Oh, god. My heart dropped. My job was the last thing on my mind right now. I cleared my throat. “Lucy, you’re lovely, and I’m flattered, but I’m not taking on any new clients right now.”
/> Her eyes widened, then she burst into uncontrollable laughter. I cringed, realizing that she hadn’t been about to proposition me, after all.
Fuck, I look like a dickhead. Fuck!
“Liam, I’m flattered, but I’m a married woman,” she said, stifling a giggle.
Oh, this shit just got better and better.
“No, honey, the reason I was going to call you was to tell you someone set up an anonymous fund for your mother’s care. Trust me when I say you’ll never have to worry about paying another medical bill for her.” She smiled widely, as though she couldn’t wait for my reaction.
Holy shit. What?
“Who?” I demanded, still shell-shocked by the news.
Lucy laughed. “Well it wouldn’t be anonymous if I told ya now, would it?” She giggled.
I nodded slowly. I didn’t need her to tell me. I knew exactly who it was. What I didn’t know was why.
I knocked on the door of the penthouse on the fortieth floor, still unsure of what the hell I was going to say. The door swung open. Beth stood there, looking cute in a pair of indecently cut denim shorts and a tank top.
“Coop!” she said brightly. Her face dropped. “They told you?” she wailed.
I rolled my eyes and brushed past her. “They didn’t have to, Beth. You just did. You’re not a very convincing liar,” I added, my mouth twitching.
“Are you angry?” She stared at me, her eyes huge.
“I’m not angry, but I can’t accept it.”
“Why not?” she demanded.
“Because you’re not paying for my mother’s care,” I replied, shaking my head. It was ridiculous. Stupid. Impossible.
For the briefest moment on the drive over there, I’d imagined being able to be with Mia and how amazing Beth’s gift would’ve been. More than anything I wanted to say yes. I wanted to scream it from the fucking rooftops, but the last thing I wanted was for Beth to feel like I’d used her.
“Coop, I’ve got so much money, I don’t know what to do with it. I could use hundred dollar bills as toilet paper if I wanted, and not miss it.”
“It’s not about that, Beth. I refuse to take advantage of you like that.”
“What? Don’t be stupid. Coop, you are the most selfless person I know. I donate to about ten charities—what’s the fucking difference?” she protested. “Think of it as me providing funds into Alzheimer’s research. Because that’s what it is, right? Basically?”
I shook my head. I couldn’t. There was no way I could possibly… Could I?
Beth sensed I was faltering. “Coop, this makes sense, and you know it.” She reached out and touched my arm. “You deserve to be happy. If this gives you a chance at happiness, then it’s worth it. You’re so much more than an escort. You could be so much more.”
“I don’t get it, Beth. Why? Why would you do this for me?”
“Just take the damn money,” she growled, “get yourself a normal job, and live a normal fucking life. Do things for you for once, and don’t worry about your family. Put you first.”
“Tell me why!” I said, my voice rising.
“Because you’re like family to me!” she yelled back. “Because you do more for me than anyone else I know.” She laughed as I raised my eyebrows. “Get your mind out of the gutter. Not like that, you idiot. You treat me like a normal person. I can be myself around you. I don’t have that with anyone else,” she muttered, her cheeks glowing red. “I don’t have family, Coop. You’re my family. The way you’re helping your mom? That’s how I feel about you. Please let me do this.”
I reached for her hand and pulled her toward me, wrapping my arms around her. I laughed as I heard her sigh.
She hugged me back. “Go talk to her, Coop. Then figure out what you want to do with your life.”
She was giving me an out. Beth was taking the decision away from me. She knew I’d never choose love over my family, so she was changing the equation.