Save Me, Daddy

Irina nods, clearly not one to adhere to rigid standards of conduct. “Come, Kyria Harper, and Miss Sophie.” She threads her arms through ours, practically marching us up the marble stairs and into the house, with Jayson trailing behind.

The interior is more luxurious than I remembered, complete with a marble mosaic of one of the saints on the foyer floor. It seems almost… disrespectful to walk on it, and I’m not even religious. The others tread over the saint without a glance downward, so I do the same. More marble stairs, carpeted with a blue runner, leads us to the next floor where Irina releases Sophie in front of her room. Irina doesn’t wait for the girl to enter as she hurries me on. “You will love the master suite, Kyria Harper. It is perfection. Heaven on earth.”

I pretend to be paying attention, but really I’m too busy trying to keep up with the powerhouse of an old woman as she bustles around the place. When we enter the master suite, I don’t give it much thought. At Jayson’s home in New York, we share the master suite, though with separate bedrooms and bathrooms. If the staff there think it odd, they know better than to express the opinion.

“Heaven,” repeats Irina with a sigh. “This is the perfect place to make a baby, Kyria Harper. Miss Sophie and Mr. Jayson were both conceived here.” She winks at me. “Very romantic.”

Choking, I somehow manage to nod. I thank Irina and after one last hug, she leaves. It’s then I notice Jayson is also in the room. I hoped he’d gone straight to the study, or anywhere else. Being in a bedroom with him, alone, is awkward.

Turning toward the doors, I open the first to reveal a dressing room with another door. “Is my room through here?”

Jayson shrugs. “It can be yours if you’d like.”

Frowning at the odd comment, I walk through the dressing room to open the other door and step into the room, startled to find a nursery. An antique crib, armoire, and chair takes up most of one wall. There are toys lined neatly on shelves, obviously kept just so and dusted regularly. To my relief, there’s a single bed against another wall—probably for a nanny. It’s not the luxurious king-size bed I’ve gotten used to, but it’ll be fine. I can make do. I’d even go with the crib in order to avoid sharing a room with Jayson.

Suddenly I hear a voice behind me. It’s Jayson, who must have followed me. “Will this room suit you?”

“It’s fine.” Feeling lost, reluctant to meet his eyes, I fuss with the button of my linen jacket. “Though it is lacking something when it comes to closet space.”

Jayson nods, leaning against the doorjamb as though he plans to stay there all day. “There’s plenty of room in my closet. We can share.”

“Thanks.” An awkward silence falls, and I search for something to say. “What are—?”

“Dinner is—” says Jayson simultaneously. “What were you saying?”

“I was going to ask if you knew Sophie’s plans for the summer?”

He shrugs. “I imagine she’ll spend most of her time on the beach. She has a lot of old friends here. They like to do this and that in the village.”

“Ah.”

Jayson straightens, walking toward me. It feels like he’s looming over me even more than usual. I don’t usually feel uncomfortable when he stands so close—not that he’s stood this close to me in a long time. “And what are your plans, Harper?”

His hand brushes against my cheek as he pushes a strand of hair back in place. “Nothing.” My voice is husky.

Jayson lifts a dark brow. “Nothing? Staying in bed all day? Not exactly productive, but it might be fun.” He winks. “A real vacation.”

I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks. “Of course not. I’ll find something to amuse myself. I always do.” I take a step back from him, forcing my face to go blank. “I think I will take a nap though.” I glance pointedly at the door.

With a crook of his full lips, Jayson turns and saunters away, pausing once more at the door to glance back at me. “If you decide that bed is too small, Harper, you’re welcome to mine.”

I don’t reply, but his chuckle and the gleam in his eyes as he leaves stay with me. I wait until I hear the outer door of his room close to confirm he’s gone from the suite, before I feel my muscles and stiff posture relax. Exhaustion from the trip fills me. But will I be able to sleep with all these thoughts whirling through my head? What is Jayson up to? He never acts like that. Why has he suddenly started treating me like this when he made it very clear nothing physical would happen so long ago?

Chapter 23

Harper

A glance out the window reveals the sun about to set, and dinnertime will be soon. I guess I slept longer than I meant to. Stretching, I wince at the kink in my neck. This bed certainly leaves a lot to be desired, but at least it’s mine. I won’t be borrowing Jayson’s anytime soon.

Never, I correct myself. Slipping from the bed and straightening my slept-in clothes, I go in search of the bathroom. The other door from the main bedroom opens to reveal a gorgeous one with a sunken marble tub with whirlpool jets and painted in soothing colors.

Shedding my wrinkled travel clothes, I leave them in a heap near the tub. The water rushes from the crystal faucet with a small nudge, filling the whirlpool in great swirls. I pick my way into the tub, going down the marble steps until I’m waist-deep in the warm water. Settling onto the built-in bench, I turn on the jets after figuring out the control panel and then lie back, resting my head on the padded ledge and sinking into the water.

When I glance up, a fresco of cavorting, bare-bottomed cherubs on the ceiling meets my eyes. Someone’s obviously tried to give the room a romantic feel, from the tub which is clearly meant for two to the tiny votives in crystal holders scattered all around the room. Too bad any romantic vibe comes to a screeching halt with the cherubs. How can anyone feel sexy with a bunch of chubby little angels staring down at them?

Not that Jayson and I would indulge in any such thing, any day of the week. I close my eyes again, and unbidden comes an image of my husband in the tub with another woman. A scowl spreads across my face and I’m no longer relaxed. I struggle for a while to relax. It’s counterproductive. Letting out the water I stand up, wrapping myself in a luxurious plush towel the color of ripe plums.

At the mirror, I meet my own gaze briefly before looking away, disconcerted by the expression on my face. It looks jealous. Which, of course, I’m not. My relationship with Jayson isn’t anything like that. Scowling at the idea of Jayson having sex with another woman in the bathtub is simply due to the possibility Sophie might find out. She knows I’m returning to college when she goes off to university, but she doesn’t have a clue that Jayson and I are divorcing. Having another woman show up would be a terrible way for the poor girl to discover the true state of our marriage.