It means I can ask you out.”
Ask her out?
He was attracted to her?
“Oh.” The oddest sensation wound through her. Anytime Seth was close, her shivers were the good kind. This feeling wasn’t like that. It wasn’t revulsion. It was more like confusion mixed with lack of interest.
And once again, Clark wasn’t anywhere in the picture.
This time when her heart squeezed, it wasn’t from the thrill of being around Seth. It was her soul’s gentle reminder that Clark kept falling out of the picture because he was gone. Had been for a year. The shock and sadness that had enveloped her immediately after his death had lessened to a dull ache that felt more like a memory than real pain.
She swallowed back the sorrow of that. It felt like the last step in losing him.
“That’s very nice of you, but I’m not dating right now. My husband’s only been dead a year. I’m just getting back in the world of work. I’m not ready yet.”
He flipped a card from his jacket pocket and handed it to her in one smooth movement. “When you are, give me a call.”
She smiled and took the card but the realization that Clark was gone—really gone—pressed down on her chest. It wasn’t pain. She would have welcomed pain. But an empty, awful awareness that this stage was the end. And she really was alone.
Except for Seth. Kind. Generous. Seth.
Whom she’d given the brushoff after the cocktail party.
Her chest tightened, but she ignored it. She might be adjusting to Clark’s death, easing him and their life together into a memory, but that didn’t mean she was ready to date. Especially not someone like Seth. Social. Outgoing. Playboy.
She frowned. Those things were supposed to set her straight about him. Instead, she remembered being in his car, the wind in her hair—
No. Seth wasn’t right for her.
Bill showed her two other homes, one of which was a maybe, but the third one that he’d added on the fly was a definite no.
By the time she was back at Seth’s condo, soon to be her condo, it was nearly seven.
Seth and Mrs. Petrillo sat on the sofa, watching Wheel of Fortune, with baby Crystal tucked in her carrier, sitting between them.
“Hey.”
All eyes turned to her.
“Sorry, it took longer than I expected. But the good news is, I think two of the condos he showed me today would be perfect for you.”
She walked over to the sofa and lifted Crystal out of the carrier. Her little girl grinned at her. “I know why you’re grinning. You should be getting ready for bed.”
Mrs. Petrillo slapped her knees and hoisted herself from the sofa. “And this is my cue to leave.” As she passed Harper, she whispered, “Seth told me it was okay to let her stay up.”
Harper laughed. “She’s fine. As long as I get her to bed by eight, I’m happy.”
Mrs. Petrillo shuffled out the door and Harper turned to Seth. “I noticed that you didn’t comment when I said I thought we might have found two condos suited to you.”
“That’s great.”
“You don’t sound like you think it’s great.”
“That’s because I’m not sure I don’t want a house rather than a condo. Someplace like Connecticut or Montauk.”
The change surprised her enough that she forgot about herself, losing Clark and even being attracted to Seth. Though money wasn’t changing hands, he’d hired her to help him. And she wanted to do this. Not just to get an interest-free home, but to pay him back for all the kindnesses he’d extended to her.
“Okay. I’ll talk to Bill about it.”
Seth rose from the sofa. “No. I’ll talk to him. I’ll call him tomorrow.”
Confusion skittered through her. First, he was changing what he wanted, now he was edging her out? “Isn’t that what I’m supposed to be doing for you?”
“No. You’re taking the first look at what he comes up with.” His voice was cool, serious.
All the fears she’d had the night before trembled back, sprinkled with the sense that he was trying to get away from her—or wanted nothing to do with her.
“What I’d like in a house is different than what I’d need in something in the city. Once I tell Bill, he’ll find a few things. Then you’re on the job again.”
She nodded, but something odd filled the air.
“After you take care of Crystal then we can figure out what to do for dinner. I was thinking maybe a pizza.”
“Pizza sounds great.” She took Crystal back to her bedroom. As she changed the baby into pajamas, she tried to figure out what the odd thing was. She replayed all the conversations she and Seth had had since she’d moved in with him. He’d kissed her once—as part of a charade. The one time he had flirted with her, after the cocktail party, she’d told him she wanted nothing to do with him.
And now he wasn’t mad. But he wasn’t happy, either. And why would he be? He was stuck in the same house with a woman who’d rebuffed him.
She had to find him somewhere to live—and quickly—before they grew to dislike each other.
