Serenity (Inevitable #5)(154)

He rubbed her upper back, bared by the low cut of her yoga top. "It's good for them to spend some time together, for the three of you to do so. Your parents are getting a little too old for all the drama, don't you think? Maybe if they're thrown together often enough they might actually consider getting married."

Sasha's laugh deepened. "I dare you to say that to my mother's face," she teased. "Just make sure there aren't any heavy objects close by that she can throw at your head, though."

Matthew winced. "Okay, you've convinced me. No more talk of another wedding in the family." 

She sighed, propping her elbows on the veranda railing and gazing back out at the ocean. "I used to wish all the time when I was growing up that they would finally get married and settle down," she admitted. "That the three of us could be a real family. It took me a long time to realize that my parents are happier this way. That no matter how much they fight and how many times they leave each other, somehow they always find their way back. Though my father did tell me recently that he's tired of all the touring and traveling, and is thinking of retiring soon. And that he might decide to settle in Los Angeles afterwards. Of course, he hasn't broken that bit of news to my mother just yet. I think he's waiting for her to be in the right mood. He could have a very long wait on his hands."

He chuckled. "That's for sure. And speaking of retiring - has Serge stopped sending you emails begging you to change your mind?"

"Not yet. But at least he's sending them less frequently. And I haven't retired completely, Matthew. I'll still be teaching class one day a week and doing workshops once a month, as well as having private sessions at my beautiful home studio. Have I told you recently how much I love that space? And how much I love you for having it all redone?"

Matthew had insisted on dedicating nearly half of the lower level of their San Francisco home as a space where Sasha could both practice yoga and continue to do massage for a select number of clients - including him. The room was spacious and well lit, with beautiful bamboo floors, and painted in Sasha's favorite shade of sage green. And most recently it was where she'd patiently begun to guide him through his own yoga practice, something he finally had time for since finalizing the sale of MBI.

Sasha had agreed to cut back on both her teaching and massage schedule so that she had more time to spend with her new husband, and also be free to travel frequently. And while she certainly didn't need the income, she had felt an obligation to her devoted students and clients not to quit either of her jobs entirely.

He grinned down at her. "I think you might have mentioned something along those lines a few days ago. But, hey, I'm good with hearing you say it on a regular basis."

She pressed a kiss to his bare arm. Having just stumbled sleepily out of bed, Matthew was clad only in a pair of loose fitting cotton board shorts, and was shoeless, just like Sasha. It was a tradition, after all, in Hawaii to leave one's shoes by the front door. In fact, the only person who insisted on wearing shoes indoors was Katya, but at least she'd left her four-inch stilettos back home and had settled for jeweled flip flops instead.

"I love you," murmured Sasha, her hand caressing the lean muscles of his biceps. "And I'm really loving this new look of yours  – no shirt, no shoes, no shaving. Not to mention the tan you've managed to acquire in less than a week. Happiness looks good on you, husband."

He pulled her into his arms. "Happiness feels good, too. Happiness and no stress for the first time in two decades. Though it's something of a temporary break, you know. At some point I need to get serious about the foundation."

Even after signing away half his net worth to Lindsey as part of the divorce settlement, Matthew had still been left with a sizeable fortune. A fortune that had nearly quadrupled after selling MBI. It was a staggering amount of money, one that Matthew knew he'd be hard pressed to spend even a small percentage of in his lifetime  – especially given Sasha's general disdain for material things. When he'd suggested the idea of starting a foundation of some sort with a good portion of the money, she had overwhelmingly supported it.
 

"I know. But you can do that on your own terms, at your own pace. And not just yet. You deserve a good long break. And this is the perfect place to have one," she reminded him, sweeping an arm around to indicate their current surroundings.

He nodded, resting his chin on the top of her wild curls. "Couldn't think of a better place. Though as long as you're by my side, I'd consider anyplace in the world to be paradise."

Sasha rubbed her thumb over his heavily stubbled chin. "When did a self-professed nerd get to be such a romantic?" she teased.