Page 17 of Triplet Babies
“No, I’m fine. Just startled.” I swim to the edge where he’s waiting, suddenly acutely aware I’m in a swimsuit while he’s fully clothed. “I thought someone was watching me.”
He reaches out a hand to help me out of the pool, and I take it without thinking. His grip is warm and steady, and he pulls me up onto the deck with easy strength. “Someone was. Me, but not for any reason you should worry about.”
Water drips from my hair and swimsuit, creating small puddles on the stone deck. I cross my arms over my chest, partly from the evening chill and partly from self-consciousness. “I should probably go. I don’t want to cause any trouble.”
Yarik disappears into the pool house and returns with a large, fluffy towel. “You’re not causing trouble, but you’re shivering. Come inside where it’s warm.”
Uncertainly, I follow as Yarik guides me to a wicker couch near a fireplace that provides both warmth and soft lighting. I wrap the towel around myself gratefully before sitting down, finally starting to feel calm again.
He settles into the chair across from me, maintaining a respectful distance while still being close enough for conversation. “Better?”
“Much. Thank you.” I tuck the towel more securely around myself. “I’m sorry for panicking like that. It’s been a long day.”
“You don’t need to apologize. I should have announced myself instead of lurking in the shadows.”
I study him as covertly as I can. “Why were you out here anyway?”
He’s quiet for a moment, looking toward the windows that face the pool. “I often walk the grounds when my mind won’t settle.”
“What’s keeping you unsettled?”
“Business complications. Family obligations.” He looks back at me with an expression I can’t quite read. “Things that felt simpler a few days ago.”
Something in his tone makes me think he’s not just talking about contracts and meetings. “The engagement your fiancée mentioned?”
He shrugs. “Among other things.”
I wait for him to elaborate, but he seems lost in thought. The silence stretches between us, comfortable despite the unusual circumstances. The fireplace crackles softly, and I hear the gentle sound of the pool’s filtration system outside. I venture finally to ask, “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Do you love Katya?” The question surprises me as much as it seems to surprise him. I hadn’t planned to ask anything so personal, but something about the intimate setting and the events of the evening has lowered my usual guard.
Yarik’s expression becomes unreadable. “That’s a complicated question.”
“Is it? It seems pretty straightforward to me.”
“Love is a luxury I can’t afford.” He leans back in his chair, his gaze steady on mine. “My engagement to Katya is a business arrangement that will benefit both our families and strengthen important alliances.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
He’s quiet for a moment before answering. “No, I don’t love her. I don’t think she loves me either. We both understand what this arrangement is and what it isn’t.”
“Then why go through with it?” How can he marry someone he doesn’t love? How can anyone?
He hesitates before answering. “Some things are more important than personal preference. Family loyalty, business stability, and maintaining peace between organizations that could destroy each other if they chose to are more crucial than love.”
I study his face in the firelight, trying to understand what kind of life requires that level of sacrifice. “That sounds lonely.”
“Loneliness is also a luxury I can’t afford.”
“Everyone needs connection and someone who cares about them as a person, not as a business asset.”
He leans forward slightly, his attention focusing on me with that same intensity I’ve noticed before. “Do they? What about you, Sarah? Do you have someone who cares about you that way?”
The question startles me and makes my mouth dry as I think of Alex, which brings a surge of fear. His idea of caring didn’t reconcile with mine. I take a deep breath and focus on the present, easily finding an answer. “I have Nina. She’s been my closest friend for years.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
