by Donna Alward
She shook her head. She really hadn’t traveled much of anywhere. One year, in high school, they’d taken the CAT ferry from Yarmouth to Bar Harbor and gone to Old Orchard Beach. The rest of her travel had been east of Toronto.
Jeremy squeezed her fingers. “I’ll take some time off. We can spend it together, figuring things out. With no one interfering.”
So this wasn’t a ploy to convince her to move there, but to give them time away to evaluate? She sighed. “I don’t know...” She pulled away a bit, feeling incredibly overwhelmed with it all. “Jeremy, a week ago I hadn’t even decided how and when to tell you, and now you’re here, and we’re trying to sort out how we’re going to do this, and you’ve kissed me...twice...”
“And you kissed me back,” he said firmly. “If it’s boundaries you’re worried about, then let me put it plainly for you. If for any reason something...more...comes of this, but then either one of us wants to pull the plug, then we can. With the important thing being we do so amicably with the well-being of the baby first and foremost.”
It sounded so simple and logical when he put it that way. Could it really be that easy?
Her heart—and her head—said no.
And yet the man sitting next to her, with the earnest eyes and seriously kissable lips, made her believe yes. The idea of a whole week in New York was enticing. She’d only ever seen videos and pictures of things like the giant Christmas tree in Rockefeller Square, the shops on Fifth Avenue...
“I don’t know, Jeremy,” she whispered. “This—all of this—is so crazy and scary. Everything about my life is changing. Now, talking about going away for a week, together...” She bit down on her lip. “I’m finding it hard to keep up.”
He lifted his hand and put it along her cheek. “Don’t worry. We’ll use it as get-to-know-each-other time. No pressure. No decisions. You’re right about one thing. Last summer was so fast, and now we’re being thrust into parenthood. If we stand any chance of doing this together, we have to know each other better. Develop trust. I know where you live and your world. But you don’t know mine.”
It all sounded perfect, which was exactly why Tori was so uneasy. Nothing was ever perfect.
“I’ll have to ask for the time off first,” she said, surprised she was actually considering it.
“We can go whenever you like. I can work my schedule around you, though I do have a series of meetings on the nineteenth and twentieth I can’t miss.”
“So I’d be back here for Christmas.”
“I’m sure you’ll want to be with your mom, won’t you?”
She nodded. “Okay. I’ll go.”
A wide smile lit up his face. “That’s great!” He gathered her hands in his and kissed her knuckles. “We’re going to be fine. Just wait and see.”
* * *
Jeremy watched as Tori’s eyes widened at the sight of the private jet sitting on the tarmac at Halifax’s airport. The option for a direct flight would have taken them only to Newark, with all the other flights requiring a stop. Why would he do that when he could charter something and leave on his own schedule?
Plus he wasn’t above trying to impress her a little bit. The woman deserved a bit of pampering and glamour. She worked hard and didn’t have a lot to show for it. A cozy little house, sure, and a close-knit work family. But there was a big world out there and he wanted to show her a little bit of it.
“Is this yours?”
He laughed. “No. I chartered it.”
Her face relaxed. “Oh. I was having a moment thinking you had your own plane and I was... I don’t know.”
“I thought about it, and went back and forth about whether I wanted to own one, but in the end, I keep coming back to using charters. It seemed simpler than worrying about where to keep it, having a pilot on call, maintenance... This way I pick up the phone, my assistant books me a charter and I show up.” He took her arm as they got to the steps leading to the door. “I like to keep things simple, believe it or not.”
It was her turn to laugh. “Jeremy, there is nothing simple about you.”
He wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or a criticism, but her voice was easy and a smile was on her lips so he was going to take it as a compliment.
She climbed the stairs ahead of him. He watched the gentle sway of her hips, thinking how pretty she looked in jeans and ankle boots with her jacket bundled up around her. She turned and flashed a smile at him when she reached the door and he realized he loved how young and energetic she looked with her hair back in a simple perky ponytail and the minimal makeup she wore, which made her skin look fresh and dewy. Or maybe that was her pregnant glow. It was then that he noticed how snug the jacket was around her tummy. She was only going to get bigger, and the winter was barely begun.
A shopping trip would definitely be on the itinerary.
Once inside, an attendant named Gerry took their coats and got them settled in soft leather seats. The more Tori looked around, the happier Jeremy was that he’d booked the flight. Her lips were open in what he thought was amazement and her eyes flitted over every seat, table and detail of decor in the Gulfstream.
They took off, and her face was fairly stuck to the window as they raced down the runway and left solid ground beneath them.
“This is maybe the coolest thing I’ve ever done,” she said, turning away and smiling up at him. “Is this normal for you? I don’t know how I’d ever get used to it.”
“It wasn’t always. For a while I usually booked first class.” He grinned at her. “And some of the commuter jets don’t even have a first class.” He shuddered for effect, making her laugh.
“I’d be disappointed if I thought you meant that,” she replied, sitting back against the comfortable seat. “But you aren’t the pretentious type. At least, I don’t think you are.”
He frowned a little. “That’s one of the reasons I suggested the week, Tori. So we could get to know each other better. But I’m relieved you don’t think I’m a stuck-up snob.”
