Secret Millionaire for the Surrogate

Maybe this wasn’t really love after all. Maybe he was simply caught up in it, in her. An infatuation. Enjoying playing hooky from work and getting out of the rat race.

Yeah. That had to be it. It was the only thing that made sense.

Harper got up to get dessert, a selection of things she called petit fours and Madeleines...it all sounded French and fancy to him, though they tasted fine.

“You look like you’d rather have a steak than that canapé,” Harper said, and he realized he’d been zoned out for a few minutes.

“Yeah. This isn’t really my style.”

“Weddings come in all shapes and sizes,” she responded. “Last year Adele did one that used dog sleds to transport everyone to the ceremony location. Dan and Adele’s was at the Cascade, I’ve done ones in people’s living rooms, on riverbanks...and in a kayak.” She looked up at him and laughed. “The thing is, everyone has to do what’s right for them and what they want. A garden party on the lawn is not my idea of the perfect reception—for me.”

She looked out over the assembled group. “This is pretty and all, but I’m lower maintenance than that. I loved the little church today, with close friends and family. Then something informal, like spaghetti and salad around a big table with lots of laughter. I want my wedding to reflect how I want to live my life. Fully.”

The noose tightened, because as much as he wanted to run, he also didn’t want any other man giving that life to her.

He was saved from answering by the emcee, the best man, standing up to the mic. Harper slipped out of her seat and got her camera ready, moving to the back of the tent for a good vantage point.

He needed to let her go. And didn’t want to. But it was for the best.

* * *

Harper had no idea what had gotten into Drew today, but he hadn’t been himself since the ceremony. The sun was in her eyes as they headed into town, and she put the visor down as she squinted. “Do you want to come over?” she asked quietly.

“I should probably go back to the hotel. I’ve got a lot of work to do tomorrow.”

She glanced over at him. “Tomorrow is Sunday.”

He met her gaze briefly and swallowed.

“I don’t know what happened today, but something did,” she said, her voice a little stronger. “So if you want to go back to the hotel, it’s fine.”

He sighed. “When a woman says it’s fine, I know it’s anything but.”

She looked over again. “I’m fine, really. But I don’t think you are.”

And she wasn’t really either, but she hadn’t withdrawn today as he had. Something was going on in his head. She’d hoped they would end up having a fun day together. After all, weddings were romantic.

Maybe that was the problem. She stared at the road ahead and reminded herself that just because she’d fallen for him didn’t mean he felt the same way. She was certain he liked her a lot. And their chemistry was off the charts. But she wasn’t totally naive. She knew that chemistry wasn’t love.

Instead of turning up the hill to the hotel, she pulled into the parking lot for Bow Falls. There were still a few cars in the parking lot; as long as there was light there’d be a few people looking at the water rushing over the falls, but the crowds of the day had dissipated.

“I don’t want to have this talk at the passenger drop-off,” she said quietly, killing the engine.

“Harper, I... Dammit. I don’t know what to say.”

“Maybe you can start with what happened this afternoon. We went to the church and you were fine. Headed to the reception and suddenly you didn’t seem to know what to do with yourself. You didn’t smile, didn’t say much. And I don’t know why. Did I do something?”

“No!” He was so fast to respond that she knew he meant it, and she gave a little sigh of relief. He sighed heavily. “I was fine until I went to get the water for us, you know? And I heard a couple of ladies talking, and it made a few things clear for me, that’s all.”

“Some random women you don’t know said something at a wedding and you achieved sudden clarity?” She tried to lighten the mood, but her joke fell

flat, instead sounding sarcastic.

He looked over at her. “Harper, we want different things. We know it, and we’ve chosen to ignore it. But we shouldn’t have. You were right at Dan and Adele’s wedding. Flings are a mistake.”

She tilted her head, examining him. “You know, we talked about all this. You’re leaving next week. You have your life and I have mine, and we made any decisions based on that. So what the hell changed?”

He was quiet so long she felt tears prick the back of her eyes. All she’d wanted was to enjoy the week. To spend time with him while she could. To feel cared for and desired. She wasn’t sure what changed but it was hard to believe it happened because of two random strangers.