by Susan Meier
People were always trying to please him. Employees. Subcontractors. Vendors. But this was personal. He could feel it.
He knew it when she sent him a soft smile when she noticed him staring at her.
His heart flipped in his chest. A million confusing thoughts assaulted him. But the one that stuck was that he’d like to be back in bed with her. His head on a pillow, his arm around her shoulders tucking her beside him.
Crazy.
Seriously. He was protecting her. Why couldn’t he get a handle on this?
“And that’s where we stand, big picture–wise.”
Arnie Simmons leaned back in his chair, ending his report, and Hugo leaned back too. He’d missed every damned word the man had said because he’d been fixating on Erin.
The painting supervisor went up next and Hugo paid attention as if his life depended on it. The truth was, he’d sleep with Erin again in a New York minute. Hell, he’d sleep with her every day until the project was over and maybe once or twice in Manhattan after they returned.
But he wouldn’t ever settle down and that would hurt her.
And in that moment, he made a vow never, ever to hurt her. In every possible way, she was too good for him.
Sadness replaced the longing that had filled him, but he accepted the pain of it. He knew who he was. Knew there were a lot of things he’d never have because he didn’t make those kinds of commitments.
CHAPTER SIX
FRIDAY MORNING, HUGO strode into the Harrington Park Hotel feeling better. Scaffolding had been moved from the lobby to the ballroom where painting had begun. Yet another step was complete. Things were proceeding on schedule. Not a ripple of change had been made in the original plan, and that bolstered his belief that they really were going to do this. They would have the hotel up and running and the most amazing Christmas Eve celebration.
And nothing anyone said or did that day could ruin his mood.
Then he saw Erin bounding down the hall toward him, her movements easy and fluid in her blue jeans and simple gray T-shirt.
Her smile was quick and genuine. “Can I have five minutes?”
He forced a smile so she wouldn’t notice his heart burst with that damned joy again. He’d had this conversation with himself yesterday. His inability to get ahold of himself was an aberration. Once he set his mind to something, he did it.
“Sure. Follow me into the office.” He walked in, tossed his briefcase on the desk and took off his overcoat.
“I have a delivery scheduled for tomorrow.”
“So?” He knew the next day was Saturday, but she knew working Saturdays was always on the table with a deadline this close.
“I promised Noah I’d take him sightseeing tomorrow. If I can’t, I’m not sure how I’ll make it up to him. So I thought I’d simply switch days. There’s not a lot on today’s agenda for me. I’d like to take today to show him the sights and work tomorrow.”
It made perfect sense. And if he hadn’t been distracted by the way her hair seemed to pick up light and make it shimmer, he might have immediately said yes. Now he had to fake annoyance.
“There are always things you can do here.”
“Or I could take my son to see the sights on a day that’s light with work, as you promised I could.”
Thank goodness he’d made the promise. He looked down at his work. He gruffly said, “Okay, fine.” But he felt a little guilty for kind of punishing her for something that was his problem. He was the one having trouble being around her. She was fine. It was time to act accordingly.
He glanced up at her. “You know what? You’re right. Today’s a perfect day to take him sightseeing.”
Her face filled with surprise. “Really?”
“Yeah. I’m always semiprepared for bad news. That’s why I reacted poorly. Don’t mind me.”
And that was as close as he would get to either an apology or an explanation. He did have a reputation for being a grouch to protect.
But he also realized that it wasn’t her fault that he was so drawn to her. Plus, he was the one who had seduced her, and look at how easily she’d adapted to it meaning nothing even though what they’d shared had been something.
It really had.
She said, “Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“And, Erin, don’t forget to take Noah to Southbank.”
“That’s the first place we’re going.”
“Good. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
She walked out of his office. Knowing she couldn’t see, he watched the sway of her hips, remembering the way they’d felt beneath his hands.
Everything about her and that night had been perfect. If he were a sappier kind of guy, he might have mooned over her.
Wait—
Wasn’t that what he was doing? Noticing light dancing in her hair. Jealous when one of his supervisors had made her laugh. Watching her graceful walk.
Identifying the problem put everything into perspective and he settled in to work. Telling himself that now that he’d figured things out, he’d be better. He especially hoped she had a great time with Noah and that Noah enjoyed the sights.
He frowned, wondering if she’d know where to take her son other than Southbank. After all, she spent twelve to fourteen hours a day in this hotel. She hadn’t seen any sights herself. Probably didn’t know anything about London—
He remembered how she’d loved Southbank.
What a great day that had been. How nice it had felt to be outside. How nice it had been to think about Christmas, see it blossoming all around them, without relating it back to the hotel.
He’d spent the last decades thinking of nothing but acquiring the family hotel and reuniting with his brother and sister, and it was working. Sally might be standoffish, but he swore he’d win her over. But suddenly today, he wondered how much of life he’d missed. What had passed him by because he’d been consumed by this hotel?
His skin began to itch. The room felt small and tight.
