LITMIR.BIZ

       7

      HARPER SMOOTHED HER hair and pulled it off to the side so the dark curls draped over her shoulder, then placed her wide-brimmed hat on her head. A final look in the mirror confirmed she looked casually well put together, yet refined at the same time. Stuart wasn’t going to be wowed by a woman who seemed classless. If Harper wanted a ring on her finger, she had to play things right.

      Exiting her room, she accidentally bit her tongue as Teagan’s door opened and there he was in all his muscled, hot-bodied glory.

      Of all the terrible timing.

      And wearing a shirt that molded to his biceps as if it was painted on. Like anyone needed to see that!

      Well, she didn’t.

      She had no interest whatsoever in running her tongue down that ridged stomach to find what lay at the end of his happy trail.

      Nope. Not at all.

      Sure you don’t.

      So she certainly didn’t want a quick reminder of how Teagan had unwittingly helped her to “relax” in the shower.

      Her cheeks flared with heat but she managed a brief smile, betraying nothing.

      “Did you enjoy yourself last night?” she asked as they began to walk to the elevator. “Close any deals?”

      Teagan laughed and shook his head as if he wasn’t one to share secrets and said, “How about you? Did you sleep alone?”

      “A lady never shares such tawdry details,” she returned with a coy look. Let him think that she’d been doing anything aside from sitting in her pajamas, doing what was the equivalent of homework. “Well, at any rate, I doubt you’ll be lonely this trip. You have that look some women find appealing.”

      “Some?”

      “Well, you can’t be everyone’s cup of tea. It doesn’t work that way,” she said, laughing at the sudden arch of his brow. “My, someone’s ego is quite healthy, isn’t it?”

      “Haven’t had many complaints,” he said, pushing the elevator button. “So what’s on your agenda today? Shopping?”

      “I might check out some of the shops. I do love boutiques.” Total lie. She hated shopping. It also felt like homework. To be honest, she was much more comfortable with her hair in a bun, watching a movie in her yoga pants than being all dressed up. “And you? What’s on your plan?”

      “I think I might check out the giant slide.”

      Harper laughed as if that were an absurd idea but secretly she wished she could do the same. She’d seen the slide and been instantly wowed by how fun it must be to zip down that slippery thing. But it wasn’t as if she was about to do it. “Well, have fun,” she said, stepping into the elevator.

      “I will,” he said, following.

      The awkward ensuing silence did nothing to quell the jittery flutter in her stomach. Why were elevators so small? She could barely breathe.

      And whatever cologne he was wearing...it was...heavenly.

      But she wasn’t about to say that. Harper rubbed her nose with a delicate sniff. “My goodness, whatever you’re wearing is activating my sinuses.”

      “Hmm...nothing but my skin, darlin’.”

      He smelled like that naturally?

      Good Lord.

      The doors opened and they both exited, going in separate directions.

      The fact that Teagan so easily left her in the dust gave her pause. Had she misread the signals? She thought for sure he was into her. Not that it mattered. But maybe her ego was a little bruised because he’d so easily brushed her off.

      Did she want him to chase her just so she could turn him down?

      Maybe a little.

      Deliberately shoving any thought of Teagan far from her mind, Harper prepared to put Phase One into effect. Stuart was supposed to be on the upper deck, enjoying breakfast—his usual poached eggs and dry toast—and so that’s where she was heading, too.

      She’d paid handsomely to be seated with Stuart, which, with enough careful flirting, should open the door to more private time together.

      Ah! Right as rain. The man was nothing if not habitual. Stuart, his bald head covered with a jaunty hat—that was oddly endearing on him, but on anyone else would’ve looked like a flat pancake perched on his dome—was enjoying his eggs, chatting with the others at his table.

      Harper made a point of pretending to look for her table and then approached the open seat with a small smile. “I believe I’m seated with you,” she said, and Stuart immediately rose to pull out her chair like a gentleman. Murmuring a “Thank you,” she slid into the seat and nodded a hello to the others, as well. She made a show of noticing Stuart’s eggs and asked, “How are the eggs? Done properly? I do so enjoy a perfectly poached egg.”

      “Very good,” Stuart answered with a gleam in his eye as if he appreciated someone who also enjoyed his particular tastes. As expected, Stuart introduced himself. “Stuart Buck, pleasure to make your acquaintance.” He gestured around the table. “This is Marv, Genevieve, Stella and Patrick.”

      “The pleasure is all mine,” Harper said, allowing Stuart to press a gallant kiss to the back of her hand. “Harper Riley.”

      “Harper, may I order you a plate?” he asked solicitously, and Harper nodded with a smile.

      “That would be lovely,” she said, playing the part of the demure lady for his benefit. Stuart was old-fashioned to his core. It was sweet in a way, but she needed to stop looking at him as a “sweet” man and start seeing him as a potential lover.

      Ugh. Why is this so hard?

      The waiter appeared and Stuart placed her order. He returned to Harper, interest in his eyes. “You are a lovely young lady,” he remarked and the rest of the table concurred. They were all middle-aged or older. In comparison, she looked like she could be their granddaughter, or daughter at the very least. “And you are not attached?”

      “I could say the same for you,” she teased, turning the tables. “How is it that a handsome, stylish devil such as yourself is not already taken?”

      Stuart chuckled and said, “Well, my beloved wife is recently deceased and I’m still acclimating to the single life, but to be honest, it’s not really my style. I don’t think I was cut out for the bachelor life.”

      Marv agreed with a hearty laugh. “I hear ya, Stewie. I’m happiest with a nice, soft woman cuddled up beside me. It’s just not the same without a female around the house to make it a home.”

      Harper wanted to be offended for Stuart for that atrocious familiarity but he took it in stride. He seemed to really enjoy hanging out with the eclectic group. Maybe it was true that Stuart did seek out the company of those in the trenches rather than those in his own tax bracket.