Page 30 of A Marriage of Anything But Convenience

He must have looked indecisive because Nara let out a breath and went into the kitchen. “It’s no big deal,” she said, opening the fridge and pulling out a Diet Coke.

Right. No big deal for her. He, on the other hand, would have a terrible time getting to sleep. But what could he do? Insist on sleeping on the floor? He didn’t want to look like he was being a jerk to her, or offend her by not wanting to be near her.

This was a terrible suggestion, he just knew it. But what could he do? He had no choice. Finally, he nodded, resigning himself to tossing and turning next to her all night. “All right.”

“I’m going to get in the jacuzzi like Kay suggested. Want to join me?”

The blood drained from Derek’s face and he stammered, “Uh, what?”

Nara made a face. “With my swimsuit on, you perv. Come on. It will feel nice with the jets going.”

Sitting in a jacuzzi did sound nice. Maybe it would help his back feel better. His muscles still weren’t over the two nights he’d spent on the floor. The tub looked large enough for both of them, without crowding them together, and he’d already been swimming with her. This was no different, right? “Okay.”

Nara gulped down half her soda, then screwed on the lid and set it down on the side of the tub. “I’ll start the water. You go get changed first.”

By the time Derek came out of the bathroom, Nara had the tub halfway filled. She’d also dumped something in it, because the room now smelled like lilacs. Nara jumped up and grabbed her bikini. “My turn.”

He climbed into the tub and claimed his side. The tub was heart-shaped, so they could sit beside each other. Once the water was high enough, he started up the jets. It felt amazing on his back, and he sank deeper into the pool. He didn’t even care that his legs had to be scrunched up so they wouldn’t cross over Nara’s. It still felt wonderful.

Nara joined him a minute later, her hair pulled up into a messy bun. She drank another swig of her soda and then laid her head back on the tub. “This feels great.”

“Agreed.”

“So relaxing.”

He closed his eyes, letting the jet sprays massage his back. Even though it would be massively uncomfortable to sleep next to Nara, he did appreciate that he would no longer be on the hard floor.

“Can I ask you about something?” Nara said, a minute later.

He opened his eyes. “Sure.”

“You know my father well.” She fiddled with the cap on her Diet Coke, like she wasn’t too interested in the conversation, but there was a tension in her shoulders that told a different story.

“Yeah.” He leaned a little closer to her, because it was hard to hear her over the noise of the jets.

“Does money really mean more to him than anything?”

The question blindsided Derek, and he could see the emotions under the surface of her face. The ones she never showed. The ones she still wasn’t showing all the way. He chose his words carefully. He didn’t want to say the wrong thing. “He went through a lot when your mom left. When you lose someone like he did…something happens inside.”

Nara blinked, her fingers tightening on her Diet Coke. “He’s not the only one that got hurt by that,” she said quietly.

Dear heavens. He’d screwed up already. He reached his hand out and touched her arm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…I know you went through a lot as well when she left. That had to have been devastating.”

Nara raised her chin a fraction. “I learned to cope. But it would have been nice had my own father been there for me. Instead, he decided that making money was more important.”

“No. Not more important than you, Nara.” Never more important than her. Her father just couldn’t deal with the situation. So, he buried himself at work.

“Of course money was more important. You give your attention to what you love the most, don’t you? And my father loves money.” Her words had a bitter edge.

“He made mistakes. He didn’t handle things well.” Derek nudged closer to her. “But he has many regrets.”

“Regrets.” She frowned. “How nice for him. I’m sure that makes him feel better.”

Derek sighed. It pained him to see Nara so angry with her father. Richard was someone he looked up to. He was the man who took him in under his wing after his parent’s died. He owed a lot to him.

He knew she needed to talk about it. She was the one who brought it up, for heaven’s sake. But he had no words to make things better. “He’s not the monster you think he is.”

“No?” Her face flushed and she blinked back tears. She set her Diet Coke on the side of the tub. “He left me, at the time when I needed him most. I was only six years old, Derek. Six. I still thought I would be a fairy princess when I grew up. I believed in magic. I believed that my mom wouldn’t disappear, and my dad wouldn’t go to work and never come back.” Her voice cracked and she turned away from him.

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