He thought of Erin again. If he closed his eyes and let himself go, he could feel her smooth skin against his. He could remember her laugh. He also recalled his promise to her that she’d show her son a different view of Christmas and though she could do that all by herself, the strange sense that he owed her overwhelmed him. Not only had he promised, but also he’d been grumpy with her when he was the one who couldn’t get her out of his mind.
That had been so wrong.
He sprang out of his seat. He couldn’t let her go on thinking he was a grinch. And he knew how to fix it. His workload was broader and more encompassing than Erin’s, but he could afford a day off too.
He had his driver take him to Southbank, knowing he might be early or that he might not even find her in the crowd. Then his cell phone buzzed with a text from a subcontractor and he smiled. He could find her. All he had to do was call her and ask where she was.
* * *
Erin stared at the phone after finishing her call with Hugo.
He wanted to make sure she and Noah saw all the right things?
More unexpected, he was taking the day off...for her?
She pushed Noah’s stroller in the direction of Jubilee Park, where they’d arranged to meet.
When he walked up to her, still in his suit for work and cashmere overcoat, her heart skipped a beat. He might only be playing the role of kind boss, or honest negotiator who intended to keep his promise, but when she looked at him, her thoughts drifted back to their night together.
When he’d laughed.
When he’d kissed her with abandon and loved her like a man starved for intimacy.
And maybe he was. Watching him so closely these past few days, she’d noticed things he couldn’t hide and drawn conclusions about his longing to recreate his past. Then, having spoken with Sally, she understood his fears. While he labored to br
ing his family together, there was no guarantee that his family wanted him in their lives.
She almost couldn’t comprehend that. Her father had divorced her mom when Erin was too young to remember, leaving her without an extended family because her dad remarried and moved on. Plus, her mom had been the only child of a couple who had emigrated from Ireland. They’d been alone until Josh. Erin had thought she’d begun building the family she and her mom had yearned for. Then Josh had died.
She’d always believed people with siblings were lucky because siblings were close, there for each other.
But something had happened to ruin the Harringtons. Not just their hotel. And whether Hugo was the perpetrator of the disaster or the victim wasn’t as cut-and-dried as she’d originally thought.
Unless he was sorry that he’d broken up his family? And not trying to recreate an idyllic past but trying to make amends?
“Hey.”
She smiled at him. Evil villain or misunderstood, tormented soul, she didn’t know. But she was happy to have someone who knew London to show her and her son around.
And maybe—just maybe—he’d explain some of his life.
“Hey.”
He stooped to Noah’s level. “And how are you today?”
Noah glanced down and mumbled, “Good.”
Erin said, “He’ll be happy once we start moving.”
Hugo rose. “I get that. He’s a man of action.”
For some reason that made Noah giggle. Hugo’s face transformed. He glanced down at the little boy as if he were an absolute miracle and Erin’s heart stuttered. She suddenly saw not a successful guy or an exacting, grouchy boss, but a guy who’d lived his entire adult life without a connection to anyone.
He pointed to the building behind them. “There’s a sea-life aquarium in there. I think he’ll love it.”
Erin pushed the stroller toward the building with Hugo lifting the front end to make short work of the steps. He paid their admission and Erin decided not to argue. While things were good between them, she had the perfect opportunity to observe. Or maybe just enjoy his company.
But only two minutes into the aquarium, Noah began to fuss. Hugo glanced down at him and Erin held her breath. He looked away from Noah, around the space, and said, “In that stroller, he’s two feet below everything.” He reached down and loosened the straps. “Hey, bud. Do you want to walk, or do you want me to carry you?”
Amazed, Erin said, “It might do him good to walk around a bit.”
When they had Noah on his feet, Hugo frowned. “But he’s still too short to see.”
“How about if we let him walk until we reach an exhibit. Then we can take turns lifting him to see.”
Hugo nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”
The time in the aquarium passed quickly. They’d started off taking turns holding Noah and showing him the sea life, but soon Hugo simply kept him. The little boy and happy man bonded right before her eyes, making her heart ache. Noah needed a male influence as much as Hugo needed a family. And if he were anybody else, she’d believe this was fate. But she couldn’t forget he might be the villain in his family drama.
They took Noah outside to a vendor for lunch, which they ate at a table under a tent. But after that, Noah began to fuss again. Erin didn’t blame him. She might like the shops and opportunity to look for gifts for her mom, but her son was obviously bored.
“I guess neither one of us thought about how interested a three-year-old would be sitting in a stroller while I browsed through shops.”
Hugo laughed. “Actually, I have the perfect place to take him. Trust me?”
Seeing him so happy, she smiled. “Sure.”
After calling Hugo’s driver, they put the stroller into the trunk of the limo and headed off. When the car stopped in front of Hamleys toy store, Erin gasped. “It’s adorable!”
The red facade and red awnings were dressed for the holiday. As she stepped out of the limo, waiting for Ronnie to bring Noah’s stroller, she paused and breathed in the cold December air. All this time she’d been worried about Hugo, but she suddenly realized how much she’d needed a break too.
