Page 67 of Why Not Us?

“Can I ask you a very personal question?” I ask, gently working out a tangle.

“Sure. Though just because you ask it doesn’t mean I’ll answer.”

“Fair.” I pause. “How often does Elliot ask you for money?”

She opens her eyes, finding mine in the mirror. “About once every three to six months. He and Suzanne tend to live beyond their means, and he needs me to bail him out sometimes.”

“Does he pay you back?”

“Not usually. I’ve gotten better at saying no. But he’s also gotten better at making me feel guilty for saying no.” She gives me a wry smile.

“But he’s a doctor. Doesn’t he make more than you?”

She laughs. “Not even close.” She takes a breath. “Blue Vista has been doing very well for the past three years. Spencer, Derek, and I have earned in the low six figures. Vic, obviously has been making a lot more. With the ownership structure change, I’m going to be bringing in more. Which is why I didn’t tell anyone about that last night. Or intend to at all.”

“I didn’t realize that.”

She shrugs. “It helps that two of my best friends grew up rich. So they know how to make money. And how to invest.”

“Which two?” I ask, separating her hair into three sections.

“Vic and Spencer,” she says like I should already know this.

I shake my head, not getting her point.

“Vic Sterling and Spencer Cole?”

I’m still confused.

She laughs. “You haven’t heard of Sterling Properties or Cole Enterprises? They’re two of the biggest companies in British Columbia. Cole rivals some of the tech companies in the country if not the continent. Anyway. They taught me and Derek a bit about money management so we’re all doing very well. And that was before Spencer gained control of his trust fund. What’s that saying about rising tides lifting all ships?”

She watches me in the mirror as I braid her hair and tie it off with a blue and purple scrunchie.

“Thank you,” she says. “Do you braid Dani’s hair often?”

I shake my head, turning to finish getting dressed. “Not anymore. She likes to do her own hair now.”

“Curly hair is a little different to straight hair like Dani’s,” she says. “But you did a great job.”

A sudden image of another little girl comes to mind. She would have bright green eyes and curly red hair. Just like Adalie. My heart aches painfully even though I’ve never wanted another child. Every time I have to say goodbye to Dani, my heart is ripped out of my chest. I couldn’t go through that with a second child.

Then again, maybe it would be different if I had a serious commitment.

I pick up my shirt and Adalie touches my arm before I can put it on.

“Nate,” she says softly. “I want to talk about what this is.”

I turn toward her. She’s still only wearing that silky robe, the fabric coming together over the tops of those luscious breasts.

“I know we don’t have a lot of time to discuss it,” she continues. “You have to get to work. And you’re getting Dani later today, so she’ll be your priority over the next few days. But I need you to understand, I’m not a casual woman. Last night was… perfect. And I want to keep doing it, but if you want something casual, I have to be out.”

“I don’t want to be casual with you either,” I say, taking her hand in mine. “I never would have thought we would work, but the more time I spend with you, the more I think, why not us? Maybe it can work. It’s just…” I pause, thinking of how to explain this. “I’ve never had a long relationship. I’m not sure I know what I’m doing. And I don’t want Dani to get hurt. Could we not tell her right away?”

“We don’t have to tell her anything right now,” Adalie agrees. “Let’s see where this goes and if it gets really serious, we’ll tell her then.” She gives me that wry smile again. “Of course, that means we won’t get to be together this week except for Thursday, and I won’t be able to kiss you. But that’s a sacrifice I will endure.”

I chuckle before drawing her closer and kissing her.

“You mean like that?”

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