“Then no, it wasn’t as hard for me.”
He burst out laughing. “Cheeky.”
She joined in the laughter. “Naw, not really. It’s just that the guy at the wedding? That wasn’t the real Drew. Not really. I like you better now.”
His gaze warmed. “I like you, too, Harper.”
They were still staring at each other when her phone rang. She reached inside her bag and pulled it out. “It’s Juny.”
Two minutes later she hung up, turning her worried gaze to Drew.
“Juny’s girlfriend, Renée, was in an accident. She’s okay, or at least she’s going to be okay, but they’re transporting her to Calgary to the Foothills Hospital.”
“Oh, no.” Drew’s face wrinkled in concern. “Does Juny need anything? Is she all right?”
“She’s fine. She wasn’t in the car, but she’s going to the hospital to be with Renée.”
“Of course. What happened?”
“Juny doesn’t quite know. I wish I could go with her, but I’ve got the wedding.”
“And she was supposed to be helping you today.”
“I can manage alone. I do it all the time.” There was no question of expecting Juny to come to work. Not with something like this. It would be a long day, but she could rest tomorrow.
“I could help you.”
She’d picked up her tea, but paused before taking a drink. “You?” She chuckled. “I know I let you use my camera yesterday, but Drew.”
“Ha, ha,” he replied, but he persisted. “I mean, I can carry your stuff for you. Be your right hand. You need a drink or food or anything, I can help. You were planning on having extra hands today. I’m certainly not as qualified as Juny, but I can take orders.”
She was touched by his offer. “You? Take orders? Mr. President and CEO?”
“Yeah, me. Unless you’d rather I not be in your professional space. I understand that.”
The idea of him being with her on a job didn’t bother her in the least. “No, it’s not that. But you’ll be bored, won’t you?”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
And having someone along to do the heavy lifting did sound wonderful. “Okay, but only if you have something suitable to wear.”
“If you’ll run me to the hotel, I can be ready in fifteen minutes.”
After Thursday night’s quick change, she didn’t doubt him. “Done.”
“Then it’s settled. Now eat, and we’ll get this show on the road.”
* * *
They loaded all her equipment in the car and by ten thirty they were on the way to the Cascade for Drew to change. He was back in the promised fifteen minutes, and then it was off to the bride’s home in Canmore. Harper looked over at Drew, sitting so calmly in her passenger seat yet again. What was she thinking, letting him come along? It was impossible to pretend that her feelings were anything other than love. She loved him. Was in love with him. Would have taken the whole week to be with him—in all ways—and dealt with the heartbreak at the end. Maybe that was what scared her the most. She wasn’t used to such a lack of emotional caution. That Drew was the one being reasonable and thinking long term was a total flip of what she figured was their usual roles.
And it wasn’t like he would never be back to Banff again, was it? His store would be here. Dan was here. Just because she’d fallen in love with him didn’t mean they had to rush everything.
“Penny for your thoughts,” he said, his gaze on her profile.
“We don’t have pennies anymore in Canada,” she replied. “Remember?”
“Right. Okay, I’ll round up. Nickel for your thoughts.”