* * *
In his office Thursday morning, Seth heard the sound of Jake and Sabrina laughing. His brow wrinkled. Sabrina never came to McCallan, Inc. She wanted no part of the family business and, given their history, Jake and Seth had understood.
Curiosity overwhelmed him, and he rose from his tall-back leather chair and strode out into the private reception area for the executive offi
ces.
“Seth!” Sabrina raced over and kissed his cheek. “In all the mess after the showing over the weekend, I forgot to give you a new invitation to my exhibit on Saturday.”
He pulled the embossed card from the white envelope. A McCallan didn’t need an invitation to get into anything, except... He saw the name of the gallery—in Paris—and winced. “I’d forgotten all about this.”
Sabrina’s face fell. “You have to come! Pierre is flipping out. It’s the first time we’ve done an exhibit alone together. It’s the first time he’s done an exhibit alone with anyone. Honestly, Seth, I worry he might just bail at the last minute and then it’ll be Sally. All by herself.”
Seth glanced up from his invitation. “Would that be so bad?”
Her face filled with horror. “He’s the star. I’m the also-ran. If he bails, the exhibit is canceled. I’ll need a shoulder to cry on.”
“You’ll have Jake.”
Jake shook his head. “We’re leaving early. Avery has a trial.”
Sabina turned pleading blue eyes on him. “If Avery and Jake can squeeze me in around a trial, whatever you have can be canceled.”
“I...” He sucked in a breath, palming the invitation, which included Harper. He didn’t know how this would go over with Harper, but the addition of her name to the invitation was more than a clue that Sabrina expected her there, too. And maybe being across an ocean, with Jake and Avery and Sabrina, would be better than running around the city all weekend, trying to figure out reasons to stay out of his apartment. “Sure.”
Sabrina impulsively hugged him. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
“And bring Harper’s little girl.”
Jake said, “That’s a great idea. We’ve hired a nanny for Friday night and Saturday. She can keep Crystal, too. That’ll give Abby someone to play with.”
“Crystal’s not much on playing. She basically sits in a carrier when she isn’t sleeping.”
“That’s even better. That’ll give Abby a chance to adjust to being around a baby for when Avery and I decide it’s time to have another.”
As Sabrina turned to the elevator, Jake headed back to his office and Seth stood alone in the quiet reception area.
Not only were he and Harper going to France, but it also appeared they were taking the baby.
How was he going to tell Harper they’d be spending the weekend in Paris? Leaving that night so they’d have Friday to adjust to the time change and be ready for the Saturday afternoon showing.
He called her. “I have something that might not be good news.”
A light sigh drifted from his phone. “You decided you didn’t want to move.”
He shook his head, realizing that she thought of a lot of life in negative terms. Maybe because hers had been so difficult. First, a demanding mom, then losing her husband, then finding out their financial situation had been a lie.
“No. We’re going to Paris this weekend.”
“What?”
“My sister has a showing. Unless we want our secret to get out, we have to go. The whole family had promised we’d be there for her when Sabrina made these arrangements.” He shook his head. “It kind of snuck up on me. Sorry.”
She laughed. “You’re sorry that you’re taking me to Paris?” She gasped. “Oh. I can’t go. I have Crystal!”
“Jake would like her to come along. He’s got a nanny for Abby and he’d also like Abby to be around a baby. I think he and Avery are thinking of having another one.”
“Crystal gets to come along?”
“I hope she’s got a party dress.”
Harper laughed. “I’m sorry, Seth, to be so excited about something that’s probably a burden for you, but I’ve never been to France!”
“You haven’t?”
“No. My parents didn’t start traveling until after I left home.”
“Okay, then. Pack appropriately.”
“Do you think Avery would mind if I called to see what I need to bring?”
“I don’t see why. She likes you.” He winced. “Oh, and one more little thing. We’re leaving tonight.”
“Tonight! Good grief, Seth! I’ll talk to you later! I have to call Avery and pack.”
They flew to Paris with Avery, Jake and little Abby, and slept through most of the flight—without a problem or complicated explanation because Seth and Harper volunteered to take the bedroom with twin beds and give the jet’s master suite to Avery and Jake. Though they’d left New York at eleven o’clock at night, given the flight time and the time difference, they arrived in Paris in the early afternoon.
They piled into the limo, which had two car seats already installed, and Harper secretly marveled at the ease of it.
