“No, no, no. Attention to detail, remember?” But he smiled, too. “What do you say?”
“You want to go now?”
“I can have the Realtor meet us there.” He hesitated. “As long as you’re not too busy. I know you have your own business to run.”
It would be an excuse to spend more time with him. She knew she shouldn’t want to, and then wondered why the heck not. Lately her whole life had consisted of work, feeling tired and sometimes nauseated, and no social life beyond Adele and Dan, where again, the talk was always of the baby. As the days went on, she found herself getting more and more attached to the tiny life inside her. So much so that she knew she had to keep her mind on the big picture. Like other parts of her life, and what she was planning to do after the baby arrived and she went back to her normal routine.
None of which she felt she could discuss with anyone, because she had been the one to suggest the surrogacy and she didn’t want to appear to be a complainer.
“I can spare an hour or so.” Actually, the idea of leaving the studio and walking through town in the sunshine sounded blissful. “Where’s the building?”
“Half a block off Banff Avenue, right near the Ptarmigan Inn. I looked at a few other spaces, but none had the square footage I need and the only other one that did wasn’t as central.”
“Sounds logical. Let me close this down and I’ll be right with you.”
He went back out to the storefront and she could hear him talking to Juny as she closed her programs and shut down her computer. Deep down she got the feeling she might be stepping into trouble, but she’d been doing the same things day after day for too long. This weekend she’d be at a wedding the whole time. Why not enjoy an afternoon off, particularly in the company of someone as sexy and funny as Drew?
CHAPTER SIX
DREW WAITED FOR Harper out front, and spent his time first contacting the Realtor, then chatting to Juny. She looked cute with leggings and boots and a colourful flowy top of some sort, a pair of dark brown braids touching each shoulder. But when Harper came out from the back room, his breath caught. She was wearing a simple denim skirt and a peasant blouse, little sandals on her feet, and her hair was in what he realized was a customary ponytail. He couldn’t tell if she was wearing makeup or not. It didn’t matter. Harper was just...different.
He shouldn’t be here. She’d said as much when she’d dropped him off the other day. But he couldn’t help it. A few quiet hours and the first thing he did was find himself walking toward her gallery, eager to see her teasing eyes and smiling face.
“I’m ready if you are,” she stated, slinging a small bag over her shoulder.
“Should I close up?” Juny asked.
“I can come back. You don’t have to stay until six.”
“It’s no trouble. I’m meeting some people at seven, so it works out fine.”
“Then sure. Taking a few extra hours would be amazing. Thanks.”
Drew held the door for her and they stepped out into the afternoon sunshine. “I parked a half block over, and we can take my ride if you want.”
“You did get your rental.”
“I did. It makes it easier if I have to run to showings or meetings. But we can walk if you want.”
“It’s a beautiful day. Let’s.”
The day was hot but with that crisp-mountain-air feeling. Sidewalks were swept and kept clear, with hanging baskets on the streetlamps and brightly coloured planters outside each business. He looked over at Harper, who’d slid on a pair of sunglasses against the glare. She looked good, but he missed being able to see her eyes.
“Does Juny know?” he asked.
She looked over at him. “You mean about the baby?”
“Yeah.”
“Not yet. I have to tell her soon, though. Other than the doctor, you’re the only one outside the three of us to know anything.”
He felt oddly privileged, even though he knew it was just because he was in town. Plus it made him feel as if they shared a secret.
He heard an odd gurgle and saw her cheeks turn a bright pink. “Did you eat lunch?”
“Not yet, but I thought we had to meet your guy.”
“We do. But ice cream.” He pointed to the Cows Ice Cream store. “And you need your dairy, don’t you? Calcium and all that?”