I didn’t have a sister, but Blaire was a damn good alternative. “Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome, but this is for me as much as you. I want to see her. You weren’t the only one who missed her.”
Smiling, I grabbed my keys and made sure to leave the note on the counter where she would see it. “Yeah, but I missed her the most.”
Blaire chuckled. “I won’t argue with that.”
“Thanks again, Blaire. I left her a note to call you when she gets up. But she may not call. I never know with her. She worries about bothering people.”
“I’ll just show up in an hour or so. Go to work, Grant. I got this.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I hung up and stuck my phone into my pocket. Glancing back at the bedroom door, I saw it open slowly. Harlow walked out, dressed in one of my T-shirts, which I had put on her last night. Her hair was all over the place, and her face had pillow creases on it. I had never seen anything more beautiful.
“You leaving?” she asked in a sleepy voice.
I walked back to her. “I didn’t want to wake you. I’ve got an issue at one of the job sites,” I explained as I slid my arms around her waist.
“OK. I heard you talking,” she said, blinking slowly while her eyes adjusted to the sunlight pouring into the room.
“I called Blaire. She’s coming to keep you company today. She missed you.”
A smile lit up her face. “Oh, good. I wanted to see her.”
Leaving sucked, but this made it a little easier. I was giving her space to be alone and have girl time. Harlow had very little of that in her life, and I wanted her to have good friendships. The girl I’d first met didn’t have anyone. She lived for her books and stayed in her room. I wanted more for Harlow than that.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can. You enjoy your time with Blaire, but call me if you need anything.” I kissed her lips. Nothing was ever as good as kissing Harlow.
She wrapped her arms around my neck and melted into me. This didn’t make leaving easier. I was about ready to say screw the job site when she stepped back and pressed a hand to her now-swollen lips. “OK, go. We can do that when you get back.”
“You be ready for me, because I have plans for you when I get home,” I told her, then blew her a kiss before finally leaving. I was going to be a little late, but they could wait. I’d get there when I got there.
To my precious baby,
The day I first saw him, my knees went a little weak, and my stomach fluttered. Like that feeling of butterflies taking off. That was how I felt when I laid eyes on your dad for the first time. He was beautiful. I had never considered a man beautiful before, but Grant Carter was beautiful.
I never imagined he would notice me. I was quiet and introverted. I didn’t make friends easily, and I didn’t trust others. Those are things I never want you to experience or feel. I’ve overcome them because I’ve found your father.
That night, he cornered me and sent my tiny infatuation into a full-blown crush with only a few words. But I was terrified. Completely scared out of my wits. I wasn’t used to dealing with men when they flirted with me. I didn’t know then that he would change my life.
I also didn’t know that life was full of color and excitement. I had hidden away and remained alone for so long. I was missing out on so much. But your dad taught me to live. He taught me about love, and he gave me the greatest gift anyone could ever give me: you.
When you are old enough to read this letter, I hope I’m sitting there beside you. I hope I’m the one who gets to read it to you. But if I’m not there physically, know that I am there with you in spirit. Always. I will never leave your side. And I will love you forever.
You were created from a love so strong, a love that should be grown and shared.
And now we have you to share it with.
Love you always,
Mommy
Harlow
I didn’t have friends until Blaire. She was engaged to Rush Finlay when I met her, and I immediately liked her, because there was a kindness in her eyes. Also, if someone could make Rush fall in love with her, she had to be special. He used to be one of the most cynical people I knew . . . until he met Blaire. And now they had their son, Nate. Rush was a totally different person now.
Having Blaire to talk to was wonderful, but walking into Kerrington Country Club wasn’t something I wanted to do just yet. Blaire had casually mentioned that my evil half sister was in Paris right now, but I was still on edge. I didn’t want to see Nan. Ever again, if possible.
Grant had been with Nan once. Forgetting that was easier now. He loved me; I knew that, and I was secure in that. But still, Nan was the kind of beautiful that I couldn’t compete with. I had hidden from the Nans of the world until my dad had sent me to live with her while he went on tour.
“You look like you want to throw up. Are you OK?” Blaire asked as I walked beside her toward the entrance to the restaurant at the club where we’d be having breakfast this morning.
“I’m fine,” I assured her.
The door opened, and we were greeted by a guy dressed in the typical uniform of slacks and a polo with the Kerrington Club monogram on it.
“Good morning, Mrs. Finlay, Miss Manning,” the guy said with a polite smile.
“Morning, Clint. Is Jimmy working the morning shift?” Blaire asked.
The guy’s grin got bigger, almost as if hearing Jimmy’s name made him happy. “Yes, he is.”
Blaire chuckled softly and thanked him, then we walked to the hostess.
“Two, Mrs. Finlay?” the girl asked, her eyes quickly darting away from me as if she was trying not to stare but wanted to be sure she was seeing me. I hated this sudden fame that came with my dad.
“Please, and we’d like to sit in Jimmy’s section,” she replied.
The girl nodded, still staring at me with wide eyes. Crap, this could not be good.
“And”—Blaire paused and looked at the girl’s name badge—“April, if media of any kind were to show up at the club, Mr. Kerrington would be very upset. I’ll be sending him and Della a text once we’re seated asking them to up the security. Do you understand what I am telling you?” Blaire was a badass. I wanted to be like her.
The girl bobbed her head and swallowed nervously. “Yes, Mrs. Finlay, of course.”
Blaire beamed a smile at the girl. “Thank you, April. I appreciate your help.”
April blushed as if Blaire had just paid her a high compliment, then led us to our seats. I don’t think the girl wanted to leave our table; I was almost prepared for her to ask for an autograph.
