He knew better than to fall for the trick of making a blanket denial. Chloe had missed her calling as a lawyer. Instead, he focused on the first part of the accusation. “I am perfectly capable of being polite, as is Renee. We both grew up and are no longer whiny children. Unlike some people I know,” he said, hoping that Chloe would take the bait.
She didn’t. “Do you have any idea how big of a mess she’s in? And you creeping up on her isn’t helping anything! You should keep your damn hands off her! Just because she’s vulnerable and needy doesn’t give you the right—”
“Stop right there,” Oliver growled and, to Chloe’s credit, she did. “First off, I am not taking advantage of anyone. Second off, I know exactly how big of a mess she’s—I spoke with Clint, the ass, over the phone.”
“Really? Whoa.”
He ignored her. “Third off, whatever happens between consenting adults is absolutely no business of yours—”
“I knew it,” Chloe muttered under her breath.
“And fourth off,” he ground out through gritted teeth, “she is not vulnerable and needy. She is not a helpless damsel in distress or a lost child and it’s insulting her to imply she is. She’s a woman in a difficult situation doing the best she can to get her life back on track for her and her child and all I’m doing is giving her the space to decide what she wants to do and helping her accomplish those goals, whether it’s attempting a cookie recipe or shielding her from the press. And furthermore,” he went on, because he was on a roll and Chloe wasn’t interrupting him and that was a rare thing, “I am not creeping on anyone. Really, Chloe? You know damn good and well that Mom loved Renee like she was one of the family and all I’m doing for her is what I’d do for you or Flash.”
Except for the part where he stripped her down and lost himself in her body. But again—he was neither confirming nor denying that.
“Because that’s what Mom would want and expect out of me—out of all of us. So don’t insult me or Renee, sis, because she’s had quite enough unfounded accusations and rumors to last her the rest of her life. Are we clear?”
There was a stunned moment of silence. Oliver wasn’t sure if the stunned part was coming from him or from Chloe.
Because he might have just lost his temper. There may have been shouting involved—he wasn’t sure. Hopefully, Herb had got out of earshot.
“Is Renee why you gave me the negotiations?” All of her righteous anger was gone.
Yes. But he kept that to himself. “The rodeo is yours, you know that. Just because Dad doesn’t appreciate all the work you do to make it profitable doesn’t mean I don’t.”
“Did you just compliment me?” Chloe let out a low whistle. “You did! Jesus, she’s good for you. And before you yell at me again, I’m not insulting either of you.”
He growled.
“There’s the brother I know and love. Listen, I invited Renee to stay with me when I’m in town and I’m taking her to the rodeo.”
“That is not a good idea.” But even as he said it—all right, even as he growled it—he knew he was being ridiculous. Hadn’t he offered to take her to museums and theaters and whatever she wanted? A rodeo wasn’t that different, was it?
Then again, it was the rodeo. Ugh.
“Keep your pants on. I’m sending her a bunch of clothes and we’ll find a hat. I could give her big hair. Ooh! We’ll try new eye makeup. Trust me, when I’m done with her, no one will recognize her.”
He would. He’d recognize her in a crowd in the middle of the night.
“Oliver? You know I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her. Or you, I guess.”
“Thanks, brat.” But he let go of the breath he’d been holding all the same. “How are the negotiations coming along?”
The conversation thankfully veered off into business then, but Oliver couldn’t get Renee out of his mind. When he ended the call, he couldn’t do anything but sit there and stare at the pictures lining the far wall—all those artistic action shots of the rodeo that Renee had noticed the moment she’d waltzed into his office.
He hated the rodeo—the smells and dirt, the bulls, the young idiots who risked life and limb for a belt buckle—and that absolutely included Flash. Oliver hated the whole damned thing. But if Renee wanted to go see one and Chloe could disguise her appearance...maybe they could pull it off.
He had so much he needed to do. He should have Bailey order some flowers—delivered to the office so that he could give them to Renee in person. And more baking things—he’d make sure Lucille brought plenty of supplies with her. He needed to find out who Renee’s lawyers were and make sure they were doing their job. And he should get the name of a trustworthy doctor. He didn’t know how long she’d be here, but if there was a problem, he didn’t want to take her to the emergency room and hope no one recognized her. A private doctor who would be on call—for a price, of course—was the solution. And...
Well, she’d be here at least long enough to go to the rodeo in three weeks. And after that?
A vision of her rounding out with her pregnancy materialized in his mind. She absolutely glowed, damn it, and he had a powerful urge to tell her she wasn’t going anywhere until after the baby was born. But it wasn’t like she could just up and relocate with a newborn. She’d need help then, too. And that baby—Oliver would have to make sure that the media didn’t descend like locusts and turn that innocent child into nothing but clickbait.
Would she want him to be there when the baby was born? Would she want him by her side, holding her
