He slipped his arm around her shoulders. “I bought the place for this view.”
“Smart man.”
Darius made Sasha a cup of tea, and they settled in the living room in front of the fire. It took them a moment to get situated so that Sasha could lean against his chest, but in the end, they made it work. “Are you comfortable?”
“Yes. You?”
“I’m fine.” He kissed the top of her head. “How are you feeling, really?”
Sasha tried to put the confusion inside her into words. “I feel like an idiot.”
“You arenotan idiot.”
“Then I must be the most naïve person alive.” She found herself fighting tears. “I knew Maritza had a jealous streak. I heard her say unkind things about other pro climbers. I overlooked all of that. I guess I wanted to believe the best about her. I thought she was my friend.”
Darius held her closer. “Don’t blame yourself. She deceived you—and then she betrayed you. That is onher, not you.”
Sasha wiped her cheeks. “It’s time for me to grow up, to get tougher and smarter and stop being a stupid little girl who thinks everyone is good. I need—”
“Sasha,stop. You’re taking this out on yourself. Braun is the one to blame, not you. Please don’t let that hateful, jealouscriminalchange who you are. People love you. They love your big, open heart, your kindness, your willingness to put others first, your humility, and your beautiful smile.” He chuckled. “The first time I spoke with Mitch, he told me that your smile lights up the room. He’s right. If someone managed to bottle sunshine and pour it into a person—that would be you.”
She sat up, looked into his eyes. “That’s so sweet.”
He wiped her cheek with his thumb. “You see people as innately good because you’re good. The world needs you—hell,Ineed you—to stay just the way you are.”
“Do you really mean that?”
He seemed as serious as she’d ever seen him. “I do.”
“Thank you.” She snuggled against his chest, closed her eyes, and willed herself to let the rest of the world go.
Chapter22
Sasha leaned forwardagainst a towel draped over the side of the tub, careful to keep her cast out of the water, while Darius kneaded the tension from her neck and shoulders, turning her muscles to putty.
“You’re really tight here.” He focused for a moment on her left upper trapezius, his hands gently working the muscle.
It was in her mind to say that she’d been using her left arm more and that she was probably compensating for her broken ribs, but all that came out was, “Mmm.”
These past few days were exactly what she’d needed. Time alone with Darius. No buzzing phone. No media. No decisions to make beyond what to order for dinner. No contact with the outside world apart from the ten minutes she spent checking email and messages each morning.
Today, they’d slept in, had a late breakfast, then talked most of the afternoon. After that, they’d gone for a long walk in the park, where they’d watched flocks of geese settling on the lakes, the setting sun turning the water to gold. On the way back, they’d grabbed some Thai takeout, which they’d eaten in the living room in front of the fire, Darius showing her photos of his family.
Somehow, that had led to sex. Then again, when Sasha was with Darius, everything led to sex.
“Better?”
“Yes. Thanks.” She leaned back against his chest, the hot water soothing. “If you get sick of being a detective, you could always become a massage therapist.”
He chuckled, a soft sound deep in his chest. “And if the only person I want to massage is you?”
She closed her eyes, smiled. “That’s not a very successful business model, but it works for me.”
For a time, they sat in an intimate silence, just savoring the moment, Darius lazily fondling one of her breasts.
Sasha’s thoughts drifted to the photos of Darius’ family. “You, Gus, and Max look so much alike. Even if I didn’t know you, I’d know you were brothers.”
“Do you and your brother look alike?”
