Page 53 of This Time I'm Keeping You
“What?”Poppy said again.
“He said he took a flight home after catching up with you in your house the day before your book signing.You invited him for dinner, and after a night spent with you in your bed, he headed home.”Rage had Nick’s jaw clenching.
“I didn’t,” she whispered.“I wouldn’t allow that man anywhere near me.You have to believe me.”
Nick reached for her.“We know he’s lying, Poppy.”He pulled her in, wrapping his arms around her and hugging her close.
“He’s good, smart,” Sam said, “and knows how to play this game.He is also from a family with a lot of money, and Billy thinks they may have pulled some strings in the background regarding what happened between you two.Talked to the right people in law enforcement, that kind of thing.I know he got fined and probation, but since then, nothing, which doesn’t sit well.”
“Is that possible?”Poppy asked.She was subjected to matching pitying looks.“What?”
“Not all rich people are bad, Poppy, I get that, but some are and throw their money around to make life easier,” Nick said.“I know you’ve heard the word ‘corruption’ considering what you do.Writers know about that kind of thing, surely?”
“Of course I know.I guess I just didn’t think that the police could be manipulated for something like that.”The pitying looks were back.“Okay, I get it.Don’t look at me like that.”
“Billy said all they have to this point is assface’s word against yours, and of course your history, and that he was charged before, which should lean things in your favor, but doesn’t seem to be, which is where the family connection comes in.”
“Excellent, nothing like being stalked by someone with connections,” Poppy muttered.
“The way we see it is he’s got to have slipped up somewhere,” Sam said.“There have to be other women he’s hassled, or work colleagues.Billy agrees, and he’s looking into everything assface has done or is doing.If he trips on a curb, he wants to know.”
“Let’s hope he smashes his head and gets amnesia,” Poppy muttered, easing out of Nick’s arms.
“About this gig today,” Sam said.“I haven’t got much going on.I’ll come with you.”
“We will come with you,” Nick added.
Sam smiled at Nick as if he’d said he’d go with Poppy just to annoy him, which he probably had.She’d noticed the Athertons did that a lot to each other.
“I really don’t need you to accompany me.Just drop me off,” Poppy said.
Sam got out of his chair and moved to stand beside his brother.They both then stared at Poppy.A wall of handsome, unmovable Athertons.They folded their arms and stood there in silence.
“All right, fine.But you have to sit and be quiet.Preferably at the back of the room.”
“Will there be food?”Sam asked.
“It’s me and another author talking to a group of people.They’ll be asking questions, and I’m sure there will be food of some kind.”
“What author?”Sam asked.
“Hillary Bailey, the romance author.”
“Get out!”Sam whistled.“She’s the shit.”
Nick looked at his brother.“How the hell do you know that?You don’t read.”
“I listen to audiobooks.”
“Romance audiobooks?”
“Sometimes.”Sam didn’t look embarrassed that he’d let this slip.“I went to Mom’s book club once, and they were talking about one of Hillary Bailey’s titles.It sounded interesting.”
“You’re serious?”Nick said.
“What’s wrong with romance books?”Poppy demanded.“I love them.”
“Nothing is wrong with them.I just didn’t know my brother read them.”
