Secret Millionaire For The Surrogate
DONNA ALWARD
Are they ready to say ‘I do’?It’s wedding photographer Harper’s job to capture other people’s happy ever afters, but she doesn’t believe in one for herself.Until she meets ruggedly gorgeous best man Drew. Harper tries to fight their instant chemistry…until Drew sneaks past her defences.
They met at a wedding...
Will they say “I do”?
It’s wedding photographer Harper’s job to capture other people’s happily-ever-afters, but she doesn’t believe in one for herself. Until she meets ruggedly gorgeous best man Drew. Having offered to be a surrogate for her best friend, Harper tries to fight their instant chemistry, until Drew sneaks past her defenses. But she’s about to learn this extraordinary man has an extraordinary secret!
DONNA ALWARD lives on Canada’s east coast with her family, which includes a husband, a couple of kids, a senior dog and two crazy cats. Her heart-warming stories of love, hope and homecoming have been translated into several languages, hit bestseller lists and won awards, but her favourite thing is hearing from readers! When she’s not writing she enjoys reading (of course!), knitting, gardening, cooking…and is a Masterpiece Theater addict. You can visit her on the web at donnaalward.com (http://www.donnaalward.com) and join her mailing list at donnaalward.com/newsletter (http://www.donnaalward.com/newsletter).
Also by Donna Alward (#u1056d76e-3b0b-50e2-ba74-71b9caf28572)
Hired: The Italian’s Bride
The Cowboy’s Christmas Family
The Cowboy’s Convenient Bride
Marrying a Millionaire miniseries
Best Man for the Wedding Planner
Secret Millionaire for the Surrogate
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk).
Secret Millionaire for the Surrogate
Donna Alward
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ISBN: 978-1-474-09055-1
SECRET MILLIONAIRE FOR THE SURROGATE
© 2018 Donna Alward
Published in Great Britain 2018
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
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www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
For Barb—my soul sister.
Contents
Cover (#u53305891-ea3f-5a07-8b74-d2c4ca9e09df)
Back Cover Text (#u7ef31ade-3cc4-55da-bf67-3e5302839c8f)
About the Author (#u8d5c7465-e671-5c87-9b9c-5c14562758e9)
Booklist (#ue729f0f8-ef1e-574a-accd-bb0f1a98581a)
Title Page (#ucc289f00-1e6b-5512-a575-70ee528af953)
Copyright (#u5ffa629f-f3e5-5bad-b5e5-c36413dbebbc)
Dedication (#ue1444a72-e338-5a03-bb25-ab745c414738)
CHAPTER ONE (#u5d4261c3-753e-53ce-961a-c0d227e6286c)
CHAPTER TWO (#u9c3ac124-67cb-4d27-bb3b-71350b108b7d)
CHAPTER THREE (#u22d89870-d645-5b74-833f-98c44660af00)
CHAPTER FOUR (#ubb9d9162-d81c-582b-bb2b-12d4d044d9f5)
CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
EPILOGUE (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#u1056d76e-3b0b-50e2-ba74-71b9caf28572)
March
IT WAS ODD being the person in front of the camera rather than behind it.
Harper McBride smiled once more as she looked around the room, trying to keep her smile genuine, but not quite liking the feeling of being so conspicuous. She was used to being the wedding photographer, in the background and out of the spotlight. Not tonight. The silky dress clung to her curves...what she had of them. She’d always had more of an athletic-type figure and broad shoulders that made buying tops and dresses slightly problematic. The cut of this dress, though...well, it left her shoulders bare, and a slit up the leg to midthigh left her feeling adventurous but also a little awkward.
But it was Adele’s wedding day, and Harper was the only bridesmaid, and she’d do anything for her best friend.
Anything. As she’d just proved when she gave Adele and Dan their wedding present. If Harper could help her best friend start the family she’d always wanted, she was all in.
She snagged a glass of champagne from the tray of a passing waiter and took a deep drink. She only had to get through maybe another hour of the dance and she could sneak away, back to her little bungalow and into a pair of soft flannel pajamas. That was how she preferred to spend her evenings, if she wasn’t photographing a wedding or special event. Out of the spotlight.
“You disappeared for a while.”
A deep voice sounded by her shoulder and she suppressed a delicious shiver. Drew, the groom’s brother and the best man. Harper and Drew had walked down the aisle together...and back up again when the I dos had been said, her fingers on his sleeve. Not too tightly, but not too loose, just enough to feel the warmth and strength beneath her fingertips. They’d sat next to each other at dinner, where she’d inhaled his cologne and his warm laugh had washed over her, making her smile even when she didn’t quite want to. Drew Brimicombe was sexy and charming—the kind of man she didn’t quite trust.
Drew and Dan were similar but also so very different. Accountant Dan kept his hair short and tidy and looked very James Bond in his tuxedo. Outdoorsman Drew, on the other hand, was a few inches shorter, his hair was a few inches longer, and he always seemed to have a little bit of scruff on his jaw. His tux fit perfectly, but there was a roughness to his appearance that was appealing. He wore designer threads as effortlessly as he wore faded jeans and a Henley shirt. Like the ones he’d worn to the rehearsal last night, and her mouth had gone dry just looking at him.
She half turned and smiled at him, her stomach flipping a little. “I went to talk to Dan and Adele on the terrace.”
“It’s cold outside.”
“I wasn’t out there very long.” She lifted her glass again, hoping she wasn’t blushing in the dim lighting. A small band played in the corner, some sort of jazzy blues-type music that made her think of Diana Krall. Drew’s hand touched the hollow of her back lightly, and she was ready to move away when she realized he was merely guiding her slightly to the right to make room for a server with a tray of hors d’oeuvres.
His body was too close.
Just when she was ready to say something, he stepped back. “Sorry about that. She was trying to get through and I could envision a tray of cocktail shrimp going everywhere.” He smiled at her, a genuinely friendly smile, but with that edge of ever-present impishness she had to guard against.
“We wouldn’t want that,” she replied, trying to let out a breath and calm down. For heaven’s sake, he was just a guy, and she wasn’t truly interested, even if he did fluster her with his sideways smile and twinkly brown eyes. After the wedding he’d be going back to California or wherever it was he called home.
“Hey, Harper?”
“Hmm?” She had been trying to keep her gaze on the band, but when he said her name, she turned back to him and met his eyes. They weren’t so twinkly now, but warm and melty. At least that was how they made her feel...
“If I didn’t tell you already today, you look killer in that dress.”
Heat rushed into her cheeks and she bit back a curse. “Thanks. I clean up once in a while. Even break out the high heels.” She tried a nonchalant shrug. “I’m more of a jeans and hoodie person.”
“Me, too. But it’s nice to get dressed up now and again. Especially for an important occasion like this.”
She smiled. “You’re right.”
“I know.” His confidence was at once attractive and maddening, and she snorted a laugh despite herself. When she lifted her head, he was holding out his hand. “Care to?”
He was asking her to dance. Her laughter died a quick death. She was no good at flirting, but even worse when it came to personal space and touching. She never quite knew where to put her hands or where to look. There was a reason why she spent her time behind the camera rather than in front of it. She did a good job faking it most of the time, but inside she was awkward as anything. Always had been.
“I don’t really dance.” She suspected that she had two left feet when it came down to it, though it had been ages since she’d tested that theory.
“I don’t believe you. Besides, I think it’s tradition for the best man to dance with the maid of honour.”
She raised an eyebrow. “I’m letting you off the hook.”
