Page 45 of Nothing to Tell

When his parents were mingled in with the crowd again, Harper asked, “Is your sister here?”

Keely was a society princess; functions like this were the highlight of her week.

“Somewhere,” Bastian said.“She’ll introduce herself when she finds you.She has no shame.”

His sister brimmed with optimism and had all the patience he lacked.

“She gets that from your mother, I suppose,” Harper said.“Which reminds me, your mother was talking about The Faith Wish Foundation.I told her I could hook it into the Charity Launch Circulator, a newsletter shared by coordinators.If the charity gets the nod in there it will automatically be—”

“Talking about it when?”It hadn’t come up in the car on the way back from the hospital.Her mouth snapped shut and her nose touched his lapel again.Suspicion deepened his voice.“Harper, talking about it when?”

“At lunch.”

Fuck.He almost didn’t believe it.Almost.Except his mom was more than capable of sneaking around behind his back, especially when it came to his personal life.

Harper wouldn’t have sought Carolyn out, no way, of that he was sure.But his mom, yep, no doubt about it, she loved to meddle.

“You had lunch with my mom?”

Paling, she became rigid in his arms.“I thought she would’ve mentioned it.”

“Damn, what did she say to you?She told you about tonight?”

“Yes.”

The pieces fell into place.Harper was here because his mom had encouraged her to come.Under normal circumstances, he would give his mom shit for interfering.This time the impulse was less certain.Having Harper there worked for him.He couldn’t be too mad about it.Not that he’d show his mom any overt gratitude, she didn’t need the encouragement.

One thing he didn’t like?A meeting occurring without his knowledge.God only knew what his mom said.

“My mom can be intense… she’s worried about me, or she claims to be.She wants grandkids.”

Harper relaxed, hitting him with a zing of pride.“Don’t worry, I told her we weren’t long-term.”

Damn, why would she have to tell Carolyn that?The conversation must’ve been more than charities and functions.

“You did?”

Some of her confidence became confusion.“Well, I tried to but…”

That didn’t bode well.Once his mom decided to hear one thing, convincing her of another was difficult.

“But what?”

Her head tilted.“I think she thinks we’re fuck buddies.”

“That’s much better,” Bastian said insincerely.

Never had those two words together entered his mind along with Harper’s name.But he had to give her credit, saying them at the first luncheon the women shared proved Harper had cojones.

Unless…

“Were you alone at lunch?”he asked.“Or was there a newly-minted Mrs.Lomond at the table?”

She winced.“They’re hyphenating.”

Bingo.So she hadn’t known Roxie before, but she did now.

“Roxie’s not my biggest fan.”