Windy City Romance: Boxed Set: Prequel - Book III

by Barbara Lohr

  The SUV was quiet when Harper drove Adam back to his salon. When she entered the kitchen later, still preoccupied, Cameron was there, paper spread out on the table. Lately, he’d changed his style. No more khaki slacks and oxford shirts around the house. Now she found him in jeans and a T-shirt. Sometimes she wished he’d go back to the stiff, unyielding oxford cloth. Her body gave a pitiful jolt now that she knew what lay beneath the soft cotton shirt and jeans.

  She wanted it.

  “Hey, Harper.” When he looked up from the paper, his blue eyes were ringed with dark shadows.

  “Could we talk?” She sat down, tugging at her spring green miniskirt.

  He put the paper aside. “Sure. Of course.” A muscle flexed in his jaw.

  Bella wandered in from the TV room, still in her action figure PJs. “Harper, wanna play badminton?”

  Harper tore her eyes from Cameron. “Right now?”

  “Yeah. I love it when we play together.” When she climbed onto Harper’s lap, Bella smelled like the puppy. Harper couldn’t help but nuzzle her neck. Pipsqueak loped over and Cameron scooped the dog up. “Daddy says I’m having a birthday party. Do you want to come?”

  “Wouldn’t miss it.” When she turned to Cameron with a chuckle, his eyes had melted to Blue Moon ice cream. “The auction item you won in February?”

  “Yep, May second is just around the corner.”

  “Daddy says I can invite anybody I like, and I like you.” Bella blinked up at her. Harper’s heart turned over.

  Cameron cleared his throat. “I told Bella the Goodwins would be coming. Her grandparents.”

  “You invited them, really?” How amazing.

  He looked uncomfortable. “Bella and I had a little talk about grandparents.”

  “And how they will fit in her life?” she offered gently.

  “That remains to be seen.”

  “And your mother? Will she come to the party too?”

  His jaw moved, like he was working a piece of gristle. “She’s been invited. We’ll see.”

  Wow. This was huge.

  “Lotsa people are coming, Daddy says.” Bella clapped her hands with excitement. “I never had a birthday party.”

  Cameron grinned. “But I sure don’t know what to get my little girl.”

  “I have an idea.” Harper’s mind had been busy, and this plan had kept her from obsessing about Cameron.

  Bella crinkled up her nose. “An idea about a present for me?”

  “Sure do. I was thinking we might do something in your room, but it has to be a surprise.”

  Bella tilted her head. “You could tell me now.”

  Harper pinched the tip of her nose. “Then it wouldn’t be a surprise.

  Even Cameron looked intrigued. “Decorating? Good time to start over.”

  “Starting over, right.” Harper couldn’t even go there.

  Only later, when she was upstairs changing into jeans did Harper remember that she’d sat down with Cameron to talk about that night. Find out where they were.

  Now she had more time. More time to find the right words.

  ~.~

  Time passed quickly while Harper worked on sketches for Bella’s room. She left them on Cameron’s drafting table when he was out of the house. Adam’s comments about communication came back to her, but old habits die hard.

  Bella’s room would be a pretty spring green with touches of ninja blue. The blue comforter would have a green girl warrior appliqued on the top, with generous matching shams. No more ruffles or feathery fringe to catch the dust.

  Connie helped Harper move Bella to one of the second floor guest rooms so that the birthday room could be a complete surprise. “But I want to see!” Bella had complained, lugging a basket of her shoes over to her temporary room.

  “Birthdays should always have at least one surprise,” Harper told her, ruffling her hair.

  Cameron’s workmen strung yellow tape across her bedroom door, which tantalized Bella even more. Pipsqueak gnawed at it, leaving bits of yellow plastic all over the house. Harper had written out invitations for every student in Bella’s preschool class. Two days before the birthday, everything was about ready in the bedroom. At Harper’s insistence, Cameron had agreed not to look at the room. The men had worked a long day putting the final touches on the paint. A Barbie doll birthday card had arrived from McKenna, and Harper put it on the dresser in Bella’s temporary bedroom.