He still held out his hand. “What if I don’t want to be off the hook? What are you so afraid of? I promise I’m well behaved.”
She couldn’t see a polite way out of it, so she put her hand in his.
He closed his fingers over hers.
Oh, no.
The butterflies in her stomach multiplied as he led her to the parquet and folded her into his arms. His scent wrapped around them, cocooning her in a cloud of masculinity. She took a breath and let it out slowly as their feet began to move.
“This isn’t so bad, is it?” Piano and soft vocals swirled around them, lulling her closer to his chest. When she realized it, she shifted back a bit, putting more space between them.
“It’s okay,” she replied, secretly thinking it was the most wonderful thing to happen to her in months. The last time she’d been this breathless she’d been hiking near Emerald Lake and had caught a shot of a grizzly mom and cubs in the morning mist. It was one of her favorite shots, and she’d framed it and highlighted it in her studio window just off Banff Avenue.
His chest rose and fell as he silently chuckled. “Harper, you are not an easy woman.”
She looked up at him, lifting her chin. “I surely hope not.”
“I like challenges.”
“I’m not a challenge, Drew. And not a trophy.”
His eyes lit with a new light. “Thank God. I mean... I like someone who can keep me on my toes.”
He tried a small turn and she stumbled a little. His arm tightened around her waist, keeping her upright.
“Careful, or I’ll actually be on your toes,” she warned.
He laughed, once again a warm sound that lulled her closer and made her smile. Damn him. Dan was a great guy, but his brother was all charm. Stupid thing was, Harper figured it was actually genuine, not an act or a cover-up. He was warm and funny and put people at ease.
At least she would be at ease if she weren’t so aware of him.
“You’re something else, you know that?” he said, softer now, his body brushing hers. Their feet had slowed and their steps shortened, so they were barely more than swaying. Harper swallowed against the nervous lump in her throat. She was so not confident when it came to men. Particularly good-looking ones who said all the right things without trying. They had a habit of turning around and walking away, just when you thought it was safe to believe. To trust.
“Um, thank you?” she murmured, knowing she should pull away, but wanting deep down to enjoy the moment a bit longer.
“I mean it.” He leaned back and met her gaze. “Dan told me about how you’ve been such a good friend to Adele and all the things you did to help with the wedding. I went to your studio the other day, you know. You do some amazing work.”
Heat flushed her chest and up her neck. “Oh. I...well. I didn’t expect you to say that.”
“Your nature photographs are some of the best I’ve seen. The one of the mama grizzly and her cubs? I love it.”
Since it was one of her favorites, too, she smiled, more relaxed now. Talking about her work was much easier than anything overly personal. “I’m pretty proud of that one,” she admitted.
“I don’t know why you do weddings and stuff, not when you have such a talent for nature photography.”
She shrugged. “Weddings are fun, too, you know. There’s so much happiness and hope. Besides, weddings and other occasions are my bread and butter. Those bookings keep me in the black so I can indulge in the other stuff. Rent in this town isn’t cheap.” At least there was happiness and hope for other people. Harper just wasn’t sure it was in the cards for her.
He nodded. “There. You’re more relaxed. I’m not going to bite, you know.”
She let out a breath, prepared to laugh a bit, until he added, “Unless you want me to.”
The breath whooshed out of her lungs and her feet stopped moving. “Uh. Drew, I...”
“I like you, Harper. A lot.”
“You barely know me.”
“I’d like to fix that.”
Oh God Oh God Oh God.
She decided to be honest. “I’m not good at these types of situations. I don’t know what to say and I don’t know how to play the game.” Besides, being the loser hurt. A lot. And she was under no illusions who’d come out the victor in this match.
He tightened his fingers over hers. “Then I’ll be clear.” His magnetic gaze held hers. “I’m attracted to you, and I think you’re attracted to me, and I’d like to know if you’d like to do something about it.”
The answer in her head was yes, and it was so disconcerting that she stepped out of his arms as her heart started a strange gallop behind her ribs. Of course her real answer would be no. For one thing, hooking up at a wedding for a fling was not her style. And for another, she’d just offered to be a surrogate for his brother and her best friend. Talk about complicating a situation...
“I think you got the wrong idea,” she said coolly. “I like you, Drew, but I’m not interested in hooking up.”
He watched her for a long moment. Then his eyes warmed and he gave a little nod. “Then, I’m sorry,” he said quietly, “for misreading the signals. And for making you uncomfortable.”
But she was uncomfortable, and not really because of him. After all, she was attracted, and she’d enjoyed dancing with him and even the bit of verbal sparring they’d indulged in now and again. But it couldn’t go any further, and he accepted that, so why was everything feeling so off balance now?
“Friends?” he asked, lifting a questioning eyebrow.
“Of course.” She smiled and let out a breath. “It would be nice to be friends, especially if your brother is married to my bestie.”
“Agreed.” He held out his hand and she shook it, but when his fingers folded over hers, those darned tingles started all over again. It sucked that her body wasn’t agreeing with her brain right now.
She pulled her hand away and stepped back. Drew led her to the edge of the dance floor again, grabbed her another glass of champagne and talked to her for a few minutes about her photographs as if nothing had ever happened. Then Dan called him over, he excused himself and, with a small touch on her arm, left her alone.
Alone was what she was used to. And when she wasn’t alone she had Adele, and her assistant, Juny, and phone calls with her mom and dad, who were currently living in Caicos, while her dad flew charter planes between islands. She had a good life.
But tonight, being held in Drew’s arms...it had been a little taste of heaven. And one she was already regretting passing up.
CHAPTER TWO (#u1056d76e-3b0b-50e2-ba74-71b9caf28572)
May
HARPER HELD HER breath as she sat on the closed toilet in the tiny bathroom at her photography studio. Juny hadn’t yet arrived for the day, and everything was still and quiet. Harper had wanted the few minutes of privacy to do the pregnancy test. Now she felt like she might throw up, and it had nothing to do with any potential morning sickness. It was nerves, plain and simple. A lot was riding on these three minutes of pee on a stick.
Two minutes had already passed. One more to go before she could look at the stick and know if she’d be giving her best friend, Adele, good news or bad news.
She desperately wanted it to be good. And yet the idea terrified her, too. Being a surrogate for Adele and her new husband, Dan, was something she’d really wanted to do. Adele had had cancer at a young age and couldn’t have children of her own. It had taken eight long years for her and Dan to reconnect and commit to each other, even though they knew they might never have the family they both yearned for. Harper had a completely healthy uterus and no relationship to speak of. There was no reason why she couldn’t carry a baby for the woman who’d made such a big difference in her world. The woman who’d made her finally feel as if she had a home and some roots to put down.
But now, with the seconds ticking away, Harper was afraid. Carrying a baby was a big thing. She’d attended medical appointments with Dan and Adele, had combed through research, had sat with her feet in stirrups. There had been little that was glamorous or sentimental about the whole procedure, but it hadn’t been frightening.
Until now.
Today, if the plus sign showed up on the stick, there was no going back. She either was or she wasn’t. And if she was...she’d be carrying a little human in her body for the next eight and a half months. Her mouth was dry as she tried to swallow. Thank God Adele wasn’t here now, waiting. Harper wasn’t sure she could have taken the pressure of Adele’s heart being on the line while they waited. Better to know now, get her wits about her and decide what to say. The doctor had said this was a long shot, and probably Adele and Dan’s only chance at using Adele’s eggs. Either way, there would be big news for her friends. Either a second chance or the end of this particular road, and moving on to plan B.
She checked her phone. The seconds ticked down from ten...
