Windy City Romance: Boxed Set: Prequel - Book III

by Barbara Lohr

  Making his way through the crowd was no easy task. The music had brought everyone to their feet. Cameron was surprised to see Harper dancing with Bubba. She probably remembered him from the bachelor party. In any case, she’d make the man’s night. Harper’s buoyant laugh floated toward him. How refreshing that she didn’t bother with the restrained simper of some women. Bubba moved pretty well for a man his size. A blue blood, he probably had attended Mrs. Pritchard’s School of Dance. Cameron wasn’t used to envying his buddy, but as he slid onto the stool, he felt a little jealous of the warm smile Bubba had somehow elicited from Cameron’s date.

  Date? He took a deep sip of bourbon. Damn, this sure did feel like a date. “Are you behaving yourself?” he asked his old friend when Bubba returned Harper to the table.

  “As always.” The guy was beaming.

  “Bubba saved me. He was one familiar face in the crowd and had pity on me.” Harper’s playful little punch to his shoulder made Bubba blush even more.

  “Harper told me she’s having fun with Bella,” Bubba said with a smile. “She’s one lucky little girl.”

  “Why, thank you, Bubba.” Harper looked pleased. “That’s so sweet.”

  “Two girls playing together.” The words were out before Cameron had a chance to think.

  Harper’s mouth fell open.

  “In case you haven’t noticed, Harper’s not a little girl.” Quite a statement from Bubba.

  “Trust me, I have noticed. No harm intended.” Notice? Tonight would strobe in his memory for quite a while.

  Now it was Harper’s turn to blush.

  “See you two later.” With a nod, Bubba left, but not until after Harper had given him a heartfelt hug.

  “My word, you’ve charmed him.” He watched Bubba stop to greet Winchester and Flo Fields. Savannah born and bred, Bubba fit so easily into this world. Cameron shifted his shoulders in the tight-fitting tux. Not an easy accomplishment for some.

  “What a sweetheart.” Harper’s gaze followed Bubba with affection.

  Kimmy never had time for his friends. She seemed to merely tolerate them unless they were a CEO of some company. And it would be a cold day in hell before she’d grant Bubba a dance, even if he asked her.

  The music shifted up a notch. The fundraiser usually drew an older group that loved to let down their hair with people they knew. Savannah could be like that. Humming under her breath with shoulders moving to the beat, Harper shook one little shoe. Her toenails were painted bright orange.

  “Care to dance?”

  “To this? Really?”

  “What? You think I’m too old?” He slid out of his jacket and loosened his tie. That sealed it. Damn straight they were dancing. “I’ll just leave my walker here.”

  Without another word, Harper slid off the stool. He took her hand. The handbag was left on the table. Maybe she was finally relaxing. Harper moved right into the center in the group, her shoulders grabbing the beat. Cameron was right behind her. Seemed like so long ago but he’d had a good time at parties at the University of Georgia in Athens. Now the drums resonated deep in his gut. They both got into it.

  “You’re pretty good.” He’d never seen Harper move like this.

  “I had a job where I got to practice.”

  “Really?”

  Eyes sparkling, she burst out laughing.

  What a minx. “You mean on top of my bar?”

  “Could be.” Arms raised and hips moving, Harper rotated again. As Catwoman, she’d been sexy. Tonight she was mind blowing. Not just a girl but a woman.

  Stop staring at her hips.

  But who could blame him? Harper was teasing him and she wasn’t getting away with it. His hands found her waist. With a tiny jerk only he could feel, she stiffened, then sighed and released. Coming closer, she rested her hands on his shoulders. His hands tightened and so did hers. Never mind that Cecile caught his eye across the floor and raised her eyebrows. Was she digging her phone from her blasted gold handbag?

  Harper snapped those hips again and she had his full attention.

  He didn’t give a rip. Not tonight.

  The past few years hadn’t been easy. Long time since he’d let his hair down. Wasn’t this why he’d hired Harper? She was fun. Fun for Bella, he reminded himself. And tonight? Fun for him. Downright witchy and working her voodoo. Snapping her fingers, she pulled away with a little smile, almost out of his reach. He didn’t miss the looks cast by other men. Harper cut quite a figure in the slinky green dress. Not only did she sing along, she made all kinds of faces...like she felt the music clear through to her soul.