  Extraordinary Celebrations, the company providing the party, had come out to the house weeks before to view the garden. Miles and Candace, the owners, discussed logistics with Cameron. What a contrast between this group and Rizzo, part of a past that seemed so long ago.

  Harper wanted the day to be special but hesitated to become too involved. This would be the first and last party they’d ever have together. After Miles and Candace left, Harper was able to slip away with the excuse that she had to pick up Bella.

  “I’ll go with you,” Cameron said. “We’re done here.”

  “Oh, no. I, ah, have some errands to run.”

  Her words snapped his features closed. “Oh, well. If that’s the case.”

  He knew she was avoiding him but Harper couldn’t think about that now. The time for talking had passed. Any conversation now might end with her resignation. The party was just around the corner. No way would she spoil that day for Bella.

  Once in the SUV, she didn’t head straight to school. Instead, she detoured through Daffin Park, locked the car, and sat on the bench where she’d met the Goodwins that day in February. What a child she’d been that day, so unaware of the family complications that made up Cameron’s life. She still didn’t understand them.

  “Reached any conclusions yet?” Adam asked during one of their lunches.

  “Decided to delay our heart-to-heart talk until after the birthday party.”

  “Ah, the story isn’t over,” Adam had said with a smirk.

  “I can’t take much more.”

  “More what? Lusting”

  “Come on.” But the heat in her cheeks brought a satisfied smile from Adam. The huge mansion had become too small. Even passing Cameron in the hall felt strained. She tried to tell herself that this all had to do with how generous he’d been with her. He’d given her a chance to succeed, including the work for Winston Hill House. She’d been able to chip away at her credit card bills. All told, she was in much better position than when she started this job.

  Relegating her time here to a line on her resume would be difficult but she’d do it.

  Cameron began to spend more time away from the house. The joint meals they shared in the dining room? The silence between the two of them felt awkward, even when Bella was telling her father about school. But Harper wouldn’t have to tolerate the dinners for long, a thought that brought both relief and sadness.

  On the morning of Bella’s birthday, Harper heard the little girl calling her. “Harper, wake up! Come on down!” Ripping herself from sleep, she piled blindly down the stairs in her sleep pants and tee. Cameron had the workmen put a huge blue bow on Bella’s door. Now the birthday girl was ripping it down while Pipsqueak yipped with excitement.

  Still in his track pants and T-shirt, Cameron was rubbing his eyes but stopped when Harper showed up, crossing her arms tight over her chest.

  “Gosh, I thought she’d fallen or something.”

  He grinned and looked away. “Nope. Just the birthday girl. But I’m glad you’re here. After all, this gift is from you too. We wouldn’t have anything…ah, this, without you.”

  The early morning warmth of his body reached out for her when he brushed back his sleep-tousled hair. When his eyes circled back to hers, she couldn’t look away.

  “Can I look now, Daddy?” Bella clamored at his feet.

  “You bet.”

  Shoulders squeezed tight with excitement, Bella pushed open the door. “Oh, wow.”

  Harper swelled with pride. A castle stood in one corner, made of blueish gray with green touc
hes. Shelves were made of castle bricks, and the door to her closet had magic written all over it, the worn wood neatly braced with metal in the shape of a B. Even the bedside tables were fabricated tree stumps. Lamps were huge mushrooms and the dresser, stacked logs. Oh, to be five again.

  Bella looked stunned, running her hands over each piece of wood and throwing herself in the center of the bed. Took two tries but Pipsqueak scrambled up next to her. “Look! I’m a real Ninja princess!”

  “That’s not all, Bella.” Going to the bedside tree trunk, Cameron pressed a button. Bella’s mouth fell open when a gazillion stars appeared on her ceiling.

  He could be so amazing. “Wow. Pretty impressive, Dad.” The man never ceased to amaze Harper. Sure, many of the ideas had been sketched out in her drawings, but she couldn’t believe the execution.

  With Bella in his arms, he was watching her. “The first work in your portfolio.” He was so close she could see the sleepers in his eyes and she stopped herself from brushing them gently away.

  “Yes, yes it is. Thank you.”

  Her portfolio? So he expected her to leave? The crushing disappointment surprised her.

  “Anyone want breakfast?” Connie called up. The smell of applesauce and bacon wafted up the stairs.

