“Hmm… What was that about?” Sasha asked as he approached.
“Oh, just stuff. Girl stuff.”
“Ah, why don’t I believe you?”
He still had a puzzled look on his face, so I decided to jump into a question I’d been thinking about. “Do you ever talk about Selena with Nina?”
He started to answer immediately and pulled a face. “She knows about her mother. I’ve mentioned her. We talked about how she was with the angels.”
“While I was in your house, I didn’t see any pictures, including in Nina’s room.”
He seemed confused, rubbing his jaw for a few seconds. “I thought she had a photograph in a frame on her nightstand. I know I’ve given her one.”
“Did you tell her that any time she has questions you’ll be happy to answer them?” When he bristled, I placed my hand on his chest. “I’m not trying to pry. She asked if I was going to leave her like her mommy. She knows what’s going on, Sasha. She can feel the vibrations of your concern. She feeds off you and readsyour body clues. She’s terrified of losing anyone else. That little girl is trying so hard to be strong for you that soon her childhood will be over. You don’t want that.”
He was visibly shaken. “My God. I’ve been so busy trying to avoid the pain that I didn’t see hers.”
“She’s missing her mother. Seeing the two of us together brought back emotions she’s been holding in a private prison of her own.”
“She’s looking for stability.”
“Aren’t we all?”
His smile was careful, even pained. “Maybe you’re right about both. Talking about Selena has been too painful. I didn’t think about how Nina would feel. I guess I thought I was protecting her.”
“I think doing so is important for both of you. Until you do, you won’t be able to move on. Just my opinion. When was the last time the two of you took a vacation?”
He cocked his head, half laughing. “I honestly don’t remember when.”
“You workaholic.”
“Mmm… That’s how I earn the big bucks.”
I gave him a salacious look, my face unfettered by sunglasses. When I started unbuttoning his shirt, a husky and adorable growl created a wave of desire. He knew exactly how to turn me on. “Well, that’s how I can lure men into my web.”
He lifted his sunglasses, eyeing me suspiciously. “Oh, yeah? Did you learn that in college, little butterfly?”
His playful tone had returned.
“Maybe. However, women are much smarter than men.” The sand felt good between my toes and I continued stepping away, swishing my dress back and forth to taunt him.
“So you’re suggesting we need to have a little fun. Is that it?”
“On this trip? That’s exactly what I’m saying. Let your hair down. Put on a pair of shorts and flip-flops. Allow the rest of the world to fade away if only for a little while. Your business, your investments, and the danger will still be there. If that’s what you want. I dare you.”
I took another step away, even blowing him a kiss. He wasn’t ready to fully confront the pain in losing Selena, but just by confiding in me, the ice had been broken.
“You dare me?” His grin widened as he pressed his finger against his chest.
“Yep. Stop being the stuffy man you’re known for being. I double dare you.”
“You need to learn some manners and start obeying.”
“Obeying you?” I pointed at him, shaking my head. “I don’t think so.”
“Oh, you’ll learn to obey me. And stuffy, huh? Lady… I’ll show you stuffy.”
When he lunged forward, I yelped, spinning around, hiking up my dress and running like a bat out of hell.
