by Donna Alward
“I’ll let you off the hook for now.”
“Thank you so much,” she replied, sarcasm ripe in her voice but accompanied by a smile. “Have another scone. There’s a chocolate chunk one in there somewhere.”
“Bless you.” Juny rooted around in the bag until she came up with the scone, then broke it in half and gave a piece to Harper. “So how is this going to work with the studio?”
“I’m glad you asked.” Harper gave her the rundown on her plans to include Juny in more photo shoots, so that she could take on some of the photography duties as the pregnancy advanced. “I’m not booking anything after New Year’s,” she said. “I’m due in January, and I don’t want to leave anyone stranded. Right now we only have one date in November and one in December, but that’ll change. I think you and I should consult together on any late-year jobs that come up and decide if we can take them. But I’m not taking much time off after the baby is born. I’m going to need to get back to work and into a regular schedule.”
Juny’s dark eyes took on a concerned expression. “Are you afraid, Harper? I mean, you’re going through all this and then handing the baby over. I know you said genetically it’s Dan and Adele’s, but this isn’t an easy thing.”
Harper nodded. “Yeah, I’m a little afraid. So I don’t want to set myself up to mope around after it’s over. I’ll get to spoil this baby rotten.” She put her hand on her tummy. “Anyway, if you’re okay with a few extra weekend hours doing events with me, I thought I’d look at hiring someone part time to work the storefront.” It would mean being even more disciplined with the finances, but if Juny worked out as Harper hoped, they could take on more bookings in the new year to balance out the extra cost of another staff member.
“I’d love that.”
“I can spare some extra equipment for now when we go out together. But if it’s a tentative plan moving forward, we can figure it out as we go.”
“Sounds fine to me. You can pay me in chocolate chunk scones.” Juny brushed some crumbs off her lap.
Then she looked up at Harper and smiled. “I’m only going to say one more thing about Drew. Yesterday, when you came out of the back room and he was waiting, you looked so happy. I’ve never seen you look quite that way before. Even if you’re just hanging out until he goes back to wherever, he’s good for you. So enjoy yourself.”
The support sent a warm feeling through Harper, and she felt very blessed with her friendships. They weren’t great in number, but quality-wise they were top-notch.
“Thanks,” she said, trying not to look too happy and sure she was failing. The memory of last night’s kiss still made her stomach tangle in delicious knots. “And speaking of, I’m taking him on a day hike up to Healy Pass tomorrow. We’ll be out of range so I’ll be back in the studio on Friday morning. I have the MacPherson rehearsal on Friday night.”
“Sounds fine. Now I’d better get out there and unlock the doors. I sold three of the five-by-sevens yesterday, by the way. Maybe next week you can pick some new photos for prints and we can shuffle some stuff around out front. It’s the perfect size for tourists who want something for their luggage.”
“I’ll pick a few and match some mattes and frames. Which ones sold?”
“One was a Peyto Lake, and I think the other was Bow Lake. An eight-by-ten of Lake Louise went earlier this week, too.”
They were recognizable landmarks, and they did tend to sell well, though Harper knew she had equally good photos of more obscure locations. Maybe there was something to what Drew had said about greeting cards. A good portion of their foot traffic was tourists, and smaller did sell better when it came to transport. It didn’t make a lot of sense to turn down an opportunity for sales just because they were a more “disposable” form of her work.
“I’ll put some stuff together today and double-check the details for Friday’s rehearsal party. Do you want to come with?”
“We close at six. I can meet you after that, if it’s local.”
“It is.”
With the day’s plan solidified, Juny went to the store to open and Harper started going through her to-do list. If she were going to be gone all day tomorrow, she had to have things in order today.
Tomorrow. A whole day with Drew in the outdoors. She couldn’t think of a finer idea.
CHAPTER NINE
DREW KNOCKED QUIETLY on the screen door. It was only seven thirty, but they had a fun day ahead of them. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d looked forward to something so much. Even Dan’s “are you sure you know what you’re doing” during their phone call last night couldn’t put a damper on his good mood.
He’d come up with a crazy surprise for Harper today. Something that would keep Dan and Adele’s worry at bay, and give her a special treat.
Harper came to the door, her face bright and cheery. “Good morning. You’re right on time.”
“I hope so.” He slid his pack off his shoulder and put it down in the entry as he stepped inside. Two days ago he’d kissed her brainless in this very spot, and his body stirred with remembrance. Harper did something to him that he hadn’t expected. Something wonderful. It was too bad he had to head back to California late next week.
Or maybe not. It would be too easy to get caught up in her and he didn’t want to go with any hurt feelings left behind or misunderstandings. On either of their parts.
“I’m just finishing breakfast. Did you have any?”
“I grabbed a breakfast sandwich at the coffee shop.” He patted his belly.
She laughed. “I’m just finishing up. Come in and sit down.”
He sat at her table while she bit into her egg sandwich. “You want some juice?” she asked. “Milk?”
“Naw, I’m good. I’ve got a big water bottle.” He grinned. She had no idea that today was going to be more of an adventure than she’d bargained for.