But she didn’t wait. She reached for the stick and stared at the result.
It was a plus sign.
She was carrying her best friend’s baby—the most precious cargo in the world.
July
Summer sun beat down on Drew Brimicombe’s head. It had been cool up the mountain, where he’d spent most of the afternoon in an alpine meadow overlooking a turquoise lake. No matter where he traveled, there was something about the Canadian Rockies that beckoned to him and made him feel at home. He’d been here half a dozen times over the past five years, mostly skiing, but now it was different. His brother, Dan, was here, and he was looking forward to some bro time.
And checking out real estate. That was his true reason for the impromptu trip—a tip from a contact about a real estate opportunity. He was always looking at expansion, and this might be his chance to open an Aspen Outfitter store north of the border. He couldn’t think of a better opportunity than in the heart of the Rockies. And when one store opened, he was sure others would follow, making his brand North America-wide.
The townsite of Banff was hotter than he’d expected, though, considering how it was nestled smack in the middle of the mountains. He had on his sunglasses but not the standard ball cap he usually wore, and he could feel the heat soak into his scalp. Today had been a light hike, so he’d worn jeans, a T-shirt and a pair of lovingly broken-in boots. Water, a small digital camera, and some trail mix had been in his day pack, but he’d stayed to the marked trail and not ventured into backcountry. Not today. He’d just arrived and had chosen the easy hike to blow off the dust and claustrophobia of travel. Now he’d stop in at Dan and Adele’s and let them know he’d arrived before heading to his hotel.
The house was tucked into a little side street, with a simple sign boasting Hawthorne Weddings out front. Adele’s business was planning weddings, and one of her clients had been a good friend of Dan’s, causing them to meet again after she’d broken his heart years earlier. No one had been more shocked than Drew when Dan had announced they were getting married, but Drew had come to the wedding and it had been clear to see that they still adored each other. Enough that Dan had uprooted his life as CFO of his company and moved here to be with her. Drew shook his head as he climbed the steps to the second floor of the house where Adele and Dan lived. He couldn’t imagine doing anything like that. Settling down wasn’t even on his radar, let alone leaving everything he’d worked for behind. He’d watched his dad give up dreams and aspirations for marriage and family, and he’d seen the unhappiness in his eyes.
Not that Drew didn’t like Adele. He did. And Dan could make his own choices and he seemed to be happy. It just wasn’t for Drew. He liked his freedom far too much.
His knock was answered by Adele, whose face lit up when she saw him. “Drew! What on earth are you doing here?”
He grinned. “Surprise trip. Are you surprised?”
“Very.” But she smiled back at him. “Dan’s going to flip. He was just talking about you last night. Come on in where it’s air conditioned and I’ll get you something to drink.”
He stepped inside and heard another female voice. “Who is it, Del?”
He remembered that voice, sweet and musical. Harper. The maid of honour at the wedding. He’d turned on the charm a little, but she’d made it clear that she wasn’t the type for a casual fling so he’d behaved himself.
“A surprise guest,” Adele answered as Drew took off his boots. He went into the living room area in his sock feet and saw Harper seated in a plush chair, legs folded beneath her yoga-style, her hair pulled up in a pert ponytail. It highlighted her face and the light smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose. Beautiful, he thought, but with a definite girl-next-door vibe. He much preferred her natural looks to a lot of makeup and just the right clothes. And shoes. Why women put so much emphasis on shoes, he could never figure out.
“Harper,” he said warmly, stepping forward and holding out his hand. “Good to see you again.”
She looked surprised at the handshake but put her hand into his anyway. “You, too.” She blinked and met his eyes. “They didn’t know you were coming?”
He laughed, then pulled his hand away from her soft, cool fingers. “I didn’t even know I was coming. I decided yesterday to take some time off and visit, but I didn’t want to call unless it didn’t work out on short notice.” He wasn’t sure how much he wanted to say about a possible land deal. For now it was a bit hush-hush. Besides, he didn’t want it to seem like he was bragging—that wasn’t his style. So he left it and merely shrugged.
“Oh.”
He got the sense she didn’t quite approve of his spur-of-the-moment plans, so he added, “I booked a room at the Cascade. No need for Adele and Dan to be inconvenienced by my impulses.”
“The Cascade, in high season? How’d you manage to get a room?” Her eyebrows shot up.
He laughed. “I lucked out. There was a cancellation.”
Her face relaxed a bit and Adele came back from the kitchen with a couple of beers and a glass of lemonade, which she gave to Harper.
“You don’t like beer?” he asked, taking the bottle from Adele and twisting off the cap. “Nothing like it on a scorcher of a day like today.”
Her gaze flicked to Adele and then back. “Um, I don’t really drink,” she answered, then hid behind her glass as she sipped. “Besides, lemonade is perfect.”
He took a seat and chatted to Adele for a few minutes, catching up, but in the back of his brain he remembered the wedding and the fact that Harper had indulged in more than one glass of champagne.
Something felt off.
“So what brings you to Banff? It can’t only be a visit with Dan.”
He smiled at his new sister-in-law, thinking of a way to divert the conversation. “To see you, too, you know. You’re a package deal now. How are the newlyweds?”
Adele’s smile was huge, and her gaze flicked to Harper for a moment before shifting back to him. “Oh, we’re wonderful. Dan likes his new job a lot, and I’m...” Her smile was radiant. “Well, I’m blissfully happy.”
“I’m glad.”
“You didn’t answer my question, though. What else brings you here?”
He considered for a moment and decided to be honest but downplay his interest. “I’m thinking about opening a store up here, and doing a little recon.”
“And you can spend some time with your brother at the same time,” Harper added softly.
He met her gaze, felt the jolt right to his toes. She was so pretty. So...artless. At the wedding weekend he’d learned she was a photographer. He remembered seeing her photos and realizing they were as simple and stunning as she was.
“Family’s important,” he said simply. “I haven’t seen mine as much as I might have wanted to over the past few years.”
“Dan says you two have always been close.”
Harper had been smiling at him, but he dragged his gaze away to look at Adele again. “I’m the baby of the family, but I was the first to leave the Brimicombe family fold. I’d like to be around more, you know?” And look for opportunities. He was always keeping his eyes open. Being sharp was what kept him at the top of his game.
He turned his gaze to Harper. “What about you, Harper? Do you have any brothers or sisters?” Their wedding banter hadn’t covered much in the way of personal subjects.
She smiled a little and shook her head. “An only child, I’m afraid. My parents live in Caicos.”
“Caicos? Wow. What’s in Caicos?”
She grinned. “An air charter service. My dad’s a pilot.”
“It’s a beautiful island.”
“You’ve been?”
He nodded. He’d traveled extensively and didn’t have any plans of stopping. Stay in one place too long and he got itchy feet. Luckily, Aspen Outfitters had done well and he could indulge his wanderlust.
Adele’s cell rang and she excused herself, leaving Drew and Harper alone. He looked over at her and wondered what was different. Granted, at the wedding she’d been dressed in lovely clothes with her hair and makeup done to perfection, understated but incredibly lovely. Now she was in shorts and a T-shirt with her hair in a simple reddish-brown tail. It was more than what she was wearing, though. There was something about her that drew him in and her skin glowed like she was lit from the inside. And it wasn’t the summer heat. The air-conditioning made sure of that.
“You look good,” he said, then realized how awful that must sound. “I mean, well.”
She laughed a little. “Thanks. I think. I’ve been busy, but trying to take a little time off for me. It’s wedding season, though. I’m booked every weekend from now until Thanksgiving.”
