Page 77 of Nothing to Deny

“My resources are at your disposal, as always, but I don’t like the suggestion.”

“Why not? We could pay him more than he’d make it a month.”

“I don’t like the suggestion that money should triumph over love. Regardless of what he’s done in the past, he can still have integrity. Squires men aren’t just money whores.”

Did she know that for sure for each and every one of them? No, of course not. And even people not in Squires line of work would take bundles of cash for many things, integrity or not. But she knew the man sitting next to her holding her hand, and he wouldn’t lie to her, he wouldn’t. Tarring all escorts with that brush, male and female, tarred her guy too, and she wouldn’t have that.

It all boiled down to whether the relationship was real. Otherwise, surely, there would be some standard operating procedure, something in the Squires employee handbook that would cover this eventuality. The men wouldn’t out each other if they were working, but Nickson had left Squires. If he was out on his own, maybe his silence could be bought.

She doubted it. There was just no logical reason for Kelly to go through this theater if the relationship wasn’t real.

“Okay, we can’t sit here all day.”

Baer took the cue and got out his own side of the car. She smoothed her skirt and cleared her throat. This was it. Showtime. How well would she hold up? There was no way to know, she’d never done this before.

Her one saving grace? Baer. If she was doing this with someone she had no feelings for, she’d fail miserably. That became abundantly clear when the door opened and Baer stood there, hand outstretched for hers. Just his presence was security. That man; her man. This wasn’t a farce, nor theater, not for her. Whether the Pivens found out about Squires, or Truman did, this was real in her heart, that was what counted.

She slid her hand into his and went with his motion to help her to her feet. He backed them off a few steps, giving the other couple space to get out of the car.

Her chin grazed his shirt. “Are you okay?” she murmured.

With her back to the clearing, she couldn’t see how close Kelly and Nickson were, but they couldn’t be far away.

“Me?” The groove between his brows deepened. “I’m used to this kind of thing.”

“No, you’re not.” Pretending to be someone’s date? Sure. Pretending to be someone’s true love whilst also possibly falling for them for real…? Did anyone have experience with that? “If you’re uncomfortable, at any time, you can call a family emergency and leave whenever you want. The money is yours no matter what.”

His fingertip grazed her jaw. “You think I’m here for the money?”

She didn’t doubt it sure helped, but it wouldn’t be enough for him to betray or abandon her.

“Just know I won’t hold it over you.” She smiled. “Thank you for being here. I couldn’t be here with anyone else, and I’m sorry my family are a little crazy.”

Or a lot crazy if she included Roxie as family.

He laughed. “Makes things interesting.”

“Hey! You made it!” Kelly exclaimed from behind. “Let me introduce everyone!”

Oh, little did she know. Her cousin’s beaming grin was matched by the man at her side, for a few seconds. Curious, she scrutinized Nickson, and there it was, the exact moment he recognized the men in their party. It only lasted a second; he pulled the mask back on fast. Names were exchanged, handshakes and cheek kisses too, everyone played their role in the performance impeccably.

“When are your parents getting here?” she asked Kelly with a few subtle sidesteps that Holly matched, giving the men a chance to split away.

Intrigued though she was, she wasn’t sad to miss out on the particulars of that conversation. Baer would relay them later anyway, in a safer, less stressful, environment. No need to eavesdrop.

Kelly did glance around, probably looking for her fiancé but Holly caught her sister’s hand.

“He’s hot,” Holly whispered wearing a saucy grin. “You never told me he was so yummy. Doesn’t look like your usual type.”

Was that sister sniping? He was hot, and Kelly didn’t usually date hot men? Was that the implication?

If it was, Kelly let the semi-insult roll right off. “I know, right?”

The woman’s excitement was understandable. Shrugging off her discombobulation, she read Kelly’s glittering eyes. That glow was love. That was more than just excitement for the moment, or the vacation, Kelly’s whole future was mapped out in her eager smile.

Did she know about Nickson’s previous line of work? Did it matter? Kinda, yeah. Keeping their own secret inadvertently meant keeping Nickson’s too, if he had one. If Kelly knew, great! If she didn’t, was it their responsibility to tell her? Judging people by their past was a slippery slope. It shouldn’t matter,not if they were really in love, but how true could that love be if Nickson was keeping secrets?

She tried her question again. “When is everyone else arriving?”

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