by Susan Meier
But he’d made it clear that their one night was their one night—
He leaned the stroller against the wall by the door, then bent down and touched his lips to hers.
Her lungs froze, but her heart bumped to life. His mouth was familiar, his kiss like coming home. Pure bliss poured through her.
He pulled away. Their gazes clung. Caught in a haze of happiness, she couldn’t speak.
Then she realized he was as ecstatic as she was. Her brooding, wounded, confusing boss grinned at her.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Her smile grew. “Yeah. Tomorrow.”
Happiness morphed into something more. A feeling so deep and rich it filled all the empty corners of her soul, as Hugo turned away and headed for the exit.
Dazed, she opened the door and walked into her apartment.
Clearly waiting for her, her mother bounced off the sofa. “Oh, Erin! It’s the most wonderful thing! Not only do my parents’ relatives remember them...they want to meet me.”
Acutely aware of the importance of family acceptance because of Hugo, she said, “That’s great.”
“They’re so kind and so happy that I found them, they’re paying for me to go to Ireland. I leave tomorrow!”
Erin blinked. “Tomorrow?”
“Don’t worry. They’re also making arrangements for Noah. They want to meet him too. And you, when you’re not busy with the hotel.”
Having trouble keeping up with her mother’s news after Hugo’s sweet kiss, Erin slid out of her coat. “That’s even better.”
Her mom studied her face. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing!” She should be confused. But she wasn’t. She liked Hugo and he really liked her. She felt like a high school girl after her first real date. A little awed this was happening, but so happy it didn’t matter.
“Well, whatever the case, kiss Noah goodbye tomorrow. We’ll be gone a few days... But the tickets are open-ended in case my relatives are crazy or we don’t get along.”
Erin laughed and her mother left the room in a flurry of excitement, wanting to pack.
To keep herself from thinking about how she’d miss Noah, Erin focused on putting her little boy to bed, then the work she needed to do on Saturday, but as soon as she thought of her job, she remembered she’d be seeing Hugo and her heart stopped.
Her mom and son would be gone for four days.
She had no reason not to spend every second of every night with Hugo.
Except, in the end, what if what they felt came to nothing? They’d go their separate ways. And she’d be—
Empty again.
Her heart ached just thinking about it. Josh might have been gone for over three years, but she keenly remembered the pain of losing him. She might lose Hugo for a totally different reason, but a loss was a loss.
Still—
What if what they felt was real?
What if they spent the next few days together and all these crazy emotions floating around in her turned into something real?
Love.
With a guy she would have sworn didn’t know what love was.
But maybe being alone for so long had taught him the importance of connection? She’d always believed that if they spent enough time together, he’d tell her his secrets, and after today she was sure of it.
And maybe it would be the biggest mistake of her life not to take this chance?
CHAPTER SEVEN
HUGO SILENTLY RODE in the back of his limo, his thoughts jumbled, the sights and sounds of London passing unnoticed.
When he kissed Erin, his troubles disappeared... Hell, the world disappeared. Totally in the moment, he felt sensations and desires that he never even knew existed.
But as much as he liked her, the emotions, the needs scared him. He longed to be with her, to tell her things, to do things—like watch her son’s reaction at the hotel’s Christmas Eve celebration. But he knew part of that was the intrinsic yearning for a family, a place to belong.
His heart stumbled at the thought. He’d dedicated his life to getting wealthy enough to buy Harrington Park Hotel, to reuniting the family that had rejected him, but what if his real need was to create his own family? Jay spoke to him, worked with him, but there was a reserve, a distance there. And Sally—well, Sally might always hate him.
He didn’t really understand his siblings’ side of the story. How could he? How could he know what Nick had told them about why he’d left? The man had cleverly framed him for the embezzlement he himself had committed. Nick hadn’t done that merely to save his skin. Getting Hugo out of the way would have been the perfect foil. He’d cleared his name and most likely manufactured leverage with the twins. Instead of having them pine for their older brother, Nick had clearly given them reason to hate him.
All those years of sending Christmas cards filled with his hope that someday the family could be together again had fallen on deaf ears and minds set against him. With Sally continuing to keep her distance, he was beginning to wonder if his true path might be to create his own family.
But two things were off about that. First, he loved Jay and Sally. He’d loved being a big brother. The bonds of family shouldn’t be so easily snapped. Yet theirs had been.
Second, wasn’t he shortchanging Erin to “decide” to create a family, so he chose her—
His limo stopped at his building, and he bade Ronnie good-night and stepped out. Walking inside, he snorted at his thoughts. He wasn’t deciding to create a new family, so he chose Erin. Erin made him long for all the things he’d yearned for his entire life. She wasn’t by any stretch of the imagination a simple choice. The feelings she inspired were like dynamite, blasting him out of his set ways to consider a kind of life he’d never believed was right for him.
