Keeping You (20 page)

Aria was grateful and wanted to tell her father thank you again in person, but she also had another important discussion to get out of the way.

“
So you know the other reason I stopped by, Daddy,” she said when she was finished giving him the good news about Liam.

“
Yes, I do.” Bob sighed a long sigh. “I’m sorry for showing my bad side to your husband. You were right. I should have kept my thoughts to myself, and I’m willing to tell Nash I’m sorry for speaking out of turn.”

“
That’s really good to hear, Dad.”

“
I don’t want to lose you,” he said. “And after talking with your mother last night… Well, it’s obvious the way you feel about Geary is different than any other boy you’ve been with.”

“
It is, I really love him,” she said, rising from her chair, knowing she had to hustle to get to the venue on time.

Bob ran a hand through what was left of his graying blond hair as he stood to walk her to the door. “And if you love the man that much, there must be something to love. You’re a smart girl, and your mom and I love you and we both just want you to be happy. If Nash makes you happy and continues to treat you well, then you won’t hear another peep from me.”

“
Thanks, Daddy,” Aria said. “That means a lot.”

It did, not just that he was willing to apologize to Nash, but that he finally trusted her judgment. Aria had been fooling herself, thinking things with Liam were ever going to work out, but she wasn’t fooling herself now. She was seeing things more clearly than she had in a long time, and she didn’t see any good that could come from her and Nash going their separate ways.

Still, despite the productive conversation with her dad, she was quieter than normal on the job Tuesday night. It didn’t take Lark and Melody long to sense that something was wrong.

“
You’re not sparkling,” Melody observed in a sad voice. “Did I dull your giddy love glow? I didn’t mean to, I was just in a terrible mood the other day.”

“
No, it’s not you,” Aria said, forcing a smile. “Nash and I are going through something, but everything is going to be okay.”

“
But you two are perfect for each other,” Lark said, her tone leaving no doubt that she believed every word. “What could possibly have happened?”

“
Daddy,” Aria said, triggering a moan of understanding from her sisters. “And Nash’s mom hasn’t been on her best behavior either, but like I said, we’re going to work it out.”

“
Good,” Lark said. “Because I’m already planning a special treat for you and Nash at my wedding.”

“
No, Lark,” Aria said. “That’s your and Mason’s day. I don’t want to intrude.”

“
Oh, please.” Lark waved a hand in the air and laughed. “You won’t be intruding. The more love to celebrate, the better. And maybe Melody will have a special someone by then. At the very least, I can aim the bouquet in her direction.”

“
No, thanks,” Melody said with a nervous laugh. “I think I should stay single for a while. Probably safer than way.”

Aria and Lark both turned to shoot her a strange look.

“
I just…I’m enjoying being alone,” Melody said, suddenly very intent upon arranging bread rolls in a basket. “I need time to myself to sort out some things. About myself.”

“
Okay,” Lark said, raising one eyebrow in Aria’s direction as if to ask,
what the heck is that about?
 

Aria shrugged. Melody seemed happier than she’d been the other day. Maybe time to herself was what she needed. Time to yourself could be valuable stuff, but Aria had had enough time alone.

By Wednesday night she was so lonely for Nash her chest felt bruised all over, and by Thursday night, it was all she could do to keep from calling him and hanging up, just to hear the sound of his voice.

Instead, she called her mother. She’d been listening to the latest family gossip for almost an hour when Sue let it slip that Nash had been by to see Daddy earlier, and that the talk seemed to have gone very well.

“
It did?” Aria asked, jumping up to pace the kitchen floor, making Felicity, who was lingering over her supper in the high chair, cry out in surprise.

“
What did Daddy say?” Aria asked, shooting the baby a comforting smile. “What did Nash say?”

“
I don’t know,” Sue said. “Dad just said they came to an understanding.”