  With a screech, Bella twisted from Cameron’s arms. How wonderful that the little girl was finally learning the delight of food.

  The look on Cameron’s face told her that he might be thinking that same thing. “Thank you,” he said when he turned.

  “Of course. My pleasure.” He was so close, close enough to kiss her. Suddenly aware that she needed a shower in the worst way, Harper dashed for the door and climbed the stairs to her room but the look in Cameron’s gaze followed her.

  One glance and she melted into a puddle.

  She had to get out of this house before leaving became too painful.

  Or had she passed that point?

  Chapter 24

  Harper took Bella to the park so the birthday girl wouldn’t see Extraordinary Celebrations setting up for the party. After swinging for a while, they wandered over to the fountain. Harper had picked up a handful of stones from the play area. “Make a wish, birthday girl.” She filled Bella’s small hands with pebbles. Giggling, Bella closed her eyes and tossed. The stones plunked into the water, and they watched the circles ripple out to the edge of the pond.

  Bella pressed one stone into Harper’s palm. “Your turn.”

  Closing her eyes, Harper turned her back to the fountain and tossed. Her wish felt hopeless.

  “Can I tell you my wish?” Bella skipped as they returned to the car.

  “Then it might not come true. That’s the thing about wishes.”

  Bella climbed up into her carseat and crossed her arms. “Okay. Then I’m not saying nothing.”

  By the time they returned to the mansion, the trucks were gone. Above the garden wall, balloons bobbed. “Close your eyes, now, Bella.” The birthday girl pressed both hands against her eyes. After Harper pulled the car into the garage, she took Bella from the back seat. “Now take my hand. We’re going around the front to get you dressed in your party dress.”

  “I thought you said I didn’t have to wear dresses anymore.”

  “Today is a very special day. I think all your friends from school will come in dresses.”

  “Then I want to be pretty too.”

  Once inside, they went straight to Bella’s room. The little girl quivered with excitement. Instead of the fussy ruffled dresses Kimmy had favored, Harper had chosen a blue princess dress. Sparkles dotted the full skirt and she’d found a matching crown. The blue Mary Jane shoes also glittered. Bella ran one hand over the full skirt. “Magic. Just like my ceiling.”

  “Walk over to the window and stand in the sun,” Harper said, happy Bella was so delighted. It had taken three trips to Oglethorpe Mall and Hilton Head to find this creation. When Bella spun in the sunlight spilling from the French door, the skirt sent sparkles dancing every which way.

  “I’m a princess,” Bella whispered.

  “You sure are, sweetheart.” Pipsqueak agreed, leaping at the points of light that danced across the room.

  One glance at her phone told Harper the guests would be arriving soon. Her jeans and T-shirt wouldn’t cut it for a birthday celebration. “Bella, want to show Connie your dress? I’ll meet you downstairs, okay?”

  “Don’t take too long.” Bella scrambled for the stairs with Pipsqueak bouncing behind her.

  Upstairs, Harper slipped into one of her standby outfits—the flowered ruffled skirt and pink top. She pulled her hair high into a ponytail and slipped into her green slides. After dashing some pink gloss on her lips, she headed for the stairs just as the front doorbell rang. When Harper reached the bottom of the stairs, Connie was directing the baker to the back of the house while Bella twirled in the foyer.

  “Doesn’t she look beautiful?” Connie closed the door.

  “This is my princess dress.” Bella smoothed one hand over the skirt.

  “Let me see, honey.” Harper jumped at the sound of Cameron’s voice.

  Bella looked up to her father. “Do I look pretty, Daddy?”

  “More than pretty.” Cameron beamed. “You are my angel.”

  “Everything set outside?” Harper whispered to Cameron while Bella twirled.

  “Come and see for yourself.” He led them through the mansion to the back.

  A cluster of children looked up from where Candace had them corralled at the foot of the stairs. “Happy Birthday, Bella!”

  “Oh, my.” Clearly shocked, Bella slid her fingers into her mouth. Then she seemed to remember. Big girls did not suck their fingers. With a nervous giggle, she grabbed the rail with both hands and went down the steps.

