The Baby Contract

I gaped. “How’d you figure that out?”

Her smile lit up her face. “I’m right?”

“You’re right.” I’d eaten at the upscale restaurant in New York and knew then I needed to hire the chef, Pierre Vernier, as my personal chef. “I’m impressed.”

“I know food, as you can tell. Like I said, it’s one of the things I’ve missed the most.”

I picked up the pitcher of water on the table and refilled her water glass. “What else have you missed?”

Her smile faltered and I hated that I was the cause. “I suppose the lack of respect. You really learn who your friends are when you go broke. Too many people put money above character.”

“Don’t I know it.” I refilled my glass.

She arched a brow. “How do you know it?”

“As you’ve already pointed out, I’m not a man who endears people to him. So when anyone takes an interest, I have to guess it’s because of my money.”

She tilted her head. “Or looks.” Then as if she realized what she said, she looked down at her plate.

Intrigued, I said, “You’re not impressed.”

“As I said, character is important. It’s a hard lesson I’ve learned. A good one, I suppose. I was like all the others with their rich snobby noses in the air. Only Harper isn’t like that. It’s one of the reasons I like and admire her so much.”

I nodded. For all of Harper’s faults, she had a good heart. She didn’t see class the way others in our social circles did.

“Do you?”

“Do I what?” I asked.

“Do you walk around with your nose in the air?”

“I’m surprised you don’t have an opinion of that already.”

She shrugged. “My impression is that you don’t have any qualms with throwing your money and power around. I saw you do it with Archer Graves.”

“When something is important, I’ll do whatever I have to…use whatever resources I have.”

She nodded. “You choose me to be your surrogate because I need the money—”

“It was more than that.”

“The point is, you know I’m broke but you don’t look down your nose at me. At least not anymore.”

My gut clenched to think she saw me looking down on her. Of course I had. “I didn’t look down on you because you were broke. I did it because I didn’t like the influence you had on my sister.”

“Ha! So much you know.” She laughed. “Harper is the bad influence, not me. I was just along for the ride.”

“You’re an enabler, then?”

“I suppose so.”

Several of the servants entered and took our plates away followed by another set bringing dessert, crème brulee.

Her eyes sparkled. “I thought you said no junk food.”

I shrugged. “Crème brulee isn’t junk food.”

“Cheers to that.” She held up her spoon and I clicked mine against hers. She took a bite, savoring it. “Good God, man. This is the best I’ve ever tasted.” She moaned and licked her spoon.