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  Talking excitedly amongst themselves, they said their goodbyes and drifted away.

  “Spencer, you’re a damn good man.”

  “I try to be.” He mentioned his own caveat. “I’m going to send future help for the village through your organization. I need more safeguards in place to keep our connection with the village concealed.”

  “Consider it done.”

  “How are things otherwise?”

  “Growing daily. There’s no end of evil in the world.”

  “I know it. Let me know what you need. We’re glad to provide cash and resources.” He grinned. “Things going well with the redhead?”

  Hollow smiled with a small shake of his head. “She’s insane and brilliant. Highly effective.” There was a long pause. “It would give me great pleasure to be able to love her.”

  “Don’t lose hope.”

  “Spencer, hope is one of the commodities in short supply.”

  “You have an ample supply for others. It’s what makes you so good at what you do.”

  “Yes. For now, that will have to be enough.” Hollow turned and held out his hand. “I need to meet the team but I’ll keep you updated. Call me for any reason.”

  “Thank you, Hollow.”

  They shook and he watched Hollow jog across the build site to a gathering of men and women climbing from two trucks.

  He walked to the top of the ridge on a trail he’d traveled with his grandparents many times since he was a child. Two graves marked by a large granite shell slightly raised off the ground dominated the first clearing.

  The names of his parents carved into the stone still caused a lump in his throat. Sitting on the edge of the monument, he stared out at land once dear to his mother.

  Adelaide was a girl of eighteen when his dad arrived with his grandfather for the annual inspection of the Bishop bunker.

  Barely twenty himself, Spencer II was instantly star-struck with the raven-haired young woman who translated for the very elderly among them.

  During that short trip, they fell in love.

  Her family insisted they wait to marry. Adelaide would be the first of her family to attend college and nothing would stand in the way of it.

  Not even the heir to the Bishop fortune.

  They dated for seven years, making trips between North Dakota and New York, before she could marry. By then, she was an attorney who specialized in constitutional and tribal law.

  According to his grandmother, they were inseparable, splitting their time between their families and responsibilities.

  When Adelaide discovered she was pregnant, they moved into the Bishop brownstone with the understanding that it wouldn’t be permanent. The village needed her.

  They were driving from the airport, having just returned from a visit with Adelaide’s family to introduce their young son, when they were struck by a car and killed.

  Burying Adelaide elsewhere wasn’t an option and his grandparents knew Spencer wouldn’t have wished to be separated from his soul mate.

  Carefully choosing the sight and commissioning their memorial, Spencer saw it for the first time when he was five.

  So young when they died, he had no memories of them. His grandparents still teared up when they spoke of their son and his beautiful wife.

  This village would always hold a piece of him.

  He stared at the stone and sighed. “Your love may have been cut short but I envy you the having of it.” Brushing away a few leaves, he added, “I hope I make you proud.”

  Descending the ridge, he said his goodbyes to the villagers and climbed in the back of a large black SUV.

  The two men up front were well armed and the driver chose a meandering route to the small airport where his tiny six-person jet waited.

  Several colleagues questioned the lack of luxury over the years. He might have to use private air travel for safety but he refused to impact the environment more than necessary.

  Once they were in the air, he turned his thoughts to the intense restlessness he couldn’t shake. He knew the cause.

  Spencer believed everyone was looking for a certain someone. A person who complemented who they were and added a layer of the spectacular to everyday life.

  A soul mate.

  It was a flighty and romantic notion. Not a view most would guess he held close to his heart. Certainly not popular among modern males for the most part.

  Despite public expectation – and speculation – about when he would marry and have children, he refused to settle.

  Harper’s fate would not be his own.

  The woman Spencer eventually asked to be his wife wouldn’t be an idle, vacuous socialite meant to accompany him to galas and provide offspring.

  He had no interest in a prenuptial agreement approved by a team of his and her lawyers. Some document three inches thick that ensured the lady fair received every penny she was due should their marriage fail.

  He demanded love. True love. To share a life with a woman he couldn’t wait to see at the end of the day. To have children to teach the fascinating history of the Bishop family.

  Soon enough, he’d be older than all the other Bishop males were when they found their bride.

  Every year that passed, his hope diminished.

  Chapter Three

  Early May 2009

  Three generations of Bishop men experienced love at first sight in the real world. All of them attained fairytales complete with happy endings before they turned thirty.

  Spencer was thirty-two.

  It wasn’t easy to remain single in the modern world when you possessed wealth and influence.

  Every tabloid reported breathlessly if he so much as stood beside a person of the opposite sex. God forbid if he took a woman to dinner.

  Colleagues from the days of his father and grandfather paraded scores of well-bred, lovely women sporting impeccable pedigrees in front of him whenever possible.

  He’d long ago stopped his own social circles from doing the same. Some could even be enlisted to referee.

  Hudson Winters, business associate and uncommon friend, was one of the best at running interference.

  At yet another charity auction, Spencer sipped his drink and refused to mingle anymore. Hudson hated everything about social affairs so he was ideal company.

