Black Rose

don’t want anyone to see me. I’m a little bit of a wreck, Harper, and imagine I look like a major one.”
    “Don’t worry. Want me to carry you?”
    “Oh.” Tears stung her eyes again, but warm ones. “My sweet boy. No, I can walk just fine. Tell me something first. Everything’s the same in here, isn’t it? Everything’s as it should be in here?”
    Because there was such tension in her voice, he looked around the greenhouse. “Everything’s fine.”
    “Okay. Okay. Let’s go home.”
    She let him lead her through the rain, around the buildings, and let out her first sigh of relief when she climbed into his car.
    “Just relax,” he ordered, and leaned over to fasten her seat belt himself. “We’ll be home in a minute. You need to get warm.”
    “You’ll make a good daddy.”
    “What?”
    “You’ve got a nurturing bent—comes from being a gardener, maybe, but you don’t just know how to take care, you take it. Christ, these have been a lousy couple of days.”
    “Did you have a fight with Mitch or something?”
    “No.” She kept her eyes closed as he drove, but her lips curved a little. “I don’t get hysterical over a spat. I hope to God it takes more than that to bring me so low.”
    “I’ve never seen you cry like that, not since Daddy died.”

    “I don’t guess I have.” She felt the car turn, and opened her eyes so she could watch Harper House come into view. “Did you ever want me to give it up, this place?”
    “No.” His expression was utter shock as he looked over at her. “Of course not.”
    “Good. That’s good to know for sure. I don’t know if I could have, even for you.”
    “It’s ours, and it’s always going to be.” He parked, and was out of the car and hurrying to her side before she could get out.
    “I’m just a little shaky, Harper, not mortally wounded.”
    “You’re going straight up, getting into some dry clothes. I’ll bring you up some brandy.”
    “Harper, this is going to sound stupid, but I’m not quite ready to go upstairs.”
    “I’ll get you some dry clothes. You can change in David’s room.”
    “Thanks.” He didn’t even ask why, she thought. Didn’t hesitate. What a man she’d raised.
    “Go on back to David,” he ordered. “Tell him I said you’re to have some brandy, and some hot tea.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    Before she could move toward the stairs, Mitch came out of the library and started down the hall.
    “I thought I heard the door—I’ve been keeping an ear...” He trailed off as he got closer, then lengthened his stride to reach her. “What is it? Are you sick, hurt?”
    “No. Do I look sick?”
    “You look pale as a sheet, and you’ve been crying. What is it?” He looked over her head into Harper’s eyes. “What happened?”
    “She doesn’t really want to see anyone right now,” Harper began.
    “It’s all right.” She squeezed Harper’s hand. “I did say that,” she told Mitch, “but after I pull myself together a little more, I’d just as soon tell you both—all three of you, since I imagine David’s in the kitchen—at once.”
    “She needs dry clothes,” Harper stated. “If you’d take her back to David, get some brandy into her, I’ll go fetch her some.”
    “For heaven’s sake, this is what comes from being the little woman in a house full of big, strapping males. I don’t have to be taken anywhere, and I can get brandy into myself.”
    “She’s coming back.” Harper nodded at Mitch. “You’ll take care of her. I’ll just be a minute.”
    “I’ve worried him now,” Roz stated as Harper bounded up the steps. “I hate worrying him.”
    “Well, you’re worrying me, too.”
    “I suppose it can’t be helped. I wouldn’t mind that brandy, though.”
    The minute they stepped into the kitchen, David rushed forward, concern tightening his face. Roz simply threw up a hand.
    “I’m not hurt, I’m not sick, and there’s no need to fuss. What I want is a shot of brandy, and the dry clothes Harper’s bringing down. Mind if I change in your room?”
    “No. Sit down.” As he strode to a cabinet, he whipped the dishrag tucked into the waistband of his jeans, and used it to brush flour from his hands. “Who made her cry?”
    Because the question was more of an accusation, tossed straight at Mitch, Mitch held up his hands for peace. “I’ve been here, remember? Harper just brought her in like this.”
    “I must point out, I’m sitting right here. And as I am, I can speak