Sterling’s had his share of negative press as well. Some stories focused on how Elaina only passed two years ago, and he’s already moved on with a younger woman; printing pictures of their wedding day where both just looked shellshocked more than in love. But there were more who sympathized with him and ran stories on other widows and widowers who found happiness again after their darkest times.
What I thought would ruin everything has actually put us all in a better place.
“Ooh, we should totally go in here.”
Sinclair stops in front of a store that has beautiful cream and gold lettering swooping over the glass window in front of a display of stunning lingerie.
“I have a shoot coming up with them. I want to see what their current season line is like.”
She lifts her nose in the air and inclines her chin over her shoulder. “You think you can wait out here?”
Denver looks at her with his usual set expression from behind us. “Your father asked that I accompany Halliday.”
She snorts. “Like the press will be hiding amongst the G-strings in there.”
Denver’s brows pull low, making his eyes darken as he looks past us inside the store like he’s running a risk assessment in his head.
I give him a sympathetic smile. I’m sure he’d rather be doing something else than keeping an eye on me. But Sterling insisted that Denver come with me for a few days when I leave the penthouse. Just until the press gets bored. Although so far today we’ve only seen one person trying to snap a picture of me. This is the city that never sleeps. A million and one more interesting things have happened over the past forty-eight hours. Sterling and I are old news already.
“We’ll be okay,” I assure Denver.
His clean-shaven jaw cuts a perfect line over his muscular neck as he nods once. “I’ll wait here.”
He widens his stance and stands with his hands clasped in front of him over his black suit.
“Seriously?” Sinclair rolls her eyes. “This isn’t men in black. No one is going to try anything when we’re in there trying on those.” She points at the tiny strip of champagne-colored silk on the store mannequin.
Denver’s eyes slide to it before he looks away.
Sinclair’s eyes soften with longing. “That's so pretty. I'm going to see if they have it in black too. But I won't be able to wear it to the club tonight; the dress I'm wearing is too tight for panties.”
Denver clears his throat as she crouches and kisses Monty on the head.
“I’m sorry you have to stay with Mr. Boring. Mommy won’t be long.” She stands and thrusts Monty’s leash into Denver’s hand. “I’m trusting you with him. Don’t let me down.”
“I’ll guard him with my life,” Denver replies seriously as Sinclair links her arm with mine.
“Come on. Let’s go inside.”
Fifteen minutes later we walk out armed with a bag each. Sinclair talked me into buying a sexy silver lace set. She really has taken mine and Sterling’s relationship well. She wasn’t the slightest bit affected when I paid for it and the sales assistant commented on how lucky my partner would feel when they saw me in it. She was even giggling as we walked out of the store, and she shoved her shopping into Denver’s hand for him to carry as she took Monty’s leash back.
“You and Dad are coming to dinner with everyone tomorrow night, aren’t you?” she asks as we walk. “Uncle Mal returns in the morning.”
“We are. It’s worked out better that it was rescheduled to tomorrow. I don’t think I’m ready for dining somewhere busy today.” I look warily across the street at a guy with a camera slung around his neck. I glance back at Denver, but his eyes are already on the man.
“The Verenelli is always busy. They have the best steak in the city. But yeah, it’s better that it’s not tonight. It means Zoey and I can hit that club. You sure you don’t want to come?”
“No, thanks.”
The man with the camera crosses at the intersection ahead of us bringing him onto our side of the street.
“I guess Uncle Mal must have been visiting friends and that’s why he was late.”
“Yeah,” I murmur. Sterling said Mal had stopped in London and that’s why his trip was extended by a day.
“Halliday!” Denver clips in warning from where he’s moved next to me.
The guy moves fast, getting his camera straight up and thrust in our direction. Denver steps in front of us, blocking his view with his broad body.