He rode the elevator and stepped into the luxurious penthouse, but that only tripped a whoosh of longing. He had everything—absolutely everything a man could want—except someone to share it with.
And this woman who set his blood on fire, even as she tempted him with a sense of family, a sense of belonging, closeness, intimacy, was the one he wanted to bring here, to spoil, to share with.
Everything got so confused that he reached for his phone the second he shrugged out of his overcoat.
He hit the contact for Jay. The phone rang twice, and then his younger brother answered.
“Hey, Hugo! What’s up?”
Slowly lowering himself to his sofa, he said, “Nothing...really.”
“Oh, that’s a tone of voice I’ve never heard from you. Something’s definitely up. And it’s not nothing.”
He took a breath. “I don’t know. I just feel weird.”
Jay laughed. “Weird?”
“Out of sorts.”
“Maybe the project is getting to you. You gave us one hell of a deadline. Maybe the pressure is finally over the top?”
“No. Believe it or not, I’ve handled worse.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes.” Loosening his tie, Hugo leaned back and settled on the sofa. This was what he needed. A conversation with the twin who was at least willing to give their family a chance. If this didn’t get him back to normal, nothing would.
Jay said, “So how are things going at the hotel?”
“Everything’s organized chaos. Though it looks like a Greek tragedy, it’s actually on schedule.”
“How about the party?”
“Erin’s on top of it. Even the ridiculous details. And I can be exacting, but that doesn’t bother her. She is so attuned to me that even when I assure her that the type of stocking that she chooses for the kids isn’t that important, she knows it is and she works to get me what I want.”
There was a pause before Jay said, “You like her.”
“Of course, I like her. If all my employees were as able to
please me as she is, I’d never have a care in the world.”
Jay laughed. “No. I mean, I recognize that you like working with her, but you like her as more.”
Hugo ran his hand down his face. “Is it that obvious?”
“Maybe not to an outsider, but I think I know you a little better than most people. You had a sense of responsibility when you worked at the hotel back when Mum and Dad owned it, but you always had time for Sally and me.”
He had.
He sank a little deeper into the sofa, as his memories of being a big brother flowed through him and he remembered why he was so eager to bring his family back together. Not just for himself, but for his brother and sister too.
“You don’t want to have feelings for this woman?”
“I don’t think now is the time.” He sighed. It should have felt odd talking about things he usually didn’t discuss. But he’d once been close to Jay and confiding in his younger brother felt so right, he couldn’t stop himself. “There have always been women in my life but not someone I feel these odd things for.”
“Maybe it does have something to do with the project?”
He laughed.
“I’m serious. Maybe things seem different because you’re under a lot of pressure and you need to let off steam.”
“That sounds kind of callous toward the woman.”
“No. No. I’m not saying use her. I’m just saying if the two of you like each other why not run with it? Is she having as much fun as you are?”
He remembered their night together, then the trip that afternoon with her son, and he smiled. “Of course.”
“Then you’re not hurting anybody. And you should let go a little bit.”
It might not seem callous, but it did seem risky. He’d never, ever even considered having a serious relationship with a woman and if he tried and failed, he’d hurt her. “I don’t think so.”
“I do!”
“I don’t want to hurt her.”
“What if you don’t?” Jay sighed. “What if this is the real thing?”
“What if it’s not?”
“Did you ever stop to think she’s available too because she needs the break as much as you do?”
Feeling his resolve weakening, Hugo closed his eyes. “She probably does. I can be pretty demanding.”
Jay laughed. “That’s an understatement if I’ve ever heard one. Look at this like a mutually satisfying agreement. If you ever get the sense that she’s uncomfortable, back off. But as long as you’re both having fun... For God’s sake, have some fun.”
“That is how I usually look at things.” But those women weren’t widows with children.
“Good. Then get back to that. Have some fun. I know how hard you work. You simply need a little bit of downtime.”
He chuckled. Talking things out with Jay had made him feel much better. Stronger. In control. He and Jay talked a bit about the hotel, both careful not to mention Sally, who was a touchy subject, and then they said good-night.
Hugo went to bed refusing to think about Erin. Their night together had been amazing. The day with her son had been wonderful. But he was a businessman. The hotel had to come first.
He fell into a deep, rich sleep and woke Saturday morning feeling like a tiger, a man a week away from the biggest success of his life.
His conversation with his brother had more than bolstered him. It had made him realize that he and Jay were growing close again. Even if he didn’t turn his family back into the tight unit they’d been before Nick entered the picture, he and Jay would be okay. And he would have his sister in his life somehow—
He shouldn’t give up on his plan to make the Harrington family whole again.
After a quick shower and breakfast, he was driven to the office with his New York staff, most of whom were growing eager to go home. He gave a short, inspirational speech, thanked them for helping him complete the project that had always been closest to his heart, urged them to hang in there and sent everyone back to his or her desk ready to do their best work.
Riding the limo to the hotel and walking through the almost complete lobby, he was refreshed. Renewed. His old self. Ready to take on the world.