“No summer vacations for you then, huh.”
“Not really. Weddings really take up an entire weekend, with the rehearsal on the Friday and sometimes a family event on the day following the ceremony. And sometimes couples want engagement pictures, or have an engagement party, bridal shower...”
“They hire photographers for that?”
She waggled her delicate brows a little. “If there’s money? Oh, yeah.”
“Do you only do weddings?”
She unfolded her legs. “No. I mean, I do things like special occasions, engagement parties, graduations, anniversaries, that sort of thing. I even had a few gigs as prom photographer for a few different schools.”
He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “It doesn’t leave a lot of time for your nature stuff, does it?”
She shook her head, the tips of her ponytail touching her shoulders. “Not as much as I’d like. I try to get out of the studio a few times a week and take landscapes and candids.”
“Like your mama and cubs photo.”
She smiled then, a genuine, happy smile that lit up her eyes. “You remember that piece.”
“Of course I do. How you got such clarity with the sun coming up and the little bit of mist on the grass... I don’t know how you did it.”
She took a sip of her lemonade, then nodded. “The scenery here is so beautiful, and I like experimenting with different filters and lenses. I sell some of my prints, but it’s not enough to make a living and pay the rent on the studio. Weddings help me keep the lights on. But that means I don’t have as much time as I’d like to explore the other stuff.”
Her eyes lit up when she talked about her work. He could relate. There was nothing he enjoyed more than setting up a new store from the ground up. “But as you said, weddings are on weekends. Surely you have time during the week? More than a day or two?”
She laughed, a sound as light as sunbeams. “You mean when I’m not looking after the business side of things, and editing photos? You wouldn’t believe how long editing takes.”
“I never thought of that.”
She smiled. “I try to get out as much as I can, but lately I...”
Her words trailed off and her eyes widened, as if she’d been caught saying something she shouldn’t.
“Lately what?”
Her cheeks flushed. “Oh, it’s nothing. So you’re looking at opening a new store. That sounds exciting.”
It was a deliberate evasion and he knew it, but he wasn’t going to push for information she didn’t want to give. She was a relative stranger, after all, and Adele’s best friend. There was no need to be rude or prying. Though he couldn’t help but wonder if her glow and now her evasion had anything to do with a new relationship. It shouldn’t matter, because she’d already made her feelings clear. But it did. What kind of man could capture the heart of a woman like her? He’d have to be someone special. Drew had definitely gotten the impression that Harper wasn’t the type to settle for just anyone.
“It is,” he replied, taking a sip of his beer. “Aspen Outfitters would fit in well here, I think, with tourists and locals alike. It’s a good market. Besides, I love building a new store. I like the challenge.” It certainly beat sitting behind a desk or in a boardroom. With growth came responsibility. He accepted it, but sometimes it weighed a bit heavily.
Adele came back in, bringing a bowl of pita chips and a dish of dip. She put them down on the coffee table. “I’m assuming you’re staying for dinner, but I thought you might like a snack for now.”
“God, your homemade hummus is to die for,” Harper said, leaning forward to grab a chip and scoop it through the smooth dip.
“I laid off the garlic, too. I know it’s...”
She didn’t finish her sentence.
Drew helped himself. Harper was right. The hummus was delicious, and he wasn’t a huge fan normally. “You don’t like garlic?” he asked, before popping another chip in his mouth.
“Oh, I like it. It just doesn’t like me right now.”
He frowned a little. Why would there be a change? Not that it was a big deal. It was hummus, for Pete’s sake. But that was the second time one of them had stopped midsentence. He wondered if he’d interrupted something important. Something that was none of his business. He considered leaving, but then knew it would look odd if he left without at least seeing his brother.
They made small talk for a little while, until the door opened and closed again and Dan called out hello.
“We’re in here!” Adele called back.
“We?”
Dan stepped into the room and Drew grinned at the look of sheer surprise on his face. He got up and gave his brother a bear hug and received one in return.
Dan clapped him on the back. “What the hell?” He laughed, stepping back. “We weren’t expecting you!”
“I know. And I don’t have any desire to disturb the newlyweds’ love nest. I’m at a hotel.”
“Don’t be silly. Of course you can stay here.”
Drew laughed. “Yeah, well, thanks, but I’m comfortable where I am. You guys deserve your privacy.”
That Dan didn’t argue further, and Adele blushed a little, told Drew all he needed to know. The hotel had definitely been the right—and most considerate—choice.
“You’re staying for dinner, though, right?”
“Sure.”
Dan finally noticed Harper. “Oh, and of course you’re staying, too, right?”
“Oh.” She looked surprised and slightly uncomfortable. “I should probably get back.”
“To what? The workday’s over. Stay,” Adele insisted. “I’m going to grill some chicken and make risotto. I’ve got falafel I can make for you, unless you want something else.”
Right. Drew remembered now from sitting next to her at the wedding. Harper was vegetarian.
“No, no, whatever you have is fine. You know I love falafel. Particularly if you have tzatziki from the market.”
“It’s settled, then.”
“Let me help you in the kitchen,” Harper offered, getting up from her chair. When she did, she pressed her hand to her back and stretched.
Once they were gone, Dan undid his tie and took it off, stuffing it in his pocket. He sank into a chair and sighed, then grinned. “It’s good to see you, Drew.”
“You, too. You guys look really happy. I’m glad.”
“We are. Very.”
Adele snuck in and handed Dan a cold beer, kissed his head and took off again.
“Did you really just come for a visit? It’s unusual for you.”
Drew shook his head. “As much as I’d be brother of the year if I said yes, I do have another agenda. Our last few stores are up and running smoothly, and I’m looking at expansion locations again. I got a tip about a property here. But I’m not saying much about it. I’m scouting things out.” Of the family, Dan was the only one who knew how successful Drew had become. And they’d talked about keeping it under the radar, even with the family. Drew preferred to keep his life private, particularly his bank balance. Enough people treated him differently. He didn’t need it from his family, too.
“You’re looking at setting up a store here.” Dan’s grin was wide. “Cool.”
“It’s a prime location. I’m here to check out the local competition and see the property. Maybe some other locations if it’s not what I’m looking for.” He smiled. “And the fact that you’re here is a major bonus. We haven’t seen each other enough over the last five years.”
Dan took a long pull of his beer. “You could have stayed here. I mean it.”
“And disturb the newlywed love nest? No thanks. It’s as much for my sake as it is for yours.” He chuckled and took a drink of his beer, as well. “By the way, is Harper here a lot? I was surprised to find her here when I arrived.”
Dan got a strange look on his face. “Oh, she’s around quite a bit I suppose.”
Drew put down his beer. That made at least four odd looks and a couple of halted conversations. Something was definitely off.
“Okay, I might be totally crazy, but is there something going on? You looked funny just now, and a couple of times Adele and Harper stopped midsentence. Am I missing something?” He frowned. “And if it’s none of my business, say so.”
Dan hesitated. “Well...it’s not that it’s none of your business, it’s that we haven’t said anything to anyone yet.”
“About what?”
Dan took a drink of his beer. “Well, you know that Delly can’t have kids.”
“Y-es,” he replied, drawing the word out a bit.
“So when I asked her to marry me, we talked about possibilities. Maybe adoption. Maybe not having children at all, which would have been fine. But at the wedding, Harper told us that she wanted to offer to be a surrogate for us.”
