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“It means I called Rita, and she cleared a week off in your schedule, starting from today,” Heather said, smirking at what must have been my shocked expression. “Are you more surprised that I pulled it off, that you had that much flexibility in your work, or that you’re redundant in your own company?”
I pulled her closer, squeezing her luscious ass. “I’m most surprised at you being a bad girl and going behind my back to manipulate my secretary. I think that should earn you a punishment.” I spanked her lightly.
Heather slipped away, laughing. “Really? Because I think I deserve a reward. And I’m going to get what I want—I already have.”
“Is that a fact?” I couldn’t help the predatory grin that spread across my face. “We’ll see about that.” I adored this confident, devious version of the woman I loved. At first, Heather had been so hesitant about her role in my life. She couldn’t bear to request a meal from the chef, especially if it was something she knew how to make herself. And it was even harder to convince her to utilize all the conveniences this life entailed, including the cleaning staff, personal shoppers, drivers, and the damned security detail.
Heather chafed against that last one a lot, even if it was the only rule I asked her to follow. Josie might have been out of the picture, but I would never take any chances with my family again.
“Let’s get going, then,” she said, pulling at my arms to get me to stand up from the table. “Time’s a-wasting.”
“Right now?” I frowned at her even as I let her tug me along. “What exactly do you have planned?”
“Oh, that’s a surprise.” Her eyes gleamed with pleasure at being able to turn the tables on me, as I had so often done to her over the course of our time together. “You’ll know when you get there.”
“And Collins?”
“There’s a fair in town. Lauren told me she and Jason wanted to take Collins there after her preschool. They’re picking her up.”
I blanched. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Nobody will let Collins get on a ride she’s not tall enough for.”
“But her being in public without—”
“Both Lauren and Collins’ security will be there. Discreetly.” Heather gave me a searching look. “Unless you were worried about her being in public withoutyou.”
“She goes to preschool every weekday. I’m fine with that.”
“Uh-huh. You cried on the first day.”
I growled in exasperation. “We’ve been over this, Heather. A bug flew into my eye.”
“Some people might believe that, but I am not one of those people.”
I let her pull me down the hallway. “That accounts for Collins this afternoon and evening, but what about the rest of the time?”
“You worry too much. Lauren’s taking her. It’s going to be a whole girls’ week. I heard there was going to be a theme each day—and costumes. Want to hear them?”
“No,” I groaned, casting around for some way to get out of whatever Heather had planned for us. Things were sounding more and more complicated by the moment. If my sister had essentially corrupted Collins in a single encounter about “special friends” and how they kissed all the time, I dreaded to find out what she was capable of influencing my child to think over the course of the week.
“Collins is thrilled, by the way,” Heather said over her shoulder, leading me to our bedroom. “Almost as excited as Lauren. Don’t disappoint your daughter.”
“What about your work?” I seized on the thought as a possible salvation. “Your clients are all depending on you.”
“They all understand, and there are contingency plans in case of an emergency.” Heather whirled around so abruptly that I bumped into her. She had to loop her arms around me to keep from tumbling backward. “Admit it, Graham. There’s nothing you can say or do that I haven’t already thought of and gotten out of the way. No fires to put out at work that you can’t entrust to others, loving family and friends to support and care for your daughter, and a woman with a plan.”
“And Hank?”
“With my mom.” She kissed me. “You ask an awful lot of questions.”
I picked her up, her legs wrapping around me, and tossed her on the bed. “I have a plan for you right now.”
“Nope, I’m the one with the plan.” She managed to roll away and out of reach before I could pounce on her. “You have to listen to me and do what I say.”
“Or what?”
“Don’t test me, Hilborne,” she snapped, grinning. “Now, get dressed. We’ll be gone for a week.”