  Something shifted inside. His life had veered off course and hurtled down a track he never saw coming. Sometimes he felt more like forty than twenty-nine. Tonight felt like college again. He was out to have a good time, dancing with a very hot girl.

  Hot? Blow torch torrid. Harper’s heat could incinerate him.

  But she was totally unaware of her charm.

  She moved back into him and he flipped her around, tucking her slim hips against him. That was his first mistake. Good God, he had to think about a cold shower or this could become embarrassing. But a shower was the last thing on his mind. The feel of her hips against him. The scent of her outrageously soft hair brushing his cheeks. The shimmy of her shoulders that sent other parts of her body swaying. Total overload.

  Whipping Harper around, he jerked her closer. Her eyes widened. But she didn’t push away. Legs apart for balance, they swayed together, tight and in sync. She kept her hands on his shoulders while he hung tight to her waist. They’d be the talk of the town tomorrow.

  And he did....

  Not. Give. A. Damn.

  The drummer nailed it and the music ended. They stood there panting like race horses, eyes lost in each other. Sweat rolled down his back. Her moist heat had rumpled his shirt and his tuxedo pants. Loosening his tie, he stripped it off and undid two top buttons. Harper’s eyes flicked to his open shirt and she backed away, driving orange fingernails through her hair. When she dropped her eyes, tawny lashes feathered over her high cheekbones. How long would it take his breathing to return to normal?

  “Hey, that was fun.” She sounded surprised.

  “Fun?” He felt like he’d just run a mile.

  But running wasn’t what he had in mind.

  She gave him a curious look before turning back toward the table. For a second he stood there, trying to sort this out. He had to get a grip. Mallory caught his eye across the floor and threw him an amused grin.

  Cameron didn’t give a rip. He’d had enough of order and duties. That wasn’t where his mind was right now. No, he was looking at the sweep of Harper’s porcelain back, wondering where it led and how those curves would feel in his hands. Uncertainty broke his stride. He stumbled and then caught himself. After all, she was his employee. If he offended her, she could take off tomorrow. Bella would be lost again. He had to get it together. When they reached the table, she slid onto one of the high chairs and crossed her legs. Grabbing his glass he tossed back a mouthful of bourbon.

  Her chest heaved in the most distracting way. “What?”

  He had to choose his words carefully. “Nothing. You’re, ah, a great dancer. Always knew you had a lot of spirit. Getting up on that bar at the bachelor party in front of the guys…”

  “…wasn’t easy.” She shifted in the chair.

  “I could see that. But you did it. Bella needs that.” Time to circle back to Bella.

  When her lips curved into a smile, relief banished the nausea swishing through his stomach. She chuckled, naughty and provocative. Or maybe that was him? “Didn’t know you had that in you, Mr. Bennett.”

  “Right back at you, Ms. Kirkpatrick.” They grinned at each other like fools and the air cleared. She could make him feel crazy and comfortable at the same time. “Why are you giving me such a hard time tonight?”

  “What if I am?” Harper flashed that cheeky grin again.

  “I’ll, ah, give you t
en minutes to cut that out.”

  Her peal of laughter turned heads. He laughed right along with her.

  Then the smile slipped from her face. “Bella needs some fun, Cameron. She also needs attention.”

  What? “Do you mean I work too much? We have those family dinners.” His head spun. What was he missing here?

  Her long silent look pinned him. Good God, was she going to quit? He knifed one hand through his damp hair and looked away. Maybe he’d totally overstepped his bounds tonight. Maybe he was no better than Randy. Harper’s departure would be so hard on Bella.

  And it would be hard on him.

  The realization hit him broadside.

  But Harper didn’t say another word, thank God.

  They sipped their drinks in silence and left fifteen minutes later.

  The car was quiet all the way home.

  “So, you two are really wiped out, huh?” Jack finally asked.

  When Harper cuddled in the corner and yawned, she looked downright kittenish.

  “Yep. Sure are.” Cameron’s pulse sped along with the hum of the tires.