“All right, April, stop your fangirling, and let these women breathe. They came for breakfast, not to be gawked at. Damn, girl,” Jimmy said as he walked up to our table.
Poor April scampered away.
“She’s new, but she’s sweet. I can work with that,” Jimmy said, then blasted a smile our way. “Look at you two gorgeous women without your overprotective men, eating here alone. I might take advantage and make my move.”
Blaire’s eyebrows rose, and she looked knowingly at Jimmy. “I think Clint might get a little upset if you did that, hmm?”
Jimmy laughed and shot her a wink. “You picked up on that one fast.”
“He was all smiles when I asked if you were here. I’d have to be blind not to pick up on it.”
Jimmy smirked. He knew he was beautiful, but he was one of the nicest people I’d met here in Rosemary Beach. “What can I get you two to drink? Coffee, maybe? Or cappuccinos?”
I had strict instructions to stay away from caffeine. “I’ll take an orange juice,” I told him.
“I’d love a cappuccino, thanks, Jimmy,” Blaire said, and glanced down at her menu.
I wondered if she even had to look at the menu. She had worked here until Rush had demanded she stop when she got pregnant. I assumed she knew the menu by heart at this point.
“The quiche is great, but then, so are the raspberry and cheese scones,” Blaire told me.
I decided quiche with a whole-wheat croissant would do. I was trying not to eat sugar—it was healthier for me to avoid it.
“Uh-oh, he looks like he’s on a mission,” Blaire said in a whisper, and I looked up to see Woods Kerrington taking long strides toward us. He looked concerned. He stopped at our table and turned his attention to me. Those dark eyes of his were serious, but Blaire was right: he meant business.
“Kiro just got past security. They said he was cursing and ranting about finding you. I’ve called Rush, and he said to get the two of you to my office and lock you up until he deals with Kiro. The guys working security said he was furious and has been drinking.”
My dad was here. He knew. That was the only excuse for him acting this way. Blaire immediately stood up and reached for her purse. “Come on, let’s get you out of here.”
“I need to be here,” Woods said. “He has a driver, but I don’t think he’s prepared to deal with him. Kiro’s liable to knock my valet guys out if they say the wrong thing to him.”
“I’ll get her to your office,” Blaire assured Woods, and she grabbed my arm. “Come on, I know a back way.”
I didn’t have to run from my dad. I had never run from him in the past. I wasn’t scared of his angry ranting. He never got mad at me. But if he thought the baby was harming me, he wouldn’t be happy. He wasn’t used to being told no, and this time, I would be telling him no.
“Do you think you can calm him down? Or maybe Rush can?” I asked Woods.
Woods nodded. “Finlay can handle him. You get out of here.”
I did what he said and ran from my dad. I felt horribly guilty about it. It worried me that he was drinking again. Was Emily OK? Had something happened with her? Did he need me? Maybe he didn’t know about the baby. Maybe he was just having a wild, drunken episode and missed me. It wasn’t like he hadn’t shown up in North Carolina like this when I was growing up. Whenever Kiro Manning missed me, he jumped on a plane and came to see me, even if it was after a concert and he was high as a kite. My grandmama had hated it when he showed up like that. The one time he had come to my school, still drunk from the night before, basking in his fame, had been humiliating. But he was my dad. I dealt with it.
“Where is she, and where is that stupid f**k who knocked her up!” Kiro’s voice was slurred, but it carried down the hall as he entered the restaurant. I cringed and said a silent prayer of thanks that Grant wasn’t around for this.
I couldn’t hear what Woods was saying, but his voice had a hard edge.
“Rush will be here any minute,” Blaire whispered as she led me into an elevator that would take us to the top floor.
I couldn’t look at her. This was humiliating. She and I hadn’t actually discussed my pregnancy yet or the complications. All she had said was congratulations when she had arrived this morning at Grant’s condo.
When we were safely inside Woods’s office, Blaire locked the door behind her and let out a sigh. “Wow, he’s upset. Did you just tell him?” she asked, turning to look at me.
I walked over to the plush leather sofa, sank down into it, and dropped my head into my hands. I shouldn’t be up here. I should be down there dealing with him. He wasn’t going to calm down until he saw me. I just couldn’t face him yet. I didn’t want to hear him tell me to abort my baby.
“No. I think there were media people at the doctor’s office yesterday. Paparazzi, perhaps. Not sure. They snuck us out the back.”
Blaire walked over and sat down beside me. Her hand rested on my back. “It’s in all the gossip news. Your ‘visit to the ob-gyn with boyfriend Grant Carter.’ They had some woman outside the office saying she knew Grant and was positive it was you in there.”
I let out a frustrated groan. I was afraid that would happen. Stupid woman had to recognize me. “I should go talk to him.”
“No. Absolutely not. You aren’t dealing with him like this. Rush can get him back to our place and let him sleep it off. When he’s sober, Rush can bring him over to see you, but Grant will be with you when that happens.”
Blaire sounded like a mother. I would have smiled if I could manage it. Knowing my dad was downstairs, yelling my private business to the entire club, had me on the verge of tears.
My phone started ringing, and Blaire reached for my purse and pulled it out. After checking it, she handed it to me. “It’s Grant,” she said.
My heart ached. I wanted him here so badly. “Hello,” I said, my voice cracking, tears filling my eyes.
“I’m on my way. Rush has Kiro in his car, and he’s taking him to his house. Woods will be up to get you in a minute. He’ll drive you home. Blaire can stay with you until I get there. Are you OK?”
I nodded and sniffled, then realized he couldn’t see me nod. “Yeah, I think.” I replied.
“No, you’re not. Shit. I shouldn’t have left you,” he said, and I heard him curse and hit something. “I’m on my way, baby. I’m on my way. Be strong for me, OK?”