Olivia’s gaze slid to Alex. “What about you, honey?”
“No, nothing for me.”
Olivia’s gaze darted back to Nick, then Alex again, then she smiled oddly and left. Nick knew they were wondering why he wasn’t eager to go home to his new wife.
“Problems with Sasha?” Alex said when they were alone again, a speculative look in his eyes.
Nick rubbed the back of his neck. “Just teething problems.”
“I understand.”
Nick thought about that. “Yes, you do, don’t you?”
There was a moment’s pause, then Alex said, “Sasha’s turned out pretty good, considering what her father’s like.”
Nick shot him a twisted smile. “Whose side are you on?”
“I’m sure you’ll work it out.”
Nick suddenly had the urge to go home. So Sasha had only been trying to please her father. He shouldn’t have snapped at her like that.
He stood up. “I think I’ll give that coffee a miss.”
Alex grinned. “I’ll tell Olivia.”
By the time Nick got home, Sasha was asleep. He showered and slid into bed beside her, careful not to wake her though he was tempted to pull her close. In the end he fell asleep. It had been a long day.
Sasha kept busy the next day going to various stores, but her mind was on Nick and his reaction last night. Stupid hurt had ripped through her at his response. She had hated to ask about the shipping contract but that’s all she’d done. It wasn’t a major crime. So why was he being so defensive about it?
Of course that threat of hers about a prenuptial had been a childish thing to say, but it served Nick right for drawing such a line in the sand. She already knew he didn’t care for her. She hadn’t needed to hear that she should stay in the background like a good little wife. It smacked too much of her father.
“You’re late.”
She almost missed her step as she came through the front door and looked up. Nick was waiting inside and demanding to know where she’d been? After he’d left her wondering last night if he’d gone to see an old girlfriend or two.
She placed her handbag on the hall table. “So we’re keeping tabs on each other now?”
An odd sincerity flickered across his face. “I was getting worried, that’s all.”
Her anger cooled. “Okay, if you must know I’ve been out seeing some contractors. It took longer than I thought it would.”
His eyes clouded and all at once he turned toward the living room, his movements somewhat jerky. “Well, I’m glad you’re home.”
Sasha frowned at his back. Was he embarrassed because he had worried? At the thought, a hint of tenderness trickled through her.
“You could have called me on my cell phone,” she suggested quietly, following him into the room.
“I don’t know the number.”
Her little bubble burst.
“You only had to ask.”
“I know.”
It said a lot for their relationship.
“Anyway,” he continued, “I phoned Iris earlier and told her not to cook dinner. I thought I’d take you out to a local restaurant.”
Was this his way of apologizing?
“That would be lovely.”
He looked pleased, then, “I’m sorry I snapped at you last night, Sasha. I wanted to apologize when I came home from Alex’s, but you were asleep.”
So, he’d been at Alex’s place. Could she believe that now? Strangely, yes. She just wished she’d known that last night when she’d been upset and pretending to sleep.
“I’m sorry, too,” she found herself saying. “I shouldn’t have asked. I was worried for my parents’ sake, that’s all.”
“I understand. I should have understood that, too. I—” His cell phone rang. “Damn. I have to take this call.”
“Then you do that. I’ll go get ready.”
He was answering the call even before she’d finished speaking, but Sasha didn’t mind. She climbed the stairs, excited now about going out to dinner with her husband.
Thank goodness the wedge between them seemed to have disappeared. She’d hated that her parents had come between them. Hated that Nick had stormed out and left her wondering. And hated it even more when he’d come home and hadn’t taken her in his arms.
She was in the shower ten minutes later when the glass door opened and Nick, na**d and somewhat aroused, stood there. “Move over, Mrs. Valente.”
She didn’t need to be told a second time. She willingly moved aside but only a little. Just enough to let him get up close and personal.
Later at the restaurant she and Nick were given a warm welcome by the owner, an Italian man called Angelo.
“I read in the papers that you marry, so tonight I’ll cook you both something very special.” He beamed at them, then hurried away.
“He seems like a nice man,” Sasha said, making small talk as she looked around the restaurant. “You must come here often.”
“I used to date his daughter.”
“And he’s still talking to you?” she joked.
His wry smile conceded the point. “It was very platonic. Angelo knew that.”
“He must think highly of you,” she said, then pondered the comment while the waiter poured their wine. Italian fathers weren’t known for being liberal when it came to their daughters, especially when it came to playboys.
Yet this man had trusted Nick with his daughter? It didn’t add up.
When they were alone again, Nick was the first to speak, “So, tell me about living in London. I know you said you lived with your aunt for a while, but you must have liked the place to stay so long.”
She was surprised by his sudden interest.
“I loved it. It’s such a vibrant city.”
His brow arched. “You don’t find Sydney vibrant?”
“Yes, but in a different way.” She lifted one shoulder. “I guess I was ready to spread my wings and try new adventures.”
“You evidently didn’t try too many new things,” he drawled, hinting at her virginity.
She shot him a smile. “I tried enough to keep me happy,” she said, then laughed to herself when she saw him frown.
Let him wonder.
Then he said, “Your mother must have missed you.”