Page 67 of Nothing to Deny
“Yeah, but what about family?”
“I’d suggest we keep that vague,” she said, looking to Conrad who had to be seeking a balance between protecting his employee and satisfying a client. “His parents are living, two brothers, that’s all anyone needs to know.”
Conrad’s frown became more discerning, then seemed almost concerned as he tipped his head to the side to look closer at Baer. “There’s something going on here I don’t know about, isn’t there?”
“Don’t worry about it,” Baer said, resting a hand on her back.
What an idiot! She wasn’t supposed to know anything about Baer’s personal life, yet she kept opening her big blabbering mouth. And Conrad was his boss. His boss! The worst part was, she knew exactly why she was doing it, and it was so immature and ridiculous that she wanted to slap herself.
Standing up, she smoothed her skirt. “Would you excuse me for a moment?” Taking her purse off the couch, she went for the door. “Please carry on without me.”
It didn’t matter if she knew all the details of Holly and Lyon’s relationship. Holly already told her a lot about the imaginary guy anyway. For everything else, she’d vamp… not that she was good at that. Probably better to play dumb, if necessary.
She didn’t stop walking until reaching the entry foyer. Actually, even when she got there, she didn’t stop, she just turned to cross ten feet, then returned, pacing back and forth
It was nuts. This was easy. Should be easy. It wasn’t like she couldn’t be discreet in other areas of her life. She could. She could keep a confidence. This shouldn’t be difficult.
“Lil’?”
Baer’s voice turned her around.
She immediately held up a hand. “Don’t, okay? I know. I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what?” he asked, coming to her. “Baby, you have nothing to apologize for.”
“That, in there,” she said, opening a hand in the direction he’d come as he laid his hands on her shoulders. “It’s like I can’t help myself.” And he’d joked about Presley scenting her, wasn’t that exactly what she was doing to Baer? And for what reason? Pique? Pride? Ego? “I shouldn’t have… I’m not supposed to—”
“Hey,” he said, bending his knees to bring himself closer to her level. “Lil’, if you want to go in there and tell Conrad—”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I won’t risk your career here.”
He laughed. “Babe, this is not a career, not for me.” Skimming his hands down her upper arms and back up, he brought their bodies closer together. “I never planned to do this forever. You know why I do it.”
She couldn’t call herself his girlfriend. Couldn’t use the word love. But she was certain this wasn’t normal procedure.
“Is this against the rules?” she asked, almost afraid to meet his eye. “Whatever this is… will it get you into trouble?”
“No one can make rules about who someone falls for,” he said, cradling her cheek. “Don’t worry so much.”
“I do worry,” she said, pulling his hand away. “If you lose this job… where does that leave you? How will you make the money you need to support your family?”
“This isn’t the only agency in town.”
Surprised, she blinked at him. “There are… others?”
He nodded. “But I’m popular here. I make a lot of money for the agency… Some of the guys have wives, most have girlfriends, occasionally more than one. There’s no rule that says I have to be single.”
“But we met here,” she said. “I’m a client.”
“This started before you were my client… I know you’re worried about me,” he said, a slow smile rising on his lips. “Are you worried enough to dump me?”
She wasn’t sure she was his current, let alone being an ex. “Dump you?” she asked. “Wouldn’t that be kind of awkward? Your ex hiring you?”
“Long as it was you and you relaxed your sex rules, I’d be okay with that.”
Opening her hands on his obliques, she ran them around to his back, sinking against him. “Everything will be better next week.”
“Next week,” he said. “During our no sex vacation?”
