Page 16 of Hold My Heart

Her normally pouty bow-shaped lips were now a straight line, and the gesture reminded him inexplicably of Olympia. “Yes.” She was decisive. “I want these for my bedroom.”

“Then we’ll get them.” Olympia grabbed a set for a twin-size mattress, along with the matching comforter.

They continued on through the aisles, weaving among fairytale colors of pink and blue and white. It was a child’s wonderland and the more time they spent together, the easier it was to relax.

“How long have you lived in New York?” he wanted to know, shifting closer until he felt the heat of her.

“All my life,” she answered. “I grew up in the house I own now. After my parents died, I took over the mortgage and in a couple of years it will be mine free and clear.”

“You were how old?” he asked, helping Renee up to choose a curtain set. “When they passed?”

Olympia turned her back to him. “Around twenty-two, I suppose. Old enough to be able to support myself, young enough to feel the loss without realizing the implications. The responsibility that was thrust on my shoulders. They were really great people.” Her smile was effortless. “I miss them every day. It seems like my life is a study in loss.”

“What about the nice lady next door? The one who’s come over a few times with treats? Mrs...” Harlan snapped his fingers, trying to remember the name.

“Mrs. Nunez. She’s adopted me. Unofficially, of course. She has her own children to worry about. They’re down in Maryland, not nearly close enough for her. Or me. I know she wishes they were closer.”

It made him sad to hear that. She had no family outside of Renee, the niece she’d never met until tragic circumstances threw the two of them together. Now they were alone. Harlan had such a massive immediate family as well as involved extended family. He wished he could share them with her. Maybe she would like to borrow them for major holidays? It had to get lonely, Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year’s, cooking for one and celebrating alone.

“Why don’t you tell me more about your brothers and sisters,” she offered instead. Clearly uncomfortable talking about herself. “I always enjoy your stories. They’re entertaining.”

Okay, so she would rather talk about him. It was fine because unlike most men, he wouldn’t become easily distracted when the conversation turned to him. The more he got her to feel comfortable, the more she opened up, the easier it would be to have an honest dialogue where she didn’t turn the attention away from herself.

It was give and take, he knew, and had experienced it firsthand growing up with his sisters.

“Did I ever tell you about the time I played hooky from school, stole my mother’s car keys, and took the family station wagon out for a joy ride in the middle of the afternoon?” he supplied with a grin.

Olympia smiled in response, and he noted that her eyes were shadowed with fatigue, her expression wan. “No, you did not.”

Concern rose. “You look exhausted. Why don’t we call it a day and go home so you can rest for a few minutes?”

“No, I’m fine. Although I’m pretty sure we’re done here. Renee can’t possibly—” She cut off, glancing around. “Renee?”

Then Harlan noticed his hand was empty. Where had she— “Oh, God.” He swung in a circle and saw no sign of her. “Renee!”

Olympia reached out and smacked him on the shoulder, her gaze panicked. “I told you this would happen!”

“I’m sorry, okay? I had my eyes on her. She was just here.”

“And now she’s not. Holy hell, she’s gone. What are we going to do? Where is she? Renee!”

“She has to be around here somewhere.” His heart beat frantically in his ears and he took off at a sprint, running up and down the aisles.

“Renee!” Olympia had ditched the cart and was right behind him. They searched the displays, the racks of clothing, anywhere a tiny four-year-old might hide. “Where can she be?”

He hated swinging around to see Olympia on the verge of tears. “Try to breathe. In and out—”

“Don’t tell me how to breathe,” she snapped. “I’m breathing.” She opened her mouth to let loose what was sure to be a dazzling curse on his stupidity when her phone rang. Instinct had her reaching to answer it, still jogging up and down the aisles in search of the missing girl. “Hello?”

Harlan focused his attention on the floor. Getting down on his hands and knees without hesitation, he crawled through the nearest clothing display in search of those little leather shoes. “Renee? It’s Harlan. Please come out from wherever you’re hiding. You’re making your Auntie Oly and me very worried. You need to let us know where you are right now, sweetheart. Come on. Be a good girl.”

Fighting to calm his own breathing under the crushing weight of panic, he made out a slight giggle to his left. He changed directions but stayed on the floor.Calm down, Harlan.She’ll know if you’re freaking. It’s like some animals.They can smell fear. “Renee? I know you’re hiding here! Come out, come out, wherever you are!”

The giggle sounded again and he knew he was headed in the right direction. There was no reason to be worried, he tried to tell his mind. This was an attention tactic he’d seen a dozen times.

“I’m getting called in to work,” came Olympia’s harried half-laugh, half-growl. “Can you believe this? There’s some emergency with the sheetrock and they need me to come back in. It isn’t even my project. It’s Carl’s secret gobbledygook.” Then came more spooked giggles. “I told him not to take this on so close to the gallery opening. Itoldhim, but he didn’t listen to me. Just like you, you didn’t listen to me either. What am I going todo?”

“Calm down.” This time Harlan spoke to Olympia. His eyes were focused on the slightly shifting curtains nearest the cart. They were back at the home wares department, so she hadn’t gone off so very far after all. He bet, if he moved quietly enough, he could surprise Renee and she wouldn’t have time to hide again.

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