Page 81 of Nothing to Deny

Facing her, he finished unbuttoning his shirt. “I think we’ve got to assume he will.”

If he hadn’t told Kelly about the escort thing, he couldn’t reveal how he knew Baer and Donoghue. He hadn’t made any implication to the Pivens that he, Baer, and Donoghue knew each other, that was something. Didn’t that suggest he planned to be discreet? Maybe, unless he feared being outed too, and wanted to get in there first.

“I’ve been sitting downstairs vibrating with anxiety,” she said. “I came up here to talk to my friend, she made me see…”

“Made you see what?”

How would he feel about her clarity? “I’m not worried about us. I thought I was, and I’m worried about you, if you don’t want people to know… I don’t want you to be upset…”

“I won’t be upset, unless it coming out impacts our future.”

His work was unusual, yes. At the beginning, if she’d been asked, she would’ve said having an escort for a boyfriend would be a major problem. With anyone else, it would’ve been. With Baer… she couldn’t imagine anything being a barrier big enoughto change her feelings. Others might have a problem. As Roxie said, that was a problem for another day.

“I’m worried for Holly. I don’t want her to be embarrassed. And I don’t think I have the toolkit to be a good support for her. We have each other; I can rely on you. You’re not going anywhere.” She hoped. “Holly doesn’t have that certainty.”

“I’ll do whatever you need me to do.”

Because she was paying him? No, she had to get away from those snap, insecure judgments. Money be damned, he was there for her because he wanted to be.

She smiled and extended a hand to him. He accepted the invitation and came to twine his fingers with hers.

“I’m not sure I’ll be able to function without you. Thank you for being here. Will you come to bed with me?”

His lips curled just a little, but it was the slant of his eyes that really revealed his amusement. “No chance you mean that like I want you to mean that, is there?”

On a laugh, she used their link to pull herself to her feet. “Would you be capable right now?” With all the stress surrounding them. “I’m not sure I would.”

“If that’s a challenge…”

Getting closer, she rested her body weight on him. “After what we’ll go through this next two weeks, I see being together when we’re back home as a huge reward we’ll both deserve.”

If they made it through at least.

“Every second I spend with you is a reward.” His arms came around to hold her tight against him. “Don’t know what for, but I’ll take it. I’m selfish like that.”

“I’ve never met a man less selfish.” Sliding her hands up, out of the cage of his embrace, they got as far as his shoulders. “I’m never going to stand a chance with a man like you. You know all the moves.”

“Evens the playing field. One look at you and I’m sunk, gives me a fighting chance.”

“No sex is a rule not because I don’t want to be intimate with you. It would be so easy to…”

“I get it. I didn’t at first, but I do now. You want to know this is real. Like you said, we can get to know each other, and you can be sure I’m interested in more than your panties.”

“You’re not like that. I would never assume you’re like that. I could never think it. You’re a good man, and I shouldn’t have to tell you that. Do you think I would feel this way for you if you weren’t?”

“I don’t know…” His tone suggested a ramp up to a tease. “You did get with that Chapman guy. Suggests your judgment’s not all that sound.”

She socked his shoulder. “You are not the first person to remind me of that tonight. Will I ever live it down?”

“I don’t know, it was a pretty big screwup if you ask me. Married or not, you deserve better than that guy.”

“I know,” she murmured, her fingertips meeting his jaw. “I deserve you. At least, I pray you think I do.”

He bowed to kiss the top of her head. “I’m going to take a shower.”

“Oh, you torture me.”

He held her hand for as long as he could before disappearing into the bathroom.

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