Windy City Romance: Boxed Set: Prequel - Book III

by Barbara Lohr

  Bella stared down at her feet to where they disappeared into the water. “Are there fish down there?”

  Harper came to a stop and so did Bella. “If we stand real still and look close, we might see some minnows.”

  Pants rolled up, Bella gave her feet serious consideration. “I see them, Harper!”

  “Don’t move. Sometimes they nibble on your toes.”

  “Yuck!” Bella kicked a foot out and a cloud of sand billowed up in the water.

  “No, wait and you’ll see. They tickle more than anything.” The sand settled in the water and sure enough, the minnows returned, darting around their feet.

  Bella’s delight slowly settled into a frown. “Where is the mom for the babies?”

  Harper thought fast. “Fish don’t need their mother, honey, just their brothers and sisters. They swim around together all day long.”

  “I wish I had brothers and sisters.” Bella’s whispery voice was almost carried away on the breeze. But not before it lampooned Harper’s heart.

  “Maybe you will someday.” Kimmy and babies? Hard to imagine. The water was getting cold. “Want to look for stones and shells?”

  “Sure.” They scrambled back to the dry sand. When Harper looked back to the chairs, Cameron lifted a hand. She waved, wishing he’d come with them. Kimmy was still hard at work.

  The beach was littered with smooth white and gray stones. “Look.” She held one up for Bella. “The water wears down all the rough edges.”

  Bella turned the stone over in her hand and smiled. “Can we keep some?”

  “You bet.” Yanking out her T-shirt, Harper made a hammock. As they walked, they added to the collection. Easy to find stones but the shells were often jagged pieces. When they found a caramel-colored shell that wasn’t broken, they cheered.

  “How will I know what’s mine?” Bella considered the pile in Harper’s shirt tail.

  The girl who had everything wanted these stones. “You can have them all, Bella.”

  “Cool.” She scooped one from the heap and turned it over in her hand.

  Stones would just be more stuff to drag around the next time Harper moved. She fought the sudden wave of melancholy.

  Really? Was this about Bella? Or Bella’s father?

  Glancing back, Harper noticed Cameron still faced their direction. Probably checking on Bella. He raised a hand and Harper waved back. A shiver defied the heat reflecting from the sand and chased up her spine.

  Bella darted about on the sand, quick and light-footed like the seagulls. The little girl’s excitement pulled Harper from her funk. She wouldn’t think about the future today. This job was proof that you could never know what lay ahead. One thing for sure, Bella needed more times like this—carefree fun when she could just be a kid.

  When she was growing up, Harper remembered chasing fireflies with her brothers and McKenna in the backyard or making tents out of old sheets and playing camp. The seven of them made up most of their games, and they never lacked for ideas. Being the youngest, Harper had a lot of role models. Watching Bella feeling her way, Harper realized how important that was.

  Time passed quickly. Before long the sun had passed midpoint. Took them a while to walk back. When Cameron and Kimmy finally came into sight, they seemed to be having an animated conversation. Kimmy was frowning.

  ~.~

  Tybee took Cameron back to college, when life had been a hell of a lot simpler. Today he could close his eyes and forget work. But Kimmy wanted to talk. Their conversation was more a syncing of their calendars. Bella and Harper came running toward them and Kimmy’s voice blurred into background noise. That tiny bikini bottom and the flat stomach below Harper’s T-shirt? He needed the cool breeze whisking in from the ocean. Kimmy was dressed more for an Alaskan cruise than the beach.

  Harper held the front tail of her shirt tight against her stomach while Bella poked around in the sand. From time to time, she’d hold something up for discussion before handing it over. Obviously, Harper was keeper of the catch, whatever that was.

  “My goodness.” In the chair next to his, Kimmy adjusted the huge sunglasses that he used to find mysterious. “They will catch their death of cold.”

  “I think it’s too warm for that, Kimmy.” Sometimes Kimmy reminded him of his mother. She worried a lot and Kimmy took issue with his new nanny about every little thing.

  “I’m hungry, Daddy,” Bella exclaimed when they’d drawn close.

  “Well then, I think we should eat.”

  Kimmy jumped up. “Sure wish I could join you, darlin’, but I should get back to the station. Get ready for tomorrow.”