Drew’s gaze snapped to the kitchen door. He could hear Adele and Harper talking. A surrogate? He’d heard of such a thing but had never met anyone who’d actually done it. “So you’re going to do it? But...how? I mean... I’m assuming you’re...you know, and are you using her...” He started to stammer. “Okay, so this is actually really awkward.”
Dan chuckled. “I know. It was for me at first, too. Adele had some testing done and we decided to try using her eggs. Normally this can be a bit of a long road, but we lucked out on the first try.” His smile widened.
Drew stared for a minute as what his brother had just said sank in. We lucked out on the first try. “Does that mean... God, Dan, are you saying you’re going to be a father?”
He nodded. “And Delly’s going to be a mom, and Harper is carrying our baby for us.”
Drew flopped back against the cushion of the chair. “Holy mackerel. I did not see that coming. That was fast.”
“We haven’t told anyone yet, not even Mom and Dad. She’s still in the first trimester, and we want to be sure everything is okay. But since you’re here...” He leaned forward, resting his hands on his knees. “I’ve been dying to tell someone, you know?” His grin broadened.
It made sense now. The whole garlic-doesn’t-agree-with-me thing and the strange looks and truncated sentences. Drew rubbed a hand over his face and wondered what kind of woman offered to carry a child for a friend. What a huge commitment. What a generous thing. He hadn’t realized that Harper and Adele were so close. What the heck was she getting out of it? He didn’t consider himself a cynic, but he’d done enough business to know that hardly anyone did anything 100 percent altruistically.
“You okay, bro?” Dan lifted an eyebrow. “You look a little freaked out.”
“I’m just surprised. You’ve only been married since March.”
“We didn’t want to wait. If it didn’t work, we knew it could take time to adopt. I’m telling you, Harper is one in a million. Adele has gone to every appointment so far and soon we get to hear the heartbeat. That’s our baby in there, you see? Adele’s and mine. We’ll never be able to repay Harper for this.”
Harper stepped into the living room, her face easy and unconcerned. “Does anyone want another drink?”
Drew got to his feet, his emotions in a bit of a storm as he tried to adjust to the news without being an awkward ass. “Uh, I can get it. You don’t need to wait on me.”
She smiled softly. “Suit yourself, then. Beer’s in the fridge.”
He glanced quickly at her abdomen, then back up, his face heating. Harper didn’t seem to notice anything and, with a flip of her ponytail, was gone back to the kitchen again.
His brain was a muddle, but he did manage to have one coherent thought as he followed her into the kitchen.
Harper is carrying my brother’s baby.
CHAPTER THREE (#u1056d76e-3b0b-50e2-ba74-71b9caf28572)
HARPER KEPT HER hands busy cutting vegetables so she wouldn’t have to look up at Drew, who’d come into the kitchen to grab a beer from the fridge. She’d seen the way his gaze had dropped to her belly and back up and the way he’d stood when she came into the room. Dan had told him; she was relatively sure of that. And it was awkward as hell.
She knew there would be some odd looks from people over the next few months, and probably more than her fair share of intrusive questions. She was prepared for that, or at least she was trying to be.
But she hadn’t been prepared for Drew.
At the wedding in March he’d been crazy attractive, all sexy smiles and sparkling eyes, but she hadn’t been in the mood for a wedding fling, particularly with the groom’s brother. It would have been all kinds of messy.
Today had been far more awkward because the moment he’d stepped in the room her body had reacted just the same way as it had when he’d pulled her close on the dance floor. Her breath had caught and she’d felt that ridiculous butterfly feeling in the pit of her stomach. Forget the tux; Drew Brimicombe in faded, dusty jeans and a well-worn T-shirt was delectable. Add in that rough stubble and the slightly curling tips of his sun-streaked hair and she was a goner.
And she remembered how he’d propositioned her.
Now she was pregnant with his brother and sister-in-law’s child and...yeah. Just as she’d thought at the wedding. This would be potentially awkward as heck and his reaction proved it. Not to mention that her attraction to him hadn’t exactly disappeared.
She should never have agreed to stay for dinner.
“Harper. That might be enough cucumber.”
The plate in front of her was rounded with cucumber slices and she realized she’d sliced the whole thing. To cover her embarrassment at getting caught daydreaming, she grinned and popped one in her mouth. “I can’t get enough these days,” she admitted. “They’re so cool and fresh.”
“Well, maybe you could cut some carrot and tomato to go with it?”
“Of course. Sorry. I don’t know where my mind went.”
Except she knew exactly where it went. With Drew, back into the living room. Or more precisely, back on the dance floor at the Cascade, being held in his strong arms, their bodies brushing.
She was peeling a carrot when she chanced a look up at Adele, who was ladling broth into the risotto. “I think Dan told Drew about the baby,” she said.
Adele stopped stirring and stared at her. “You do? Why?”
“The way Drew looked at me when I went back in the room. It was the same look I got from Dan the moment I told you guys I was pregnant.”
Adele frowned. “We weren’t going to say anything to anyone yet. Not until after...” Adele let the thought trail away, and Harper put down the carrot peeler and went to her side.
“I know you’re worried, but we’re almost at the end of the first trimester. Besides, he didn’t take out a billboard or anything. It’s his brother. Who’s here in person. Don’t be too upset.”
Adele let out a breath. “I know. And I don’t mean to put extra pressure on you.”
“I know that.” Harper smiled easily, though deep down she felt as if a whole family’s hopes were pinned on her keeping this baby healthy. She didn’t want to be responsible for any big disappointments. “You’ll feel better when you can hear the heartbeat. It’s not long now. Besides, I feel great.” Most of the time, anyway. Beyond a bit of fatigue and a few hours in the morning where morning sickness had become an issue.
Adele smiled and nodded. “You’re right. Let’s finish this up and get dinner on the table. We can eat out on the deck.”
Harper finished preparing the vegetable platter, then checked on the chicken and the falafel on the grill. Adele brought out dishes for four and Harper set them out as Adele put the risotto in a bowl and brought out a pitcher of ice water.
The guys came a few moments later, still talking and laughing, and the early evening was more mellow in its heat, providing an easy warmth. Harper poured water in everyone’s glass as Adele took the food off the grill, and in moments they were all seated and ready to eat.
Plates were filled, but then Drew lifted his glass. “Adele, I know Dan was supposed to keep it a secret, but I’m over the moon about your happy news.” He turned his gaze on Harper, his dark eyes warm. “And you, Harper. What an incredible gift you’re giving my brother and sister-in-law. To your happy family,” he finished, and they all clinked glasses before drinking.
Harper looked up at him over the rim of her glass. He was watching her steadily, and those pesky nerves started again.
She was pregnant, for God’s sake. One of the reasons she’d been so willing to do this now was because she wasn’t involved with anyone. And it wasn’t like she was thinking about starting something with Drew. He was the baby’s uncle, after all. It was just that every time he looked at her she got this silly feeling all over. All she could think of was the cheeky look on his face when he’d said, “I don’t bite. Unless you want me to.”
She looked away and instead cut into her falafel.
Dinner conversation moved on to small talk about work and the summer weather, and the mood was easy and relaxed. Harper had been hungry, and the rice and falafel took away the gnawing sensation that had been bordering on queasy. When Adele asked if anyone wanted tea, the men refused but Harper was more than ready for a cup. “I’ll get it, Adele. I know where everything is.”
She rose from her seat and tried to ignore Drew’s gaze following her as she went to the kitchen. For heaven’s sake, she didn’t look any different. But his perception of her had changed. That much was clear.
