Harlequin Romance March 2021 Box Set Cara Colter (the mitten read aloud TXT) 📖

She trailed her fingers in the water of the fountain as they strolled around it. ‘I knew from looking at a map of Manhattan that it was going to be big. But actually seeing it…’ She turned on the spot. ‘I feel as if we could be in the country somewhere.’

They strolled for a while, ambling along beautiful paths, and Callie lapped it up, letting it soothe the burn in her chest that had sparked into life during afternoon tea as Eliza, Betty and Josephine had drawn a picture of Frances’s life for her. It had been a privileged life. And to think that her mother had grown up in that same privileged world…

It seemed wrong that Callie had known nothing about it. Not that she envied it. While it fascinated her, in many ways her own childhood had been idyllic. But it was part of her beloved mother’s history, and it should’ve become part of Callie’s history too—if only by proxy.

The burn in her chest intensified when she recalled all the things Donna had foregone because money had been so tight—pretty clothes, regular visits to the salon, brand-new books…eating out. None of those things were necessities, by any means, but it didn’t mean they hadn’t been missed.

Her mother had scrimped and saved for the deposit to buy her modest little house, but Callie recalled one month when they’d fallen behind on the mortgage payments. Donna had pawned her diamond earrings—the only nice jewellery she’d owned—and she could remember listening to her mother cry that night, when she’d thought Callie was asleep. The burn of hot tears that had trickled down her own cheeks had been like the burn that had embedded itself in her chest now.

But her mother’s financial hardship would’ve ceased if she’d only opened one of Frances’s letters. Why hadn’t she? What had Frances done that had made Donna so determined to shut her out?

Yet she found it impossible to slide Frances into the role of villain. Hearing about her happy marriage to Thomas, and then her disastrous marriage to Richard, had brought Frances to life for her. She’d bled for the older woman—for her heartbreak and grief.

And that made her feel disloyal to Donna.

‘Would you like to sit for a bit?’

Owen’s voice intruded on her thoughts and she sent him a swift smile. ‘Sure.’

They sat on a bench and he gestured in front of them. ‘This is Conservatory Water. It’s been in lots of movies too. Kids sail model boats here.’

A smile hooked up the right side of his mouth, as if he remembered doing that as a boy, and it made him look young and carefree. Her heart pressed hard against her lungs, making it ridiculously difficult to catch her breath. For a wild moment all she could wonder was what it would be like to press her lips to his.

She dragged her gaze away, her heart pounding. She needed to get over this crazy, stupid crush and be a sensible adult woman again. She focussed her attention on a jogger who moved past them at an easy pace and then realised she was staring at a celebrity.

She grabbed Owen’s arm. ‘Did you see who that was?’

‘I did.’

He didn’t sound the slighted bit fazed—as if he saw celebrities all the time. Mind you, this was New York, so maybe he did.

She stared after the celebrity—who’d starred in several of her favourite movies—and shook her head, forcing herself to release Owen’s arm. ‘You know, I’m not sure anyone needs to see him in bike shorts, though.’

His low chuckle warmed the surface of her skin and helped to ease some of the tension that had her wound so tight.

He turned to her. ‘I want to thank you for being so kind to Lissy. She really enjoyed your shopping trip.’

‘Kindness had nothing to do with it. It wasn’t a chore. I enjoyed it too.’ She frowned. ‘I don’t think you view Lissy as a chore either.’

‘Of course I don’t. Even if she isn’t interested in hanging out with me any more.’

The disconsolate slope of his shoulders was mirrored in the downward droop of his mouth, and it caught at her. This was none of her business, but…

He sent her a smile that twisted her heart. ‘Are all teenage girls difficult?’

She dragged in a breath. ‘Would you like some advice where Lissy’s concerned? I don’t have a sister, but I have worked with a lot of young people.’

‘Yes.’ He said it without hesitation.

‘You have to promise not to bite my head off.’

He straightened, his eyes suddenly sharp. ‘Cross my heart.’

She pressed her hands together to counter her sudden insane desire to touch him. ‘Owen, I honestly think you’d be better served acting like Lissy’s fun older brother than…um…’

‘A disapproving maiden aunt? That’s what she called me on Saturday.’

Which was hardly surprising. She’d watched him. He hadn’t tried to hide his disapproval at what Lissy had been wearing. He’d scowled in the most ferocious way whenever Lissy had mentioned the name of any male friend. Lissy had predictably responded with snark and attitude. Callie understood both points of view, but…

‘I’d bet a year’s salary—’ she huffed out a mirthless laugh ‘—except, of course, I’m not currently earning a salary.’

‘But you will be soon.’

His words were clear and sure, and they made her shoulders go back. Of course she would. ‘Anyway, I’d bet Lissy only pulls her short skirts out of her wardrobe…and mentions the names of so many boys…just to get a rise out of you. She bought a couple of things on Saturday—items of clothing of which I’m sure you’d wholeheartedly approve. But I doubt she’ll wear them if she thinks you’re going to see them.’

He stared. ‘Why not?’

‘And, while boys were certainly mentioned during our shopping day,’ she continued, ‘they by no means formed the major part of our conversation. We talked about girlfriends and books and movies and so many other things.’ Things she’d noticed Lissy hadn’t mentioned around Owen.

‘So…she’s not obsessed