  Tired? Maybe. But he sure as hell knew sleep wouldn’t come easy.

  Chapter 13

  When she woke up Sunday morning, Harper luxuriated in the smooth cool feel of the sheets. Connie made a point of mentioning the six-hundred-thread count when she handed Harper her “bed linens” on Mondays. Somewhere in the garden below mourning doves cooed. The scent of coffee teased her awake.

  Memories from last night jerked her upright.

  What the heck happened? Harper pulled her knees to her chest. She wasn’t thinking about the gorgeous dress, the food, the dancing. Nope. Just Cameron. He’d literally rolled up his sleeves and gotten down on that dance floor. The flashing eyes. The grinding hips. And when he’d torn open his shirt? She squeezed her eyes shut. Couldn’t even go there. Her heartbeat started doing scales. She’d had a great time with Cameron.

  Her eyes flew open. When had Baby Blues become Cameron to her?

  A chill sent her burrowing deeper under the blankets. When he’d put his hands on her hips, she’d totally melted. She sniffed her own skin. Sure enough. She could still detect a faint whiff of his cologne on her body. They’d been that close. Thank goodness Jack had picked them up. Being alone with Cameron in a dark car? Her thoughts embarrassed her.

  So ridiculous. He was involved with Kimmy and he was her employer. Leaping out of bed, Harper streaked to the bathroom to brush her teeth and take a shower. She needed coffee. Bad. Champagne always gave her a headache, but that hadn’t stopped her last night. Now her head throbbed under the showerhead. Taking the hot needles of water felt like a much needed punishment.

  Today was her Sunday off, and she was meeting Adam at the Omelet House. When she got downstairs, the laugh soundtrack from a children’s cartoon show zapped her headache like an electric bolt. She leaned into the TV room. With his daughter cuddled at his side on the green sofa, Cameron looked so cozy in gray track pants and a T-shirt. Harper’s heart stuttered at the thought of the soft gray cotton, warm from his body.

  “Hey.” He raised his mug in greeting.

  Baby Blues had become Sleepy Blues.

  “Hey, back.”

  He zapped her with a megawatt grin. She twisted her wet hair tighter, ignoring the drip onto her jean jacket and pumpkin turtleneck. On the screen, Ninja warriors screeched. Cameron went back to the show. Harper shuffled into the kitchen to fill her travel mug with coffee. She had to get out of here. Once she’d twisted the top of the mug tight, she ducked her head back into the TV room. “Okay if I take the SUV?”

  Cameron hadn’t shaved yet. The brown stubble defined his chin, so very cuppable. “Of course. Have fun.”

  “Thanks. See you later.” Almost felt like she was reporting in to her dad.

  But Cameron totally was not her father.

  She left them snuggled together. The cozy sight warmed her heart. Bella adored her daddy. When Cameron was around, she was on him like a magnet. After last night, Harper totally understood. Grabbing the keys to the SUV, she dashed from the house.

  Adam was already waiting for her at a table near the windows in the barebones restaurant on Ferguson. The scent of fried bacon flipped Harper’s hunger switch. She’d hardly eaten anything last night. As soon as she plopped into a chair, Adam began firing questions

  “So how’d the evening go? Did they like your hair?”

  “Everyone loved my hair, and the evening went fine.”

  Adam gave her The Look. The one that said he knew she was holding out on him.

  She grabbed a menu, even though she knew it by heart. “Adam, I was a stand-in for Kimmy. Okay?”

  He lounged back. “You’re more than a stand-in, darlin’. You’ve got main event written all over you...when you want to be.”

  Harper rolled her eyes. “I’m the nanny, for Pete’s sake.”

  His eyebrows raised in slanted exclamation points. “If you say so. Only, sugga, it’s nice to have aspirations.”

  “My aspirations are to go into design. Somewhere.” Knowing how he’d take it, Harper had never mentioned that she sometimes considered moving back to the Windy City.

  With a thoughtful frown, Adam stirred more sugar into his coffee. A waitress arrived and took their order. The double waffle sounded good. Harper ordered two eggs on the side for protein.

  “You aren’t thinking of doing anything stupid, Harper, are you?” Adam asked when they were alone again.