Hugo and Ronnie took over the job of getting Noah into his stroller, and then Hugo pushed him to the store, Erin on his heels.
Joy warmed her. She forgot all about Hugo’s troubles because he had. Noah laughed and looked from side to side, amazed by all the toys and people.
They followed the crowd, slowing down to let Noah examine a toy or laugh at the magician. When they reached a set of stairs, Hugo lifted Noah out of his stroller, then texted Ronnie to come in and get the stroller and stow it in the limo.
“He needs to be up high to see all this,” Hugo said as they climbed the steps.
Noah seemed to be in awe. The toys and Christmas carols had lulled him into a state of blissful shock. They spent a few minutes in a room with elves who helped him write his Christmas list for Santa, and then they took the short walk into the room where the man himself sat on a throne.
“Come on back, young man.”
Hugo slid Noah to the floor and urged him to go see Santa. He shyly stepped forward until he reached the man with the red suit and white beard.
Erin said, “You can sit on his lap.”
But Noah didn’t look predisposed to doing that and took two steps back.
Santa laughed. “Oh, that’s okay.” He winked. “If you just want to tell me your list I’ll remember.”
Still dumbstruck, Noah handed Santa the list he’d created with the elves and when Santa took it, he raced back to his mom.
Hugo laughed. “I like his style. He gets right to the point. His list has what he wants. No need for technicalities like sitting on his lap.”
Erin scooped him up. “Did you like Santa?”
The little boy grinned.
They waved goodbye and Santa said, “Ho! Ho! Ho!”
Noah beamed, clearly pleased with the experience.
As they turned to leave, Hugo said, “Did you happen to take note of what was on that list?”
“Memorized it.”
“Good. I had something in mind to get him, but if you’d rather I buy him one of the toys on the list, I’m okay with that.”
Her heart tugged but warning bells went off. He was behaving like a guy dating Noah’s mom. That wasn’t their deal. Especially since he’d said they’d only have one night and then made a point to distance himself from her. “You don’t have to get him a gift.”
“Are you kidding? He’s the first kid I’ve had in my life in... I don’t know how long. The first chance I’ve ever had to buy a child’s gift. I want it.”
Erin peeked at him as they headed toward the stairs and to the limo. It was the most telling thing he’d ever said. Even if he had been the villain in his family drama, he’d obviously suffered for what he’d done.
They piled into the car and Hugo glanced at his watch. “I’m guessing he needs to get home.”
“Yes.”
He looked over at her. “This was actually a very fun day for me. Thank you.”
“Thank you!” Erin said. “I might have eventually figured out to take him to see Santa, but having a limo makes everything easier.”
Hugo laughed and her heart tugged again. She’d never seen him this relaxed. And this might be the perfect time to get him to talk.
“I’d be happy to make you dinner to pay you back.”
He faced her. His eyes softened, but he shook his head. “That’s okay. I’m going to go to the hotel to see if there were any problems today.”
“Yeah.” Erin winced. “That might be a good idea.”
“Besides, your mum probably missed you two and she’ll want some time.”
Erin rolled her eyes. “A few days ago, my mom realized how close we were to Ireland and she became obsessed with findin
g her relatives.”
“She has relatives in Ireland?”
“Her parents moved to the US when they got married. Mom was born in the United States and her parents eventually became citizens, but both sides of her extended family are in Ireland.”
“Oh.”
“When she and my dad divorced, she stayed in the United States to give me a chance to get to know my dad. But he was never really interested. When he remarried and started another family, he totally dropped me, and my mom and I sort of became a team. But now that I’m working and have Noah, some days I think she feels alone... She wants to know where she came from. Who her people are.”
Hugo’s face saddened. “I get that.”
Erin could have kicked herself. Of course, he understood that! He’d lost his family too.
“Anyway,” she said, trying to get the conversation away from things that clearly upset him. “She’ll probably jibber jabber all night about what she discovered today. Best for you to get away before she bores you to tears.”
He chuckled. “I think it’s great.”
Warmth filled her. This was the real Hugo. The normal Hugo. The guy he was when he wasn’t everybody’s boss. The guy she liked. The guy she suspected he wanted to be...but couldn’t.
But why couldn’t he be? What stopped him?
The limo pulled up to her building, and she and Noah got out as Hugo and Ronnie retrieved the stroller.
“Don’t open it. I’ll carry him up.”
Hugo turned to Ronnie. “And I’ll carry the stroller.”
They headed into the building, walked into the foyer and turned toward the first apartment on the right.
She opened the door and let Noah run inside, into her mom’s arms. Closing the door, she looked up at Hugo and smiled. “Thank you for a lovely day.”
“It was my pleasure.”
She could see from the light in his eyes that it had been his pleasure. Time spun out between them. The day had been perfect, and they weren’t strangers. They’d been lovers. A kiss would be the normal way to end their time together.
