“You need to pull yourself together and go talk to Harper,” Dane repeated. “She’s had all night to think. I know you screwed things up, but hell, I deceived Stella from the beginning and managed to make things work. You have to be honest and throw in a heavy dose of begging.”
Ethan had already planned just that. Harper and their baby were worth putting pride aside and fighting for...no matter what he had to do.
“Where’s Robert?” Dane asked, his voice hardened now.
“I’m sure he’s still in his suite,” Ethan stated. “You ready for a family reunion?”
Dane nodded. “The final one.”
Seventeen
Harper zipped up her makeup case just as the chime on the elevator sounded through the penthouse. She stilled, her heart beating fast. She’d been trying to get out before Ethan came back, but when she’d gotten up earlier, her morning sickness had hit her full force.
She was getting a late start, but at least her queasiness had subsided somewhat. She didn’t have much to gather since her things had just been sent up yesterday. She hadn’t exactly unpacked.
Pulling herself together, Harper inhaled and counted to ten to calm her nerves. She’d just stepped from the master suite and into the living area when the elevator door whooshed open.
But her guest wasn’t Ethan or even Robert.
“Hello?” she said in greeting to the striking woman who stepped into the penthouse.
“Hi, I’m Stella.” The woman took a few steps in, clearly unsure if she should keep walking or remain still. “I’m Dane’s fiancée.”
Dane. The twin.
Harper clasped her hands together and nodded. They must’ve come after talking to Ethan.
As much as Harper would’ve appreciated another woman to talk to, she really wasn’t in the mood to confide in a stranger—especially with one who was associated with Ethan...even by default.
“Did Ethan send you up?” Harper asked.
“No. He thinks I’m walking on the beach.”
Harper studied the other woman. Long, silky hair. A simple green maxidress with a denim jacket and little booties. She was definitely not dressed for the beach.
“We hopped on Dane’s jet as soon as Ethan texted him about the mess here,” Stella stated, as if reading Harper’s mind. “And there’s no rooms available, so the desk graciously held our luggage. I haven’t changed yet.”
Harper softened and sighed. “I’m sorry. I’m being rude. Come in, please. Have a seat.”
“No need to apologize,” Stella replied as she moved into the living area. “From what I heard, you’ve had an explosive couple of days.”
Harper followed and took a seat on the sofa. She smoothed her sundress over her thighs and crossed her legs.
Stella sank onto the edge of the opposite sofa and rested her hands on her knees as she tilted her head, her face covered with concern. Clearly she had been filled in on the series of events that had taken place.
“I’m sorry for just coming up here,” she started. “But I wanted to give the guys time to talk, and I thought you might need a female sounding board. Of course now that I’m here, I feel a little silly, since we’re strangers.”
Harper couldn’t help but smile at Stella’s obvious nerves.
“I’d like to think I know a little of what you’re going through, though,” she added. “I’m not sure how much you know about how Dane and I met.”
Intrigued, Harper rested her arm on the edge of the couch. “I don’t know anything other than the fact you two are engaged.”
Stella beamed. “We are, but our road to happiness was not easy. The short version is Dane was an ass, but the longer version is, he had his reasons.”
“Sounds familiar,” Harper muttered.
Stella went on to explain that her father had won Mirage in Montana from Robert a few years ago. When Dane had come to Montana to get it back, he’d known full well who Stella was. He’d deceived her from the start. But then he fell in love, and Harper could see why.