“Stuck up, no. Used to the finer things? Definitely.”
At that moment, Gerry returned. “Are you ready for your breakfast, sir?”
“Breakfast?” Tori parroted, looking from Jeremy to Gerry and back again.
“You didn’t think I wasn’t going to feed you, did you? It’s only ten. If you ate at all this morning, it was hours ago.” It was true, because it was over two hours to the airport, and they’d had to return his rental to the agency, then clear security and then customs before boarding.
The meal smelled delicious, and Gerry whisked the cover away to reveal scrambled eggs, a bagel with butter and jam, and heaps of fresh strawberries and raspberries. “Would you like something to drink, ma’am?” he asked.
“Oh, goodness.” The low rumble of her stomach was audible, and Jeremy hid a smile. “Maybe some orange juice? Or even just iced water would be lovely.”
He took Jeremy’s lid as well and Jeremy said, “Water is fine for me, thank you, Gerry.”
“This is too much,” she said when Gerry had disappeared.
“It’s scrambled eggs,” Jeremy laughed. “I mean, it’s not like it’s eggs Benedict or anything elaborate. But I do know that you like eggs in the morning.”
Her eyes widened. “You do?”
“You mentioned it one morning when I first arrived. You said Neil made them just the way you liked.”
He watched as she took a bite and then turned her amazed gaze to him. “With a bit of cheese and some parsley. I can’t believe you remembered that.”
The approval in her gaze made him go all warm inside. “Well, I’ll confess I asked Neil. Because I get the feeling that you’ll just go along with anything rather than voice any preferences.”
She put her fork down and her face sobered, her lips turning downward. “What’s wrong? Did I say something?” he asked.
“You’re half right. I probably would be happy to just go along with things. But maybe I pick my battles. Scrambled eggs, no big deal. Our child’s future...big deal.”
She wasn’t going to be a pushover. Good. Not that he didn’t want to get his way, but he admired strength. “Of course.”
Gerry returned with orange juice and water for Tori and water for Jeremy, and left quietly. They ate their breakfast in companionable silence, until Tori sat back with a satisfied sigh. “Okay, so you were right. That was delicious and I needed the protein. Thank you.”
“You’re most welcome. What would you like to do today? We’ll be at my place before noon.”
“I have no idea.” She laughed. “I guess I figured you’d have an itinerary.”
“Sometimes the best vacations don’t have itineraries,” he replied, and cocked an eyebrow.
She blushed prettily. The last “vacation” for both of them had been those magical days in the summer, when they’d soaked up the sun and each other, with no schedule whatsoever. “Jeremy, if you’re expecting...” She swallowed and her blush deepened.
“I have no expectations beyond wanting to show you my town,” he replied, then reached over to take her hand. His heart hammered in his chest. There was no denying that the attraction to her hadn’t gone away. But it was something he wanted to work with, not against. To acknowledge, not ignore. “You’re a beautiful woman, Tori. I’m not going to lie and say that what I’m feeling is totally platonic. But I’m not going to push.”
Her eyes delved into his. “Me, too,” she breathed. “And I shouldn’t have admitted that, I suppose. I’m not good at holding my cards close to my chest.”
“This isn’t poker, or some business merger. It’s okay. I’m glad you’re being honest.”
“Me, too. About you, I mean.”
The statement left him somewhat uncomfortable, because he hadn’t been completely honest with her about what he really wanted. He was more...hoping she’d come around to the same way of thinking without him having to say so. He wanted her to love his place, love New York and to want to be closer. Hell, he’d even consider living somewhere else and commuting. He was saved from saying more as Gerry returned to take their plates away, bring Jeremy fresh coffee and put a tiny pot of steaming water and a cup in front of Tori.
She looked up in confusion and he smiled at her. “Mint tea, ma’am. Mr. Fisher said you preferred it.”
“Thank you, Gerry.”
She looked over at Jeremy and raised an eyebrow. “Well, aren’t you one for anticipating my needs,” she said, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
“Too much?” he asked, sitting back in his seat. He loved it when she had a hint of sass, and his lips twitched.
“I could tell you it’s a bit obvious. Or perhaps heavy-handed. But it smells heavenly.” She poured from the pot into her cup and the refreshing scent of mint filled the air. “So I should probably just say thank you.”
He leaned forward, determined to be honest, at least in the moment. “No, thank you. For coming on this trip. For being so open-minded and for not pushing back when I said I wanted to be a part of our baby’s life.”
“You’re the father,” she said simply.
“Yes, but I know you didn’t have to tell me, and considered not doing so. I arrived and took that decision out of your hands, and I’m not sorry. But I know it’s been difficult and I appreciate you meeting me in the middle.”
More than that. He wanted to treat her well because seeing her walk through those grand houses had made him see that he wanted to be able to convince her to be closer. He didn’t want to have to fly every few months to see his kid. He couldn’t run his business from Back-End-of-Nowhere, Nova Scotia, either. Dictating his desires would accomplish nothing; the right way was to make her want this for herself. His wonderful home in Manhattan. Top schools and opportunities. Weekends away, and no financial stress. In exchange, he’d be there for his kid—the one thing in the world he wanted most. He would never be an absentee father like his own dad had been. His child would never have to wonder if he was loved or if his father even cared at all.