The kettle was on heating and she was reaching for a couple of mugs when Adele came through the sliding doors. “The boys are talking shop,” she remarked, selecting a tea flavor from the selection she kept in a box on the counter. “For all Drew’s outdoorsman ways, he’s a good businessman. When they started talking US versus Canadian tax law implications, I had to bail.”
Harper laughed lightly. “It was nice, what he said earlier.” She grabbed a mint pouch from the tea box and dropped it into her cup.
“Yeah. It’s funny, though. He can’t take his eyes off you.”
And there went that zingy feeling through her body again. She ignored it and shrugged. “It must seem really strange.” She smiled at Adele. “What we’re doing is pretty unconventional.”
“Are you sure that’s all it is? I’ve known Drew awhile. I mean, we had that break where we didn’t see each other at all, but when Dan and I were dating before, I got to know him pretty well. I’d say it’s more interested than curious.”
“I doubt it. Besides, guys don’t find women who are pregnant with someone else’s baby all that attractive, you know?”
“Maybe. Still. Did something happen between you two at the wedding or something?”
Harper shook her head and reached for the kettle. She poured water into the cups as she answered, the task allowing her to avoid meeting Adele’s gaze. “No. I mean, we danced and stuff, but just your typical best man and maid of honour duties.”
Which was an out-and-out lie.
“Well, he seems very happy with what you’re doing.” Adele reached over and touched Harper’s hand. “As we are. We’ll never be able to repay you.”
Harper smiled and turned her hand over, squeezing Adele’s fingers. “So you’ve mentioned a time or two.”
“Sorry. I know I probably go on a lot.”
“It’s okay.” Harper withdrew her hand and dipped her tea bag up and down. “I know you’re excited, and I want you to be a part of this pregnancy, every step of the way. It’s all good.”
Except Adele had a tendency to hover a bit, and Harper wasn’t sure how to deal with that. With understanding, surely. She’d rather bite off her own tongue than hurt Adele’s feelings. Adele was the sister she’d never had.
They took their tea back out to the deck. The sun had dipped behind the mountains, the air cooling. Once Harper and Adele returned to the table, the discussion morphed into things to do around town, and some of their favorite outdoor activities and spots.
“Of course, Harper has to be extra careful now,” Dan said, aiming a smile in her direction. “Precious cargo and everything.”
Harper shrugged. “I do, but the exercise is still important. I still love going out in the mornings and getting some sunrise pictures. I can do some cool things with the lighting.”
“Surely you don’t go alone, though,” Adele offered, sipping her tea. “I mean, anything could happen. The wildlife alone...”
Drew stepped in. “I’m sure Harper takes proper precautions. She’s not naive, after all. She’s been doing this a long time.”
She appreciated the support and it annoyed her at the same time, as if he felt he had to speak for her when she could obviously speak for herself. Still, she didn’t want to upset Adele and Dan. “I am careful,” she replied. “And there’s no reason why I can’t maintain my regular schedule for months. I do intend to work right up until the date.”
“Even wedding bookings?” Dan asked.
She shook her head. “No. I’ll book until I hit eight months. I don’t want to disappoint any brides. And once the baby is born, I’ll take a few weeks off to recover and then get back to it.”
Once the baby was born. It was a weird thing to think about. In reality, she was just the incubator. But there was no way she would come through this without having some emotions about it. She was going to feel the baby kick. Bring it into the world. She figured getting back to a regular schedule would be important.
“Still,” Adele said quietly. “You won’t take any unnecessary risks.”
“Of course not.” She knew the stakes. She’d willingly accepted them when she’d offered to do this. “I’ll be careful, you know that.”
The mood had dipped a little, so Harper drank the last of her tea and stood. “And now, I’ve totally overstayed my welcome. I should get home. Thanks for having me over for dinner...again.”
“How are you getting home?” Drew asked.
“Oh, walking. It’s not far.” She laughed. “Nothing’s really far in Banff, you know?”
“I’m going back to the hotel. I’ll walk with you, if it’s okay.”
“Sure, if that’s what you want.” Harper’s place wasn’t exactly on the way to the Cascade, but it was only a small detour. She couldn’t really say no, not after the nice toast he’d given. But she wondered why he’d want to. She didn’t think it was to be gentlemanly. Drew might look all casual and laid-back, but Harper got the impression that everything he did had a purpose behind it.
Dan got up, too, and started gathering glasses. “Didn’t you rent a car, Drew? You usually do.”
“I did, but it’s being delivered to the hotel tomorrow. The one I wanted wasn’t available until today. Besides, it doesn’t hurt me to walk.” He looked over at Harper and smiled. “Not when the scenery is so beautiful.”
Harper wasn’t sure if he meant the town or if he was turning on the charm like he had at the wedding, so she ignored the comment and made her way to the door.
The night had cooled enough that Harper wished she’d thought to bring a sweatshirt, though her intention had never been to stay this late. Trouble was, Adele was a wonderful cook and Harper got tired of eating alone all the time. Now that she was pregnant, Dan and Adele tended to stay a bit close, but she understood. Adele was understandably living vicariously through Harper’s experience.
She hadn’t counted on Drew being around, though, or offering to walk her home. She put her hand on her tummy for a brief moment, wondering what he really thought about the situation. It might be a good litmus test to find out how the rest of his family would react when they found out.
She tucked her hands into her hoodie pockets and looked over at him. “So I guess you were pretty surprised by the news, huh?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I mean, I felt something was off, the way you and Adele seemed to talk in abbreviated sentences. So I came right out and asked Dan.” He stopped walking and turned to face her. “This is a huge thing. I can’t believe they asked it of you.”
She smiled then. Was that his issue? In that case, she could set his mind at rest. “They didn’t ask. I offered. Actually, I offered on the night of their wedding, not long before you and I danced. Adele is the best friend I’ve ever had. When I found out that she’d left Dan all those years ago because of her infertility, I knew I wanted to help. I told them that this would be my wedding present to them.”
Harper herself was what her mom called a “miracle baby,” having been adopted since her mom couldn’t have children. Being able to help a family—particularly someone she loved—was fulfilling.
“Carrying a baby is a heck of a wedding gift,” he remarked.
She started walking again and shrugged. “It’s only for a few months out of my life, so why not?”
She saw him shaking his head out of the corner of her eye. “Not many people in this world are completely altruistic. But I can’t seem to come up with a way that this benefits you. I mean, it can’t be the money.”
“No, you’re right. It can’t. Legally they’re not allowed to pay me and since there’s no fee for health coverage... I’m not making a penny off of this, Drew. I hope you didn’t think I was.”
His brow furrowed. “It crossed my mind for a minute or two.”
“Then clearly you don’t know me very well.”
“I apologize,” he said quietly. Then he looked over at her as their shoes made soft footfalls on the sidewalk. “I still find it hard to believe you’d go through something as life-changing as a pregnancy out of the goodness of your heart.”
She laughed. “Life-changing as in the morning sickness, weight gain, swollen feet, stretch marks, and other things I have to look forward to?”
Drew’s voice was soft and hesitant in the semidarkness. “Well, wouldn’t you want to go through those things for your own kid, rather than someone else’s?”
“Maybe. Someday.” She couldn’t keep the wistful note out of her voice but hoped he didn’t hear it. Someday certainly wasn’t today and she wasn’t sure it would ever be the right time. She tended to go on first dates, but not so many second or third ones, and she’d never had a real long-term relationship—not that she’d ever admitted that to anyone. She was twenty-eight years old, had had exactly two sexual partners, and wasn’t confident that she’d ever have that life-partner-and-kid thing.
