Page 47 of Nothing to Deny
“Thought you weren’t in today, buddy?” Conrad semi-mocked.
“I’m not, and neither is she. Lil’—”
“I am here,” she said, finding her voice. “I have decided to do this, Hound. Don’t even—”
“Don’t even, what?” he asked, marching over to drop into the seat next to hers. With his elbows on his parted knees, he leaned in. “Frey—” Stopping himself, he turned to Conrad. “Want to give us some privacy?”
“Privacy?” Conrad said like he’d never heard the word before. “She’s a client. Why would… I…” Quieting, he puffed out his cheeks and stood up. “Sure, okay. Privacy.”
Skirting the desk, he paused by the door to look at them with curious eyes before going out and closing the door.
“Baby—”
“You have every right to refuse me service, but—”
“Service? Skit, don’t talk like that,” he said, scooping a hand around her face, trapping her hair between his palm and her cheek. “Where is this coming from?”
“I want you to come away with me,” she said. “Next weekend, two weeks, with my family… I’ll pay you forty thousand dollars.”
“Frey—”
“I know it’s short notice and you’ll be away from your family and your other job. I’ll cover all expenses and get someone to cover your building’s maintenance, whatever you need.”
“Freya—”
“Fifty thousand,” she said. “Or sixty. Whatever it will take—”
Silencing her with a fingertip on her lips, he smiled. “Now I know how frustrated Conrad was… Little Skit, you were so sure you didn’t want me with you. What changed?”
His touch slid away to let her voice out. “Back then I didn’t want to hire you because I… I don’t know, I didn’t want to fall for it. I thought it was an act. Idiot me believed it until I realized it was practiced. This is what you do, and I was a fool, it was an act, and I believed it.”
Sinking back in his chair, he breathed out. “Itwasan act… until you were on your knees in front of me at that vending machine. Shit, baby, I’d have…”
“I know.” She nodded, shifting in her chair to put her knees between his and lay her hands on his thighs. “At the beginning it was, it was the persona, I get that… But… things are different between us now, Baer. Aren’t they different? I don’t know what this is or where it’s going, but I thought, why not spend some time together and find out? I need a fake boyfriend and you need the money. I won’t miss the money, it’s nothing to me…” Sensing he may be coming around, she pulled herself closer, digging her fingers in deeper. “You told me not to choose Donoghue.” Leaning in, she lowered her volume. “And you told me you didn’t want to go all the way with that client… This will give us some breathing room. It’s two weeks of getting to know each other.”
“And not having to worry about either of us being with anyone else.”
She smiled. “Right… And the money gives us both a buffer anyway, if we decide after two weeks, or at any time, we want out, we call it business and walk away.”
“Sixty grand is too much.”
Though he needed every cent. “Whatever it is, I’ll pay,” she said, driving her hands higher while bowing lower. “You’re worth it.”
The corner of his mouth reacted; he exhaled a laugh. “You know how often women say that to me?”
She laughed. “Okay, so you’re not worth it… I don’t think of it as money for you anyway. It’s money for your family, for them to live on while you’re not here… In case of emergency, that kind of thing… I’m paying them for denying them your company…”
“Oh, you don’t need to convince me to take the dough, sweetheart,” he said. “In an ideal world I’d support you—”
“Please don’t let finances come between us. It’s the twenty-first century and I can’t apologize for what’s in my bank account. We’re still equals, and I want to give you this. Don’t be threatened by it.”
“I’m not, and, baby, there’s nothing wrong with my ego, don’t worry about it. So long as we’re clear it’s you I want, not your bank account. But if this is business…” His eyes flicked down to take advantage of the view his younger brother enjoyed at the hospital. “What do you want for your money, Skit?”
Good progress. “Two things,” she said, straightening her arms and meeting his eye. “Fidelity.”
“For the two weeks, right? Because after we’re back in town—”
She nodded. “I know, I know. Yes, for the two weeks… Fidelity while I’m paying you because if you’re still interested in making money, there will be events after. I’d prefer it if you didn’t solicit other women while we’re at dinner with my family, you know?”
