"I don't think marrying for money is necessarily a bad thing. So long as both parties are up front about it. To be honest, your money factored into my decision to marry you. It might still. You and I both bring something to this marriage, financially speaking, and I think relationships work better when two people are as equal as possible."
Nick gaped at her. "This is exactly why we broke up so many times. I keep thinking you'll have changed, but you never do. You're cold and calculating. Kissing you is like kissing a slab of granite."
Arden felt heat rise to her cheeks. "We broke up because it made no sense to try to keep our relationship together when so much distance separated us."
"That's right. You didn't believe in love...or at least, you didn't love me. You think relationships are completely founded on circumstances. It's sick, Arden. Ashley was warm. No. Ashley was hot. Is hot. She can't wait to tear off her clothes in front of me and jump me."
Arden pressed her hands to her ears. "I don't want to hear another word about that little whore!"
Nick stood and faced her. "You're a passionless woman, Arden. That's why I cheated on you. Maybe it will be better when we're married. But..."
"When we're married?" Arden asked. "It doesn't sound to me that you're too terribly interested in marrying me."
"I love you, Arden," he said. "I want to marry you. But you're going to have to make some changes."
Arden laughed. "I'm going to have to make changes? No. That is not how this works. I am who I am and if you don't like it then you can break off this engagement right now."
Nick started to speak again, but she interrupted him.
"I want to marry you, too, Nick. I'm sorry to sound so 'cold and calculating,' as though that's a bad thing, but the truth is, you and I are good together. Socially, financially, physically. We'll make beautiful babies. I don't require passion in order to be happy." If I did, I'd marry Travis, she thought. "But I do require fidelity. So if you want to go through with this relationship, you absolutely have to stop seeing Ashley. There will be no second chances. If I catch you again...we're through. Are we clear?"
It occurred to her that maybe she shouldn't be with a man who would allow her to talk to him this way. A man wasn't a man if he didn't put up a fight now and then. But then again, this was not an issue for her to waver on.
Apparently Nick saw that as well. His jaw muscles flexed while he swallowed her demands. "I have no intentions of ever cheating on you again," he said.
"Good," Arden said, thinking that the discussion was over and now he could leave.
"Now it's time to talk about your little betrayal," he said, raising a steely-eyed gaze to her.
Arden rolled her eyes. "I'm sorry I let him kiss me under the mistletoe, okay? I kissed Pastor Harris on the cheek a couple of weeks ago...do I need to apologize for that, too?"
Nick gripped the edges of the bed. The veins on his neck started showing. "You know good and well what I'm talking about. It's obvious to anyone with eyes that you like him. What I want to know is, how far have things gone."
"I find this insulting, Nick. I haven't lied to you."
"Oh?"
"Yes. Nothing has happened beyond that little nothing of a kiss Friday night. I haven't touched him or kissed him or anything. I've been completely faithful to you."
"Technically."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means thinking about it is cheating, too, Arden."
"You've got to be kidding. You're just trying to level the playing field. I think the fact that I've resisted my desires shows pretty strong moral fortitude."
"Ha!" Nick said, turning to face her. He pointed a finger at her. "You admit it. You do have feelings for him."
Arden huffed and looked up at the ceiling. "I can't believe you're trying to ease your own conscience by making me feel guilty for temporarily having the hots for a guy who rescued me in a snowstorm. Of course I'm going to have feelings for him. It's only natural. But I never acted on them and I don't intend to. And the feelings will pass like a bad hangover, so I don't know why I'm even sitting here defending myself."
Nick stared at her for a long few minutes. Slowly his expression softened. He reached out and took her hand. "You're right." He took a deep breath and nodded. "You're right. The feelings will pass. And what I've done is much worse than what I'm accusing you of. I'm sorry."
Arden sighed, too, and gave his hand a squeeze. "I understand if you feel jealous. I'd like to pummel the shit out of that Ashley."
Nick smiled. "I thought you already did."
Arden shook her head. "It wasn't good enough. I can give her a better beat down than that."