His blue eyes rested on her. “So what made you change your mind?”
“My parents.” She didn’t want him to think it had been for any other reason. “I’m their only child and they really want our families to be joined.” She swallowed hard. “I can’t deny them that.”
Cynicism twisted the corners of his mouth. “I’m sure your father’s delighted.”
Her heart thudded inside her chest. Could Nick know that her father’s shipping business needed this deal?
Then she realized he didn’t know. If he did, he’d have certainly blackmailed her into marriage. Nick wouldn’t hesitate to use any leverage he could to get her to do what he wanted.
Still, she felt the need to defend her father.
She angled her chin. “Why do you say it like that?”
“Your mother’s a nice woman. I’m sure she wouldn’t pressure you into a marriage you don’t want.”
She realized he didn’t know her mother that well. If her father wanted something, then her mother was usually the go-between.
He held her gaze. “I don’t think I can say the same for your father.”
“And that’s so different from your father?”
Surprise flickered in his eyes. “True.”
She briefly appreciated her feeling of triumph. “Both my parents are happy about this marriage, Nick.”
He scrutinized her. “Why do I believe you?”
“Because it’s the truth.” She couldn’t confess her mother was happy for Porter’s sake, or Nick might get suspicious.
“Okay, let’s get down to business. First, I want to assure you that if things don’t work out we can always get a divorce later on.”
She winced inwardly at his insensitivity, or his honesty, as he liked to call it. It was the same this morning when he’d asked if his rejection had hurt her ego in the gazebo that night.
Could a man be so hard-hearted to a young woman in love with him?
Hadn’t he been able to tell she’d put her heart and soul into that kiss?
Of course he hadn’t.
“Are you reassuring me or yourself?” she asked cynically.
He scowled. “I just don’t want either of us to feel totally trapped.”
“How nice.”
He shot her a hard look, then, “Do you want children?”
Her heart skipped a beat and all her cynicism disappeared. “Do you?”
“One day. Not yet.”
“Me, too.” She hadn’t thought about children. They were a lifetime commitment, and one that connected her to Nick for the rest of her life.
She wasn’t sure she could do that.
Wasn’t sure she wanted that.
He started toward a small table where there were a bunch of papers. “Right. Looks like we have a wedding to plan.”
She took a quick breath. “Hold on. I have one condition of my own before we settle this.”
He stopped to look at her, his eyebrow winging upward. “And that is?”
“You remain faithful to me,” she said without hesitation. “I won’t accept the humiliation of you having affairs. If you can’t do it, tell me now.”
Something shifted in his expression. “It’s not that I can’t do it. The question is whether I want to remain faithful.”
She tensed. “I’d suggest you’ve probably had enough affairs to last a lifetime anyway.”
“You know me so well,” he drawled.
She raised her chin. “I’ll accept nothing less, Nick.”
There was a lengthy silence as their eyes held and locked. This was the one thing she wouldn’t relent on, it was too important to her.
Then he expelled a breath. “You may be surprised to know this but I do take marriage vows seriously, and mine especially. I can assure you I will remain faithful.”
She let out a quiet sigh, but wasn’t sure if it was relief or despair. Her only chance to refuse to marry him had just dissolved into thin air.
On the other hand, at least she could do this one thing for her mother. She had to keep remembering that.
“The wedding will be in three weeks.”
She swallowed past her dry throat. “That soon?”
“The sooner we get this over and done with the better.”
“Yes,” she said, giving in to the inevitable.
She felt the same as Nick, but probably for different reasons. She suspected Cesare wouldn’t let his sons sign the deal for her father until after their marriage vows had been taken. Cesare wasn’t a fool.
If only he was.
Nick was pleased with himself after Sasha left his apartment. He’d known he wouldn’t have to do a thing except tell his father she had refused his offer. Cesare had immediately got on the phone to Porter and offered regrets that they wouldn’t be in-laws.
And that’s all that was needed. Porter knew what side his bread was buttered, and the last thing he would want was to offend Cesare.
Nick gave a snort of derision. Porter Blake was a wimp. If the Valente family didn’t have money, the other man wouldn’t be hanging around being Cesare’s friend. No, Porter would be out with his latest lady friend. The man was a rake of the worst kind, his affairs the worst-kept secret.
No wonder Sasha was insisting on fidelity in their marriage. She had to know about her father’s numerous affairs.
Or did she?
He hadn’t asked her straight out in case she didn’t know. Not that he was protecting Porter. It was merely that if Sasha didn’t know, then he wasn’t about to tell her.
He only hoped he didn’t live to regret giving his word. Women were notorious for having an angle for everything, and he suspected Sasha did, too.
Was she marrying him for reasons other than her family?
More prestige?
More money?
Better contacts for her work?
Time would tell, but he’d be ready for her if that happened. No one pulled the wool over his eyes. If they did, it didn’t happen a second time.
Three
A t eighteen Sasha had dreamed about a white wedding to Nick in a beautiful church in Sydney—the perfect setting for their perfect love for each other.
Now at twenty-five, a stylish ceremony on the sun-drenched lawn of the massive Valente estate was more than lovely, but a marriage of convenience to a man who’d never given her a moment’s thought wasn’t quite the same.