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“No one appreciates a parent quite as much as the child who’s never had one.” She looks up at me with a sympathetic smile. “I’m glad to have you as a daughter now. I’m even more glad that my son has chosen to accept you as a wife.”
“I’m glad, too,” I admit. “Surprised at all of it—like you said, it happened so fast—but glad.”
Nessa laughs gracefully. “My son was raised by a father who taught him that women were nothing more than objects to be used and discarded. A wife was required to bear legitimate heirs, manage the household, and give the appearance of respectability. But other than that, she served no purpose. But my husband didn’t take into account one very crucial possibility.” She leans closer with a conspiratorial twinkle in her eye. “Maksim assumed that our sons would turn out just like him. But the truth is, their deepest natures ended up being more like mine. My children are capable of great love, Paige. Which is why they try so hard to fight it.”
I nod, remembering how hard Misha fought me.
“But the thing is, when you meet the right person… you can’t stop love. No matter how hard you try.”
42
MISHA
I find my mother and Paige in the nursery. Mother gives me a strange glance and disappears without a word. Paige looks at me and for a moment, I see something swim in her eyes. Some fleeting pain, some hushed melancholy. Then it’s gone, and she smiles.
“Everything okay?” she asks as she stands up.
I hold out my hand to her. “C’mon. We’ve got plans.”
* * *
Paige walks into the Swan Suite with wide eyes. “This hotel is amazing. But we live literally ten minutes away, Misha. Is this really necessary?”
“Of course not. No oneneedsa heated mattress pad, a television that rises out of the floor, or a jacuzzi tub big enough for an elephant. But we can, so why shouldn’t we?”
“Because it’s a waste of money?”
I raise my eyebrows. “I didn’t realize we were strapped for cash.”
She rolls her eyes. “You know what I mean.”
“No, I don’t,” I retort. “I work hard and so do you. Plus, you’re the one who wants to get out of the house more. This is how I’m helping you do that.” I pull her against my chest and press my nose to her hair. “If it will make your bleeding heart feel better, we can make a large cash donation to a charity of your choice when we’re back home.”
“You’re joking, but I’m gonna hold you to it.”
“I have no doubt.” I breathe in deep. “You smell amazing.”
She smiles as a blush warms her cheeks.
I stroke my thumb across her chin. “I like that I can still make you blush.”
“I’m pretty sure you’ll be able to make me blush twenty years from now.”
“I guess we’ll have to wait and see.” I gently kiss the backs of her fingers, and just like that, she swoons in my arms.
I’ve realized slowly over the last couple of weeks that these small gestures mean so much more to her than the grand ones. Take her to an expensive five-star hotel across town, and she’s politely ambivalent. Kiss her hand, and she turns to putty in my arms.
“Are you in the mood for something different tonight?” I ask.
She gives me a suspicious look. “Are we talking sex stuff? Because I’m not sure how adventurous I can be in my current state. These babies are playing bongos on my rib cage.”
I laugh. “That wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, now. But now that you mention it, that dress is doing things for me…”
She slaps me in the arm. “Keep it in your pants, Mr. Orlov. But aside from whatever depraved things you seem to be picturing, I’m up for whatever. We did just get here, though?”
“And we’ll be back later tonight,” I say as I take her hand and lead her out of the suite. “But right now, we have to get to the Fox Acres Warehouse.”
“What’s there?”
