by Susan Meier
She gasped. Leafy green trees and shops lined the gray brick-and-marble avenue, along with restaurants and vendors. The Arc de Triomphe stood like a sentinel at the end. Tourists bobbed and wove along the busy sidewalk.
“Because we’re not going to be here long and most of our time will be spent at the gallery with Sabrina, I thought this might be the best way to see at least a little of Paris.”
She inhaled again. “This is amazing.”
“This is one of the best parts of Paris.” He pointed at some shops. “You can buy anything from a cheap souvenir to a diamond tiara.”
She gaped in awe. “I see that.”
“Plus, it’s the best place to get a real take on the people. On any day, you can walk into a designer store and see anybody from a rock star to a tourist who’d saved his whole life to get here.”
She glanced around, still amazed. “I’d save to come back here.” She shrugged. “Maybe see the whole city.”
“Or sit at a sidewalk café and enjoy the show the tourists put on.” He motioned to the right. “I haven’t really had my morning quota of coffee. Do you mind if we stop? I’ll buy you a croissant.”
“I just ate!”
“Yeah, but sniff the air again.”
She did and was rewarded by the scent of butter and vanilla, cocoa and coffee.
She groaned. “All right. I probably could eat a little something else.”
They settled on seats at a round table in the corner of the café. Harper lifted Crystal from her stroller and set her on her lap as Seth ordered in French.
This time she didn’t look at him as if he were special. She was finally beginning to realize that his life allowed him to ease himself into other cultures, other worlds, places she’d probably never see.
She glanced at the baby on her lap and sort of understood her mother’s fanaticism with becoming wealthy. Except her mom only wanted to lunch with the right people. She didn’t understand the lush, broad life having money could provide. She just wanted to look good in Chanel. She was missing everything.
The waiter brought a pot of coffee and a tray of croissants and some things Harper didn’t recognize. Her mouth watered.
Seth pointed to the tray. “These are madeleines, little cakes, and these are macaron.” Glancing at her, he smiled. “My suggestion is take a bite of each.”
That sounded like a good idea to her.
As he poured the coffee, she gingerly lifted one of the madeleines and bit into it. Her tongue rejoiced. “Oh, my God. There is no way I’m not eating this whole thing.”
“Go ahead.” He set a cup filled with coffee on the saucer beside her. “You’re too thin, anyway.”
And he’d noticed.
She shifted Crystal on her lap, took a sip of the rich, dark coffee, then finished the fluffy little cake that all but melted in her mouth.
Seth grabbed a croissant. He wasn’t going to Paris and not eat a pastry. But he surreptitiously kept his eyes on Harper as she indulged in the treats. Not only did he mean what he’d said about her being too thin, but it also pleased him to watch her indulge.
Now that he knew she and Clark hadn’t been on the solid financial ground that Seth had believed they were, he sincerely doubted anyone had ever spoiled her. Oh, her parents had given her things. Tons of things. All the things her image-conscious mother thought she should have. And Clark had given her things. All the things he needed for her to have to keep up the impression that he was financially stable.
But no one had ever spoiled her. His mission to show her a good time at the cocktail party had worked—until he’d flirted with her. So today he’d make it his mission to give her the best three days she ever had—without the flirting.
Crystal made a sound. Halfway between a “goo” and a “coo,” the light noise floated over to him.
Seth tried to stay silent but couldn’t. “Did she talk?”
Harper laughed. “No, she said ‘goo.’ I’ve been working with her.”
“Working with her?”
“Getting a baby to say ‘goo’ is a way to get her acquainted with her vocal cords.”
Seth never realized it was that complicated. His gaze stayed focused on Crystal. She looked at him and smiled before she pursed her little lips and said, “Goo.”
He swore it was as if she knew he was curious. Mostly because she looked him right in the eye and seemed to say it to him.
His heart swelled. His throat tightened. It was so amazing to see a child learn that he was almost speechless from it.
Harper tickled her belly. “Are you chatty now?”
The baby giggled.
Seth sat mesmerized. Not because anything happening was so special but because it was so ordinary. He’d stayed away from babies all his life, thinking they were a nuisance or at least too fragile for him to be around. But Crystal wasn’t. She was a little ball of cuteness.
He reached out and pulled her from Harper’s lap. “Are you trying to flirt with me?”
When she giggled, he grinned. “Holy cow, she’s cute.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
HARPER STARED AT Seth as he held her baby at eye level and talked to her. Speechless didn’t come close to what she was feeling. For a guy who’d only a few weeks before claimed he was afraid of babies, he held Crystal like a pro.
“You wouldn’t be the first woman to try to steal me away.”
Crystal patted his face. He didn’t even blink.
Harper took a sip of coffee to ground herself in reality, but the delicious pastries were forgotten as he made stupid faces and talked with her little girl.
Warmth filled her, and she had to make a conscious effort not to let the amazing feelings she’d been having for weeks bubble up and form the word.
Love.
She could not love him.
She wasn’t even supposed to like him, had struggled to keep her emotions in check. Yet here she was, with a feeling in the pit of her stomach that couldn’t be denied. Love. Or at least the beginnings of it.