“Me, too, in my bag.” She laughed. “You know, there’s only a washroom at the trailhead. I’m not sure what’s going to happen with my pregnant bladder if I drink that much water over the course of the day.”
“I’ll stand guard for you,” he joked, and was gratified when she grinned around the toast in her mouth, a hint of a dimple denting her cheek.
He watched as she wiped her hands on a napkin and grabbed her glass of orange juice. “You ate a whole sandwich. Morning sickness better?”
“Much,” she agreed, and put her plate and glass in the dishwasher. “Mostly now I get the odd wave and it passes. Food’s stayed down for five days in a row now.”
“That must feel better.”
“It does.”
He waited while she finished putting her pack together. Right now she wore a light jacket over her T-shirt, with a lightweight hoodie in the pack. Bottles of water, her bear spray and sunscreen all went in the backpack.
“You were planning to carry all that and your camera?”
“Pretty much. Slightly smaller lens today, though. My neck and back would kill me if I carried that all day. I’m mostly looking for some meadow shots and panoramas.” She looked up. “Wait. You said were. How come?”
Dammit. Of course he’d make a slip. He figured he might as well get the ball rolling. “Well, as a matter of fact, I have a bit of a surprise for you this morning.”
Her brows lifted. “A surprise? I’m not sure if I like that. I’m not really a surprise kind of woman.”
He paused and then went to her and took her hands. “Do you trust me, Harper?”
Confusion mingled with warmth in her eyes. “That’s a big question, Drew. Especially for me.”
“Then listen to your intuition. What does your gut say? Can you trust me?”
There was a moment’s hesitation, and then she nodded slightly. “Yes. For some odd reason, I trust you.”
“Then let’s put this stuff in my car.” He dropped a kiss on her c
heek. “You’re not going to regret this,” he promised.
* * *
Harper didn’t know if she was going to regret it or not. When she went outside, she stopped short at the sight of his rental. The Range Rover SUV sat square in her driveway. A flipping Range Rover! She looked over at Drew, who wore an amused expression. “Something wrong?” he asked.
“No, nothing.” She made her feet move and they stowed her gear in the back. Drew headed east on the highway instead of west. When she opened her mouth to speak, he lifted a finger and shushed her. “Surprise, remember?” he said. “And that means you have to wait. You said you were very patient.”
“Not about surprises or not knowing where I’m going,” she grumbled, slumping down in the seat that cradled her body perfectly. She trusted Drew, but she’d really wanted to hike up the pass today. With the business being so busy, she didn’t get a lot of opportunities and as much as it was fun being with Drew, she didn’t want to squander her chance for some new shots for her portfolio.
It wasn’t long until she realized where he was headed and her head snapped around to stare at him. “The heliport? Are you crazy?” Her stomach turned over both in excitement and fear. A helicopter? She was a bit thrilled and a lot terrified. “Did I not tell you I was afraid of heights?”
He looked over at her and laughed. “You’ll be buckled in and snug as a bug. I promise.”
“But...” She bit down on her lip. “I’ve done enough weddings and events to know that a tour is really expensive, Drew. And I know the building you just bought came at a hefty price. You don’t need to do this kind of thing.”
“It’s the money you’re worried about?” He seemed unconcerned. Amused, even.
It was expensive, she told herself. And yes, she was terrified. But why on earth would he spend the money on this sort of thing? This car rental alone had to cost a lot. Was he always this careless with his money? “It seems extravagant,” she answered, twisting her fingers together. “We were supposed to hike.”
“And we’re going to,” he said. “We’re going to get dropped off, hike, and then get picked up again.” He met her gaze briefly before turning his attention back to the road. “This way you get the alpine meadows and panoramic views without having to do all the hard climbing.”
She wasn’t sure what to think. Was he doing it because he was being overprotective and thought she wasn’t capable? How could she voice that without being insulting? It was a generous and fun thing he had planned, but Adele and Dan were already making her a bit claustrophobic with their concern. Surely it wasn’t an attempt to impress her. She’d never once given him the impression that her head could be turned by such things.
“I’m still capable of doing the hike, you know,” she said. “Not that I don’t appreciate the gesture, but I’m in great shape. I don’t need to be coddled.”
They pulled into the parking lot and Drew shut off the engine, then turned to face her. “So hear me out,” he said, resting his left hand on the steering wheel. “I don’t know if you realize it, but it’s not often that I get a day like we had on Tuesday. An afternoon of simple pleasures like a cone of ice cream and a nap on a porch swing. I liked being with you, and I think you liked being with me, and for once it had nothing to do with who I am or...” He ran his hand through his hair. “Or my bank balance, to be honest.”
“Why would I care about your bank balance?” Harper puckered her brows. Sure, he had to be successful to have his stores, but Dan and Adele had never said anything about Drew’s financial status.
“Most people do,” he admitted. “And a lot of the time personal value is determined by the zeroes after your name. But you don’t care, do you?”
“I don’t even know how much you make,” she replied, not quite sure where this was all going. Was he saying he was rich? After all, hiring out a helicopter wasn’t something you did when you lived paycheck to paycheck.
