his sister-in-law who danced around nervously. “Not my fault. I tried to change her mind.”
“This isn’t a kid’s vacation.” Grant’s gaze pinned Jami, making her feel like a trapped butterfly.
“Why not?” Jami pressed, trying to calm her racing pulse.
“Frost Lake Lodge might not even allow children,” Sierra chimed.
“They do.” Jami nodded her head. “I called and they said children are welcome and kids under twelve stay free. No problem.”
“No problem?” Grant scratched his chin, appearing perplexed and none too pleased. “You can phone the lodge, but no one bothers to warn me?”
“Warn you?” Jami exclaimed. “I don’t even know you.”
“Getting acquainted was the purpose of our Cupid trip. Sans children.”
The camera guy finished shooting, so Sierra skittered between them. “Come on, guys, you’re ruining everything. Do you have a clue how much editing this is going to take?”
“I can still go, can’t I?” Toby pleaded, tears sparkling his big brown eyes.
Jami bent and gave him a kiss. Cheek only, the way he preferred, then hugged him so tightly that both of them could barely breathe. He smelled like soap, bubblegum, and pure boy as he hiccupped back tears.
“Of course, honey,” Jami replied before turning to the adults. “This is a package deal. I won’t leave him behind.”
Grant’s left brow rose. “You won’t?”
“I won’t.”
She heaved the strap of her tote bag more firmly upon her shoulder and stood to face the handsome, intimidating man who was to be her Cupid companion. She chewed at her bottom lip, wondering whether to walk away and leave Sierra to deal with the fall-out.
Seeing Jami Rhodes’s distress and realizing that Ty and Sierra were depending on them for positive publicity, Grant regretted his swift objection, but he’d been taken aback that the child was accompanying them. Kids weren’t part of the bargain. Damn, he was a master negotiator—he ought to be able to handle a kid. He smiled and ruffled the boy’s hair. “Hey, buddy, I’ll make you a deal.”
“What?” Toby asked suspiciously.
“Be on your best behavior, and I won’t hassle your mom to leave you here with Sierra.” Various expressions played over the child’s freckled face. As Grant watched the youngster, he heard Jami gasp. Was she as surprised at his statement as he was? He didn’t want a kid along, yet how could he resist those bright hopeful eyes? “You can come, if you’ll be good.”
“Okay.” Toby released his mom’s dress and teetered back and forth, toe to heel in his sneakers. “Guess so.”
With an exaggerated sigh of relief, Sierra took Toby’s hand and shooed Grant and Jami. “Try to make this romantic. Hold hands like this.” She swung hands with Toby who grimaced in disgust.
Trying not to laugh, Grant took Jami’s tote bag from her and shifted it to his left hand. “Let me get yours. My luggage is all checked.”
“Have fun.” Sierra gave Jami a quick hug, adding, “A photographer will meet you at the lodge for additional shots. Act delighted. Please?”
Grant captured Jami’s hand in his. Jami snared Toby’s hand, and the three of them hurried toward the escalator like a happy family.
“Quite a boy you have there,” Grant said, steering them around a senior citizen tour group armed with cameras and canes.
“You think?” Jami glanced up at Grant Carrington’s strong profile. “People don’t usually, ah, compliment me on my son.”
“He’s great.” Grant grinned down at her. “Reminds me of myself as a kid.”
“Toby tends to get into trouble sometimes.” Jami pretended not to notice as Grant’s thumb slid not-so-innocently over her palm, firing delightful tingles into her hand. The six-year-old in question hung back, straining her arm as he lagged behind to see everything around them.
“Sometimes?” Grant laughed a deep sexy chuckle. “All the time, I bet.”
“Well, yes,” Jami admitted. “But he’s really very sweet.”
A wicked grin curved Grant’s mouth. “Yeah, right.”
She tugged her hand free and glared up at him, her instincts as a protective single parent surging outward. “Don’t knock my son.”
“Easy. He’s cool. I allowed him to come with us. Right?” Grant shrugged toward Toby, who trailed behind them just enough to step onto the escalator last.
Jami reluctantly nodded.
“So drop the temper, Red.”
“Red?” Jami fumed at his broad-shouldered back as they rode up the escalator with him in the lead. Below them, from the lobby, the photographer took more shots when she glanced behind at Toby.
“Stop complaining and smile,” Grant warned, and half-turned toward her. “That guy’s still filming. You got the computer date you wanted and a free trip. Don’t blow the Cupid ad campaign