Baby for the Billionaire(24)
She sighed, suddenly feeling bad yet knowing she shouldn’t. “Nick, if you were to ask me, then I don’t mind hosting the dinner. I just don’t like the expectation that I have to do it.”
He considered her across the table. “Then would you mind being my hostess on Friday, Sasha? I’d really appreciate it.”
Her heart thudded at the sincerity in his tone. “Yes. I’m happy to help.” She would reschedule her appointment with the contractor.
His shoulders relaxed a little, and there was an odd amusement in his eyes. “You’re quite fiery when you’re upset. I never noticed that when you were growing up. You were always quite shy.”
Shy and in love.
Her stomach did a flip at the thought. “Perhaps I didn’t want you to notice back then,” she lied.
“And now?”
She took a moment to answer as past hurts rose in her throat. “I’m older. I want respect.”
“You always had my respect, Sasha.”
“No, Nick. I didn’t.”
He went still, his eyes probing hers. “Then I’m sorry if I made you feel that way. It wasn’t intentional.”
“I know.” And therein lay the crux of the matter. It was another example of her meaning less than nothing to him.
Angelo reappeared to check that their meal was enjoyable and Sasha welcomed the interruption. She’d said more than enough. If Nick didn’t think she mattered, then she wasn’t going to force him to change his mind.
She had her pride after all.
Six
Nick phoned Sasha late the following morning to tell her the deal had been signed and that Alex was calling her father now to tell him the news.
Enormously relieved, Sasha thanked him for letting her know, then waited for her mother to call and share in the good news and perhaps say thanks.
Her mother didn’t call.
“No doubt your parents were relieved,” Nick said when he came home.
“No doubt they were.”
He froze. “You mean they haven’t called you?”
A lump lodged in her throat. “No, but they were probably busy.”
“They weren’t too busy to ask you to spy for them,” he rasped.
She sucked in a sharp breath. “It wasn’t like that.”
A pulse beat in his cheekbone. “Not on your part, but they got what they wanted from you. They used you, Sasha.”
He was right, and on one level she was warmed by his concern for her, but loyalty to her mother kept her quiet. “Let’s forget that for now.”
“Can you?”
“No.” If she thought about it the pain would overwhelm her. She’d always known she came second with her mother, but until recently she hadn’t realized just how low down on the scale she was compared with her father.
She pretended to dismiss it all. “Come on. I want you to pick a color scheme for the study. I can’t decide by myself.”
He made a dismissive gesture. “Any color will do.”
“No, Nick. You’ll be using it a lot, so it’s important I get your input.”
“You’ll be using it, too.”
“Exactly. It’s something we need to choose together.”
He suddenly broke into a sexy half smile. “You’re very good at getting your own way. Subtle but very effective.”
She found herself smiling back. “That’s always been my policy.”
The rest of the week went quickly and before she knew it, it was Friday. She was nervous about hosting their first dinner, and of course she helped Iris arrange it all, but there was a difference in doing it because she wanted to and not because it was expected of her.
“You look beautiful,” Nick said when she’d finished dressing in a blue dress that hugged her body in all the right places, her blonde hair up in a chignon, delicate diamond earrings at her ears.
Silly delight rippled through her. “Thanks.” Her eyes slid over his dark suit and white shirt that did him full-on justice. “You’re looking quite spiffy yourself.”
He smiled. “Spiffy, eh?”
She smiled back then saw him fiddling with his tie. “Here, let me do that for you.”
“You don’t mind?”
“No, I like doing up men’s ties,” she quipped as she stepped close to him and began working on the tie.