Serenity (Inevitable #5)(80)

"Ah, I wondered when that might happen. And I'll just assume from the look on your face that you haven't said yes."

Sasha shook her head. "I told him it was way too soon to discuss something like that. I'm happy with our relationship the way it is right now, no need to rush into anything."

"And of course, because he's crazy in love with you, he isn't pushing you," observed Linda. "He won't want to risk scaring you off. But you won't be able to keep him at an arm's distance forever, niná. Sooner than later he's going to want more from you, and you'll have to make a decision."

"I know." Sasha sighed, stroking the marmalade cat's fur until he purred. "And I won't even ask how you know that Matthew's in love with me. He told me for the first time last weekend."



       
         
       
        

Linda gave a careless wave of her hand. "It's completely obvious, Sasha, in the way he looks at you, the tone of his voice, how he treats you like a lady. He's a good man, niná, hard to imagine you'd ever find one better. And judging from the way he gets along with that boy, he's a good father, too."

"The best," agreed Sasha. "He and Casey have a wonderful relationship, and Matthew is so proud of him. I just wish things weren't so difficult with his daughter."

Sasha had confided to her aunt that Hayley had begun opting out of spending weekends with her father, claiming she had a friend's party to attend or that she didn't feel well or that she had a school-sponsored weekend trip she really wanted to go to. Sasha had seen the hurt look on Matthew's face each time his daughter had found some excuse not to see him, and her heart had ached for him. She had suspected that the real reason Hayley didn't want to spend the weekends with her father was because of Sasha's presence, and had assured Matthew it didn't bother her in the least to give him time alone with his children. Matthew had resisted her offer at first, then grudgingly agreed, but even given the assurance that Sasha wouldn't be joining them hadn't changed Hayley's mind.

"She's obviously going through some stuff right now," Matthew had acknowledged. "What I have no idea, since she won't confide in me, even when I take her out to dinner and it's just the two of us. But Hayley needs to get over whatever bug crawled up her butt and grow up. She also needs to start accepting the fact that you're a part of my life now, and while I appreciate your offer to not come over when she visits, that's not a long term solution. I'll ask Casey if he's got any ideas about what's up with his sister, but I doubt that will shed any light on the matter. Hayley's just got to work through whatever's bugging her, I guess."

Linda's eyes narrowed in irritation. "Seems to me that what his daughter really needs is a good kick in the ass. I can just imagine how your own mother would have reacted if you'd pulled that kind of crap with her."

Sasha gave a delicate little shudder. "I wouldn't have dared to try. I just hope for Matthew's sake that Hayley comes around sooner than later."

Matthew and Casey joined them a few minutes later, both flushed and sweaty after cavorting with the dogs. Linda poured them each a glass of homemade lemonade, made with the lemons that grew in her garden, and the four of them simply sat for awhile, enjoying this late February afternoon. The sun was out, with nary a cloud in the sky, but since it was still officially winter the air temperature remained crisp. 

"We should head back pretty soon," Matthew said regretfully. "Weekend traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge is always heavy, and Casey still has to get in some studying for a big test tomorrow."

"Of course," agreed Sasha. "Just let me get my things and we can head out."

The big orange cat made a sound of protest as Sasha set him down on the floor, but promptly settled his fluffy body inside one of the pet beds scattered around the cottage.

As Linda gave Sasha a hug good-by, she whispered in her ear, "Don't wait too long to tell Matthew you feel the same way. Ah, and don't deny it, niná. I can tell by the way you look at him that it's love, even if you don't think so. Don't always overthink everything, Sasha, okay? You don't always have to be logical or practical. For once in your life, just let your emotions rule you."

Sasha mused over Linda's parting words for the rest of the evening, and if Matthew noticed her preoccupation he chose not to comment on it. Still mostly full from lunch at Linda's, they had a light dinner before Matthew drove Casey home, with Sasha remaining behind at the condo. She always refused to accompany Matthew when he picked up or dropped off the kids at their home in Hillsborough, oddly reluctant to see the place where he'd once lived with Lindsey. She had surmised from bits of conversation with Casey that the place was enormous, more of an estate than simply a house, with all sorts of amenities like a swimming pool, tennis court, and outdoor kitchen. The thought of seeing such extravagance up close filled her with a sense of unease, and gave her cause to worry that perhaps Matthew might one day regret giving all of that up. She knew that she would never be happy living in that sort of luxury, that a simple, modest lifestyle was all she really needed to be content.