TWENTY-FOUR
TOP OF THE STAIRS, take a left, those were her aunt’s instructions. She caught the newel post after the ascent. The square hall wrapped around three sides of the stairway balustrades. All the doors were visible to each other. Their room was apparently the furthest to the left. Easy to find.
Her bags were already in there. They’d seen the bedroom before her, this was her first time venturing up there. How did the luggage arrive at its destination? No idea. Could’ve been a bellhop, her uncle, Baer, she’d been too busy staring at her aunt to care about what happened to her clothes.
The Monopoly game going on downstairs had started not long after dinner. As expected. Board games, cards, dominoes all would be on the schedule for the vacation. Usually, she went with the flow. This time she just couldn’t relax, thank God for Baer’s hand on her thigh under the table. Already she was relying on his strength, she’d have to apologize for that.
Ready to give her adrenaline a chance to wear off, she wasn’t sorry to be the first out of the game. Yes, there were jokes about her being the richest in real life in the poorest in Boardgame Land. Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. She’d happily be the butt of the joke if it meant a reprieve. Her poor bones couldn’t take much more of the constant tension.
The bedroom wasn’t particularly big, or it could be the bed was too big for the space. Still, it sufficed, they had what they needed. A small closet, their own shower room, a dresser under the window, and a full-length mirror on the back of the door.
Her suitcase was lying on the stand between the bathroom and closet doors. Was that her first port of call? No. She threw her purse on the dresser and fished out her phone to dial fast. She needed a pressure valve to release the tension, or else she might explode.
“Freya!” Oh, just the sound of Roxie’s voice was enough to bolster the strength she’d lost since leaving Baer’s side. “How are you doing, honey? Ready to let me meet your guy yet? I’m waiting… Can you tell I’m eager?”
If she had a choice, right then, if a genie appeared and promised to grant her wish, she’d happily switch her and Baer’s location with wherever Roxie was right now.
She closed her eyes and slumped on the end of the bed, hooking an elbow over the footboard, using it to support the weight of the phone against her ear.
“Are you at the club?”
Roxie snickered. “I’m always at the club, honey. I live at the club. You want to come over?”
“I’m on vacation.” The irony of her tone hopefully conveyed how she felt about that truth. “Family vacation, with my aunt and uncle, cousins, and three men being paid to be here.”
“Three?” She quickly forgave Roxie her confusion. “How many boyfriends does your aunt think you have? Are you a polygamist now? ‘Cause I’ve gotta tell you, honey, I’m into it. Or is it your cousin? You have one? She has one? Two? Or do you share? ‘Cause I’m into whatever you’re into, honey.”
Wouldn’t be her version of living her best life. “Nope, no sharing, turns out Kelly’s fiancé’s Squires alumni as well.”
“Wow, your family sure have a type. How did that happen?”
She exhaled. “I don’t know. Not yet. I’m hoping Baer has answers. I haven’t had a chance to be alone with him since we got here. I feel like I’m balancing on a knife edge just waiting for the cut.”
“Baer? Is he your guy? Is that his real name or somehow related to his skills? ‘Cause that would be a story I’d be thrilled to hear.”
“Yes, it’s his real name.”
His real first name, his last name, not so much. At the time, using his fake last name prickled pins through her limbs. Maybe when this was all done, if she and Baer did get together for real, she could convince her aunt that she’d misheard, not that she was wrong, or had forgotten her own boyfriend’s name.
“How long have you been there?”
“We arrived this afternoon. There were pleasantries, dinner, games with the family. The mood is high so no one’s asking questions.”
How long would that last?
“All very wholesome. So what’s the problem?”
“We didn’t know Kelly’s new guy was Squires too. Not until we arrived. We were in the parking lot and… They could blow the whole thing out of the water. If he tells Kelly that mine and Holly’s guys are from Squires, my aunt and uncle could find out. It’s exactly what we don’t need people whispering about.”
Though whispering was best-case scenario. It was a much larger confrontation she feared.
“And if they find out, so what?”
Trust Roxie to have a different perspective.
“If they find out, how long do you think it will take to get back to Truman?”
“Is that what you’re worried about?” Roxie asked. “Are your aunt and Truman best buds?”
“If this works out, at some point, I have to tell Truman the truth. Honestly, right now? I’m more worried about Holly. It’s different for me, being here. Even if the whole truth comes out, I still have Baer’s support. She doesn’t have that same support structure to rely on. And, let’s face it, the Pivens aren’t in my life enough for it to really matter if they judge me.” Truman on the other hand… “If they find out, there may be outrage, upset, I don’t know. I can’t predict how it will play out. If the worst comes to the worst, Baer and I can leave.”
“You’re worried what effect it will have on Holly’s life.”
“This is her sibling. Her parents. I don’t know if I can support her on my own. If I’ll be enough. Will they ridicule and judge her for this forever?”
“If they ridicule and judge her, they have to ridicule and judge Kelly too.” And if it turned out Kelly hadn’t paid Nickson? Did his previous line of work doom him to ridicule forever? “Don’t forget this was Holly’s idea,” Roxie said, more conciliatory than teasing. “You did try to warn her. Whatever happens, it’s not your fault. People are responsible for their own actions. But back up a step, if Kelly’s fiancé is Squires too, is he being paid to be there? Why would she do that? He isn’t being paid to marry her, is he? To hire a guy for life would take Truman money. Though, it’s not a bad idea… hmm…” Her friend pondered. “Wouldn’t be so bad to have a guy who’d always do what he was told.”
