One Foolish Night (Eternal Bachelors Club #4)

“Come, Holly, let’s join the others on the terrace and enjoy the sun out there.” Paul turned, pulling her with him, his arm slung across her back and his hand resting possessively on her hip.

When they entered the living room and walked toward the French doors leading to the terrace, Holly was finally able to find her voice again. “Oh my God, she hates me.”

“She doesn’t hate you per se. She hates the fact that she can’t get me to marry somebody like Tara, who has the right family connections.”

“I shouldn’t be here.” How would she survive the next few days? How would she even survive dinner with Paul’s mother spewing venom like that?

Paul stopped walking and turned to her, pulling her to his chest. “I need you here. I promise you, I won’t leave your side. She won’t be able to attack you. Of course, that doesn’t mean that she’ll be nice to you. But you’re with me. Don’t forget that. We’re a team.”

Slowly she nodded. “Okay.”

Paul dipped his head. “Thank you. You’ll do great. And I’ll reward you generously afterward.”

She locked eyes with him. “How?”

“You know how.”

He captured her lips, making her forget everything for a few moments and giving her a taste of her reward. And for a reward like this, she could even tolerate Paul’s unpleasant mother.





23


Holly breathed a sigh of relief as Paul finally led her along a small path that ended at the beach. Dinner had been tense, with Paul’s mother alternately ignoring her and making snide remarks, or talking to Tara about people and events Holly had no knowledge off, thus making her feel like an outsider. She’d counted the minutes until dinner was over and she was able to get up. Luckily, Paul had announced that he had promised her a walk on the beach and had not even waited for anybody to protest.

Though it was dark, light from the houses along the shore was enough to let them see where they were going. The moonlight reflecting off the calm water did the rest.

“You were great today,” Paul said, squeezing her hand. “First with Jonathan and then, well . . . ”

“You mean because I resisted the urge to scratch your mother’s eyes out?”

He chuckled softly. “Yes. Among other things.”

She felt an odd closeness to him, something that had started to develop after the previous night in each other’s arms. Something seemed to have changed between them, and she now felt that there were things she wanted to tell him. But she didn’t know how to start.

“Jonathan adores you,” Paul said.

Holly made a dismissive gesture. “It’s just my blond hair. Most little kids seem fascinated by that.”

“It’s more than that. It was the way you spoke to him. You gave him your full attention, and I think his parents don’t often do that. They’re too wrapped up in their own problems.”

Holly had noticed the tension between Olivia and her husband too. It was hard not to notice that they had marital problems. “Jonathan is just looking for someone to love him.” She would not make the same mistake with her own child. She would give her child all her love.

“It was probably a mistake to have a child that early in their relationship,” Paul mused. “Who knows? Things might have turned out differently if they hadn’t had Jonathan before they really knew each other.”

Holly was glad that it was dark so that Paul couldn’t see the sadness that was probably showing on her face. Yes, having a child early in a new relationship could be a huge strain, and many couples couldn’t weather that storm. It was another good reason not to confess to Paul that she was pregnant. “Yes, you’re probably right,” she said instead, and searched for something else to say.

For a few moments there was silence between them.

“I had a wonderful time last night,” Paul began. “Can I hope for a repeat tonight?” He looked at her from the side and she stopped walking. He stopped as well and turned to her.

Was this maybe the right moment to tell him what she’d been wanting to tell him since last night?

His eyes searched hers, and she noticed the concern in them. “Did I say something wrong? If I did, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. You know you don’t have to share my bed if you don’t want to, but I just thought after last night—”

Holly put her finger over his lips to stop him from saying anything else. “Paul, there’s something I have to tell you.”

She could feel how he held his breath, as if he was expecting bad news.

“I’m not an escort anymore. I quit two months ago. I quit the day of Sabrina and Daniel’s wedding.”

It was out. She felt relief at finally having told him the truth.

His chin dropped. “But . . . ” He shook his head, before trying again. “Why didn’t you tell me back then? Why didn’t you say anything? You let me call you a . . . ” It seemed he couldn’t even say the word now. “Holly, why didn’t you tell me the truth? It would have changed everything.”

Holly shook her head. “It would have changed nothing. Even if you had believed me then—which you wouldn’t have—you would have thought I was making excuses.”