A Diamond For The Single Mum

“I’m sorry. We probably can’t. We’re kind of busy, too,” Seth explained before Harper could answer. This might not be the perfect lie, but it would hold long enough to get Harper settled in a job and a house. Once they left the store and were away from her mom, he could tell her that. “But I’ll have my assistant call yours tomorrow and they can set something up like dinner.”

“That would be lovely,” Amelia said, her eyes glowing.

Seth quickly grabbed the packages and herded Harper toward the door. “We’ll see you then.”

Amelia waved.

Harper reminded stonily quiet.

When they stepped out onto the street, he wasn’t surprised that she pivoted on him. “You have no idea what you’ve done.”

“I got you out of the store without having to admit anything to your mom.”

“Yeah, but now she’ll start snooping.”

“Into what?” He laughed. “She can call the tabloids, if she wants, looking for times we went out, places we’ve gone. But she’s not going to find anything.”

“And she’ll get suspicious.”

“So what?”

“You are such a babe in the woods. I’m either going to have to come clean with her, and soon, or we’re going to have to keep up this charade.”

“Would it be such a big deal to keep it up?”

She cast him a long look. “You can’t date anyone while you’re pretending to be dating me.”

“I feel uncomfortable leaving you alone at night, anyway.” He sighed. He hated lying. His father had been the consummate liar. He’d used lies to control, manipulate, humiliate, belittle and bully everyone from his employees to his own children. If there was one thing Seth had vowed never to do, it was lie.

But this was a worthy cause, an unusual situation. Harper, a widow with a baby, needed time to get herself settled before she told her mom she was broke and it was Clark’s fault.

Plus, her mom hadn’t appeared on the radar of Seth’s life before this. He didn’t think she’d start now. Unlike his father’s master manipulation lies, this little charade wouldn’t hurt anyone.

“Needing to get out of this mess will step up your job search a bit and we might have to start looking for houses before you have a job...but I think I did what I had to do.”

“You’re willing to pretend to be my boyfriend for at least the next four weeks?”

The ramifications of that rained down on him. No breakfasts, lunches or dinners with any women except colleagues...and no sex.

She shook her head. “That’s a long time.”

Yeah, that was sinking in and not pleasantly.

“And my mother is relentless. You’re a catch. She’s going to want me to keep you.”

That, thank God, made him laugh. “My reputation will save us. When we break up no one will be surprised.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. You’re taking this all too seriously. It’s a few weeks. What can she possibly do in a few weeks?”

CHAPTER FOUR (#u8840a0b8-97d6-50db-8956-bccf3f6802d0)

WHAT CAN SHE do in a few weeks?

Harper groaned. “You’d be surprised. So, we do have to step up the job search and the apartment hunt.”

“I already said that.”

She glanced at the armful of boxes he carried and the bags she had in her hand. “I’m going to need a cab.”

“No. Jake’s car is just up the street.” Juggling the boxes, he pulled out his phone, hit a few buttons and said, “Does Jake need you today?” He listened, then smiled. “Good. I have a friend who only has to go a few blocks, but she’s been shopping and has bags.” A pause. “Okay. We’re not even a block up the street from the office. You’ll see us on the sidewalk.”

He disconnected the call. “He’ll check in with Jake and be here in two minutes. I’ll wait with you.” He displayed the boxes. “Because I don’t think you can handle all these.”

They stood in silence until the limo pulled up. The trunk popped. The driver jumped out and took the packages from Harper, tucking them into the trunk. Seth handed him the boxes he held, and he stowed them away before returning to open the passenger door of the limo.

She turned to say thanks to Seth, but saw her mom coming out of the boutique—just in time to see her standing in front of a McCallan limo.

“Don’t look now but my mom is behind you.”

Seth’s eyebrows drew together. “She is?”

“I told you, her curiosity knows no bounds.”

“She’s looking?”

“Of course, she’s looking!”

“Then we’ll just have to make this realistic.” He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her lips. The movement was smooth, a light brush across her mouth, but it rained tingles down to her toes. Her breath hitched, caught in her chest and froze.

She thought he’d pull away. He didn’t. She told herself she should move back, but she couldn’t. All those questions about him rose up in her, but so did the sweet sensations of being attracted to someone. Of feeling like a woman.

He took a step closer. She took a step toward him. His arms circled her waist. Her hands went to his shoulders. The kiss deepened. The press of his lips became a crush. Arousal blossomed in her belly, scrambled her pulse, shattered her concentration.

When he moved his mouth, she opened hers for him—

And common sense returned.

Not only was her mother watching, but Harper was also kissing Clark’s best friend...and a womanizer. Even if he wasn’t Clark’s best friend, he was all wrong for her. And she missed Clark. She didn’t want another man. Not yet. She didn’t want to lose Clark’s memory...to forget him.

She jerked back. Not risking another glance into those dark eyes of his, she took the few steps from the sidewalk to the limo. As casually as possible, she said, “I’ll see you at home.”

She slid into the limo. She didn’t wait to see Seth’s reaction, didn’t peer at the boutique door to see if her mom was still watching. There was no need. The damage had been done. Not only did her mom think she was dating one of the wealthiest men in Manhattan, but that man had also kissed her. Greedily. Hungrily.

She could close her eyes and remember the kiss. Every movement of his mouth.

The limo sped off and she covered her face with her hands. She didn’t know which was worse—her mom thinking she was dating a catch or liking the kiss of a man she shouldn’t be kissing. Clark might be gone, but he wasn’t forgotten. She’d adored him. She didn’t want to replace him.