She chewed her bottom lip. “I don’t suppose he mentioned where he’d be today?”
“Not a word. He said last night he wouldn’t want breakfast this morning then left early, before I was up. To be honest—” she paused, as if not sure how deliver bad news “—I’m not sure if he’s coming back. He paid up front for one night.”
Harper’s heart missed a beat, but she sucked in a breath and steadied herself. He’d said he’d stay at the B&B until he made a plan, so maybe he’d spoken to Malcolm or his mother and decided to stay with them for a while. She straightened her shoulders. It might take a little longer than she’d hoped, but she’d find him. “Okay, thanks.”
“Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful,” Natalie said, and Harper could imagine her friend’s brows pinching together in concern.
“No, that’s useful.” She was already narrowing down the places he could be.
“And, Harper,” Natalie said, her voice lowering, “I’m not sure what’s going on between you two, but whatever it is, I’m really sorry.”
Harper wrapped a hand around her throat. “I appreciate that.”
The next call was to Nick’s brother. She dialed Malcolm’s cell since he wouldn’t be at work yet. He picked up on the first ring.
“Harper, how are—”
Before he could finish the greeting, she interrupted him. “Do you know where Nick is?”
“What’s happened?” he asked, his voice suddenly serious.
Something about Nick’s twin brother being worried sent a fresh wave of panic through her system. “I just have to find him.”
“Harper,” he said, sounding every inch the man who ran a large, successful company, “you need to tell me what happened.”
“He left me,” she said, trying to ignore the quaver in her voice.
“Oh, hell.”
“So I guess he didn’t come to you.” It wasn’t a question, but she needed to say it aloud, because now her best lead was gone.
“No.” Malcolm swore under his breath. “And he’s always had an uncanny knack for disappearing without a trace. Even when we were kids.” There was rustling in the background, as if he was picking things up as he spoke. “I’ll head out and check a few places. I’ll call Mom on the way, too. Let me know if you find him.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, almost overwhelmed by his support.
“Harper, no matter what idiotic idea he’s got in his head, you’re good for each other. Remember that.”
She managed to smile. “I will. Also, I won’t be in to work today.”
“Of course not. Just let me know when you find him.”
“Sure,” she said.
After disconnecting, she felt her shoulders slump. The only other place that was worth trying was the waterfall, so she grabbed her things, bundled Frank into the car and headed off. The journey seemed to take forever. The time had gone so quickly when Nick had first driven her out here, but now, desperate to reach her destination and her stomach churning with anxiety about how he’d be and what he’d think when he saw her, it was more like a journey of a thousand hours.
As she pulled into the parking lot, she glanced around, but Nick’s car wasn’t there.
“He’s not here,” she said to Frank, who stood up to look out the windshield the way he did whenever the car slowed down, hoping they’d arrived somewhere interesting.
She couldn’t go back to the house. So what else could she do? She clipped Frank’s leash on and walked over to the spot where they’d had their picnic. She let Frank sniff around for a while, then sank down on the grass and watched the waterfall.
She had no idea how long she’d been sitting there when her cell rang. She answered quickly, hoping it was Malcolm with a lead, but it was Nick’s number that flashed on her screen.
“Nick?”
“Where are you?” he asked, and she closed her eyes, savoring his deep, smooth voice.
“At the waterfall.” She opened her eyes again to glance around at his favorite spot. “Where are you?”