The Wedding Secret (10 page)

Of course, knowing the Campbell and the Rossi families the way she did, Harper was fairly certain they were plotting their retribution in grand fashion.

“Emmy, are you there?”

“I’m here, Mama. What’s up?”

“Why do you use that horrible name? I gave you a lovely name.”

“Harper works better for business.”

“Hmmpf,” she responded. “It’s not you, but I’ll try to remember.”

“Thank you.”

“I really enjoyed seeing you and the baby. I was thinking about coming to visit you for a bit.”

“No, Mama. You can’t right now. It’s not a good time.”

“Why? I want to see you and my grandbaby again. I worry about how long it will be until you find time in your
busy schedule
to see me.”

The last thing Harper needed was her mother moving in. The last time she came for a “spell” it had meant three months. And as much as Harper had always wanted a close family, she’d long ago resigned herself to the fact that she wasn’t going to have one.

“I’m surprised you answered. I usually get your voice mail.”

Harper forgot to check the caller ID before she picked up. That would teach her.

“Anna is fine and so am I, but I am very busy with my job right now. Plus I don’t have anywhere for you to stay. My nanny has one room for nights she stays over, Anna has another, and then there’s my room.”

“Can’t you move things around? I don’t need much room, and Hill can sleep on that couch.”

There it was. Hill. He was not coming near her daughter. “No, Mama. I can’t.”

She and her mother were never close, and since her stepfather had passed away five years before, her mother only wanted to see her when she needed something. At least that’s how it seemed. Harper wondered how much influence Hill had over her mother and how many of these conversations were his doing. Harper had refused to see him since the last time she visited home and he gave her a welcome kiss that ended with him trying to stick his tongue in her mouth. The man was disgusting and she wanted nothing to do with him, and considering her mother was loyal to Hill, because she didn’t know what the bastard was capable of, Harper couldn’t have her own mother visit her.

It was best if they didn’t come to New York anyway. Harper had buried the family part of her life pretty deep. Her very country mother would certainly surprise the people who knew her.

Letting people think she was some prep school–educated trust fund baby was wrong, but her education was all hers. She earned both degrees the hard way and just finished paying off the last of her student loans.

No one could take her success away, but she knew she’d been less than honest with people close to her. And as she started to get closer to Kevin last year, it ate at her.

She didn’t think it really mattered because people never stuck around long, but she’d been at Reliance for five years. Jason, his family, and the people here were some of her closest friends.

And they didn’t know anything about her. Not really.

Her past was all secrets and lies and she was tired of them, which was why she came clean about Anna. She wasn’t going to turn her baby into another deception.

“You sure you don’t want us to come? For Thanksgiving maybe?”

“No, Mama. It’s not practical.”

“I guess I’ll just stay here, then. Maybe someone will invite us. Hill said something about Atlantic City.”

She cringed thinking about her mother in a casino, feeding nickels into a slot machine on Thanksgiving Day. “Can you afford to go to the casinos?”

“Oh, sure. I have a little money. Hill’s been taking care of it for me.”

Harper’s head hurt. There was a driving pain behind her eyes, and she knew Hill was doing just fine with her mother’s money—for himself.

“Mama, I have to go, but you need to make sure Hill doesn’t have access to your bank accounts. That’s personal information and shouldn’t be shared with anyone.”

“He said you’d say that because you don’t like him.”

“I don’t like him. But more than that, I don’t trust him. I’m worried about you, Mama.”

“You don’t have to worry about me. You never did before.”

“That’s not true. I had to leave. I couldn’t . . . I couldn’t stay there.”

“Well, maybe, HARPER, you need to stop being so stuck-up. You’re just like us. Don’t forget that.”

“I’m sorry you feel that way.” What else was she going to say? She couldn’t exactly blurt out the truth after all this time.

Her mother cut off the call and Harper leaned back in her chair, grabbing at the drawer handle. There had to be some kind of pain reliever in her desk. She pulled out a bottle of ibuprofen and shook two pills out in her hand. She hoped two would be enough to kill the headache.

The way she was feeling, Harper had her doubts.

The silence was killing her.

Harper was prepared for a full-fledged smackdown from Kevin’s sisters about Anna, but for a whole week there hadn’t been anything. Not a peep.