The brothers joked about staying at the Four Seasons because their mother stayed at the Bristol and Avery sighed. “Your mother is lovely.”
Jake said, “I know that. It’s just that no man wants to stay in the same hotel as his mom when he’s away from work.” He gave Avery a significant look. “We want to have some fun.”
Avery laughed.
Harper struggled not to gape at them. No matter how much time she spent with Avery and Jake, she still couldn’t believe how normal they were. Or how equal they were. Jake managed behemoth McCallan, Inc., yet Avery’s career as a small-town lawyer was every bit as important. They shared baby chores. Jake grilled burgers, hot dogs or steak once a week. And though they had a penthouse on the Upper East Side, they spent most of their time at a house in Pennsylvania.
The group checked in at the Four Seasons and separated when Seth and Harper got off on the floor of their suite and Jake and Avery rode to the penthouse.
Harper tried not to gape at the luxurious suite, but it was no use. The place was amazing. The door had opened onto a living room with pale furniture, bowls of white roses scattered everywhere and views of the city that took her breath away.
“There are two bedrooms. My assistant also ordered a crib.”
At the mention of his assistant, Harper held back a wince. She might be staying the weekend in a suite like this, but next month she’d be the one ordering the crib for some other lucky family.
“We should get breakfast. It might be afternoon in Paris, but we’re still on New York time.”
Carrying sleeping Crystal, Harper opened the first bedroom door and saw a crib in the fabulous bedroom with a thick blue comforter and white furniture. With the pale blue curtains open, she had another view of the city.
She almost couldn’t wrap her mind around the fact that she was in Paris. That Seth’s family apparently flew here all the time. That their life didn’t revolve around making money.
She faced Seth and said, “Sure. Breakfast is a great idea.”
Seth eyed her shrewdly. “What’s up?”
“I’m just a little blown away by it all.”
He slipped out of his black leather jacket. “It is nice.”
“It’s amazing.” His whole life was amazing. He worked, but it wasn’t his life. He could have anything he wanted but he was down-to-earth. Maybe more than Clark had been.
He laughed. “Does that mean you want to go out to eat?”
“Avery said your mom has plans for dinner this evening. Crystal will be staying with the nanny for that. So maybe it would be best if we ate here.” She paused then said, “If there’s somewhere you want to go, you can. I just don’t like to leave her for long stretches of time and she’ll be getting up from her nap soon.”
He plopped to the expensive sofa as if it were a beanbag chair. “Then I’ll stay, too.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Hey, we’re supposed to be a couple. I can’t go prowling Paris like a single guy.”
She nodded. But her heart took a tumble. Just as she’d be somebody’s assistant in another month, s
he’d also be away from Seth.
“For the weekend, let’s be a couple. Let’s do what we’d do if we really were dating so that there won’t be any slipups with my mom.”
“All right.”
He angled his feet on the gorgeous cut-glass coffee table. “What would you and Crystal do on an afternoon in Paris?”
She thought about that for a second. “After I ate, I’d probably see if I could get a stroller and take Crystal around the city.”
“See how simple that was?”
She laughed. “I suppose.”
They ordered breakfast and just as they were finishing eating, Crystal woke. Harper brought her out and fed her a bottle, as Seth called the concierge for a stroller.
It arrived only a minute or so after Harper changed Crystal into a simple pink dress and sun hat.
As she tucked Crystal into the stroller, Seth said, “We can stroll around until five or so, then we need to get back to dress for dinner.”
“It’s formal?”
He shook his head. “No, but my mom is a stickler for time. She hates when anyone is late.”
“Okay.”
They rode the elevator to the lobby, which was filled with an abundance of flowers. The rich woods and marble gleamed in the afternoon sun.
Stepping out into the fresh air that smelled faintly of the rain that had fallen as they drove from the airport and onto gray brick streets, she inhaled deeply. The rich aromas of a nearby bakery teased her. “Makes me wish I hadn’t eaten yet.”
Seth slid on his sunglasses. Harper looked at him out of the corner of her eye. Not only did his life not revolve around money, but he also seemed so casual with her. As if walking the streets of one of the world’s most wonderful cities with a widow and her baby was fun.
He turned to her, looking sexy and male in his leather jacket and shades. “Where to?”
“I don’t know.” She laughed lightly. “Let’s just walk.”
“If you only want to take a stroll, here’s what we’ll do.” They started down the street and made a turn that took them to Champs-Élysées.