  When an old-money matriarch approached with her socialite granddaughter in tow, the six-foot real estate mogul put himself fully in front of Spencer and barked, “He’s uninterested in your matchmaking. Go away.”

  The woman gasped and scurried away.

  Turning to Spencer, he said, “I use an excellent service that prides itself on confidentiality. No need to marry them and it helps to clear the cobwebs.”

  Smiling, he asked, “Am I so obvious?”

  Hudson chose his words carefully. “I see the lure of what your grandparents share.”

  “Not for you?”

  The dark man laughed. “My tastes are rather different.”

  A woman appeared at his side and Spencer carefully schooled his expression. “Natalia. Always a pleasure to see you. How beautiful you look tonight.”

  “Charmer.” She bent to touch her cheek to his and murmured, “Is Hudson scaring away the vultures?”

  “Exceedingly well, as it happens.” Looking at the lifelong friends, Spencer found it fascinating that they didn’t see the bigger relationship that existed between them.

  While he actively searched for love, they remained blind to it.

  Selecting a glass of champagne from a passing server, she asked cheerfully, “Still hiding out as a bike messenger?”

  Closing his eyes, he grimaced. “I cannot believe you were there. Mortifying but excellent acting on your part. Thank you for your discretion.”

  “I was initially uncertain I was witnessing one of the wealthiest men on the planet delivering packages. I admit, it took a moment to collect myself. How you get away with such a thing, I have no idea.”

  Spencer winked. “You were brilli
ant. I blend in because no one expects me to be this short.” Her eyes widened. “I stopped being resentful of never getting taller years ago.”

  “Your height signifies nothing,” Hudson said gruffly.

  “It causes women I’ve escorted in the past quite the shock. They assume I’m taller while I assume they have personalities. We both part disappointed.”

  Natalia laughed. “I adore your attitude.”

  “In answer to your question, I rarely do deliveries anymore. It was a chance to be someone different.”

  The three of them paused to allow the event photographer to take a photo. Winters despised having his photo taken. Afterward, he noted, “You’re vulnerable in such a scenario.”

  “Not really. However, the men assigned to follow me through the city on bikes haven’t always been happy. Elijah had to come up with some unusual training.”

  Natalia snickered. “Creative security. I love it.”

  Spencer nodded. “I try to have mercy on them.” He shrugged. “I wanted to try something out of the ordinary. I was already working for Grandfather.” Meeting Hudson’s eyes, he added, “Heading Bishop Industries is luck of birth and I haven’t always felt worthy.”

  Clasping his hands behind his back, Hudson replied, “You found a struggling company unrelated to anything your family does to see if you could turn it around.”

  “Exactly. I needed to be sure.”

  “And?” Natalia interjected. “What’s the verdict?”

  “I run jobs occasionally for the fun of it but I don’t need to. The business is firmly in the black. Forty years of clients and reputation weren’t going to save A New York Minute but changing the infrastructure managed to.”

  He took a long pull of his scotch. “It was on the verge of bankruptcy. Now I have six locations across the city, no debt, and happy employees. Of all the assets I manage, that one makes me proudest because it’s mine from the ground up.”

  One side of Hudson’s mouth lifted in a smile. “I understand. Well done, Bishop.”

  His eyes cut to the side and Spencer thought he grunted as an older couple approached their small group. A stunning young woman in a revealing formal gown stood between them.

  Hudson said sharply. “Leave.”

  “Mr. Winters!” The man gasped. “We simply must introduce our daughter, Ariel…”

  “No. You must not.” His dark gaze landed on the girl and she seemed to hold her breath. “How old are you?”

  “T-twenty-four.”

  “Fresh out of college?” She nodded and he returned his attention to her parents. “Can you allow her to experience life before bartering her for your own motives?”

  The girl’s mother hissed, “I never!”

  A small bark of sarcastic laughter escaped Natalia. “You certainly do…at every gathering. She’s not a piece of meat.” To Ariel, she murmured, “We should talk, darling. This isn’t the life for you.”

  Blinking, the young woman tilted her head as if realizing something for the first time. She smiled carefully at Spencer who was mortified for her. “I tried to tell them you clearly have no interest in some arranged marriage. I imagine you deal with this shit constantly.”

  Her mother made a strangled sound and her father grabbed her upper arm roughly.

  Taking a step forward, Spencer said coldly, “Understand that while I’m uninterested in purchasing your beautiful daughter, I won’t tolerate you man-handling her. She’s not a child, she’s not property. Tread carefully.”

  Releasing her arm as if it burned him, her father said, “Of course, Mr. Bishop. My apologies.”

  Bowing to the young woman, Spencer said, “It was lovely to meet you, Ariel.”

  “The feeling is mutual and I really don’t say that often and actually mean it.” Her mother murmured under her breath. She winked. “Have a lovely evening.”

  As the family disappeared into the crowd, Natalia murmured, “I’m going to keep an eye on her. The poor thing might as well be traded for cows.” She smiled. “She’s got more spark than she lets her parents see.”