  Balloons were attached in clusters to every bush and tree. In the corner twirled a small merry-go-round with zoo animals bobbing up and down. A netted trampoline stood ready, and a clown was blowing up balloons and fashioning animal hats for the guests. Under the large oak, a small band played the happy birthday song.

  “Happy birthday, Bella.” Candace greeted her at the foot of the stairs. “I’m Candace, your hostess for today.”

  Candace was as good as her word. They’d sent invitations to everyone in Bella’s playschool class, as well as any neighbors in the area. The service had planned an impressive list of activities.

  “That auction prize was the best investment I ever made,” Cameron murmured, watching the clown work his magic.

  “Sure was.”

  Then Harper saw them. The Goodwins stood under the archway that led from the street. Mr. Goodwin held a huge package wrapped with a pink bow. They looked terrified.

  She heard Cameron’s sharp intake of breath. Then he straightened his shoulders and walked toward them. Watching the three of them together, Harper couldn’t help but admire Cameron. Any man working out his past with such grace got her vote. He was one handsome hunk in his beige pants and the black mock turtleneck. Cameron Bennett may have been born a roughneck but he’d become a true southern gentleman.

  Harper drew closer.

  “Hello, Harper.” Mrs. Goodwin nodded her silver blonde head. Probably fresh from the hair dresser. Both grandparents were dressed in club casual.

  “Want me to take that? I’ll put your present near the cake.”

  Mr. Goodwin looked relieved to surrender Bella’s gift.

  Bella dashed over. “Come on, Harper. Want to get your face painted with me?” She pointed to the smiling teenager stationed near the fountain.

  The older couple’s eyes were glued to their granddaughter.

  “Bella, can you say hello to your grandparents?”

  “Do you remember us, honey?” Mrs. Goodwin asked, looking so uncomfortable Harper wanted to hug her.

  Bella cocked her head to one side before a light flickered on in her eyes. Coming closer, she gave them a quick embrace. Shaking the surprise from her eyes, Mrs. Goodwin managed to hug her back, as
if she held a prized piece of crystal. Mr. Goodwin unfortunately missed out on this round because Bella darted off to the face painter with a quick wave.

  “Why, I think she remembers you, Linda Sue,” Mr. Goodwin said with amazement.

  “I believe so.”

  “Let me find you a place to sit.” Cameron led the couple to a cluster of wrought-iron furniture under one of the large oaks. Mrs. Goodwin looked around with appreciation. Who knew what issues the three of them had had in the past. Harper was just glad they seemed to be resolving them, for Bella’s sake.

  The girl was painting an enormous purple and pink butterfly on Bella’s cheek. Harper stood next in line. Cameron circled the garden, seemingly delighted by what he saw. The swelling in her throat surprised her. How sorry she would be to leave all this. Her regret had nothing to do with the grandeur of the place and concerned just the people.

  While she was turning that thought over in her mind, Lily and Esther Blodgett wandered into the garden. Catching Cameron’s eye, Harper nodded to them and he walked toward them.

  The butterfly on Harper’s left cheek was almost finished. Seeing her dad welcome his family, Bella pointed. “That’s my gamma.” Her matter-of-fact acceptance surprised Harper. Cameron ambled over with Lily and Esther.

  “This is for you.” Esther pushed the pink-wrapped gift toward Bella.

  “Heavy,” Bella said, looking to her dad, who grabbed it.

  “Why don’t we sit down?” Cameron ushered them to one of the benches.

  “The birthday present’s for you, Bella,” Esther explained. “But, well, it really is your father’s too.”

  Lily wore a secretive smile.

  “Why don’t you open it?” Harper prodded Bella once they were all seated. Didn’t have to ask her twice. Bella’s tiny fingers made short work of the wrapping paper.

  “For heaven’s sake,” Cameron muttered when he saw the heavy crockery feeding dish with the alphabet stenciled around the wide lip.

  “We all used it,” Lily explained. “All four kids. Cameron was the only one of us who knew his ABCs by the time he outgrew the bowl.” She gave her brother a hug, and it warmed Harper’s heart to see the siblings together. The Blodgetts weren’t the Kirkpatricks but every family shared a unique history.