In fact, it was the silence that had her so freaked out. It wasn’t just Kevin’s sisters who had been conspicuously absent, but his brother-in-law and her boss, Jason Campbell, had been keeping his distance. That never happened. She was Jason’s right hand; she kept everything at this company running the way he wanted. He spoke to her half a dozen times a day. But this past week—nothing.

However, the noise she heard told her that might be changing. It was late afternoon, she was planning to leave work, and she heard the telltale clicking of high heels on wood floors.

Meg was here, and Harper knew this wasn’t going to be pretty.

Grabbing her phone, she sent a quick text to Kim that she was going to be late. A problem since she knew Kim had a date. Nothing about telling Kevin had been easy, from his reaction to Harper’s guilt, and now Meg was going to finish it off. Harper pretty much saw her career flash before her eyes.

“I don’t know how you live with yourself.” The voice from the doorway was low and calm. It was worse than if Meg had come in screaming.

“I know it was wrong. That’s why I told him.”

Her friend entered the room and sat in one of the chairs on the other side of Harper’s desk. Her legs were crossed demurely and her hands rested in her lap. This calm was eerie.

It was very unlike Meg, who had a fiery temper. Her decision to hold it back made Harper wonder what was coming.

“Maybe so, but you not only lied to him, you lied to all of us.” Meg dropped her head and wiped under her eye. “I love that baby. You watched me with her and know how I feel. How could you keep her from her family?”

Jesus. Meg wasn’t mad. She was hurt.

Harper rose and walked to the wall of windows behind her desk. How did she answer that? It was so complicated and Meg deserved some kind of explanation. Harper just didn’t know if she had it in her.

“I didn’t think he’d want her. He always said he didn’t want a family while he was playing.”

Harper turned and Meg was shaking her head. “Still, you should have said something. It wasn’t up to you.”

“I know that. That’s why I finally came clean. He’s a good man. He deserved to know. I just didn’t want him to feel trapped. I still think he does.”

There was silence that fell between them. Harper hated what was happening. She and Meg had grown close over the past two years, ever since Meg married Jason to protect their adopted daughter, Molly. It was a mess of a situation when Meg was named guardian to Jason’s niece and his parents sued for custody—in the end their marriage protected Molly and brought the high school sweethearts back together. Harper had been working for Jason then, and she wasn’t so sure what to think about the gorgeous blonde teacher who’d managed to bewitch her boss and good friend. But in the end, Harper and Meg had found a way not only to coexist, but to build a real friendship.

Harper knew she’d wrecked it. And she hated it.

“Kevin is honest to a fault, Harper. You couldn’t have trapped him.”

“I don’t know,” Harper said as she walked to the side of the desk where Meg was still seated. “He’s a bit of a do-gooder, your brother is. I wouldn’t put anything past him.”

“He’s thirty-five, Harper, and he doesn’t have to marry anyone if he doesn’t want to.”

Sitting in the chair to Meg’s right, Harper breathed out. “I know I made a mess of this. I just hope you all can find a way to forgive me.”

Meg shook her head. “Forgive you? I don’t even want to know you anymore. I wanted Jason to fire you, but he wouldn’t. He said as much as he wants to, it wouldn’t be right to allow something personal like that to creep into the business.”

Jason wanted to fire her?
Oh, God.
That was her worst nightmare come true. “I deserve it. I would completely understand . . . “

“No, Harper. You aren’t going to be fired.” Meg rose. “As much as I want you gone, and I do, at least if you’re here, I know you won’t take off with my niece.” She circled the chair Harper was sitting in. “I know we will have the chance to get to know her.”

“I won’t stop anyone from seeing her. You have to believe that.”

Meg chuckled, but the anger was clear. “You know, I almost believe you, but considering you kept us in the dark for months, I don’t trust anything you say. Nothing.”

“I’m going to see an attorney with Kevin so we can have papers drawn up. There won’t be any question about your family or how much you all can see her.”

“How generous,” Meg hissed, leaning against the desk. Quiet, upset Meg had left the room and Meg the fighter had taken her place. This woman was fierce.

“I don’t know that you’re even fit to be a mother. Who the hell are you, anyway? You have no family, no ties. You work ungodly hours, and honestly, I didn’t even think you liked children. You barely tolerate mine.”