  Sighing, Spencer told the couple, “I need to coordinate my charity schedule with yours. No one else makes this shit as bearable as the two of you.”

  “Contact Lola. She’ll see it done.”

  “I’ll take you up on that.” Holding out his hand, the big man shook it firmly. “You’re an original, Hudson.” Natalia bent to kiss Spencer’s cheek. “I’m done with this evening.”

  “Come by the club if you need downtime, Spencer. No judgment or people watching your every move. Guaranteed.”

  “I think I will. I spend too much time alone when I’m not working. I’ll give you a call.”

  Exiting the luxurious venue, he removed his tie and stuck it in the pocket of his tux. Nodding to his invisible but ever-present security, he started walking down the bustling street.

  He loved the city.

  Over his lifetime, he’d traveled the world. New York City remained his favorite place to be. As a boy, his grandparents took him for walks to soak up the energy and jog his thoughts.

  It became the surefire way to remove the fog during exams.

  Heading in the general direction of the family brownstone, he changed his mind at the last minute and turned toward his apartment on the top floor of the courier service building.

  Buying the dilapidated four-story structure was one of his best decisions. The company took up the entire first floor and he’d converted two others into affordable apartments.

  The top level belonged to him. While learning and repairing his new company, he lived in the sprawling space.

  Though he was always welcome in the family home and he spent much of his time with Spencer and Genny, the apartment showed him a different way of life.

  Simplicity and invisibility was addictive.

  Everyone at A New York Minute knew him as Spencer Krupin. He’d used his great-grandmother’s maiden name to buy and work within the company.

  Spencer attended university as was expected and he didn’t waste his time there. Like his father before him, he majored in business and computer technology to have a better grasp of the various enterprises involved in their corporation.

  Upon graduation, he insisted on an unusually small salary. One he felt was rational in regards to the work he performed.

  By setting aside a specific percentage for a couple of years, he bought and expanded the courier business without touching his trust fund.

  What started initially as an experiment turned into a venture he was personally invested in.

  In front of his building, he waited as his security team cleared his apartment and the roof. Most of the apartments were rented year-round but one was empty for his men to use.

  Another of Elijah’s suggestions.

  Given the all-clear, he made his way to the sprawling space with a smile. It resembled a warehouse loft and he could see all four exterior walls.

  While the windows held bulletproof glass and there was an escape staircase to the security team’s apartment below through a trapdoor in the floor, he pretended was an average guy when he was here.

  Stripping away his tux, he crawled into his bed with a sigh. Shutting down his racing and impatient thoughts, he fell quickly to sleep.

  Nothing stopped his dreams.

  Chapter Four

  The next morning, Spencer arrived at the brownstone for brunch with his grandparents. It was a standing date and he never missed it unless he was away on business.

  They were already seated in the sunny small dining room when he arrived and he kissed them on their soft cheeks before lowering into his usual chair.

  “Good morning, Spencer darling. You look pensive.” His grandmother always noticed his moods. “What’s wrong?”

  “Impatience. The usual with me.”

  His grandfather nodded in understanding. “You’re a young man, Spencer. Plenty of time so don’t give up.”

  Reaching out, Genny patted his hand. “You’l
l find her.” She smiled. “You Bishop men always do.”

  Squeezing her back, he murmured, “Thanks.” Dropping his napkin over his lap, he gave them a bright smile. “Tell me what’s happened with you the last few days.”

  They chatted for hours, lingering at the table and sipping their coffee. Conversation was always easy with them.

  He caught them up on happenings at his little company and regaled them with some of the crazy stories he and the other couriers had encountered.

  “I do so love these tidbits! One day, you should put them all in a book. You meet strange and fascinating people…riding a bike! I simply can’t imagine.” Genny giggled. “I never learned to ride a bike.”

  “It’s never too late to learn.” He winked. “I’d be happy to teach you, Grandmother. I bet you’d be a natural.”

  “Heavens, no!” Turning to her husband, she laughed. “Love, did you hear…darling?”

  His grandfather appeared to be sinking in his chair. Spencer jumped up so fast that his chair crashed to the floor. He ignored it as he rushed around the table.

  Wrapping his arms around Spencer I, he lowered him carefully to the floor and screamed for Gerald. The butler was dialing 911 as he entered the room at a run.

  Unable to speak or move anything but his eyes, the only father he’d ever known stared at him for a long moment before looking at the woman he’d worshipped for decades.

  “Darling, no,” Genny whispered as she cupped his face. “We have so much more to do. Stay with me. I love you. Stay with me, Spencer.”

  They huddled at his sides on the floor, speaking softly to him until his eyes closed and the paramedics arrived. He helped his grandmother stand as they tried to save him.

  Spencer held her against his side as she shook painfully hard. It seemed she barely breathed.

  Finally, one of the men looked up and shook his head. “I’m so sorry. He’s gone.”

  Inhaling sharply, she turned her face to Spencer’s shoulder and released a wail of pure grief.