Page 101 of Nothing to Deny

“I hope not. We’ll figure it out.” She considered him a reasonable man. She was reasonable too. If they were meant to be, they’d find a compromise. “I’ve really never felt like this before.”

Squealing, Holly grinned and grabbed her hand. “I’m so happy for you! This is so exciting! And the escort thing won’t matter after he gives it up.”

It mattered to Kelly even though Nickson had quit. This was different, she’d known from the start. Their issue was Baer didn’t seem to be in much of a hurry to give it up, even for her. Maybe it was a trust thing. Did he trust her not to dump him and leave him destitute? He had to know her better than that… didn’t he?

“I love the man, not the job he does.”

“You love him?” Holly squealed again. “This is like so incredible! And you didn’t even want to go to—”

“Yeah, yeah, okay.” So her cousin had been right, she did admit that. “But, tell the truth, we didn’t go there looking for love. You could never have predicted this.”

Holly nodded. “Okay, yeah, you’ve got me there. Are you going to keep it a secret?” Her cousin gasped. “If you get married? What if you have kids? Will you tell them how you met? The true story?”

She laughed. “I imagine that’s something you’ll take care of for me.” Her fingertips touched Holly’s cheek for just a breath. “It will be Baer’s choice. Whatever he wants, we’ll do. But that’s way, way in the future. I don’t think we’ll talk marriage and kids for a while.”

Let the guy get used to them, her world, before she roped him in deeper. Her? She thought about the money, and how it could improve the Claymores’ life, would she be allowed to take on a caring role? They could wait until the twins were adults before thinking about starting their own family. Did Baer want biological children? She could help with the twins, chores—unless Baer wanted a staff. Gosh, there was such a lot to think about. Most men were happy to embrace the fortune, it didn’t feel like Baer was one of those guys.

When the bathroom door opened, he got both of their attention, though they didn’t move. Hair wet, white towel slung around his hips, that perfect sculpted form… it was possible she was drooling, again, Holly too.

“Mmm…” her cousin purred. “Now I think I’m in love.”

She tugged Holly’s hand and laughed. “Get your own!”

Baer went to the closet to pick out his clothes.

“Baer, do you want kids?” Man, her cousin was bold. Despite another nudge, Holly didn’t quiet. “You know, in the future, what do you see? Big house? Big wedding? Big brood?”

“I want whatever you pay me to want, sweetheart,” he muttered, tossing a T-shirt over his shoulder and turning to face them. “You two making plans? Whose relationship you interfering with next?” That better be a joke. Though his affect was pretty flat. “Have we heard anything from the happy couple?”

“Not yet. They’re still locked up together in the room. As far as we know. Holly’s too scared to go down to breakfast.”

Her cousin shoved her a little. “I am not scared.”

“Donoghue’s down there with your parents alone? Confident women. Never know what he might say next.”

Speared by alarm, Holly’s shoulders went back. “What could he say? What do you think he’ll say? I never told him to say anything. He doesn’t know anything. We didn’t talk about it.”

“You didn’t tell him what happened last night?”

“I didn’t know what happened,” Holly said. “Not the details, only what Freya said when we snuck to the bathroom before bed.”

Leaving Baer and Donoghue alone with the Piven parents. They hadn’t taken that long, and what choice had she had? Holly had to know about the developments, just in case something exploded. Though at that point, she hadn’t known much. She still didn’t know.

“Until they come out of that room…” Even then, they may not know. “Unless they hate the sight of me and curse my name.”

“You didn’t do shit, Lil’. If either of them starts anything with you—”

“Aww,” Holly swooned. “You two really are perfect for each other.” Baer headed for the bathroom with his clothes. “You don’t have to change in there on my account, Baer, honey!”

Smiling, she shook her head, just as Baer did. She was paying for fidelity. Though she preferred to believe his goods were wholly hers, even if that wouldn’t always be the case.

“I should get ready too,” she said, stretching her back. “It won’t help ease suspicions if we hide here all day.”

The bedroom door opened and there was Kelly, sneaking around it, practicing stealth… not that it was necessary after she spotted her sister. Her parents were downstairs, everyone else was in the loop.

“Oh my God!” Holly hissed and clambered off the bed to go grab her sister into a hug. “What happened? We’re going crazy in here. You’ve been locked up in there forever. He could’ve killed you and chopped you into little pieces or anything.”

Because he might be a crazed lunatic, coincidently a psychopath and an escort? Holly couldn’t mean to imply his work history was a factor. If that was the qualifier, they were all at risk.

---