Page 47

Now she was pacing, waiting for him to come out of their bedroom. He had been running late and had jumped into the shower while Joi was putting the finishing touches on Alia’s makeup.

Joi had since left and the butler was off making preparations for their departure in the morning.

“Don’t you dare fall into that pool,” Spiro said in a low voice behind her.

“Oh!” She turned and her breath was stolen by how magnetic he looked in his white tuxedo. “I was just texting Julian that we haven’t had time to use it.”

There was a small flicker of something across his face as she mentioned Julian. She had the feeling he didn’t always like how close she and Julian were. He never said anything that suggested he didn’t want her to speaking to him or anything like that, but he always reacted by buttoning up on some level, becoming the man she found so difficult to read.

“This hasn’t exactly been a honeymoon, has it?” he said.

“Hasn’t it? I don’t know how much more I could do,” she said with a little smile that remembered their lovemaking this morning. They had made love a lot while they’d been here.

His mouth twitched. “I would have liked to explore the city with you.” He held out his hand in silent command for her to come to him. “I’ll make that up to you another time. I promise.”

“I don’t mind,” she said, but she didn’t move. “I used to wonder what it felt like to be on vacation. Now I know. It’s wonderful.”

“What’s wrong?” His hand was still extended toward her.

“I’m nervous,” she admitted. She touched the button to close the pool and detoured to the box she’d left on an end table. She held it between her tingling hands as she offered it to him. “I bought this for you.”

“That’s not necessary.” His arm dropped to his side.

“I was buying one for Julian, as a thank-you.”

Another cool blink. “I’m sure Julian will appreciate the gesture, but I don’t wear a watch.”

He could tell what it was by the logo, she supposed. And he wasn’t like her. He didn’t feel things deeply the way she did. She had come to know that much about him and kept telling herself it was okay. He was respectful and wildly generous in every aspect of their lives from bedroom to ballroom. He had offered to give her a baby, not his heart.

Which made her feel a little foolish for buying something so sentimental, as though she was trying to buy his affection.

“They said you could return it if you don’t like it.” For “a small administration fee.” “It’s not even a real gift since you paid for it.” Heat prickled in her face and burned in the pit of her belly. “I saw the green face and it reminded me of the one in your father’s portrait, at the city office.”

She’d seen the enlarged photo a few times. It was one of the only images left of his father, Spiro had told her, and she’d always been amazed at the likeness between young Nemo and Spiro today.

Curiosity darkened Spiro’s eyes at the mention of his father. He took the box to pry up the lid and his brows shot up.

“Florian had someone take a photo and send it. This is the same brand and model that your father wore. Only a few hundred were made so the dealer was confident this was a good match.”

Spiro didn’t seem to be breathing.

“I had them change out the band to brown leather to make it more like his. You’re not saying anything. This was a terrible idea. I’m so sorry.” Nothing could replace his father’s watch. She started to take it back.

“I’m speechless,” he said.

“In a bad way? I’m never impulsive, but we’re leaving tomorrow—”

“Alia, shush.” He cupped her cheek and pressed his thumb to her lips. “I didn’t know I wanted this watch, but I do. Very much.” He took the watch from the box and turned it over.

Disappointment flickered across his expression, but he covered that with a philosophical twitch of his lips. “I was hoping for an engraving.”

“Oh? What should it say? Because that’s not the original backing. The last owner had a new one fashioned because the original was engraved. It’s in there, the dealer said. Don’t get rid of it. It’s part of the watch’s history and value.”

Spiro’s pupils flared. He plucked up the bedding of the case and found the backplate in a small, ziplocked bag. He discarded the box as he turned over the bag and shot her an astounded look.

“My parents’ wedding day.” He held the watch in one hand, the backing pinched in the other. “My grandfather had it engraved on the back of the watch so my father would never forget his anniversary. This is my father’s watch, Alia. How in hell did you find it?”

“I—” She couldn’t speak because he crushed her into his big frame, practically squeezing the life out of her.