The Things I Do for You (The Alexanders 2)

“That wasn’t enough to make Raina choose you, was it?” Nick chuckled at the harsh breathing on the other end of the line. “Raina covered for you, but I have no problem telling anyone who’ll listen the truth. I’m sure your Japanese investors will love the story of a man who cheats on his fiancée with his ex-wife. Especially considering the importance they place on honor and the value of a man’s word.”

There was a long pause, then Silvestre said, “Do what you want, Alexander. But for Raina’s sake, I wonder if you’ll have any more respect for your own marriage than you did for mine.”

CHAPTER TEN

RAINA TIPPED THE watering can she held, dousing her flower bed with a spray of droplets. Before she’d left Ridley’s, her sister had asked when she’d last watered her plants. The blank look on her face had probably been all the answer her sister needed. Ridley knew her too well.

“What are you doing out here?”

Raina turned to see Nick standing in the back doorway. “I’m just enjoying the last bit of sunlight and doing a little gardening.”

He’d already pulled his tie off and his hair looked slightly rumpled, as if he’d rubbed his hands over it a few times.

She turned back to her plants. How much water were they supposed to get, anyway? How was it that flowers seemed to do just fine in the wild with only the rain to rely on? She scowled when she noticed the small puddle at the base of the plant.

What kind of mother was she going to be if she couldn’t even kee

p a stupid tulip alive?

“What are you doing home so early? I thought it was poker night with the guys?”

“Jackson said you were at the house earlier.”

Raina rolled her eyes. “I also told him not to call you. Geez, men are the real gossips.”

“Why didn’t you stick around?”

“I’m not pregnant, Nick.” She kept her back to him and doused the next section of plants with water.

She felt more than heard him come up behind her. He pulled her back against his chest.

“Why do you always do that, sweets?”

She looked up at him, sharply. “Do what?”

He pulled her closer and kissed her gently on the forehead. “Pull away from me when you think you’re getting too emotional. Or cover your eyes if you think you might cry. I don’t want you to hide your emotions from me, no matter what they are. I want the good, the bad, and the ugly. You have the right to be upset, Raina. I know how much you wanted this.”

“I figured you’d be happy to have an excuse to have more crazy sex.”

Nick tilted her chin up so she was forced to meet his eyes. “I will never be happy about anything that causes you pain. Besides, you can just breathe and I want you. I don’t think we’ll ever need an excuse to have crazy sex. “

He pulled her close and rested his chin on top of her head.

“What are you doing?” She tried to pull back, but he tightened his arms until she couldn’t move.

“I’m loving you. Sometimes when things aren’t going so well, you need a hug. I used to see my parents doing this and just gag. But I understand it now. When life is heavy, it helps to know that someone is there for you. Even if they can’t fix things or make them better.” After a few moments, he pulled back. “You know what? We’re going to take this trying thing more seriously.”

She watched in surprise as he paced back and forth and put his hands on his hips. It was rare to see Nick so worked up about something.

“We are taking it seriously.”

Nick pointed at her. “I know you’ve made a lot of changes in your life, but I haven’t. I’ve been reading this book about pregnancy—”

Raina pulled back in surprise. “You have?”

“Why do you look so surprised? I care about what happens to you and I want to know what’s going on. I started in the middle because I figured I already know how to make a baby, but I just went back and realized I’ve been doing everything wrong.”

“What do you mean?”