“I haven’t got to the bottom of it.” Not that she planned to do the digging, Baer should have answers. Please say he had answers. If he didn’t, she may not sleep a wink. “Kelly wouldn’t have made up a fiancé, knowing the wedding would never happen. My aunt’s already talking about the dress and flowers. God, this is going to be a disaster.”
“So you think the relationship’s real? No reason they couldn’t have met and fallen in love like anyone else. And, hey, it’s hope. If she can marry her Squires man, so can you.”
In some far-off distant future. Right now she just needed information. Her own relationship with Baer was taking a backseat. Her cousins’ men were the more pressing issue.
“But if Kelly knows the truth, we’re keeping each other’s secrets. This isn’t me and Holly covering for each other, it’s out of her control. One thing goes wrong, one word said out of turn, and everything comes crashing down.”
“It’s okay, honey. Just take a breath. You’ve already said it yourself, you have Baer. He is all you need. Just because I never met him doesn’t mean I doubt his integrity. You wouldn’t have picked him if he was a bad guy. And for the sake of this argument, we’re assuming Chapman was temporary insanity. The whole cop thing blinded you for a second. You thought it meant good guy, you’ll never make that mistake again.”
“No…” She sighed. “I won’t.”
“I trust your judgment. Baer does too, or he wouldn’t be there. Like you said, don’t forget, nothing in your life changes if they find out the truth. The judgment of these people doesn’t matter. If it gets too much, tell your family I’m having a meltdown and get yourself on a plane. Walk away and appreciate your guy. He’ll take your mind off things.”
“And if Truman finds out…?”
“Forget about that. That’s next week’s problem. And don’t worry, I’ll split the gold with you if he disinherits you in favor of me.”
Oh, Roxie. This is why so many people relied on her for support. Her optimism, her charm, Roxie’s acceptance gave her hope.
Relaxing, her eyes opened again. “Thank you.”
“It’s what I’m here for. And if you need me and Zairn to just happen upon you…”
She laughed. “At non-five-star, fend for yourself, apartments?”
“We do non-five-star sometimes.”
She scoffed, amused by her friend. “Oh, yeah, when?”
“Uh… In Chicago. My apartment isn’t five-star.”
“Doesn’t one of the guys own that now?”
“One of them owns the building, but that’s nothing to do with me.”
“Except they wouldn’t have known it existed if it wasn’t for you. Don’t you have an entire security team there? Assistants bringing you anything you need?”
“We have that everywhere.”
“Yes, your whole life is five-star,” she said still smiling. “Welcome to the other side.” Noise brought her around to see Baer entering the bedroom. “I have to go.”
“Okay, keep me apprised. If you can’t be safe, be naughty.”
She hung up and held the footboard to twist further around. “I’m sorry, Hound. Are you okay?”
“I didn’t win.”
So not what she’d been referring to. “Monopoly? No one ever does. It’ll descend into a rabble before they ever get there. Everyone’s tired, had a few drinks… but I meant about the other thing.”
He took off his jacket to hang it in the closet and loosened a few buttons on his shirt. “He’s not being paid to be here.”
“It’s real?”
“As real as it gets.”
According to him, or was he toeing a line? Was that paranoia? Was she paranoid? It wouldn’t be nice to accuse Baer’s friend of lying when she hadn’t any measure on the man yet.
“They just happened to meet? That’s one hell of a coincidence, don’t you think?”
He sat on the other side of the bed to bend over and untie his shoes. “You know a woman called Loretta?”
Her shoulders went back. “Not personally, but Holly does. They work together, Holly and Loretta.”
“She was what changed first.” He got up to put his shoes in the closet too. “He said he was done with Loretta and quit Squires not long later.”
“Because he was interested in someone?” That someone being Kelly, obviously. “In love with her? Does she know?”
“About his past? He wouldn’t say.”
Which she’d assume meant no, except from what she knew of Loretta, the woman was about as opposite to Kelly as any two people could be. Would Kelly accept him moving from someone like Loretta to her?
Probably. Even if it seemed unusual, how many people would go straight to assuming he was an escort being paid to date Loretta? Not many. She’d never even spent any time considering male escorts existed until her cousin introduced her to the life.
“He told you he was dating Loretta when he met Kelly? Why would he tell you one and—”
“Conrad told me about Loretta. Apparently, Loretta was one of Nickson’s regulars. Then one day, out of the blue, Nickson says he won’t see her anymore.”
“Nickson told Loretta that?”
“He told Conrad he was done with her. Asked him to give Loretta a line.”
“To lie to her?”
“Most women don’t like to be dumped.” Especially by a man they’re paying. “Most of them want a reason too.”
“And his reason was Kelly?”
“Figure that now. He didn’t tell Conrad anything about her. Just said he couldn’t see Loretta anymore, and it was personal. Conrad took care of the rest.”
Did that mean Nickson had been into Kelly from the start? Could just be he didn’t want to be “working” someone associated to the woman he was really dating. Smart move, strategic? Another reason she doubted Kelly knew the truth of his past.
“They met at a work function.” That was said at dinner. They hadn’t stated it wasn’t one of Kelly’s, now she’d bet it was one of Holly’s. “Holly and Kelly go out a lot.”
They were sisters. It wasn’t uncommon for them to back each other up at various events. Or help each other out with obligations and sneak out for their own party after showing face.
“So Loretta must have hired him for a social function, something at work. Kelly and Holly go to the same event…”
“Nickson and Kelly meet…” He wouldn’t have told her that first night, he’d be used to socializing without revealing his true purpose. “Is he going to tell Kelly? Will he tell the others about you and Donoghue?”
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 enough to 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.
She sighed. Whoever was smiling on them, whatever force brought them together, she’d never be able to express the depth of her gratitude.