“You didn’t tell me that.”
“I didn’t get a chance. Think it over and let me know.”
“There isn’t anything to think about,” she said. “It’s a gorgeous house and will be a beautiful location to raise a family. I have to get over my insecurities on my own, but it makes sense to purchase the house.”
“I’m glad, but you still can change your mind.”
“I won’t,” she said. “About anything. And I’m not going to leave tonight either. I want to make sure that we are both good before we sleep tonight.”
“You know you’re welcome in my bed any time you want,” he said, kissing her on the forehead. He threw her legs over his thighs, then stood with her in his arms. “Starting now.” Then he raced to his room.
45
CAME FOR YOU
Just when life was finally settling into place, Natalie’s phone rang two weeks later.
“Hello, Sarah.”
“Sorry to bother you, Natalie. But Erin Brown is at the desk and asking to speak with you. She won’t tell me what it’s about so it’s nothing I can help her with.”
She didn’t know what Arik’s mother was doing at The Retreat again or why Arik hadn’t said anything.
Unless he didn’t know. Chances were he didn’t.
“I’ll be right up.”
She stood and left her office, trying to decide if she wanted to bring Erin back here to talk or another place for privacy.
Something in her gut twisted, warning her this talk wouldn’t end well.
“Erin,” she said. “It’s so nice to see you again. What do I owe this visit to?”
Arik’s mother was dressed as if she were ready to present before the biggest, toughest jury of her career.
A navy power suit, white and red silk shirt under an open jacket that rested on her trim hips, red pumps with the matching red treads.
“You’re looking lovely,” Erin said, her eyes landing on Natalie’s belly. They weren’t parading the pregnancy around, but no one was pretending it didn’t exist. Erin’s eyes found the diamond on Natalie’s finger for the briefest second, just long enough to register what it meant.
Arik had told no one on his side that she had the ring.
It’s not as if it was an engagement. He hadn’t asked her to marry him. It was his sign of a commitment.
His symbol.
When others had noticed the ring, they asked when the wedding was.
It was easy to say no date had been set.
“Thank you. Are you visiting the island long?”
“Just a few hours,” Erin said. “Is there a place we can have a private conversation?”
“Of course.”
She could play the game of polite public conversation just as well as Erin could.
They returned to her office, she shut the door and gestured toward the chair in front of her desk.