“You really don’t,” he marveled, a smile tugging at his lips. “Harper, my net worth last year was—”
He gave a number that had her lips dropping open and her eyes widening as she gave a very unladylike exclamation.
He chuckled. “So you didn’t know. See? This is why I liked being with you. You accepted me at face value. That doesn’t happen much anymore.”
She was still reeling from the fact that he was a multimillionaire. Drew never put on airs. He wore faded jeans and T-shirts. Drove a pickup, from what he’d said before. He was...ordinary.
But not, she reminded herself. He traveled extensively. Owned a chain of stores. Could apparently rent himself a luxury vehicle and book a custom heli tour at a moment’s notice. And he’d hidden that part of himself from her. She was a little bit hurt by that.
“You should have been honest with me,” she said, her lips a thin line. “I don’t like being lied to, Drew. Or being made a fool of.” God, she’d accused him of being extravagant. She felt so stupid.
“That wasn’t my intention at all. I just never know who to trust. If someone likes me for me or if they’re after some sort of advantage. I thought that if you knew about the money, it wouldn’t have been the same. It wasn’t meant to deceive you, I promise. I wanted to enjoy being a regular guy. The last week or so I’ve felt like an ordinary guy again. I kind of lost touch with that side of me.”
She understood that, even though she was still embarrassed. After all, she had her own trust issues. How could she be angry at someone for dealing with their issues in their own way?
“So why the helicopter? Why now?”
He reached over and took her hand. “Because I like you. Because I have fun with you, and this is top-notch fun. I can treat you to something because I want to, not because you expect it, and there’s something cool about that, you know? So please, come with me. Let’s fly over the Rockies, go for a hike, eat lunch in an alpine meadow. There’s no one I’d rather do this with.”
She couldn’t say no to him, and she suspected that would prove to be her biggest downfall. “I’m scared of heights.”
“You’ll forget all about it when we’re in the air and you take in the scenery. Plus you can hold my hand.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
“You’re incorrigible,” she replied, but knew she was about to get into a helicopter and face one of her biggest fears.
At least it wasn’t zip-lining in the jungle.
* * *
The helicopter ride was frightening at first, but once they were up in the air it was like nothing Harper had ever experienced. She thought of her father, who had made a career out of flying, and wondered if he felt this same awe every time he looked out his cockpit window. She and Drew were sitting in the back, headsets on, and before long she had her face pressed to the window as the pilot took them on a tour over peaks and through valleys that made her stomach swoop. Puffy clouds dotted a perfect blue sky and made shadows on the brownish-grey mountains. Turquoise glacial lakes dotted the valleys, mineral deposits creating the vivid colours made brighter by the sun’s rays.
“Okay?” Drew asked once, and she nodded quickly. He’d been right, of course. Once in the air, the magnificence of the scenery had chased away any lingering fears. It was amazing! And she never would have done it if he hadn’t nudged her out of her comfort zone.
The pilot approached a grassy peak and set the helicopter down with barely a bump. Harper’s heart beat fast as she unbuckled her seat belt and Drew helped her out of the aircraft, holding her hand and then reaching for their bags. Together they scurried south, away from the rotating blades, and Drew waved the pilot off. He’d be back in two hours to pick them up. In the meantime, they could explore the meadow and valley, take pictures, and eat the picnic he’d had specially prepared by the Cascade kitchens.
Harper had never felt glamorous before, but she did now.
When the helicopter was gone and her ears stopped ringing, she grinned up at D
rew. “Well. I didn’t faint.”
“You were a trooper. Though I thought you were going to lose your breakfast when we landed. You got pretty pale.”
“Funny,” she mused. “Way up in the air it seems fine. Get within a hundred feet of the ground and my nerves...” She made a zooming motion with her hand.
“Come on. Let’s get your camera out so you can take some pictures.”
She opened her bag and took out her camera, attached the lens she wanted and zipped it all back up again. “Ready,” she said, with a wide smile.
* * *
They descended a bit into an alpine meadow and Drew caught his breath. It was stunningly gorgeous. An endless blue sky soared above, punctuated with nearby peaks and swooped with green valleys. While the drop-off spot had been solid rock and sparse brush, the meadow was positively verdant. As they ventured along the trail, he spotted the nodding blue heads of harebells and the spiky blooms of red paintbrush flowers. There were glacier lilies and the more vibrant yellow of alpine buttercups.
Harper had stopped and was fiddling with her camera, setting up for pictures. It was breathtaking. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
He nodded, not saying anything. Instead he reached into his bag and took out his camera. The point-and-shoot eliminated the need for any complicated settings, but the waterproof and shockproof features meant it stood up to the most rugged of his adventures. There was no reason why he couldn’t get his own photos, even if they weren’t artistic like Harper’s.
They each wandered, looking for good vantage spots and unique shots, until Harper made her way over to him again. “Here,” she said, and she took her camera from around her neck. “I won’t make it complicated for you. It’s on auto and all you have to do is turn the zoom in or out, and shoot.”
“Harper. This is your camera. I mean, it’s like giving a teenager a Porsche and saying take it for a spin.”
