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A soft chuckle rumbled through Holden’s chest. “We’ll discuss it after they’ve gone to their part of the house. Maybe we should go to 4 Play after dinner and grab a conference room and talk. We wouldn’t have to worry about anyone else being around or overhearing us.”
I swallowed hard, my hormones kicking my brain out of the driver’s seat. “If we go to the club, then we should use it.” I bit my lower lip as the bulge in his pants told me he was on board with the idea.
“Let’s go casual when we leave the house. Jeans and a shirt. That way we won’t tip them off. And babe, they know I own 4 Play, they just don’t have any idea about the lower floor,” he reminded me.
Footsteps grew closer, and we immediately stopped talking.
“I’m back, River. Why don’t we whip up a salad and garlic bread to go with the lasagna?” Catherine squeezed Holden’s shoulder as we dropped our embrace.
“How was the trip, Mom?” Holden asked while he unloaded ingredients from the huge stainless-steel refrigerator.
Catherine’s face lit up as she rattled off details to Holden in another language. To my surprise, he replied to her as well.
“Holden, you speak Chinese?” I asked, realizing how little I knew about the man I shared a bed with.
“Since I was six,” Holden said, grinning at his mom.
“If you want to learn, I can teach you,” Catherine offered as she removed a large wooden salad bowl from the cabinet above her head. This was a quick change from the woman who had quizzed me about birth control minutes ago. Maybe she was dialing it down since Holden was in the room with us.
“Wow, that’s kind of you. I’m not sure I’d ever use it. I’ve always wanted to learn to speak French, though. Not that I need it either, but the language sounds so beautiful.” I smiled at her, hoping that I was selling myself as someone who wished to get to know her.
Over the next half hour, Holden, Catherine, and I chatted about college classes and future plans. The more we talked, the more I liked her. Maybe Holden was right. Catherine definitely seemed more relaxed and friendly.
I set the table while Holden finished the garlic bread. He’d used a broiler so I could put the lasagna back into the oven on warm. Since I had no idea that his parents would be home, I hadn’t been able to time the food appropriately. I hoped like hell it tasted good.
Tim joined us and the conversation continued. My hair hung down and covered the side of my face. I used the opportunity to peek at him, and each time I wished I hadn’t. I wasn’t sure if Catherine was paying attention to Tim, but he certainly wasn’t making any effort to hide his appreciation for my boobs.
I rounded my shoulders enough to make my chest not so obvious. Holden never let go of my fingers beneath the table, which told me that he’d noticed his father’s behavior as well.
I tapped Holden’s Apple Watch on his wrist and looked at the time. I couldn’t wait to get the hell out of here. Not only did I need to speak to Holden, but I wanted to talk to Brynn. The first night we met, she mentioned that Holden’s parents weren’t the greatest, and I was desperate to understand what she meant. Maybe Brynn had some insight that Holden didn’t just because he was too close to the situation.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Fear seeped into my bones, weighing me down. I paced the length of the conference room in Holden’s club, wringing my hands while I attempted to put the pieces together. What I did know was that Tim Alastair was a rotten bastard. He hadn’t even tried to hide the way he eye-fucked me in front of his wife and son.
I groaned and sat on the top of the live edge table and chewed my thumbnail as I waited for Holden. One wall was floor-to-ceiling windows, and I focused on the city below me. The downtown Spokane lights twinkled in the darkness, and I’d fallen in love with the rush of the Spokane River. If I shut my eyes, I could almost hear and smell the fresh water.
“I’m back, babe.” Holden closed the door behind him, then set a tray of snacks and drinks on the table for us.
“Thanks.” I joined him and grabbed one of the tall, brown-colored drinks. “What’s this?” I tasted it, my eye winking uncontrollably. “Holy shit that’s sour.”
Holden laughed, then picked up the can of soda and added some to my glass. “It’s a Long Island, but I made it on the sour side. It’s easier to add Coke than take it out.” He took a drink of his, then sat down in one of the Italian brown leather executive chairs.
He frowned as he ran his fingers through his dark hair. Concern flashed in his brown eyes as his gaze landed on me. “I’m worried, River. I didn’t like how my father looked at you. It took everything inside of me not to fly over the table and pound the motherfucker.” Disgust weaved through Holden’s features. “Who the hell looks at their son’s girlfriend like that?”
Relief flooded over me. Since Holden and I hadn’t been through this situation before, I wasn’t sure he would mention it. Admitting that a parent is a slimy piece of shit was hard.
“Your mom didn’t say a word, Holden. Does she not care?” His parents were puzzling me more and more.
Holden’s gaze dropped to the light-colored wood floors, then back to me. “She has the ability to tune unpleasant things out. Honestly, I don’t think they’re married because they love each other. I think it’s only business. I know one thing. I never want a marriage like theirs. When they’re home they avoid each other like the plague.”
I reached for his hand and sank into the seat next to him. “I’m guessing that a divorce at this point ... Well, the financials would be a bitch to deal with.”
“Yeah, plus it’s cheaper to file your taxes married.”
I shifted in the chair, my attention landing on him.
Holden leaned back and laced his fingers behind his head. “You never talk about your mom. What happened to her?”