  “You certainly are dedicated to that job, Kimmy.” Or was it the high profile that went with her job that drove Kimmy? Cameron stood and stretched, flexing his shoulders, sun warm on his back. Harper had dumped her shirt out onto her towel and was helping Bella organize stones and shells by color. “Be right back, girls. I’m just going to walk Kimmy to her car.”

  Squinting against the sun, Harper glanced up. “Bye, Kimmy.”

  “Could I have a kiss, Bella?” Kimmy stood waiting.

  “Bella?” Cameron turned toward his little girl.

  “I’m busy.”

  He did not want to take this on right now. “Bella?”

  With a sigh that probably carried clear to Hilton Head, Bella leapt up and jabbed a kiss on Kimmy’s cheek. They’d have a little talk about that later.

  Of course Kimmy had to fret about Bella’s attitude as he walked her to the car. Only one way to quiet her. Quick and dry, his lips had all the finesse of a revolver with a silencer. She pulled away, dipping her glasses to reveal a frown. “What was that?”

  He cracked open her car door. “Let’s talk later.” Cameron wanted to think about this and he didn’t want to act like a heel. That kiss had been uncalled for and left him uncomfortable.

  Lips set, Kimmy climbed in. Gravel spun as she pulled out of the parking lot.

  By the time he returned to their beach chairs, Harper had cracked open the cooler. Bella’s container of cereal sat on top of the ice in the upper tray.

  “Eating out here might be a problem.” She pointed to the plastic container just as a breeze kicked up, causing mini sand squalls. If Bella bit down and her lunch crunched, she’d have a fit. He didn’t need that today.

  “I’ve got a better idea. Let’s pack up.”

  “But I don’t want to go home.” Bella crossed her arms.

  “We’re not going home, Pipsqueak. How about eating here in a beach restaurant?”

  “Cool.” Bella’s eyes sparkled like gumdrops. Lately, every new thing had become “cool” for his little girl.

  Cameron glanced over to Harper, who was folding up the towels. “How about it? The North Beach Grill is just across the parking lot. Good burgers and tasty low country food.”

  “Sounds great. Haven’t been there in a while.” Before she glanced away, he caught the wistful look in her eyes. Had he meandered into one of her memories? Harper might play the gutsy girl who could dance for her supper, but sometimes she had this sad side. Cameron folded up the beach chairs and lugged them back to the car. Wasn’t his habit to pry into the private life of a nanny.

  Of course, none of the other nannies had stayed this long. And he hadn’t felt curious about any of them.

  Harper helped Bella into her shoes and socks. Hoisting the cooler onto one shoulder, Cameron led the way back to the SUV. Once they’d stowed everything away, except for Bella’s supper, they took off for the restaurant.

  The North Beach Grill was dim and cool when they pushed through the screen door. Years ago, Cameron had hoisted a few beers here. One glance at Harper told him she might have done the same. She seemed to know the place. The young waiter brought a booster seat for Bella. Sand gritted on the floor underfoot. The windows had been levered open, and the breeze carried the smell of the water.

  While Harper set up Bella’s meal, his daughter’s eyes circled the room, not missing a tr
ick. When the waiter came, Cameron ordered the jerked chicken sandwich and Harper decided on the grilled fish. They both got sides of red beans and rice.

  “And what would your little girl like?” the waiter asked Harper, pen poised over the pad.

  “Oh, she’s not...” Harper began.

  “We have a special meal for her,” Cameron broke in. For some reason, explaining Harper’s position in the family annoyed him just as much as explaining Bella’s strange eating habits. Harper cracked open the Tupperware and handed Bella a spoon.

  “What were you collecting on the beach?” Cameron asked after the waiter had brought their drinks.

  “Shells and stones.” Bella paused from shoveling in the cereal.

  Now he remembered why they didn’t eat out more often. Cameron could hardly bear to watch her. Frustration compressed his chest with the weight of a sand dune. They had to find a way to help her.

  They? Something warm and tingly stirred inside.

  But back to the shells. “Got plans for those?”

  Bella looked to Harper.

  “Oh, we can put them in pretty jars or we can make a Christmas wreath out of them. I’ve done that before. But Christmas is a long way off.”