  “Moi? God forbid.” She pressed one hand flat on her chest.

  “Don’t play cute with me. I mean it. You’d never go back to New York, would you?”

  “Absolutely not. I’ve never been a fan of indentured servitude.” That summer internship had been a nightmare.

  New York, no. Chicago, maybe.

  Easing out a sigh. Adam sat back. They’d gotten along so well from the first moment they sat next to each other in class freshman year.

  “So tell me about the clothes. What were the darlings of Savannah wearing?”

  Harper smiled remembering all the gowns that had probably come from high-end stores in Hilton Head or Atlanta. The waitress brought the food.

  “What’s that smile about?” Adam buttered his waffle before dousing it with syrup.

  “You’ve never seen so much sophisticated black.” For the next hour, she dished on dresses and hairstyles while she wolfed down waffles and forkfuls of egg. A few comments about the silent auction were also in order. But when she described the Nipples of Venus, Adam roared and she joined right in. How good it felt to hash things over with her old friend. Adam was one part of her past she never wanted to lose. He always had her back.

  Still, she couldn’t tell him everything.

  When they finished their last cup of coffee, it was almost noon. What to do with the rest of the day? Harper didn’t want to go directly back to the mansion. Last night still bothered her and thank goodness Adam had not pried details out of her. This was her free day, and she never got tired of exploring Savannah. After saying good-bye to Adam, she drove back toward the historical district and parked near Forsyth Park. Kids were playing near the fountain, laughing as they raced each other back to the slide. She had to bring Bella here.

  Harper made frequent trips to Daffin Park with Bella. After all, the park was practically across the street. But Daffin didn’t have the same historic feel of Forsyth. The pathways of the downtown icon radiated from a central fountain that dated back to 1858. Taking a seat on one of the benches rimming the fountain, she tipped her face toward the sun. She could listen to the water splashing from the cupids all day. The laughter of the children bubbled above the sound of the water.

  But the park would never cure all Bella’s problems. Harper’s spirits sank. Maybe Bella needed more help than she could give. If Harper left, what then? She couldn’t just toss the vulnerable little girl to the wolves...the next desperate nanny who may or may not love Bella.

  A man with
a camera was blocking off space in front of the fountain. Must be a wedding today and Harper settled back to watch. Didn’t take long for the wedding party to arrive. The bride wore a red plaid taffeta gown and the groom, a kilt. Ceremonies here were usually short and individualized. Only the minister and a few friends witnessed this one, including a guy with bagpipes. Over in five minutes, the wedding still brought a lump to her throat. The couple gazed at each other with visible adoration. Other park visitors stopped to gape. When the girl tossed her bouquet, Harper felt like running to catch it.

  She had to get out of here. Bagpipes split the air as she left the park. Strolling up Bull Street past the Mercer Mansion, she checked out the shop windows, where the trinkets and furniture were way beyond her budget. Since her position covered her room and board, she was finally getting a grip on her credit card bills. A buying spree was not in her immediate future.

  As she walked along the cobblestone street, her thoughts turned back to the ball. Last night almost seemed like it had happened to another girl. She could still feel the touch of Cameron’s reassuring hand on her elbow. Southern gentlemen sure had exquisite manners.

  But the times when he hadn’t exactly been a gentleman were the moments she replayed mentally in delicious detail. The day felt cool, but she unbuttoned her jacket.

  When Harper reached the college gift shop, she stopped in. But the place just reminded her of Billy. How many times had they wandered through here? They’d been so young, so unaware of what life was really like. Harper pushed through the doors and headed back to the SUV.

  The mansion was quiet when she got back. For a while, she worked at her drafting table. Felt good to feel the pencils in her hands, and the sketching came easily. Letting her pencils do the talking, she ended up with designs for Bella’s room. A castle would stand in one corner, and that dusty canopy over the bed was stripped away. The colors were green with the metallic blue of the Ninja warriors.

  After her enthusiasm burned off, she felt sleepy. No noise from the back yard, just the low hum from Victory. Cameron must have taken Bella somewhere, maybe over to Kimmy’s. Kicking off her flats, she flopped onto the bed. Some time later, her phone woke her up.