“
An understanding!” Aria screeched. “That could mean anything, Mom. That could mean they’ve come to an understanding that they will hate each other until the end of all time. It could—”

Aria was interrupted by the sound of a doorbell. She froze. Who would be coming by at six-thirty at night except…

“
Mom, I have to go,” Aria said, grinning as she headed for the door. “I think Nash is here.”

She hung up and dropped the phone on the back of the couch as she rushed for the front door, throwing it open to find Joy Geary on her front step.

Aria’s smile curdled faster than milk left out overnight.

“
Hi,” she said, feeling awkward. “Nash isn’t here right now, but I—”

“
I know,” Joy said. “He was at my house earlier. He asked me to stop by. Is this a good time?” She glanced over Aria’s shoulder into the house.

“
Um, sure.” Aria stepped back, motioning Joy inside. “Felicity is just finishing up her supper in the kitchen. Can I make you a glass of tea or something?”

“
Yes, please,” Joy said in an almost pleasant voice. “Nash has some lemon tea I like.”

“
Great.” Aria put the kettle on, while Joy got settled at the table at a chair next to Felicity’s high chair. Felicity greeted the new arrival with a happy squeal and Joy smiled the first real smile Aria had ever seen on the woman’s face. Instantly, Nash’s mother became a hundred times prettier.

“
Nash has your smile,” Aria said, the words out before she thought better of them.

Joy turned to her, smile fading only the slightest bit. “He does. He also has my stubborn streak. That’s why I told him he had to go talk to your daddy, even if he didn’t want to. It’s not good enough just to get
my
head on straight,” she said, with a wink in Felicity’s direction that made the baby giggle.

Aria paused, too surprised to say anything for a moment. Was that a joke? Had Joy the joyless made a joke at her own expense?

“
My daughter called me yesterday,” Joy said, talking to Aria, but eyes still fixed on Felicity, taking the piece of peach the baby offered to share with her with a graciousness that made Aria’s heart feel a little lighter. “Apparently my son is a miserable wreck without you.”

That made Aria’s heart feel even lighter still.

“
And that’s at least partly my fault, and I’m sorry,” Joy said, shifting her attention back to Aria. “Mamas always think they know best, but…sometimes we’re wrong. I’m sorry I said those things to you the other night.”

“
It’s all right,” Aria said, more than willing to forgive and forget.

“
No, it isn’t,” Joy said. “I was scared Nash was going to get hurt, but I was the one who ended up hurting him. I should have taken the time to see how he really felt about you. If I had, I would have seen in a second that he’s so deep in love nothing I could say would change his mind about it anyway.”

“
I love him, too,” Aria said, pouring Joy’s tea and her own and bringing them both to the table. “I promise you I do, Joy.” She sat down across from her mother-in-law and wrapped her hands around her mug. “And I promise I will do everything in my power to make him happy. I know our marriage was sudden and we haven’t been together long, but I
know
Nash and I are going to last.”

Joy glanced down, watching the steam rise from her cup, the intimacy of the conversation seeming to make her a little nervous. “I married my husband six weeks after we met. I was only sixteen years old, and my mama swore I’d be back home in a month, but Pete and I will have been married for thirty-two years this December. Sometimes, you just know.”

Aria smiled. “Yeah, you do.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes, sipping their tea while Felicity shoved the rest of the peach cubes on her plate into her mouth, and Aria thought of the best way to welcome Nash home tomorrow evening.

Within minutes, she had an idea.

“
Joy, what’s Nash’s favorite kind of cake?”

“
Red velvet with cream cheese icing,” Joy said fondly. “He’s had that same cake for every birthday since he was eight years old.”

Red velvet with cream cheese icing. Aria could work with that.

And if she started tonight…

By the time she and Joy finished their tea, Aria had an idea of what she’d like to do. By the time she walked Joy to the door, she was mentally checking through her list of ingredients, and by the time Felicity was ready for bed, the batter was mixed and ready to go into the oven.