Now she was throwing low blows and Harper would take some of them, but not others. “Don’t you dare question my commitment to my daughter. You know I’ve cut back on my hours and I’m a good mother to her.”

“I’ll question whatever I damn please. You were going to cut my brother out of his baby’s life. That takes you out of the running for mother of the year.”

“I fixed that.” Her phone chirped and Meg picked it up, handing it to her. The text was from Kim. “
I know you’re going to be late, but I have to be out of here soon or cancel my plans. Anna’s father just showed up. Can he stay with her if I have to go?”

Harper shot a text back. She was somewhat annoyed because Kevin was supposed to call her first so she could let Kim know he was coming. Of course, he didn’t do that. Leave it to Kevin to make things interesting.

“Excuse me,” she said to Meg. “I have to call my nanny.”

Meg shrugged and took the seat she’d just vacated. Harper was going to leave the room to make the call, but decided to do this with an audience. She dialed and Kim picked up on the first ring. “I’m sorry I’m being such a pain in the ass,” she blurted out. “I know you have to stay sometimes.”

“It’s okay. I should have left sooner, but Kevin’s sister, Meg, stopped in to see me.”

“Oh,” Kim replied. “OH . . . damn, are you okay? He’s here.”

“I got that. How’s it going?”

“Fine. Want to talk to him? He’s sitting in the nursery watching her sleep. It’s kind of adorable.”

Harper could picture him, all handsome and big, in the girly bedroom, falling a little more in love with his daughter. Her heart sped up just thinking about it. “Yes, let me talk to him.”

“He’s sweet, Harper,” Kim said. “And oh, my God, is he hot.”

“He is that.” Harper figured
hot
was an understatement when describing Kevin, but there were no real words that captured him accurately.

“Okay, handing you off.” She heard some movement. “It’s Harper,” Kim said to him.

“Yeah?”

“Hi,” Harper said. “Do you approve of Kim?”

“Yeah. She seems great. Sorry I didn’t say anything . . .”

“It’s fine. I’m running late, and I could use a favor.”

“A favor? I don’t know if you should be asking me for a favor.”

“Even if it’s staying with your daughter?”

She could hear his surprise come through the phone. “Wait. What?”

“Kim won’t say anything, but she has an appointment and I’ve been”—she looked at Meg, who was glaring at her—“I’ve been held up at work. I won’t be long, but would you mind staying with Anna until I get home?”

“Um, yeah. Sure. What do I need to do?”

“Feed her and change her if she wakes up. Kim will show you everything.”

“You trust me?” he asked.

“You’re her father, Kevin. Of course, I trust you.”

Meg’s ears perked up at that. She hated using Kim’s situation to make a point, but Meg needed a few points to be made. Harper fully understood that she’d screwed up, but she was also trying to make amends, and it wasn’t easy.

“Okay. I should be home in an hour and a half.”

“All right. Business call or something?”

“Actually, no. I was just getting ready to leave when Meg walked in. She’s still here.”

“Oh, shit,” he whispered. “I asked her not to talk to you about this.”

“Yeah, well . . . she didn’t listen.” Harper saw Meg grow uncomfortable. Her friend was pacing the room, obviously annoyed that she’d been caught. “I’ll see you soon,” she said to Kevin.

Harper finished giving instructions to Kim and when she hung up, Meg snapped at her. “You didn’t have to tell him I was here, did you?”

“Is there a problem with it?”

“He asked me . . . he didn’t . . . He felt I should leave you alone.”

“Yeah, he said something about that.”

Meg shifted her feet uncomfortably. “I hate what you did, Harper. I really do.”

“I know you do. If it’s any consolation, I hate myself. He deserved better from me.”

“Can I ask something? It might be weird.”

“Go ahead.” Nothing could be worse than what Meg had already said.

That was all Meg needed to hear. She unloaded. “Did you really screw my brother in the wine cellar at Caroline’s wedding? Really?”

Oh, shit.
“I’m not answering that. Did he tell you that?”
The bastard; she was going to kill him.

“No, Caroline did. I guess Josh told her. Kevin must have told him. But really? Answer the question.”

“No! I’m not answering.” Is this what real families did? One minute you were getting a major guilt trip, and the next you were being grilled about your sex life.