  When her eyes lifted and flitted away, his gut clenched. Cameron had seen that evasiveness before—right before a nanny gave notice.

  “You’re creative, Harper.” Navigating back to the role of employer and employee was a struggle. “Your sketches for the Winston Hill House have been really helpful. When we get to that point, I hope you’ll help choose some wall colors and fabrics. I like to show the restored houses fully furnished. Makes for a quicker sale.”

  “Of course. Sounds great.” Excitement sparked in her eyes.

  “Harper, are we gonna make cool Christmas stuff together with our shells?’ Bella had her own agenda.

  Her answer was slow in coming. “We’ll see.”

  In his family “we’ll see” had always meant “no.”

  Harper was sucking on her straw, lips forming a full bow. His chest and a few other muscles tightened. He had to look away.

  “Daddy? Can I have some brothers and sisters like the fish?”

  He choked on his pop.

  Harper held out her hands, palms up. “Just checking out the minnows today. Lots of brothers and sisters there.”

  “Not minnows. Baby fish,” Bella emphasized

  “Right. Baby fish.” Grabbing a napkin, Harper whisked the trail of cereal from Bella’s chin.

  Thank God the food arrived. Bella’s questions were a minefield.

  Cameron has enough disturbing thoughts in his head today. By the time they chucked their napkins onto their empty plates, a serious food coma was settling over them. On the ride home, Bella fell asleep. Harper’s head bobbed. “Why don’t you take a nap?”

  She pushed herself up. “No I’m fine. Besides, I don’t want to miss this drive.”

  Always amazed him how she could be content with small things. So different from Tammy…or Kimmy. Harper hadn’t gotten all the sand off her legs and they glistened. Were her cheeks sunburned or was she blushing when she glanced down?

  “I am so sorry. I’m going to make a mess in your car.”

  “Doesn’t matter, Harper. Let’s just call it a souvenir of a great day.”

  Her smile warmed him in so many ways. Downright disturbing.

  His phone went off and the name “Kimmy” came up. He hit the key that sent the call to voicemail.

  Chapter 19

  In the dream a woman called Cameron’s name. Body hot and driven by need, he stumbled into a room where curtains blew wild. The swirling vortex of cool air brought little relief. He charged forward.

  Up ahead, a woman waited. Exhausted but throbbingly hard, he sank into her. Felt her arms close around him, welcome and right. She trembled when he kissed her, opened so he could please her, shivered when he trailed his lips over her burning skin. Everywhere she touched, her palms brought coolness, relief. And she wasn’t shy, her legs tightening around him.

  When he drove his hands into hair that smelled like wisteria, his fingers snagged and came away with the dry ropes of a December vine. Her laughter floated on the air like wind chimes. “Make a wish,” she whispered, opening one palm. In her hand gleamed white stones. Closing his eyes he ran his fingers over their smooth surface before tossing them into the sky, so carefree.

  When he turned she sank into his arms again, hair a welcome weight on his shoulders. His hands traced her soft skin and supple body.

  He had to have her.

  But the woman began to disappear, form and features fading.

  Damn. Cameron shook himself awake. Coiling upright in a damp bed, he shuddered. What in Sam Hill was that? Then he felt around. Embarrassment brought a hot flush. Hadn’t happened to him since fifth grade.

  And he didn’t need to wonder why. Flopping back, Cameron threw both arms over his eyes. He never remembered his dreams. This one? Unforgettable.

  ~.~

  After the day at Tybee, Harper became more determined than ever to help Bella. Seeing her sitting in the restaurant with her gruel, as Cameron called it, just about broke her heart. Harper had grown up with a passel of hungry eaters who’d squabbled over every last piece of bread. The Kirkpatricks didn’t just belong to the clean-the-plate club—they were more a clean-the-table group. The smell of meatballs, turkey soup, or applesauce had wafted from the kitchen when she walked in from school.

  Those simple recipes in mind, she got to work one afternoon after bringing Bella home from school. Although Bella had promptly plunked herself in front of the TV, the second Harper started to peel apples, Bella was there. She hated to miss anything. “Whatcha doing?”