Seeing the ultrasound picture that now lay tucked in his wallet, remembering the steady flicker of the heartbeat on the monitor as they watched... That had changed everything. As had feeling him or her kick against his hand. It had turned an idea into something utterly tangible.
“Likewise,” she responded, her gaze soft. “You’ve been so understanding. Way more than I gave you credit for. I should have told you from the beginning.”
“It doesn’t matter. It really doesn’t. Let’s just keep looking forward.”
“Deal.” She took a sip of tea, then looked out the window for a few moments before turning back to him. “And what about...well...us?”
It was a tough question. He couldn’t lie and say he was in love with her. He wasn’t. They got along well and enjoyed being together, didn’t they? And there was attraction on both sides. There was certainly more warmth between them than had ever been between his parents, obviously, or his mom and stepdad. He wasn’t sure he even believed in a burning passion that lasted forever. Hell, his brother was an aficionado of everlasting love and had believed in it so strongly he’d tried it...three times.
So he was as honest as he dared to be. “Tori, you’re beautiful, and smart, and you make me laugh. You have this way of lifting one eyebrow that literally makes me hear you say ‘Really, Jeremy?’ in my mind. You light up when you talk about the baby. Your staff loves you and you love them... And that doesn’t often happen with management. It wasn’t an accident we connected last summer. And all the things I liked about you then I still like about you now.”
She twisted her hands in her lap, as if his declaration made her uncomfortable. She gave an odd laugh and shrugged. “The things you liked about me then? I’m afraid I definitely don’t look as good in a bikini as I did last summer.”
He remembered, all right. She’d had a red one that seemed to be held together by strings, and then a black one that tied around her neck and made her breasts look—
He clenched his jaw. The image that flooded his brain now was of her in that same bikini, only with the gentle swell of their child curving her stomach. It was no less sexy in his mind.
“I’m not sure about that.”
“Oh, I am. My boobs are bigger and wouldn’t even fit in those cups—”
“I’m not seeing the problem here.”
She stared at him, and then started to giggle. “Oh, I suppose not. But thanks for the laugh.”
He wasn’t exactly laughing. In fact, he had to shift in his seat to be a little more comfortable.
Gerry reappeared. “Sir, we’re going to start our descent soon. In another five minutes or so, you’ll need to fasten your seat belts.”
“So soon?” Tori looked up with a smile. “Thank you. I think I’ll freshen up before I have to get buckled in.”
She rose from her seat and made her way to the bathroom. Jeremy ran his finger over his lower lip and tried to get the image of Tori in her bikini out of his mind, but he couldn’t.
They’d shared a few relatively chaste kisses in the last week, but clearly the summer had been a lot more heated; the pregnancy was evidence enough of that. He had to admit to himself, at least, that he’d wondered about a sexual relationship with her again. They’d been incredibly compatible...
The more he thought about it, the more he realized that she was near perfect for him. Kind, funny, sexually compatible, she’d be a great mother. Smart and intuitive...there really wasn’t anything he didn’t like about her.
She checked all his boxes, and a few he hadn’t realized he had.
When she returned from the bathroom, he smiled and waited for her to resume her seat and get buckled in. Then, as they approached, he pointed out landmarks through the window, half watching the v
iew and half watching her.
That was it. He’d pull out all the stops. And make her see how perfect their life could be. Her, him and, most important of all, their baby.
CHAPTER EIGHT
TORI’S FIRST IMPRESSION of New York was of noise and traffic. She’d never seen anything like it, and on the drive from La Guardia to the Upper East Side, she’d basically kept her nose pressed against the window of the luxury car that had been waiting for them when they arrived. Not a stretch limo or anything, thank goodness, but a bona fide car service and driver. Surreal didn’t even begin to cover what she’d already experienced today.
They were dropped off outside Jeremy’s building. It didn’t look like anything overly special from the outside, but inside was a different story. They took an elevator to his floor, and when he opened the door to his home, she nearly gasped.
What she did immediately was remove her leather boots and place them by the door. There was no way she would track on these floors.
The floor of the foyer gleamed like glass, and just beyond was a kitchen to the left. White cupboards, stainless state-of-the-art appliances, a slate-gray butcher block in the center and an enormous bouquet of fresh flowers made it look more like one of his real estate showings than a home. The concept was open, but a partial wall separated the working part of the kitchen—which looked as if it had never been used—from a dining room. A long table with upholstered chairs was the centerpiece of the space, with a long, silver runner down the middle and a bowl of more flowers sitting in its center. The table had seating for eight, and Tori could almost imagine a dinner party around such a table, with the clink of silverware and tinkle of crystal.
Yep. Definitely out of her league.
“Over here is the living room,” Jeremy said from behind her, and she turned to see him holding out an arm. She followed close behind and was bathed in sunlight from the windows. “You can see the park from here,” he offered, taking her hand and pulling her forward. She looked out the window... Indeed, there was lots of city around them, but also the huge expanse of Central Park, now covered with an inch of snow, looking cold but a little magical, too.
