“I’m very impressed with these. You’ve kept the charm of the place without taking too much away from it all.”
A swell of relief filled her. “My intention was never to make major changes. I love this place as it is, too, Nick.”
His eyes riveted on her face. “Yes, I can see that.”
She flushed with pleasure, feeling her cheeks turn almost the same pink as the bikini she wore.
Or didn’t wear, she mused, pulling the robe tighter over her breasts, seeing his gaze drop to where she pretended she wasn’t naked underneath.
“You surprise me,” he murmured, lazy seduction seeping into those blue eyes. “I’d have thought you’d put your bikini top back on.”
All at once she felt a touch defiant. “Maybe I’m not quite the prude you think I am.”
Taking her by surprise, he placed the tip of his finger at her chin. “Hmm, maybe not,” he murmured, sending her heartbeat thudding into a mad gallop. Then his finger slithered down her throat to rest on her wildly beating pulse. “You look so damn sexy in that robe.”
She moistened her lips. “Nick—”
“I could strip it off you here and now and you wouldn’t stop me … would you?”
She was very much afraid he was right.
“And I could slide those tiny bikini bottoms off you and you wouldn’t say a word … true?”
Heavens, yes! He could take her this very moment and she’d let him. He made her want to do things she normally didn’t do.
How she wished she could lie. “Nick, you know you’re right but—”
He dropped his hand away from her throat. “But?”
“Afterwards I would feel totally embarrassed if I thought Iris or Leo had seen us.”
His eyes filled with satisfaction. “So you are a prude?”
She started to frown. “Are you pleased because I’ve admitted it? Or because you’re right?”
“Both. I like to win.”
And he would never give in until he did, she was sure.
Suddenly he said, “I can’t help who I am, Sasha.”
She looked at him and saw no apology, just a simple statement that made her succumb to her need for him. No, he couldn’t help being who he was.
“Nick, please. Take me to bed.”
Five
Every evening after that was like a mini-honeymoon for the rest of the week. The weather remained quite warm and Nick would come home and they’d swim in the pool, eat a lazy dinner until dark, then retire to the bedroom.
There Sasha learned she wasn’t really a prude at all. She’d just needed to let go of her inhibitions, and with Nick’s instructions she did.
And her heart was still intact.
Then one morning she ended up walking past Nick’s old bedroom and for some reason she stopped and went in. The room had a large bed and furnishings befitting a teenager of wealth, done out in shades of light and dark brown. On the dresser there were school trophies for cricket, soccer and swimming.
She wasn’t sure what she expected to find, but there was something more here, something that made her believe Nick was much deeper than she had previously believed.
She just didn’t know what that was.
And perhaps it was best she didn’t find out.
Let him be who he was, and leave it at that. She didn’t want any more complications in her life.
And speaking of complications, Sasha got a sinking feeling in her stomach when her mother arrived a few hours later right at lunchtime, supposedly to see how things were going. There was nothing for it but to invite her mother to lunch. Not that she minded. It was just that today she seemed to have an agenda.
And Sasha had the feeling it was to do with her father.
“So, you’ve recovered from the wedding?” Sally asked as they sat down to a light lunch.
“Yes, I have.” Until this moment Sasha hadn’t let herself be upset that her mother hadn’t called since the wedding. Nick’s mother had managed to call several times.
“I’m sorry I didn’t phone you, darling,” Sally said, as if reading her daughter’s mind. “I just thought it best I leave you to … adapt.”
Sasha gave a remote smile. “Thanks.”
“Darling, it’s always good to leave a newly married couple to their own devices.”
“Is that what the wedding manuals say?” she muttered, then felt bad when she saw the crushed looked on her mother’s face. “Mum, I’m sorry. All this has been a bit of a strain. I never expected to get married. Not for a long time anyway.”
Sally nodded. “It’s okay. I understand. But please remember that you’ve made your father and me so happy. I love that he’s smiling again.”
Ignoring the thought that her father probably had a new girlfriend, Sasha squeezed her mother’s hand. “Then I’m glad.”
Sally’s grateful smile turned to a frown. “Darling, there is one thing …” she began, making Sasha tense. “There seems to be some sort of delay in closing the deal with Cesare. Your father can’t wait much longer, I’m afraid.”
“They’re pretty busy with the launch in the U.K. and all, I’d imagine.”
Come to think of it, she wasn’t sure of the reason for the delay herself.
“I was sort of hoping you could ask Nick. Not straight out, mind you. Just see if there’s a problem and what it is. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t so important.”
Sasha swallowed. “Mum, this is an awkward position you and Dad are putting me in.”
Again.
Her mother didn’t seem to notice. “Nick’s your husband. He’ll tell you everything.”
There were just so many things a mother could ask a daughter to do. “Nick and I are not in love, Mum. He keeps things to himself. I can’t guarantee anything.”
“If you could just try, darling.”
Sasha sighed. “Okay, I’ll see what I can do.”
Her mother left straight after the meal, probably in case she said anything to change her daughter’s mind. Sasha saw her off with a heavy heart. She loved her mother dearly but she’d never understand her love for a man, which totally submerged her own personality.
That would never happen to her.
Never.
And to prove it to herself, she would broach the dreaded subject with Nick at dinner this evening.
“My mother stopped by for lunch today.”
Nick looked up from his meal and felt pleased for Sasha’s sake. “Good. I don’t think you’ve heard from her since the wedding, have you?”
“She’s been busy.”
“I’m sure.” No doubt looking after Porter’s every whim.
And at the expense of her daughter, Nick thought with a frown, surprised at the lack of attention Sally had actually given Sasha since their marriage. Wasn’t a mother supposed to fuss over a newlywed daughter? Or was he just being a bit too old-fashioned?
Sasha moistened her mouth. “My mother does have a concern, though. She thought I might be able to help.”
“And that is?”
“My father’s waiting on a shipping deal to go through with the House of Valente, and apparently it’s been delayed. He’s not sure why.”