  “Making applesauce.” Opening the drawer where Connie kept her spices, Harper pulled out the container of cinnamon. “Want to help?”

  “Sure.” Bella look so darn cute in her lavender dinosaur top and dark purple pants. Harper had picked up ribbon barrettes in pink and yellow. Bella liked to plaster her hair back with three or four so a rainbow of colors bobbed when she shook her head.

  Hauling one of the chairs over to the stove, Harper positioned it next to her and Bella clambered up. Taking the slices of peeled apple, Harper dropped them into the pan that held a little water and stirred, gradually sprinkling sugar over the top. Her little helper’s eyes were glued to the action. “Should we add some cinnamon?”

  “Ah, huh. Sure.” Bella nodded.

  Harper handed her the metal container. “Just sprinkle a little okay?”

  “Okay.” Biting her lip in concentration, Bella gave a shake and a heavy poof rose from the pan, causing a coughing fit. Harper grabbed a glass of water. One sip later they were both giggling. Just another kitchen adventure.

  The applesauce began to bubble. “Doesn’t that smell good?”

  “Ah, huh.”

  Harper brought the stirring spoon to her lips and blew on it gently. Bella’s eyes were glued to every move. Her lips parted when Harper sampled the spicy, warm mixture. “Oh, yum,” she said for Bella’s benefit.

  “Is it good?” Bella sniffed the fragrant air.

  “Sure is. Want to try it?” Breath catching, Harper held out the spoon.

  Bella backed away so fast she nearly tumbled off the chair. Harper grabbed her, fighting her own disappointment. When she got back to work, Bella stayed at her elbow. How this scene took Harper back to her mother’s sunny kitchen in Oak Park.

  The back door opened. “What’s that I smell?” Cameron draped his suit jacket over a chair and came to stand behind them. “Sure smells good.”

  “We’re making applesauce,” Bella said proudly.

  “You don’t say. You two ladies cooking together? Sounds dangerous to me.” Cameron rested a hand on each of their shoulders. Harper grasped her spoon tighter.

  “Time to turn off the heat.” She flicked the burner off, missing the weight when he dropped his hands to pull off his tie.

  Co
nnie had precooked some ribs, and Cameron was going to throw them on the grill. The housekeeper bustled into the kitchen. “Are you two making a mess in here?” But she was smiling.

  “I do believe I’ll test your recipe.” Cameron had circled back to peer into the pan, so close Harper could see his thick sandy eyelashes, the day’s bristle on his cheeks.

  Her palms tingled. “Right, I’ll get a bowl.”

  Cameron sat down and motioned to Bella. “Want to sit on my lap?”

  “Sure, Daddy.” She climbed up.

  Taking a small bowl from the cupboard, Harper filled it halfway and set it in front of Cameron with a spoon. The smell of warm apples filled the kitchen, so thick she could almost chew it. Suddenly she wished she’d cut thinner slices. Maybe the recipe called for more sugar? Already tasting, Cameron let out a low moan that rippled through Harper’s own tummy and lower. “You are a great cook,” he told Bella.

  “Harper too.” Bella poked one finger in her direction.

  “Harper too.”

  Running her hands over her apron, Harper basked in the glow of a grin. Ridiculous.

  “Daddy, can I feed you?”

  Not missing a beat, Cameron handed his daughter the spoon. “Here you go, darlin’.”

  “Now you have to be careful. Don’t make a mess.” Bella tucked a paper napkin into Cameron’s open neck shirt.

  “I’ll be very good.” His ramrod posture enforced his words.

  “Open up now, Daddy.” Dropping her voice, she added, “You’re my little boy, okay?”

  “Whatever you say, sweetheart.”

  Had Harper ever seen him so playful? Dipping the spoon into the applesauce, Bella began to feed her father. Connie turned back to the stove, but Harper was riveted. When some applesauce spilled from the spoon, Bella scolded him. “Now you have to hold still. I can’t be here all day, you know.”

  “I’ll be good,” Cameron promised, enjoying the game.

  “You behave now, you hear?”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  At first Cameron seemed amused by Bella’s comments, but when they continued, his smile disappeared. A chill entered the room. Harper’s mind spun while she watched the interaction. How old had Bella been when Tammy died?