“Nyah? Are you okay?”
I closed my mouth, realizing I had been staring. How long had I been sitting there like that?
Then, for the first time that day, chance intervened.
Harper stood and waved to someone across the restaurant, distracted.
The pause gave me exactly what I needed. I gathered myself, clarity settling in.
The truth would set me free.
No, I wasn’t seeing anyone. No, I hadn’t dated anyone since Harper and I separated. And no, I wasn’t dwelling on it. I was single. Blissfully so. And I was okay with that.
I turned to follow Harper’s gaze and saw a tall blonde woman approaching, wearing a red skirt suit and matching pumps. She squeezed past the table behind me just as Harper stepped out to greet her.
“Sweetheart, hi,” he said warmly, pulling her into an embrace and kissing her lips. “I wasn’t expecting you for another half hour.”
Oh, perfect!I crumbled inwardly as realization dug in. I was now officially the third wheel.
“The conference broke early for lunch,” she said, dabbing at the corner of Harper’s mouth where lipstick had smudged. Then she turned to me and smiled genuinely. “You must be Nyah. It’s lovely to finally meet you. Harper has told me such wonderful things.”
What a polite thing to say.“It’s lovely to meet you as well,” I replied. “Daria, I presume.”
“I’m so sorry,” Harper said, pulling out a chair for her. “Where are my manners? Nyah Rodriguez, I’d like you to meet my fiancée, Daria Scott.”
We exchanged nods, and I thanked her for the wedding invitation.
Harper signalled the waiter and ordered her a Perfect Ten—the same cocktail he had always ordered for me when we were together.He winked at me. “Apparently, the two of you have the same taste in cocktails.”
Daria gestured to the empty place setting across from her. “Will your partner be joining us, Nyah?”
There it is. Time for the truth.“To be honest?—”
“Honey, I’m so sorry I’m late.”
Caleb’s voice came from behind me.
I spun around, my hand flying instinctively to the base of my neck as I saw him weaving toward the table along the same path Daria had taken moments earlier.What is he doing here?
“I wasn’t sure I’d make it in time,” Caleb said smoothly, kissing my cheek and giving me a quick conspiratorial wink the others couldn’t see. “I was busy doing a favour for a friend.”He smiled at Harper and Daria.“So sorry I’m late.” He extended his hand. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Ca?—”
“You’re Caleb Evans,” Daria blurted.
“Oh dear,” Caleb laughed as he moved into the empty seat. “Those Twitter photos are still trending, are they?”
“Not Twitter,” she said, laughing. “Your father was inForbeslast year. That family piece about passing the torch.”
“Ahh. You might be confusing me with my brother Simon.”
“I don’t think so,” Daria replied. “He inherited his father’s looks, unfortunately.”
“Caleb,” I cut in quickly, “this is Daria Scott… Harper’sfiancée.”
“Which means,” Caleb said smoothly, “process of elimination—you must be the famous Harper.” Their handshake was finally completed. Turning back to Daria, he added, “Fiancée… congratulations. Let me order a drink, and we can toast the happy couple.”
He ordered a Macallan 18 on the rocks.
“I’ve been trying to get a face-to-face with your brother,” Daria said. “I’d love to talk about representing your firm for legal matters in the States.”