He was easy to be around, fun to be around, and he could no longer say he didn’t like babies.
And she’d made her peace with Clark being gone.
She could love Seth. She simply couldn’t do anything about it. He was a playboy, not the kind of guy to get serious. And even if he was...why would he pick her?
Clark’s widow. She might be someone he’d play with, but that would be all.
Considering all these feelings were new, maybe they weren’t fully formed? Maybe they were a possibility, not a total conclusion? Maybe she could guide them, so they wouldn’t fully form?
She ended her debate with the knowledge that Seth was a great guy, worthy of her affection as a friend, and that settled her mind. It gave her great peace not to be fighting herself. She liked the idea of having feelings for him. She also liked the idea of controlling them. That was, after all, what adults did. Not let every little wisp in the wind drag them into things that were wrong for them.
That’s how she could have a good time, not get hurt herself, not hurt or annoy Seth. Who probably wouldn’t want to know she was feeling all this.
They spent the next hour with her pushing the stroller toward the Arc. But half the time Crystal wasn’t in it. Seth picked her up and gave her her own personal tour of the city.
When Crystal tired, they went back to the hotel. Harper fed her and put her down for a nap, but she didn’t go back to the sitting room with Seth. She took a long bath to pamper herself, then dressed for dinner early, knowing she had to take Crystal to the penthouse so the nanny Jake and Avery had hired could watch both babies.
She dressed Crystal in pajamas, then packed a diaper bag. When she came out of her room, Seth was nowhere in sight, so she left him a note that she was taking the baby upstairs to the nanny.
When she got to the
penthouse, the luxury of it stole her breath. But Avery and Jake were so casual that she soon relaxed. She played a bit with Crystal, allowing little Abby to join a game of peekaboo, so both babies would be comfortable.
With the babies settled, they headed down in the elevator with Jake and Avery to get Seth because they were riding together to their mother’s hotel for a predinner drink and then going to the restaurant.
Avery kept up a steady conversation with Maureen about projects the McCallans could support over the coming year, making dinner lively and even fun. Harper nearly volunteered to help with a campaign or two, but she kept her mouth shut. A month from now, she’d have a job. As a single mom, there was no guarantee she’d have time for projects.
The next morning, she and Seth ate breakfast in their suite and walked back to the café for lunch. Afterward, Seth played with Crystal while Harper dressed for the exhibit opening.
When she came out of her room, wearing a red sparkly dress that she’d picked up after her discussion with Avery about what to wear, Seth whistled. “See what a little croissant will do for you?”
She laughed. “I didn’t gain weight overnight.”
He handed her the baby. “You look amazing. Now, let me go get into my monkey suit and we’ll be on our way.”
“I’ll take the baby up to the nanny.”
Headed for his bedroom, he said, “Good idea.”
Harper watched him go, feeling something she didn’t want to describe. She’d settled this yesterday. Told herself it was okay to like him as a friend, a good friend, but it was wrong to fall in love. Though she couldn’t deny the longing that rippled through her. She wouldn’t let herself verbalize the wish that he’d fall in love with her. Knowing he didn’t want a relationship with anyone was her one stronghold in reality. He might have gotten accustomed to her baby. He might even like Harper enough to flirt with her. But she’d never inspire in him the wish for anything beyond a one-night stand. She simply wasn’t special enough. He was more the model, actress, rock goddess kind.
Two hours later they were hip-deep in a cocktail party. His sister, as always, dazzled in a blue dress that sparkled almost as much as her eyes did. In a city where her face wasn’t instantly recognizable, she could easily be Sally McMillen for a couple of hours, mingle with fans and, in general, enjoy the fruits of her labors as an artist.
Still, she didn’t hold a candle to Harper, who stood by Sabrina, in a circle of fans, listening to Sabrina talk.
Jake sidled up to him. “You know you don’t have to eat dinner with us tonight.”
He faced his brother. “What?”
“You and Harper could go somewhere alone. The nanny stays all night, so we could keep Crystal all night.”
Not sure what his brother was hinting at, Seth stared at him. “What are you talking about?”
Jake nudged his shoulder. “You and Harper needing some time together. I see the way you’re looking at her. Like somebody who doesn’t get enough alone time.” He leaned in closer. “Get a cab, take her to a restaurant with a view of the Seine. And be romantic.”
Seth almost laughed. The last thing Harper wanted was for him to be romantic. She liked him as a friend. The nice guy who was helping her.
Although, he had decided that his mission this weekend would be to pamper her. A private dinner where she didn’t have to listen to Sabrina’s boyfriend Pierre whine, or worse, pout because Sabrina’s work was getting more attention than his, would be a welcome treat. And not having to worry about getting up in the middle of the night would be even better.
His brother didn’t have to know they weren’t doing this for romance but to give her a weekend she’d remember.
“Thanks. I think we’ll take you up on that.”
He used his phone to find a good restaurant and his name to get a table. A half hour before the reservation, he walked up to Harper with the slim wrap she’d brought for the evening chill.
