Escorting the Actress (The Escort Collection 2)

"Caroline filled me in," he said.

"Did she tell you it's a tell-all interview?" I asked, bracing for the worst.

"She mentioned that, yes."

I couldn't believe how calm he was. I sat across from him. "Do you know what that means?" My father was brilliant, but he had probably never watched the Entertainment network in his life.

He shrugged. "It means that you're going to tell everyone Lowell hired you as an escort. They already know that I was married to her mother."

"That's right," I said cautiously, watching his face. "We told them everything. We want a fresh start, Dad. We don't want to start our lives together pretending."

"I think… I think that's very mature, Kyle." He looked at me. "I'm proud of you."

"Huh?" I asked. "I did the opposite of what you asked me—no, what you begged me—to do. I ruined your launch too."

"My launch is inherently compromised. But at least my Forbes piece will be entertaining." Pierce nodded thoughtfully, his eyes twinkling. "When I spoke to Lowell yesterday and she told me about the truth coming out, I lost it. After that, I sat in my office for a while, fuming… and I realized it didn't matter. If you two really love each other enough to risk your privacy and your reputations, then who am I to stand in the way?"

"My father," I reminded him. "Who has a vested interest in the situation."

"I know you went against my wishes, son. But I also know that you did it for the right reasons. And you used good judgment. Which, I might add, I've never seen you do before. So this is sort of a big deal."

I felt the pinpricks of tears in my eyes, but I willed them away. "So you don't… hate me?" Lowell clutched my arm, giving me the strength I needed to hold back the tears.

My father's face softened. "You're my son. I could never hate you. Even when I cut you off, I was angry, but I didn't hate you. That's not possible." He gave me a long look. "This isn't how I would plan things, but I've never seen you this happy. I've never seen you this together. I feel like, for the first time since you were a kid, since before things went… wrong with us, I feel like you've been honest with me. And I like you when you're honest and together." He grinned at me. "I actually like you, son. Between worrying that you were going to kill yourself and wanting to kill you myself for so many years, I didn't know that was possible."

"Gee, thanks, Dad," I said, grinning.

"You're welcome, son."

Lowell leaned forward. "And you forgive her?" She jutted her chin at her mother.

Pierce patted Caroline's knee. "Don't be so hard on your mother. She's been through quite a shock."

I might have imagined it, but I thought I saw a small smile pass over Caroline's lips.

Here we go again. For better or for worse.

* * *

We were headed to the Hearts Wide Open premiere.

"I'm nervous," I said as I adjusted the bow tie on my tuxedo for the thousandth time. "And I don't get nervous."

"Yes, you do, you big lug," Lowell said and swatted my hands away from my neck. She fixed my tie and blew me a kiss. "You look gorgeous, though. Nothing to worry about."

"Everybody knows I was an escort. They're probably all going to be thinking about this." I motioned to my cock.

Lowell burst out laughing then clapped her hand over her mouth. "Sorry." Her shoulders were still shaking. "But are you really worried that people are going to be focused on your penis?"

I shrugged defensively. "Maybe. Probably. Usually."

"I'll be thinking about it. That's for sure." She grinned wickedly.

"Don't make me mess up your pretty dress," I growled and chased her around the room.

Squealing, she ran until I had her in a corner.

"Kyle, don't!" she yelled, laughing hard. "I just had my makeup done!"