“Of course, I did.” His assistant grinned. “Sometimes things need a little help, and I didn’t think it would hurt for you to spend a day in her company.”
To gather his thoughts, Carlisle took his time hanging up his coat. He wasn’t sure what he thought about his assistant—good friend though she’d become—interfering in his personal life.
“But you only met her for the first time on Saturday,” he finally said.
Nia folded her arms and pinned him with a hard gaze. “Excuse me, but you and Grace have done nothing but talk about Merry Hurst and her son Alex for weeks—since before Halloween. Even while we were in New York for those two weeks, your daughter did nothing but pine for her little friend. So, I’ve been asking around town about them.”
“Oh?” Carlisle tried to keep his voice sounding neutral. “And what did you discover?”
“That they’re good people. Merry and her mother have been involved in local charities their entire lives. The mother is a well-respected dressmaker, famous in some circles but doesn’t act like it. They may not have the traditional connections the grandson of an earl might look for, but there’s nothing in there that would embarrass your family.”
Carlisle refused to be pushed into a relationship not of his choosing. He’d put up with enough of that from his grandfather, always pressing for a prestigious connection. Carlisle had proposed to Cressy as much for love as because he’d known the old man wouldn’t approve. And he hadn’t, but Cressy had slowly won the earl’s reluctant approval.
“What are you suggesting, Nia?” Carlisle asked, his tone flat.
“No, don’t you go and get that attitude with me.” Nia shook her finger at him. “I knew and respected Miss Cressy, and I know how much the two of you meant to each other. But I can also guarantee you that she wouldn’t want you to spend the rest of your life alone. You need to start living again, and Grace deserves to have a mother figure in her life who loves her. That’s all I’m saying. Now, I’ve got some work to do.”
Carlisle’s assistant left him standing in his office. Nia had it right, at least in part. Merry Hurst was the most comfortable woman he’d ever spent time with. Things between them never felt forced, but he’d already argued with himself about the wisdom of seeking more than friendship with her. Especially after that slip at the festival.
He turned on his computer and took the mail from his inbox. He’d be lying to himself if he refused to admit he found Merry attractive. Besides being lovely to look at, there was something in her personality which drew him to her. After wandering in the dark for so long, he and Grace had found light in Merry and Alex’s company.
But did she see him as anything more than Grace’s father? Or simply someone who understood what it was like to lose a spouse?
The office phone rang, and Carlisle set aside his musings. He had work to do and had best get to it; hemustcomplete this project before he considered moving on with his life.
* * *
“Merry,”the owner of La Chevelure Hair Salon called from her office before closing the door. “I’d like to speak with you when you’re done with your client.”
“Sure thing.”
What was Alice up to this time? Not one stylist who was called into her office left happy. The owner was always looking for ways to improve her business and was willing to try new things. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it almost always involved one or more of her employees getting pulled into something not of their choosing.
Merry had a bad feeling it was about the nail design she’d done on Saturday. It’d turned out to be a big hit. While she enjoyed the artistic side of it, she didn’t want to do it full-time. Bending over someone’s nails was even harder on her back than standing on her feet all day to do hair. Merry let out a deep breath.
“You ought to open your own shop,” her client whispered. “I’d come to you wherever you worked.”
“That’s sweet of you, Mrs. Linderman,” Merry said, adding a bit of hair spray to hold the style. “I’ve learned from watching my mother how much is involved in running your own business. At the moment, I’ve got a young son who needs my time more than I need independence.”
“I’d love to work for you,” Coleta said, as she back-combed her client’s hair. “You’re always so nice to everyone.”
“Let’s be fair—it’s because I’m a coworker, not the boss.”
“I could be the boss.” Ellie had been talking even more lately about opening her own shop. That was one reason Merry had even given it any thought.
“You’d be a good boss too.” She handed Mrs. Linderman a handheld mirror. “Do you want me to change anything?”
“It looks beautiful as ever. I’ve only just convinced my husband to take me to the Chamber Ball, so I need to see if you have any openings to do my hair.” The older woman put on a pleading expression. “I’m really hoping you can work me in.”
“I think I’m booked, but let’s check the schedule.”
“Are you going with that guy from the festival?” Coleta asked, her voice growing louder with excitement, and everyone in the shop looked at Merry.
“What guy?” Ellie asked.
“Oh, my gosh!” Coleta cried. “He’s a total GQ babe magnet. You should have been there to see him give Merry a neck massage. I totally wish I’d thought to record it with my phone. It was so hot I about melted watching the two of them.”
“Stop it,” Merry chided, her face flushing as she tried to keep a light note in her voice. “It wasn’t anything like that. Alex is best friends with Carlisle’s daughter, and my mom sometimes tends her. That’s all there is to it.”