“What’s this?”
“I’ve decided you’ve had enough McCallan time and I made reservations for dinner.”
She blinked. “You did?”
He glanced around to make sure there was no one close enough to overhear. “Don’t worry. Nothing romantic.”
She blushed. “I didn’t really mean that as horrible as it sounded.”
He helped her with her wrap. “I get it. Clark and I were friends. No widow wants to date her husband’s friend. Worse, I’m not exactly the guy who’s going to settle down.” He smiled. “We’re both safe. But we’re also both hungry and a little sick of Pierre. Let’s go.”
“Okay.”
They tracked down Sabrina, his mom and Jake and Avery to bow out of dinner with the family and were on the street at the same time their car arrived. On the drive to the restaurant, she talked about sending out a few résumés the following week and before they knew it they had arrived.
A tall, slim man in a black suit led them to a quiet table in the back with a view of the lights sparkling off the Seine. A waiter had glasses of wine in their hands within minutes.
She took a sip, sighed and sat back on her seat. “You cannot believe how good this feels.”
“Sure, I can. I’ve had long days at work and I imagine that’s what being with my family has felt like to you. Work.”
She shook her head, then took another sip of wine. “No. I like your family. A weekend with my mom would feel like work, but I’ve been having fun with your sister and Avery.” She grew thoughtful. “I’m not sure how I lost my girlfriends. You get married and your life starts to revolve around a man and before you know it, his friends’ wives are your friends.” She shrugged. “When Clark was gone, those friends drifted away.”
Seth leaned a little closer on the table. “Then they weren’t very good friends.”
“I suppose not.”
She pointed out the window. “Look at the lights. It’s amazing how the world can be the same yet different.”
“Sort of like the difference between the beach and the mountains?”
“It’s more than that. Paris is...warm. The people seem to enjoy feeding tourists.”
He laughed. “You’ve obviously never been to Italy or you’d know the way Parisians treat you is not all that warm. I once went to a restaurant where the chef actually came out and sat with me because he knew I’d enjoy his new dish.”
“No kidding.” She smiled. “Where else have you been?”
He thought for a second. “I haven’t been as many places as I’d like. My work has taken me all over Europe and I’ve even been to the Middle East and some of Asia but what I’d really like to see are places like Dubai.”
“I’d like to see Scotland and Ireland.”
“Really?”
“They just seem so green and lush.”
“And you have a thing for taverns?”
She laughed. “Maybe.”
Their food arrived, and she again ate with gusto. Their conversations went from travel to Crystal to how grateful she was that he was selling her his condo. His mind clouded at the idea of her living in his condo without him. Luckily, by then their meal was long gone and their last glasses of wine had been finished.
Outside, he reached for his phone to call for a ride, but she stopped him. “Let’s walk a bit.”
The urge to take her hand rose in him, but he’d learned his lesson and kept his hands in his pockets. It was ironic that around his family, he could touch her as much as he wanted, but along the banks of the beautiful river, with the sensuous air of the romance of Paris surrounding them, he had to keep his distance.
Stars twinkled overhead. As the air began to chill, lovers huddled together, laughing, stealing kisses. But he and Harper walked along, quiet, not touching.
When she shivered, he said, “Okay. That’s enough. It might be the most wonderful walk of your life, but I wo
n’t let you freeze to death.”
He called for a car, then draped his suit jacket over her shoulders.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know.” But he wanted to. Not because he wanted her evening to be special, perfect. Because everything in him warmed when he was around her. His life didn’t seem work-driven. His family wasn’t oppressive.
But she was the only woman who’d ever broken his heart. He wouldn’t fall for her again. He wouldn’t let himself.
* * *
The lights that winked off the Seine didn’t have a thing on the glow inside of Harper. Standing without a suit coat, in his white shirt and bow tie, Seth looked like a picture from a magazine. She waited for him to say something, to step close and kiss her, but, of course, he didn’t.
She’d told him not to.
They rode to the hotel in silence and stayed silent on the ride up in the elevator.
When he opened the door to their suite, she remembered that Crystal was staying the night with the nanny in Jake and Avery’s suite and her breath stalled in her chest. His whole family believed they were sleeping together.
Maybe this was why Seth had let the romantic mood pass as they walked by the Seine? He didn’t want her to get any ideas about how the night should end?
Or maybe this was her chance? She was the one who’d told him no relationship. Because of Clark. Then she’d come to terms with Clark being gone, but she worried she wasn’t the right woman for a man of the world.
The breath that had stalled in her chest burned in her lungs, as she stepped inside the suite. They were alone. But too many questions stood between them. Worse, the very fact that they were alone, in a suite, for the night meant she couldn’t flirt or tease or even kiss him—even talk to him about her new thoughts about Clark—without looking like she wanted to seduce him.
There was no middle ground here. It was either friend or lover...temporary lover.
“Drink?”
She spun around too quickly and almost knocked herself off balance. “Um. No.” She’d need her wits about her to get through this, and she already wasn’t steady on her feet. Her whole body trembled with a combination of need and fear.
