“It’s been said before.” The breath wheezed from his lungs when she elbowed him in the ribs.
“I was born in the UK, as you know, in a small village. My parents had a piece of land that they grew flowers on.”
“That explains the flower thing you have.”
“We, my sister Sadie and brother Sydney—”
“You missed out on theSname.”
“They’re twins.”
“Makes sense now.”
“We used to sell bouquets and things from a stall at the end of our drive.”
He could hear in her voice how much she’d loved that. The flowers, and her life, was his guess.
“My mom died when I was ten. Things pretty much went downhill from there.”
He stayed silent, not wanting to push.
“My dad had always liked to drink, but my mom kept him on track. My aunt and uncle lived close, and they kept a check on us, but he got worse.”
“I’m sorry.”
She shrugged. “When I was offered the scholarship, I jumped at it and left the twins behind.”
“And you feel guilty about that?”
“Wouldn’t you?”
“I need to tell you something.”
She turned in his arms, kneeling before him now. He felt it again, that tightness in his chest. He couldn’t remember feeling that with Kirsty.
“That night at the Lodge when you first arrived after the Robbins sisters’ surprise party, when you threw yourself at me.”
She rolled her eyes.
“I was out on the balcony at the Lodge when you were talking on the phone.”
She tensed up, but he gripped her shoulders and held her still.
“I heard you talking to your sister. I wanted to let you know I was there because you seemed upset.”
“But you didn’t because you are an emotional void?”
“That, and someone called your name and you left. But the point is, Luna, I heard what you do for them. Paying the mortgage, sending them money. If you’d stayed in England, you wouldn’t be doing that.”
“I know, and I’ve argued with myself about that.”
He pulled her closer. “I’m sorry that you were upset and I didn’t say or do anything.” He kissed her softly. Her lips clung, and then her arms were around his neck, and he was lost for long, heated minutes.
“I want you so badly about now.”
She rose slowly, and Nash ran his eyes over her beautiful body encased in a tiny bikini.
“You look good wet,” he rasped.
“Room 105.” She climbed out, grabbed her towel and key, and walked away.