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Her mouth watered, and she’d definitely be able to make it through the day with these.She wanted to hoard them all and not tell anyone else he’d brought them.She could eat a few each day.
“Only one box of those,” he said.“The other box is an assortment.I thought your daughter might want to sample, the way we did.”
“She’ll love this,” she said.“Thank you, baby.”The endearment tripped out of her mouth, because she’d never called him anything but Harrison.She called her children “baby,” and she’d often called West that same thing.
But not Harrison.
He said nothing, and the silence stretched into something awkward.She closed her eyes and wondered why that had come out of her mouth.She liked Harrison.A lot.A whole lot.That was why, and she shouldn’t be embarrassed about it.
“What’s your schedule like tonight?”she asked.“Sariah and Robbie are sleeping today, but I said we might be able to go out together tonight.So they can meet you.”She hadn’t thought much of it when Sariah had finally brought Robbie home for her and West to meet.Her daughter had talked about him for months before she’d let Cass and West into their relationship, and Casshadtold her kids about Harrison.
Maybe not the same things Sariah had shared with her, but enough.
“I’m sure I can make it,” Harrison said, and Cass thought his voice sounded a touch cool.“Will Conrad be there?”
“I doubt it,” Cass said.“He charms the evening crowds too well.”He did, and he made more in tips with the afternoon and evening groups than any during the day.He actually preferred to work later in the day, and Cass rarely saw him in the evenings.“But I can invite Lauren.”
“Sure,” he said.
“So a real family affair,” Cass said with a smile.Her stomach clenched and trembled, but no one would know unless she told them.
“Seven?”he suggested.“I’ll call Burke’s and get a table for five.”
“Oh, Sariah will like Burke’s.”
“Great, see you then.”
“Harrison,” Cass said quickly, before he could hang up.“Thank you for the pastries.They…look great.”What she really wanted to say was that they meant a lot to her.They told her each and every day how much he thought about her.And she needed that right now.
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.See you tonight.”
The call did end, and Cass pressed her phone to her pulse as she moved the full box of her favorite fruit tarts to see what was in the one beneath.The assortment included croissants and eclairs, and she plucked her favorite—the chocolate croissant—from the bunch and headed into the kitchen to make fresh coffee.
Now that she had a date with her prince to look forward to, Cass could survive anything that came her way today—including only a couple of hours of sleep.
The doorbell ranga few minutes after seven, and everyone in the beach house turned toward the front door.“I’ll get it,” Sariah said.
“He’smyboyfriend,” Cass shot back.They both moved at the same time, but Sariah was faster, especially in her flats where Cass wore heels.
“You answered the door when Robbie came over,” she said.
“No,” Cass argued.“You guys arrived together.”She followed her daughter, because she wanted to introduce her to Harrison, not just have them meet.She suddenly understood on a deep level why he’d been upset with how Cass had met Spencer.
She took the last few strides across the lobby after Sariah had the door open, and Harrison stood there with a huge bouquet of flowers in his hands.He looked up from the blooms, and he was absolutely adorable.
“Wow,” Sariah said.
“Hello, Harrison,” Cass said smoothly.“Don’t you look amazing tonight?”She laughed and took several quick, running steps into Harrison’s arms.He grinned and received her, and Cass only stood in his arms for a moment though she’d like to stay there for longer.
She faced Sariah now too.“Sariah, this is Harrison Tate and my favorite flowers on the planet.”She took the assortment of daisies from him, only mildly surprised at his thoughtfulness.“Harrison, this is my daughter, Sariah.”Robbie approached, with Lauren bringing up the rear.“And her husband, Robbie.They’ve been living in Taiwan this summer.”
“Hullo.”Harrison charmed everyone with his Southern drawl and his firm handshakes.Cass kept one eye on her daughter’s reaction, but Sariah gave nothing away.In fact, she’d walled everything up and off, and Cass didn’t like that.
She’d done the same thing after West’s death, and that was how Cass had known she’d been hurting.Could she be in pain right now too?Watching Cass date someone else?
Guilt gutted her, and her smile slipped.“Should we go?”she asked.“We do have a reservation.”
“Yes, let’s go,” Harrison said.“I brought the nice truck if Lauren wants to ride up front with us?”He looked at her.
