One Foolish Night (Eternal Bachelors Club #4)

Her friend released her from her embrace and pulled her into the hallway of the Sinclairs’ home. It was quiet in the house.

“Where is everybody?” Holly asked as Sabrina led her through the open plan living room to the back porch.

“Daniel is on his way back. He was at the country club playing tennis with his father, and I guess they stayed to have a drink afterward. Raffaela is on her way to pick up James to go out for dinner with him.”

Sabrina took a seat on the outside couch and Holly sat next to her.

“I love this view,” Holly said, and motioned to the beach and the ocean beyond. The sun had already set, but there was still enough light from the houses along the beach to see the waves.

Sabrina ignored her comment and instead asked, “Why didn’t you tell me that you were coming? Where’s your luggage? How long are you staying?”

“Hey, one question at a time! And I wouldn’t just show up without letting you know and expect to be offered a guest room. I’ve already got a place to stay.”

“What? I won’t allow it. You’re my best friend. I can’t let you stay in a hotel.”

“I’m not staying at a hotel.” How could she tell her friend the situation she was in? After all, she hadn’t told Sabrina about her night with Paul. Because if she told her, she would tell Daniel. And then there was no telling what would happen. Knowing Daniel, he’d probably start a fist fight with Paul once he heard how he’d thrown her out of his house. Well, his parents’ house. Same thing.

“You’re not at a hotel?”

Holly shook her head slowly. “I’m staying with Paul.”

Sabrina’s forehead furrowed. “Paul? Paul who?”

“Daniel’s friend Paul.”

Her chin dropped. “Paul Gilbert?”

“Yeah.”

Sabrina bounced on the couch. “You’re going out with Paul? Oh my God, that’s so exciting! When did that happen? Why didn’t you tell me? Come on, spill!”

Holly rolled her eyes. “It’s not like that.” She fidgeted, not knowing how to start and how much to tell her friend. “It’s complicated.”

“What’s complicated about you going out with Paul? Well, apart from the fact that he lives in New York and you’re in San Francisco. But even long-distance relationships can work out.”

“I’m not going out with Paul.”

“But you just said you’re staying with him.”

“Yes, but not as his girlfriend. Well, actually, I’m supposed to be playing his girlfriend, but I’m not really his girlfriend.”

Sabrina reached for her hand. “Holly, start from the beginning, because what you’re saying makes no sense.”

“Fine.” Holly sighed. “Paul hired me to be his pretend girlfriend to get his parents off his back and make them stop trying to set him up with women he has no interest in.”

“Hired? Are you trying to tell me he hired you as an escort?”

“Yes.”

“But you quit! Don’t tell me you went back to it.”

Holly shook her head vehemently. “No, I didn’t. I quit for good!”

“But he hired you. What’s going on? How does he even know? And why didn’t you tell him you quit?”

Holly raised her hands. “One question at a time, remember? He found out at the wedding. You know, when I was still working as an escort.”

“How did he find out? Did Tim get drunk and let it slip?”

Their mutual friend from San Francisco, who had been Daniel’s best man at the wedding, was a chatterbox, but he wasn’t to blame for this particular disaster. “Tim didn’t do anything. It was just a dumb coincidence. No big deal. He’s not going to tell anybody here. Trust me.” Because then Paul would have to admit that he’d slept with an escort, and she knew firsthand that he wasn’t going to expose himself like that.

“But you quit. Letting him hire you means you’re back in the business.”

“I’m not. We agreed that there would be no sex. It’ll all be above board. All I need to do is pretend to his parents and their friends that we’re dating.”

Sabrina shook her head, disbelief etched on her face. “That’s irrelevant. Whether you’re having sex with him or not still means you’re his escort. Why are you doing this? I thought you wanted to start fresh and start your own business. Or have you given up already?”

Holly rose abruptly. “No! I haven’t! But do you have any idea how hard this is? The bank refused my loan.” She didn’t want to go into the details, because they were irrelevant to her plight. “I had it all lined up to buy this great matchmaking business from a woman who wanted to retire. And then, bam! Another roadblock. I needed the money, okay?”

“Holly, calm down! I’m not trying to beat you up. I’m just trying to support you. When you told me two months ago that you quit, you also said that I should keep reminding you to stay on that path. That’s all I’m doing.”

Holly sighed and dropped back onto the couch.

“There’ll be other businesses to buy. In the meantime, you’ll find a job and save some money, gain more experience. It’ll all work out for—”

“I can’t do that, Sabrina.”