Page 71 of Nothing to Deny
Lost in the most intense sexual experience of her life, the burn of need pounded. He’d be the last man to ever occupy her like this. It was nuts to think it during their first sexual encounter, and maybe she’d change her mind in the light of a new day, but this was what she wanted. He was what she wanted. Him and nothing else.
TWENTY-ONE
“DON’T PANIC,” Baer said as he strode toward her in the airport lounge.
Panic? Why would that be the first thing he said?
Uncrossing her legs, she stood up next to her carry-on bag and opened her arms when he slid his hands onto her waist. “What’s wrong?”
Having not seen him since he left her apartment at midnight after their day in bed together, his comment could pertain to a whole host of things.
“Where’s Holly?” he asked. “Is she here?”
Nodding, she glanced to the side. “She’s in the restroom. I was waiting for you. You’re late. The flight leaves in half an hour… Where’s Lyon?”
“You look beautiful,” he said and dipped in an attempt to kiss her. Uh, no, answers first, she bowed backwards. “You won’t let me say hello to you? Lil’, I’ve thought about nothing but you since—”
“Lyon?”
It was difficult not to be flattered by such a man admitting he was enamored. Except he’d had other dates since leaving her place. She wasn’t wild on the idea of him thinking about her when with other women.
“He was in a car accident,” Baer said.
Grabbing for him, she gasped. “Oh my God! Is he okay?”
“He’s in the hospital. Don’t panic, Conrad took care of it.”
“Took care of it.” She didn’t follow. “What does that mean?”
“Hey, Royal!”
“Donoghue?”
She couldn’t believe this was happening.
“Best Conrad could come up with at short notice,” Baer muttered, easing her in to rest his mouth in her hair. “I’m just glad the bastard’s not your date.”
“Way things are going I’m beginning to regret having a date at all,” she said, pushing him aside to set a smile on Donoghue. “Hello!”
“Nice setup,” he said, scanning the first-class lounge as he sauntered over. “Not too shabby.”
She accepted his kiss on her cheek. “Thank you for stepping in.”
“Not a problem,” he said, putting an arm around her. “I got the skinny. I’m ready for this.”
“Ready?” Freya asked, unconvinced by the man’s confidence.
Just then movement drew her attention. Simultaneously, she spied her cousin coming out of the restroom, and the latter noticed the people with her. Neither of the men were her expected date. Okay, don’t panic.
“I got this,” Donoghue said, kissing her cheek again before striding away, arms open to Holly.
Watching, waiting for her cousin’s reaction, she didn’t blink until Baer rubbed her cheek with the cuff of his jacket.
She swatted at him. “What are you doing?”
“You shouldn’t let him kiss you.”
“Hound…” With an arm around her, he guided her away from the couple outside the restroom. “This won’t work, it can’t work.”
