Page 107 of Nothing to Tell

“Harper!She was beside herself.She’s a strong one—”

“What’s wrong with Harper?”

Urgency drove him around the desk to bear down on his mother.

“I knew something was wrong at lunch on Tuesday, Harper wasn’t herself.If there was a problem, you should’ve told us.Your sister cried!She’s beside herself.It took me an hour to calm her down.”

“Tell me what happened!”

A knock interrupted.

Harper peeked around the door.He’d never seen such an incredible, and relieving, sight.

“Tina told me to come in,” Harper said.“She’s heading out.”

“Thank goodness you’re here,” Carolyn said.“Yes, you two should talk.”

“Mom…”

Ignoring his warning, Carolyn pulled him down to kiss his cheek.“Please talk.”

His mom crossed the room to kiss Harper and say something in her ear.God, the woman didn’t know when to stop.The door couldn’t close behind the matriarch quickly enough.Though he wouldn’t put it past her to be loitering in his executive foyer.

“Saved me a trip,” Bastian said.“I was on my way to yours.”

“This office is bigger than my father’s house,” Harper said going to the vast windows.“I bet you can see my office from here.”

“You had lunch with my mother?”

His mother wasn’t known for overreacting.The fact she’d raced over to berate him didn’t bode well.

“On Tuesday,” she said over her shoulder.“I told you that on the phone.”

“And today?”

“We met for a drink a couple of hours ago.”All exuberance, Harper bounded across the room to drop into his chair.“I should’ve come here sooner, we could’ve added your desk to the list of places you’ve acquainted me with.”

“What’s wrong with right now?”he said.“Come here.”

“If only,” she said.“I’ve got somewhere to be.”

“We have a function tonight?Thank God I’m free.”

So sad that even if he wasn’t, he’d clear the calendar for her.

But she wasn’t teasing.

She pulled herself in at the desk and spread her hands on it.“You are free.Completely free,” she said.“You’re officially off the clock.Permanently.”

Alarm tightened his gut.“Meaning?”

“We should’ve spoken about it at the hotel, but it was my birthday and I… suppose I enjoyed the illusion.”

“Illusion?”

“I love spending time with your mom, and your sister, they’re incredible people.We can’t lie to them anymore, Bastian.It’s not fair.My mother wants you over at the house.Adara’s talking about you in the wedding party like it’s a done deal.We’ve filled our allotted time.”

“Our allotted time?”