Then, she leaned her head against the front of his shoulder. Nico was helpless to do anything except stand there and feel complete. She went back to the game as Nico wandered the room, restless now that Valerie was no longer touching him.
“Since you’re both here, I talked to Penny about what happened earlier.” Roger sighed. “She’s always had this idea that being a Badgerton is like this private club and she’s the membership director.”
“What about the investigator?” asked Nico.
Roger looked grim. “She admitted to hiring one and we had a fight. That’s done now. She called him off.”
“Does she suspect I’m fake?” asked Valerie, looking troubled.
“She said that she likes you very much, and this was only for her own peace of mind.”
Valerie’s expression softened in what seemed like relief.
“She could think you or you and Yvette are trying to take advantage of Roger,” said Nico, knowing these were more plausible but less palatable alternatives. “That would explain the letter she wants you to sign.”
“I think she believes you and just wants to make sure you don’t shame the Badgerton name with some long-hidden scandal. She’s also very protective of her kids, which explains the letter.” Roger hovered his hand over a piece, then took it back. “I didn’t touch it,” he said, preempting Valerie’s anticipated accusation.
“You always try to pawn me off with that excuse.”
“It was a rookie mistake.”
They high-fived over the table.
Alice knocked and poked her head in. “Penny says we’re going,” she said. “Movies on the marina time.”
Valerie followed Nico out behind Alice and tugged on his sleeve. “What’s this again?”
“Once a month, the village sets up a projector and people sit in their boats to watch a movie.” She was going to love the lights on the water. He had nothing to do with it, and attending wasn’t his idea, but he felt as if by being the one to explain it, he was offering it to her as a gift.
“It’s fun,” said Alice. “They only show old movies, like Katharine Hepburn. She’s Mark’s favorite actor, and I’ve seen all her films now.” She looked down at a pile of blankets. “We need some pillows.”
They clambered into the runabout and rode through the growing twilight to the marina on the far side of the lake. Valerie, who had taken the seat next to Nico, was looking out the back of the boat. “The stars!It’s not even full night. It’s been ages since I’ve seen stars in the city. I forgot how dense they are.”
Dense wasn’t how Nico would have described them, but he understood what she meant. Penny glanced over with a frown. “Valerie, I’m worried you’ll be cold.”
“I’m okay,” Valerie assured her.
“Here, take this.” Penny passed over her jacket.
“What about you?” Valerie asked.
“Don’t worry about me.” Penny gestured to the pile of blankets. “I’ll be fine.”
Valerie stroked the jacket reverently, then pulled it on. “Thank you.”
“Keep it,” urged Penny. “It suits you and is warmer than that old jean jacket you usually wear.”
Nico watched this exchange suspiciously. Penny always had an agent resell her clothes. There had to be a reason she was being so generous.
Valerie turned to him when Penny was deep in conversation with Roger, and lowered her voice to a whisper. “Nico, what if we were wrong about her? What if she really does want to invite my parents to get to know them, and not out of any wicked scheme? I’ll bet she was upset when Roger told her no. She made me crumpets, and she’s been incredible about the clothes.” She snuggled her face into the collar of her new jacket.
Nico disagreed. Valerie needed to keep some perspective, but he’d seen how much she appreciated attention from both Penny and Roger. Although he wasn’t much of an armchair psychologist, from the little he’d heard, he was willing to bet it came from her two indifferent parents.
“Yes, but she’s not your mom,” he said, pitching his voice so only Valerie could hear it over the sound of the motor.
Valerie reacted as if he’d slapped her. “Excuse me? I know that.”
Nico sensed he was blundering into something deeper than he’danticipated, but was it better to keep going or try to rein it in? His rational mind told him to say what he needed to, but Valerie’s furrowed brow and trembling lips made it difficult.