She had thought it—once. The attraction had been instant and had swept her off her feet. It had been a magical month of bliss on Caicos, an utter whirlwind that carried her away. Jared had pulled out a ring as they walked the beach beneath the stars, and she’d accepted, a 100 percent buy-in to the fairy tale. A week later he was gone, with nothing but a note explaining he’d gotten caught up in the moment and it had been “fun.”
She’d been falling in love and he’d been enjoying falling into bed until he got bored—or scared. Didn’t matter which. The end result was the same.
After that horrible pseudo-relationship, she’d vowed never to let herself get so carried away again.
She was far better off focusing on her business. So much so that she was considering using Juny as more than an assistant in order to train her up to take over a lot of the wedding and other photo shoot duties. The girl had a keen eye for balance and showed promise in creativity and innovation.
So she didn’t say it out loud but knew deep down that this wasn’t altruistic. In her heart she felt it might be her only chance to experience a pregnancy, and then when the baby was with Adele and Dan, she could be Fun Aunt Harper who got to run around in the mountains taking pictures of marmots and bears and elk and all kinds of things.
“You do want kids, then.”
His voice interrupted her thoughts and she realized they’d kept walking and were only a block and a half from her house. “Oh. Well, I suppose. If the right guy and the right time were to come around.” Standard response.
“How about you?” she asked, wanting to divert the attention away from herself. “Do you want kids down the road?”
He shook his head. “Uh-uh. I don’t like being tied down, you know? I’ve got the business and that’s enough. And I can pick up and travel when I want. It’s not that I don’t like kids. I just like my lifestyle better.”
She got that. And she also understood what it meant to move kids from place to place all the time. Her dad had been in the air force and they’d moved frequently when she was little. More than anything she’d wanted to stay in one place and have the same school friends for more than two years in a row.
She rather respected Drew for owning his choice and not apologizing for it. They didn’t feel the same way about children, but then, they didn’t have to.
“Besides, I have nieces and nephews and apparently another on the way. My parents aren’t hurting for grandkids.”
Hers were. Though they never said a thing about it. She was an only child. Yet they refrained from any pressure to get married or start reproducing. Instead their conversations revolved around her studio and photography. She really appreciated that.
She paused and pointed at the little bungalow on a corner lot. “This is me.”
“Cute place.”
She laughed a little. “It’s tiny and I can hardly turn around in my bathroom, but it’s mine. I’d rather have a small spot to live and better space for my studio, so...”
“Cool.” They stopped by the walkway leading to her front door and the silence grew slightly awkward.
“I should get in. Thanks for walking me home.”
“No problem. I did have a question, though.”
“Oh?” She turned to look at him, his dark eyes nearly black in the twilight. One thing hadn’t changed about Drew. He was still delicious. There was no sense denying it. But she wouldn’t have to worry about any more propositions. Not while she was pregnant. What kind of guy wanted to date a woman pregnant with another man’s child?
“The next time you go out on a hike, can I come with you? I’m guessing you know some good spots off the beaten track that I don’t.”
She frowned a little. “You realize that when I hike, I go to a spot and then sometimes spend a crazy amount of time waiting, right? For the right light, or to get the right shot. It’s not really a heavy-duty workout. You might be bored.”
“That’s okay.”
“I’m off on Thursday morning and thinking of going to Stewart Canyon early, before the tourists go crazy. It’s not off the beaten track, so to speak, but it’s a nice walk with some good photo opportunities. Have you done the Bankhead trails on other visits? Bear in mind these are easy, popular trails. But they’re interesting.”
“I’m up for whatever. Just name the time.”
“Then I can pick you up at the hotel at six.”
“Perfect.”
He gave a wave and started back the way they’d come, whistling lightly. No long look, no hand touch, nothing to suggest this was anything more than platonic and based on mutual interests.
So why was she feeling as if she’d gotten herself into a whole lot of trouble?
CHAPTER FOUR (#u1056d76e-3b0b-50e2-ba74-71b9caf28572)
THE DAY DAWNED CLEAR, but the sun wasn’t quite up past the mountains when Drew stepped outside at five minutes to six. He was used to being up this early, either to work or get outdoors. There was a reason why he’d chosen to keep a condo just north of Sacramento. He loved the climate and the abundance of opportunities for outdoor activities in the Northern Californian forests and parks. Hitting the trail for a few hours before starting his workday was a common occurrence.
But he often hiked alone. Today he’d be with Harper, and she’d cautioned him that it wouldn’t be high on the physical exertion scale. That was okay. He could do that on his own time. Instead, he was interested in watching her in action—taking pictures, that is. Pretty as she was, he wasn’t interested in her romantically. How could he be, when she was carrying his brother’s child? He liked her. Had, ever since the wedding. She challenged him somehow, even while being sweet as pie and as unassuming as a daisy nodding in a summer breeze.
He bent to retie his boot and gave a chuckle as he remembered her informing him that she wasn’t a challenge or a trophy. That had been the moment, he realized. The moment he’d started to really admire her. The fact that she was also willing to put her life on hold for nine months to give Dan and Adele a baby only raised her in his estimation.
Though he expected if he asked her, she’d deny that she’d put her life on hold at all.
She pulled up in a tidy little SUV crossover, an all-wheel drive that would be handy in bad weather and rugged enough it would tolerate slight off-road situations. He opened the passenger door and slid inside. “Nice wheels.”
She was looking a little paler than the last time he’d seen her, her freckles standing out on her nose and her cinnamon hair pulled back in a ponytail. “Thanks. I bought a lease-back so I could get something I could carry equipment in and that would handle some bumps and dirt roads.” He’d barely buckled his seat belt when she started down the hill from the hotel.
“It’s nice. A little more cozy than my pickup.”
“You drive a truck?”
He chuckled. “Yeah. I spend a lot of time in the outdoors, and needed something rugged. Plus, you know, I needed enough room to pack some of that gear that I’m selling.”
She made a turn and headed past a sign that said Minnewanka Loop. “Well, I’ll say this for you. You believe in your product.”
He laughed. “I like to think of it as walking the walk.” He looked at her again and frowned. “Are you okay? You look a little pale. We didn’t have to go this early, you know.”
She kept her eyes on the road. “It’s only a little bit of morning sickness. I’ll be fine by ten or so.”
“That’s four hours away.” And what exactly did a “little” morning sickness mean?
“Yep.” She exited off the highway and started up the left side of the loop. “I’ll eat some crackers, drink some water. It will probably only last another few weeks. At least that’s what the doctor and all the books say.”
He shifted in his seat. He’d missed out on the “peculiarities of pregnancy” conversations with his sisters, since he’d moved away from Ontario. He had no idea how long morning sickness lasted or anything else to do with having babies besides what he’d seen on TV, and that was terrifying enough.
“We could have waited to go later.”
She looked over at him briefly. “Oh, no we couldn’t.” She laughed a little. “In two or three hours the tourists will be out in full force, and I like playing with the early morning light. The nausea is an inconvenience more than anything, and I work through it.”
He was glad, too. He wanted to spend the majority of his time today looking around town. In particular, the property that had recently been listed. He’d contacted a real estate agent and was anxious to get a look inside.
He enjoyed the scenery for a few moments, but it wasn’t long until she pulled into a nearly empty parking lot. “It’s a bit of a walk from here to the trailhead, but it’s all easy. Another day I’ll take you to my favorite alpine meadow, if you like.” She smiled as she took the keys out of the ignition and hopped out of the car.
