She ducked behind the busboys’ station and peered around the wall. Once she saw Mr. Swift leave the Oyster Bar, she slipped out a west exit onto Vanderbilt Place and headed toward the Hudson, keeping her eyes forward and her pace steady. She forced herself to look straight ahead, afraid to look back in case he came looking for her.
On the street the only luck she’d had all day came through as a taxi pulled over as soon as she hailed for one.
“Where to?”
“The Oskar—Hudson Yards.”
The driver nodded.
Harper forced herself to take a deep breath. She leaned her head against the back of the seat and felt embarrassed and angry at herself.
How did she keep getting into one mess after another?
Chapter 11
Dot took a deep breath, and she walked into the restaurant, right on time as always. Joanne’s was hopping. It gave her a lift as she looked for Ryan.
He waved from a corner table and stood when she arrived. He looked handsome and relaxed, and Dot tried to put the Tiffany visit out of her mind. Maybe he was there helping a friend pick out a ring for someone else? That could be it.
That was probably not it.
“You look beautiful.” He kissed her cheek, pulled out her chair, and when she was settled, he pushed it in for her. “I put in an order for meatballs and the calamari to start us off.”
“Thank you. My faves.” She tried to sound cheerful, but her stomach had been in knots since the Tiffany affair.
They settled into catch-up and chitchat. Ryan’s sister and brother-in-law just announced she was pregnant; the family’s first grandchild would be born in May. His work was fine, the market up, then down, but mostly up.
It all felt normal. And easy. Maybe she’d incorrectly read this entire situation.
Until Ryan suggested a weekend away.
“Hey—I got us a reservation at the Rose Hill Vineyard for next weekend. Won’t that be great?”
Rose Hill Vineyard. How did she know that place?
“Oh. I...”
“You’re free next weekend, right?”
She tried to buy herself some time and couldn’t think of a convincing reason that would prevent her from going away with him for a weekend. So instead she said, “Yes. Of course. It sounds nice.”
“Oh yeah. It’s so nice. Super expensive, too,” he said, glancing down at his menu. “It’ll be my half birthday.” Then he cocked his head and raised his eyebrows at her as he reached for his beer.
Then it hit her. Rose Hill was where his college buddy Jordan had proposed to his girlfriend (also named Jordan) over the summer. The Jordans were getting married this Christmas at The Plaza.
Aha, she thought. His half birthday was a sign. Ryan always said he wanted to be married in his twenty-eighth year. She wasn’t great at math, but simple arithmetic she could do. Her mind raced with flashes of him shopping for rings at Tiffany. Her stomach knotted thinking about how to get out of going to the vineyard. What could be her excuse?
She didn’t have to think of one. The conversation took a turn as he abruptly changed the subject.
“By the way, I think you’ll be glad to know I’m finally alittleinterested in politics. We had an all-hands meeting on the trading floor with the governor from Virginia. Cool guy. Might run for president one day. He was so great. I’d vote for him.”
“Wait. What?” she asked, knowing exactly who the governor of Virginia was.
“Especially with his economic policies. He’d be great for the market,” he replied.
“But there’s more to life than themarket, Ryan.” Dot was shocked.
Ryan held up his hands defensively. “Hey, hey—calm down. I just thought he had some good ideas.”