“I don’t know what you mean.” She couldn’t allow herself to become weak now and be reminded of the intimacies they’d shared.

Paul lifted his hand and brushed his knuckles over her cheek. “We’ve gotten close. Closer than I think either of us expected.”

“It was just sex,” she insisted, though she knew it was a lie.

“Oh it was sex, fabulous sex. But that wasn’t all. I told you that I liked you, but I’m afraid that’s not really the truth.”

Holly dropped her lids, avoiding his gaze. Why had she believed him before?

“The truth is that I’m in love with you.”

Her gaze shot to his, and she saw warmth and affection shining back at her. “No, you’re not. It’s not possible.”

“Why not?” Paul asked softly.

“I’m . . . I’m not the kind of woman a man like you should—”

He pressed a finger to her lips, stopping her from finishing her sentence. “Love doesn’t care about those things.”

“It’ll never work. To start a relationship just because I got pregnant by you is wrong. Don’t you remember what happened to your sister?”

Paul shook his head. “What’s going on between Olivia and Quentin is different.”

Holly threw her head back. “How is it different? They stayed together because she got pregnant. And now they’re fighting all the time.”

“I admit, things haven’t worked out for them, but we aren’t them.” He cupped her shoulders. “Why can’t you accept that I love you?”

“Because you can’t love somebody with a past like mine.” He would always resent her for it.

“I can, because I won’t judge you by your past. I’ll judge you by your future. Our future.”

Tears welled up in her eyes. “Your parents will hate you for it, and then you’ll start resenting me. Please don’t do this. Just let me go. I promise you I’ll never bother you again. I’ll never ask for money for the child.”

“This isn’t about money, Holly. It’s never been about that. Don’t you understand? When I hired you, subconsciously I did it because I wanted you. Even back then. Even when I thought you were still an escort. Even when I had no idea that you’d quit or that you were pregnant by me. It’s always been about you. Something happened that night. You showed me what my life could be like. What love could be like with the right woman. You are that woman. And I’m not going to give up just because some jerk exposed you in front of my parents and their friends. I don’t care what anybody thinks. The only two people who matter here are you and I.”

Holly wanted to believe his words, to simply give in, but she was scared. “Your parents will tear us apart. Maybe not immediately, but it will happen. They’ll always look down on me. And one day you’ll see it their way and regret your decision.”

To her surprise, Paul smiled. “Can I tell you something about my parents?”

Holly gave him a curious look.

“My father met a young, beautiful stripper and fell in love with her. His parents were against the match and tried everything to get him to leave her. They even threatened to disinherit him. But my father loved her more than anything. He still does.”

She sighed. Fate was cruel sometimes.

“And she still loves him. They have two children: my sister and me.”

Holly gasped at the unexpected news. “Your mother was a stripper?”

“My grandparents weren’t kind to her, and her entire life she’s tried to make up for it and please them. Without success. But you know what? Despite everything, despite how my father’s parents treated her, they could never tear them apart, because they belong together. My parents will accept you once they’re over the initial shock, because they remember how much the way my grandparents treated them hurt. They won’t repeat those mistakes.”

Could this really be true? “Are you sure?”

Paul smiled. “My father told me to follow my heart. And my heart wants you.”

“Oh, Paul,” she murmured, feeling tears run down her cheeks.

“So tell me, how much do you love me?”

Holly slung her arms around his neck. “Too much.”

“I can live with that.”

Then his mouth was on hers, and he kissed her. He held her to his body and his heartbeat reverberated in her chest.

30

Despite having driven for over three hours to get back to New York, Paul didn’t feel the least bit exhausted. On the contrary, he’d never felt better. And the reason was right here, in his arms, in his bedroom.