He swallowed, knowing he was at a crossroads. If he led her on any more, he’d be cheating on Libby and he refused to do that. He’d support her some other way; hell, he’d get a job as a janitor if need be. “Tiffany, I’m married.”
“You’re what?” She couldn’t have sounded more shocked if he’d told her he was an alien from Mars.
He leaned his back against the wall by the ice machine and heaved out a breath. “I’m married and I love my wife very much. I don’t want to deceive you or lead you on any more than I already have. I need this account, but I won’t sleep with you to get it. If you don’t want to set up a meeting for me with Scott, I understand, but I really hope you can help me out.”
“Well, I’ll be damned,” she mumbled. “You’re married. Has hell frozen over?”
He released a nervous chuckle. “It very well might have.”
“So you love her, huh?”
“You have no idea. Please.”
“Yeah, sure . . . why not? If you can fall in love, get married and be so adamant about remaining faithful, it gives the rest of us single girls hope.” She still sounded dazed. “When are you free?”
“My day is flexible. Just tell me when and where and I’ll be there.”
“I’ll text you when I know something. Tell your wife congrats.”
“Thanks, but if we run into each other later, can you not mention the meeting to her? I want to surprise her with the closed deal when it’s done.”
“Yeah, sure.”
He was already on his way back to the room when he realized he hadn’t filled the bucket. He turned around and completed that task, then went back to the room. When he walked in, Libby was leaning over her suitcase, stark naked.
He grinned. “You have no idea how happy I am that you aren’t self-conscious about your body. It makes me consider becoming a nudist.”
She laughed as she pulled a black sweater from the bag. “I figure this is how God made me. Besides, gravity isn’t my friend. One day the girls will go south.” She glanced up at him. “I hope you’re prepared for that.”
“Libby, you will always be beautiful to me. Even when you’re nine months pregnant with our baby someday.” He hadn’t meant to say that last part, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he knew it was true. Libby would be an incredible mother.
Her mouth parted as she turned to look at him. “I thought you didn’t want kids.”
“I didn’t think I did either until you. I love kids. Perhaps unsurprisingly, I seem to have a lot in common with them.” He winked. “I just don’t want to screw up my own kids. But how can they be screwed up with you as their mother?” Then he stopped. “Unless you don’t want kids.”
She shook her head, smiling with tears in her eyes. “No. I do.”
“And you married me thinking I didn’t?”
“I want you more. Kids are bonus.”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. “Finish getting ready and let’s get some lunch—it’s after eleven o’clock, so I think it’s past breakfast. How about I call Gram and see if she and Nana Ruby want to join us?”
“Really?” Her eyes widened in shock. “I thought you’d be upset with her after the whole Twitter incident.”
He sighed. “Blair and Megan were going to find out the ugly details at some point, and Gram meant well. If we invite her to lunch, she’ll know we’re not angry with her. If she even knows things are a mess back home. She might be totally oblivious.”
She stiffened in his arms. “You think our wedding was ugly?”
“I think our wedding was perfectly us, but we both know that your friends—especially Blair—would have been horrified and offended by it.” He bent at the knees to look her in the eyes. “I suspect you got an earful when you called them earlier.”
“I only talked to Blair and it was enough.”
“I’m sorry.”
She shook her head and her eyes lit up with fire. “Their loss, but it only proves that other than Tortoise, there’s really nothing left for me in Kansas City. I want to move my things to Seattle as soon as possible.”
“I love you, Lib. I hope I’m worth the grief.”
A soft smile spread across her face. “I’m not sure I’ll ever get tired of hearing you say you love me.”
“If I said it as many times as the feeling hits me, I suspect I’ll annoy the hell out of you, but I’m willing to take the risk.”
She placed a kiss on his lips, her eyes sparkling with happiness. “I like the sound of that. Why don’t you call Gram while I get dressed?”
He nodded and watched her ass as she dug her jeans and underwear out of the bag. It was a good thing he was out of condoms or he’d suggest they order room service instead.
He pulled up Gram’s number. “Hey, Gram.”
“I’m surprised you and Libby are still speaking to me. Megan’s about to birth twin cows.” She sounded more subdued than usual.
He shrugged even though she couldn’t see him. “Libby says it’s their loss. We love that you got a photo. For all I know it’s one of the only ones. We were supposed to get professional photos, but Angelica broke the camera, so unless one of the homeless guys had a camera, I’m pretty sure that didn’t happen.”
“I’m not sure why they have their panties in a wad. I thought it was a lovely service.”
“Thanks, Gram. We loved it too. Say . . . I know we talked about having dinner tonight, but we were wondering if you and Nana Ruby wanted to join us for lunch instead.”
“Sounds good. Then we can go see Donny and Marie tonight.”
He laughed. “You want to see Donny and Marie?”
“Nah. It seemed like a good compromise. Ruby’s a little bit country and I’m a whole lot of rock and roll. What Ruby doesn’t know is we’re going to a strip club after. I’m hoping to meet my Mr. Right.”
“Well, okay then . . . that works out well. Do you have a preference where we eat for lunch?”
“That Food Network guy has a restaurant here. How about we eat at his place?”
“Sounds good. Can you be ready to meet us there at noon? I’ll see if I can get reservations.”
“We’ll see you kids there.”
“It’s a date.” He hung up and grinned.
Libby stood in front of him wearing a pair of jeans that clung to her hips and a black sweater with a V-neck that dipped into her cleavage and knit fabric that showed off her generous breasts. It didn’t help matters that he knew she was wearing black lingerie underneath. “I’m ready to go. What are we going to do for the next forty-five minutes?”
He pulled her into his arms, groaning. “Not what I’d like to be doing. You’re gorgeous.”
She laughed. “How about we find some condoms for later, then wander around until it’s time to meet them for lunch.”
“That sounds like a fabulous plan. We better get the jumbo package. I hope your purse is big enough.”
Chapter Twenty-Four