Aria stayed up half the night baking, but was still up and out of bed early the next morning to do some last minute shopping, determined to give Nash a welcome home he would never forget.

Chapter Seventeen

Friday was the longest workday of Nash’s entire career. By the time three o’clock rolled around he was checking the clock every five minutes, so anxious to be home he couldn’t sit still for more than a few seconds at a time.

His mom said her visit with Aria had gone well, and Nash felt good about the conversation he’d had with Bob March—they had agreed to be mutually respectful, even if they could never be friends—but he hadn’t talked to Aria all week.

He had no idea what she was thinking.

Maybe the time apart had made her realize that she’d jumped into their relationship too soon, and she would want to take a step back. Maybe she thought he was an asshole for declaring a time out, and had decided to pack her things and leave.

Nash certainly
felt
like an asshole. All the time out had done was make it abundantly clear that he was more hooked on Aria March than exercise and late night ice cream combined.

The thought of living the rest of his life without her was soul crushing. He’d almost called her a hundred times, but had forced himself to stay away from the phone. She might still be thinking, and he should have the self-discipline to give her some space, especially considering
he
was the one who had said they needed time apart.

“
Stupid asshole,” he muttered.

“
What?” Kelly, one of the new IT staff, pushed through the glass door to his office. “Were you speaking to me, Captain?”

“
No, sorry,” Nash said. “Just…talking to myself. Did you need something?”

“
Just wanted to let you know that we’re making good progress,” Kelly said. “The new system should be up and running by next week.”

“
Good.” Nash glanced at the clock over Kelly’s shoulder. Still another hour and a half to go.

Damn
.

“
Anything else?” he asked, his irritation with the clock audible in his voice.

“
Yes. Everyone outside wants you to go home early,” Kelly said, making Nash’s eyebrows lift as his gaze shifted back to her face. “They say you’re being a huge grouch, and you should just start the weekend early.”

“
And they sent you to deliver the message?” Nash scanned the room of desks outside his office, but not a single office or staff member met his narrow gaze. Everyone seemed to be working especially hard this afternoon, in fact.

“
They said you wouldn’t yell at me because I’m new,” Kelly said, pitch rising slightly when she added, “They were right, weren’t they? I’m not in trouble?”

“
You’re not in trouble,” Nash said, scooting his chair back. “But tell them I’ll be back Monday morning, and—grouchy or not—I’ll be staying the entire day. And if I find out anyone else left early today, heads will roll, got that?”

“
Yes, sir,” Kelly said, practically tripping in her haste to leave his office. “Have a good weekend, sir.”

Nash didn’t reply. There was only one way he was going to have a good weekend, and that all depended on what happened after five o’clock today.

He knew Aria had an event until four and probably wouldn’t be back at the house until four-thirty, so he killed some time swinging by the flower shop. He planned to pick up the same flowers he’d bought Aria for their wedding, but the shop was out of calla lilies. The prettiest flowers left were the roses, but red roses seemed cheesy and impersonal for some reason. He almost went with the white roses, but they reminded him of his grandmother’s funeral, so he grabbed a dozen of the yellow instead, and headed for home.

He was still early, but that would give him time to get the roses in a vase, get out of his holster, and clean up a little before Aria got home.

He pulled into the driveway and headed for the door, so sure the house would still be empty that he didn’t bother ringing the doorbell. When the door slammed shut behind him and Aria screamed, he was so startled he almost dropped the roses and went for his gun.

“
Nash?” Aria cried out.

“
Yeah, it’s me,” Nash said, heart still racing.

“
Oh my god, you scared the crap out of me!” Aria called from the kitchen with a nervous laugh. “We got out early, but I didn’t expect you for a half hour!”

“
Obviously,” Nash mumbled, laughing as he caught his breath and started toward the kitchen. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think you’d be back until…”

He turned the corner and his words died in his mouth, shriveling up and floating away, leaving Nash with no clue what he’d been planning to say. It was impossible to hold onto language with Aria looking like
that.