She was still pale, but it wasn’t any of his concern if she thought she was good to go. She knew her body far better than he did, and he’d learned long ago not to presume anything when it came to women’s strength and capabilities.
He’d worn jeans and a light windbreaker over his T-shirt. Last night he’d had a quick look at the trail thanks to a Google search and knew he’d be fine without his customary pack of water and snacks. It was less than five kilometers total, and since Harper hadn’t mentioned going farther onto the other joined trails, he’d kept it to just the jacket, which he could fold and zip up if he got too warm.
Then he turned the corner by her back bumper and his jaw dropped.
“What the heck is that?”
She grinned up at him, a camera slung around her neck and with a huge zoom lens on it. It had to stick out eight inches, probably more like twelve, and looked heavy as hell. “It’s my camera. Wow. We really will be starting at the beginning.”
“Ha, ha.” He grinned and shook his head. “Seriously, how do you not have neck and back issues carrying that thing around?”
“I would if I did it all the time. And Banff isn’t exactly hurting for spa services. I do get a massage now and again.” She pulled another black padded bag out of the back and prepared to shift it onto her shoulders.
“No way. I’ll carry that.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “I carry my own equipment all the time.”
“Sure, but seriously, I have nothing and you have a huge camera around your neck.”
“Maybe I use it for counterbalance.”
He snorted, then grinned. “Maybe you like making it difficult for me.”
When she smiled back, his heart lifted. “I consider that a side benefit.”
But she handed over the pack, with instructions to be careful because there was equipment in there. As well as her water and cracker stash.
The world was still and quiet as they made their way out of the parking lot and down a trail leading to the Stewart Canyon trailhead. There was nothing Drew liked better than crisp, fresh air and the smell of everything green and alive. It was far preferable to days in his office or shut up in a boardroom. Birds chirped in the trees; jays, chickadees and awkward-looking magpies with their long tails and raucous call. Occasionally Harper stopped, looked above and around her and lifted her camera to take a quick few shots. Warm-ups, she called them, but he doubted she did anything like a warm-up. Those photos were considered and shot with purpose.
They met another couple coming out of the trail, and they greeted them with a quiet hello. “There’ve been some bear sightings lately,” the man advised. “Trail’s not closed, but be on the lookout.”
“Thanks,” Drew replied, and frowned. He hadn’t thought of it before, but Harper went into the mountains alone all the time. There were bears and mountain lions to consider.
“I can see the look on your face,” she said, laughing a little. “If you’re afraid, there’s a can of bear spray in the bag.”
He stopped, and there was a look of surprise on her face as he took the pack off his back, opened it and rooted around for the spray. He hooked it onto his belt loop and zipped up the pack again. “Not afraid. Smart. The last thing I want to do is turn a corner and find an ornery mama bear staring me in the face.”
She lifted her camera. “It’s one reason for the lens,” she explained. “I don’t have to get too close.”
“Lead on, then,” he said, but kept the bear spray on his hip. Chances were they wouldn’t see anything, but he’d rather be prepared.
It didn’t seem to take any time at all before they were at the bridge, a short expanse with the Cascade River beneath. The river ran downstream into Lake Minnewanka, and Harper stopped at the other end of the bridge and started setting up shots. He stayed back and watched, enjoying the concentration on her face, the way she adjusted a setting and tried again, or moved her position slightly. Her colour had returned, giving her cheeks more of a rosy glow, and he thought again how stunning she was. All lean legs and strong shoulders, creamy freckled skin and beautiful eyes that didn’t require any makeup to make them brighter.
She stood, stretched her back a bit and sent him a grin so big he was dazzled by it.
She lifted the camera. “Oh, no,” he began, lifting a hand, but she balanced the camera on her hand and put a finger to her lips, then looked over his shoulder. He half turned and nearly jumped when he realized a bighorn sheep was on the rock above and behind him, horns curled, face impassive.
When he turned back to face Harper, she was already snapping wildly, her face split with a smile that was pure fun.
He turned around and looked up at the sheep. “Good morning,” he said. “Sorry to disturb.” Then he backed away and crossed the bridge to join Harper. Maybe she wanted some pics of the sheep without him in them.
He waited quietly, and then the sheep moved on and Harper lowered the camera. “Sorry,” she finally said. “I couldn’t resist. All of a sudden there he was, standing right behind you, and you had no idea.”
“He might have hurt me with those horns,” Drew said, teasing.
“More like he wanted the crackers in the bag. Tourists aren’t supposed to feed them, but they do. There are so many sheep that they wander through the parking lot all day long. People love it.”
“Well, I’m glad I could entertain.”
“Speaking of crackers, I could use a couple of mine.”
He looked at her and his face blanked with alarm. Her pink colour was now pale and slightly greenish. He rushed to take off the pack but it was too late. She swung the camera around to her back, rushed to the bushes beside the path, and gagged.
Drew wasn’t grossed out, but he did feel sympathy. He took out the crackers and a bottle of water and, when she was done, uncapped the bottle and offered her a drink. “Here. You can swish that around and then drink some.”
She took the bottle and swished and spit, then held out her hand for a cracker. “Could I have four, please? Now that I’ve got the dry heave out of the way, I can eat something.”
“And so begins my education into pregnancy,” he said calmly, handing over several saltines. She bit into one and attempted to smile, but she looked embarrassed. “Don’t worry about it,” he assured her. “I’ve seen much worse from dehydration or heat stroke. Do you need to go back or do you want to keep on?”
She ate all four crackers and straightened. “We can go on. It’s not that far anyway, and I want to get some pictures of the lake and beach. If we wait, the lake will fill up. It’s the only lake in the park that permits motorboats.”
“I’m game if you are.”
They carried on through the woods, heading toward the lake. Drew admired her stubbornness, particularly since she’d barely eaten anything this morning. He’d at least had a shake and a protein bar before he left the hotel, and he was still hungry. What surprised him even more was when they reached a spot she liked, with a view of the shore, and she stopped and sat down on a large rock.
“Now we wait,” she said. “Find a seat.”
“Wait? For what?”
She grinned. “For whatever comes our way. Wildlife, a cloud that gives some fun shadows, eagles over the lake... I wait for opportunity, and when it comes, I try not to waste it.”
He perched on a nearby stump and watched her adjust her camera settings. Her last words...he understood those. At least the part about not wasting opportunities. He didn’t wait for them, though. He went after them. He wouldn’t be here otherwise.
But he could be patient. For a while. So they sat in the quiet and waited.
Harper got up a few times and shifted position, snapping pics of the lake. A whisky jack squawked nearby, and she found it and adjusted her lens, stealthily moving and getting the bird from a few different angles before it flew away. She leaned against a tree for a moment, and he saw her brow wrinkle before it cleared. She lifted her camera and focused on the shore of the lake.
He couldn’t see what she was taking pictures of, so he got up and moved as quietly as possible to within a few feet of her. What he saw made him catch his breath.
A solitary grizzly was at the water’s edge, lumbering along the shoreline. He could see the varied shades of brown in its coat, feet damp from the water, the signature hump on its back, just behind the neck. “Wow,” he said, and heard rapid shutter clicking as the bear obligingly turned its head to look over its shoulder and right at them...even though they were well over a hundred meters away, looking down.
She kept shooting as long as the bear was in view, but once it disappeared into the tall grass and trees again, she lowered the camera.
Her eyes shone at him, hitting him square in the gut. So blue, a luminescent shade that reminded him of the aquamarine earrings his mother wore. Her excited energy filled the air around him, making him far more aware of her than he was comfortable with.
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