He sat at his desk and dived into the stack of papers in front of him. Then Erin walked in and a whoosh of desire burned through him, even as his heart did a funny flip.
The temptation was strong to rise and kiss her senseless, which not only confused him, it pushed him back to the place he was before, before he’d spoken with Jay. Filled with a need so intense—something that braided sexual desire, a longing for intimacy and a yearning to create something special with her—he stayed in his seat, dumbfounded.
“Good morning, Hugo.”
Her bright, chipper voice warmed his heart, which stuttered to a stop. She was gorgeous even in her jeans and T-shirt. Her kisses were sweet. Making love with her had been amazing...
But her friendship was important to him. And the hotel even more so. He had to get himself back on track.
He cleared his throat. “It’s Saturday. Though we took yesterday off, you know it would have been okay to come in late today.”
She shrugged. “I have that delivery plus a few other things to do. If I get through them all, I probably won’t have to come in tomorrow—Sunday. Sunday’s a better day off.”
His stuttering heart faltered even more. He used the same principle to get himself to go the extra mile, work harder, get things done.
His voice was thin and gruff when he said, “That’s fine. But don’t stay all day. I’m sure Noah would like more than a peek at you before bedtime.”
She took the seat in front of his desk. For a good thirty seconds she said nothing. Then she raised her gaze to Hugo’s and said, “Noah’s not home. Neither is my mom.” She paused as if letting that information sink in. “You know those Irish relatives I told you she was searching for?”
Confused, he nodded.
“She found them. They got her and Noah tickets to fly to Dublin where a gaggle of them are apparently going to pick her up and take her to their small town.”
He blinked. Not just because it seemed sudden that Marge had found her people and wanted time with them, but because he knew why Erin was unexpectedly nervous. She had no responsibilities at home for days. If he wanted, he could be with her every night that her little family was in Ireland.
His brain immediately said, Yes. But his throat tightened, and his chest froze. His conversation with Jay played in his head. If they both needed some fun, some stress relief in this final week before the grand opening, they could have days and nights together. Alone. Happy. And no one had to be any the wiser.
Their gazes held a few seconds more as all the possibilities rolled through him, luxurious dinners, passionate nights—
The want of it overwhelmed him and he couldn’t stop himself from saying, “So, does this mean we can have dinner at Alain Ducasse?”
Her eyes widened. “Are you kidding?”
He frowned. “I’m not sure if that’s a yes or a no.”
“I didn’t bring the clothes for it.”
Her hesitation brought the tiger back—the guy who didn’t let anything get in the way of what he wanted. Yes, he remembered that she had a child and that he might hurt her, but, as Jay said, this should be about fun.
For them both.
“I have a personal shopper who can get you anything you need.”
When she hesitated, he said, “Please. We’ve both worked so hard, I think we deserve a night.” A night. Two words that clarified his intentions. She would know what she was agreeing to.
She shook her head. “Okay. But only if I pay for the dress and shoes.”
A thrill raced through him. “You don’t have to—”
“I do. I always get myself a Christmas gift. So this will be it.”
Not giving her a chance to change her mind, he called his personal shopper to tell her Erin would be in touch. When he got off the call, he gave Erin her number. She left his office with his personal shopper’s info clutched in her hand.
Even as the joy of getting what he wanted filled him, nerves jumped in his stomach. The whole date had been arranged so simply one would have thought he could settle into work and forget it until time to pick her up at her flat.
But he’d never been so excited about taking someone to dinner. Never had this shaky feeling over knowing she could be his—all his—for two or three or even four days.
One day at a time. One invitation at a time.
As long as they were having fun. If it ever looked like she was getting serious when he wasn’t, he’d know to shut it off.
But he didn’t believe it would go that far. Their time together came with a shelf life. Though she was spending Christmas Day in London, he’d be on a plane back to Manhattan. And they wouldn’t see each other again for months.
She had to realize that.
CHAPTER EIGHT
EAGER NOW, WISHING the day was over so he could have time with Erin, Hugo bounced out of his seat and walked into what he considered ground central. Things were progressing. Painting done in some places, on target in others.
He saw one of the specialty plasterers and walked over to talk about design. But before they got into their conversation, he saw Sally heading toward him. He’d known she was in the hotel today, but as had been his practice, he let his brother and sister work alone, at their own speed. And while Jay phoned him with updates, Sally still preferred the more impersonal method of emailing.
She looked hesitant walking to him. Then her steps faltered, and he noticed that her color was off. Her face a pasty white.
His chest tightened with fear and he sped up his steps as she reached out her hand. “Hugo!” she said, her knees buckling.
He caught her just as she fell.
An ambulance was called, and Hugo had to fight with the attendant to be able to ride with Sally. But he won. After she was seen by the doctor, he’d waited for her to awaken, but the conversation they’d had hadn’t pleased him.