Secret Millionaire for the Surrogate

And why was she continually trying to talk herself out of liking him?

“Wow. I love that one.”

She’d pulled up the picture of the whisky jack first, letting the grey-and-white bird fill the screen. “He’s pretty, isn’t he?”

“Very. That’s such a soft grey.” He pulled up a chair and sat beside her, leaning over to peer at the monitor. “Know what other bird has a gorgeous grey colour? An albatross. Their heads are amazing. It seriously looks like a watercolour.”

“I didn’t think they were grey.” She spun in her chair to face him, getting a jolt when she realized how close their faces were. There was a half second where he paused, the miniscule flash of time it took to take half a breath, and then he leaned back a bit, settling in his chair a bit more. Heat rushed up her neck.

“There are different species, with slightly different sizes and colourings,” he said, moving back into the topic smoothly. “Look up a grey-headed albatross. I saw them on a New Zealand expedition to Macquarie Island.”

Of course he had. She’d traveled some and had moved around within Canada a lot, but Drew was a different sort of traveler. He was an adventure seeker. Part of her was jealous that he’d had such trips, and totally envious of the photographic opportunities. Another part was simply curious.

“Did you see penguins?”

He laughed. “Tons. Like this ginormous rookery with thousands and thousands.”

She sighed. “That must have been amazing.”

“You haven’t seen them?”

“Only at the zoo. And once at SeaWorld, when I was a little kid.”

“Would you like to?”

She turned in her chair. “Is that an invitation?” At his surprised expression, she laughed. “Just kidding. But yeah, I’d like to. I’d like to photograph tons of different ecosystems. Right now, I’m here, so I’m focusing on my backyard. There’s lots to keep me busy.”

He sat back in his chair and tapped his lip. “But where would you go if you could go anywhere in the world?”

She thought about it a long time, struggling for an answer. “I’ve always wanted to go to Iceland. The geography is so unique and I have a secret wish to photograph an Icelandic horse.” She met his gaze. “I suppose that sounds silly. But you see...no other horse is allowed on the island. They’re incredibly unique and untouched.”

But his warm eyes held hers. “Not at all. I wish I could take you on some armchair travel, but that’s one place I haven’t been, either. Though I’ve been to Norway.”

Of course he had.

“Aspen Outfitters must be doing really well for you, if you can travel so much before you’re even thirty.”

“It does okay.”

It was a rather bland answer, and she puzzled for a moment, but his financial status and how he spent his money wasn’t any of her business.

“It keeps you in passport stamps,” she said lightly.

He laughed a little. “It does. Last year I went zip-lining in Costa Rica.”

Harper’s eyes widened. “Zip-lining in the jungle? No thanks. I’m afraid of heights.”

“Really?”

She nodded. “Really. I don’t even like getting up past the second step on a stepladder.”

His eyebrows lifted. “I wouldn’t have guessed that. How do you manage skiing, or the gondolas? Surely you’ve done both, living here.”

She smiled weakly, her stomach doing a little nervous flip just thinking about it. “I take deep breaths. I don’t look down.”

His eyes lit up. “You know, one woman in our group was terrified. She was literally crying on the platform. But she did it—took that step off, and she loved it. Couldn’t wait to keep going.”

Harper shuddered. “Good for her,” she said drily, and then they both burst out laughing.