“You said I could ask!” Meg squealed.

“I never said I would answer!”

Meg folded her arms and sulked and Harper found it oddly comforting that Meg had decided she could pull off her signature cute routine, especially since she saw Harper as the enemy.

“I have to get home. As you heard, I left your brother in charge.”

“Hold on. Like really in charge? He doesn’t know anything about babies!”

“No, he doesn’t,” she said. Harper half hoped the baby would wake up and torture Kevin a little. Nothing would happen, but it would be a welcome sight to see Mr. Cool with his nerves frayed because of a tiny baby. “I’m sure he’ll be fine, Meg.”

Meg grabbed Harper’s wrap and shoved it at her and then picked up the telephone’s handset. “I’ll have your driver meet you out front with the car. You should leave. Never underestimate my brother’s ability to be a dumb-ass.”

Harper laughed and grabbed a folder and stashed it in her expensive briefcase, she squeezed Meg’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. I really am.”

“I’m sure you are, but it won’t bring back the time we’ve already lost.”

“No, but we don’t have to lose any more.”

***

Kevin never thought taking care of a baby could be so nerve-wracking and she was still sleeping. Kim gave him a rundown of anything he might have to do, but ever since she’d left, he’d been going through possible wake-up scenarios in his head. He had plans for every possibility, including peeing, pooping, hunger, and gas. That was pretty much a baby in a nutshell, wasn’t it? He could handle it. How hard could it be?

He’d calmed himself down for about a minute when he heard the first snuffles and whimpers from Anna’s crib. Kevin looked at the clock. Harper would be home soon; he could do this for a few minutes on his own.

Then the whimper turned into a wail without any warning, and Kevin looked into the crib to see his sweet, beautiful baby scrunched and writhing. Kevin panicked. He picked her up and held her close, hoping that would calm her down.

It did. For about ten seconds. The she cried again and Kevin walked around the room, cradling her and wondering what he should do.

How did he get here? Why did he say Kim could go? That taking care of Anna would be no problem? He’d never felt so helpless in his life.

He started to wonder how Harper handled it. She seemed like a sophisticated businesswoman, never a hair out of place and no time for anything but her work and herself, but it was obvious from the way Kim spoke of her employer and the way the apartment was set up that Harper was more than he bargained for.

He liked Kim. She was no-bullshit all the way, but he could tell she was loyal to Harper. The woman had done a couple of tours of duty in a war zone, had a smart down-to-earth manner, and Kevin found himself trusting her. Some of the things Kim mentioned about Anna’s habits and care helped him see that Harper didn’t miss a beat when it came to their daughter, and it seemed the self-centered woman he used to know had become a lot more grounded.

Kim told him she had a lot of time off because Harper never went out, worked from home whenever necessary, and put Anna’s needs before her own.

It was a revelation for Kevin because he’d thought Harper was selfish, and while she might have made bad choices regarding him, she was anything but selfish. She’d actually given up a lot for their daughter.

Kevin changed Anna’s diaper, and after that he took a walk around the apartment with her snuggling into his shoulder. The feel of her against him was a heady thing and the sweet smell of her hair went right to his head. He was still reeling from the emotional slam he’d felt the first time he’d held her, and now the feelings were only intensifying.

He walked back toward the bedrooms and instead of making the left into Anna’s room, he did the absolutely wrong thing and made a right and stepped into Harper’s. This was a mistake.

Now Kevin wasn’t just dealing with the rush of emotions attached to Anna, but the ones attached to her mother as well. Walking back into the room where he’d made love to Harper had a strange effect on him. He missed those nights they spent together. There hadn’t been nearly enough, but she made such an impression on him, he could still feel her as he looked at the big bed. Anna rubbed her face on his shirt, and he kissed the top of that soft head and wondered where the hell he’d gone wrong that he had a woman he cared about who didn’t want him and a baby he loved and couldn’t be with.

He’d gone wrong by taking the woman for granted.

He sat down on the edge of the bed and leaned Anna back so he could look at her face. She was perfect. Her skin was rosy and smooth, and her eyes were a brilliant blue with flecks of light that made them sparkle. This child of his meant everything to him. He’d known about her for a few days and now she meant everything. How the hell did it happen?