Page 58 of Nothing to Deny

Damnit, she’d never been so happy.

EIGHTEEN

HOLLY’S MOOD wasn’t so high.

In the limo at the end of the night, it would be an understatement to say Holly wasn’t pleased.

Marlin, her cousin’s date, got out of the car to head home. The moment the door closed behind him, Holly dropped into the vertical seat running the length of the vehicle.

They, being her and Baer, were in the shorter, horizontal seat at the back of the car. Tucked under Baer’s arm with her head on his chest and arm resting between his thighs, her eyes were heavy. For some reason, Marlin picked a bar miles outside the city for drinks. During the considerable drive back, she’d fought to stay awake. It was just so… cozy back there with her guy.

Baer messed with his phone, writing messages to his dad and playing games, which had given Marlin and Holly time to talk and bond. That was the idea, though, honestly? Wow. Listening to their attempts was excruciating.

“I’m so sick,” Holly huffed.

“It’s not so bad.” Freya closed her eyes, snuggling closer to Baer. “You still have another date.”

“One shot?” Holly asked. “You think I can hit it with one shot?” She grumbled again. “We’re not all as lucky as you.”

“Are you cold?” Baer asked, his mouth in her hair.

“No,” she said, turning her face toward him, pulling the lapel of his jacket to her nose. “You smell good.”

“You want to wear it?”

“I want to take it home.”

His mouth touched her scalp. “It’s a company tux, babe.”

“Are you taking it back to the office tonight?”

“Unless the alternative is it ends up on your bedroom floor, yes.”

Still with her eyes closed, she smiled and twisted further toward him, opening a hand on his abs. “Complimentary dates don’t come with sex.”

Inhaling through his nose, he slouched a little. “Oh yeah, don’t know why I keep forgetting that.”

Wearing her satisfied smile, she could sleep right there in the car all night if it meant spending more time with Baer.

“How come it can’t work like this for me?” her cousin whined.

Shifting again, she rolled her head on Baer to look over her shoulder at Holly. “What do you mean?”

“All the guys I go out with are duds… That’s four guys and none my family would believe I’m with.”

“You got along with Donoghue.”

Holly moaned. “Yeah, I’d definitely screw him, but do you think my father would like him?”

“That’s what you’re looking for? Someone the family will like? Why?”

“We have to spend two weeks with them,” Holly said. “I have to put up with them and I don’t want my family to think I’m dating an idiot.”

“No, you don’t,” she said, sensing a time to play. “I didn’t think of that before I signed my paperwork… maybe I should’ve thought less about eye candy and more about picking a guy who could hold a conversation.”

Baer pinched her hip. She recoiled but gave his thigh a squeeze. He knew she was teasing. How did she know? He got her. And she loved that about him.

Holly sighed. “See, you guys are great together! I need someone I can play with and joke with and talk with.”

---