15. Nina
CHAPTER 15
NINA
N ina woke alone in Rashad’s bed. For a moment, she wasn’t sure where she was or why there weren’t small feet in her face, but then memories of the night before came back. She smiled as one hand lifted automatically to her lips, her fingertips brushing the soft skin in memory of Rashad’s kisses. It wasn’t like Nina at all to spend the night with someone she’d just met a few days ago, but it felt like she’d known Rashad much longer. Already, she’d shared with him things that she rarely shared with anyone, and it seemed he’d done the same. Perhaps, their night together was the beginning of something wonderful.
It was too early to think about a future with Rashad, but Nina couldn’t help feeling hopeful. Ever since her ex had walked out on her when she’d found out she was pregnant, she’d kept her heart closed to everyone but her kids and her mother. Nina had been unwilling to consider any kind of serious relationship, not when it could too easily lead to another broken heart for her and her children. Yet with Rashad, she felt different. He seemed to genuinely care about her as well as the twins and maybe, just maybe, there would be a future for them together. Rashad could visit them in San Diego, or they could meet in the middle for a romantic weekend.
Nina didn’t have any big expectations that Rashad would drop everything to join her little family, but a casual relationship based on mutual admiration that could eventually lead to something more — well, that didn’t sound too bad. Perhaps it was time to set aside her fears and open her heart again. Perhaps, instead of being a fleeting moment seized from the velvety night air, last night would be the beginning of something.
At the very least, Nina was looking forward to returning to land and getting started on her and Rashad’s collaborative business plans. As well as benefiting her company, more time with Rashad would give her an opportunity to sort out her own feelings — and learn more about his.
Nina laughed under her breath. Here she was, thinking about the future, when she should just be enjoying the last morning on the yacht. They would arrive at the San Diego harbor soon, but there should be time for one more shared breakfast and perhaps a game of hide-and-seek. Maybe this time, she and Rashad would actually share a kiss if they hid in the same spot.
Nina reached for her phone. It was still early, just after seven thirty. She slipped out of bed, dressed quickly in the sundress she’d worn the day before, and padded down the hallway to the room she’d shared with Miles and Kate the last few nights. Both twins were still sleeping, facing each other, wispy blond hair unfurled across their pillows. Nina watched them sleep for a moment, her heart filling with love for her little ones, before she quietly found a change of clothes and her toiletries bag. After freshening up in the bathroom, she climbed the stairs to the deck, hoping to find Rashad and a cup of coffee, not necessarily in that order.
She found Rashad first. He was standing by the railing, looking out over the ocean. Nina paused to look at him. He was in the same outfit as the day before, but he looked as handsome as ever despite sleep-rumpled hair and yesterday’s clothes. Perhaps he even looked more handsome for having dropped some of his put-together, professional facade.
Nina took in Rashad’s wide shoulders and confident stance, the way his dark hair lifted slightly in the breeze, and the muscles easily visible through his shirt. She saw his hands, resting gently on the railing, and remembered how those hands had felt on her waist and in her hair. Then she crossed the deck to stand beside him.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning, Nina.” Rashad looked down at her, his expression unreadable. “I hope you slept well.”
“I certainly did.” Nina grinned. “Did you? You weren’t there when I woke up.”
“Sorry. I had to take a call.” Rashad’s gaze lifted back to the horizon. It felt a little like a dismissal.
“That’s fine. Is everything okay?” Nina bit her lip.
“Yes.”
Something seemed off about Rashad this morning, but Nina wasn’t entirely certain what it was. His expression was closed off and his posture was a little different. Perhaps he regretted the night they’d spent together. Nina’s stomach clenched at the thought, but she reminded herself not to jump to conclusions.
“It’s a beautiful morning, isn’t it?” She set her hands on the railing beside his. Their little fingers were only a few inches apart, and she was tempted to slide her hand closer to his, but she hesitated.
“It is.” Rashad turned to her, his expression still unreadable. “Nina, I think we should talk business.”
“Oh!” Nina shouldn’t have been surprised — they were here to talk business, after all. Yet Rashad had seemed hesitant to talk about work the last few days, and she’d thought that, after their night together, he’d be even less interested. This was the opposite. “Of course. Shall we go to the meeting room?”
“No, this won’t take long.” Rashad took his hands off the railing and folded them. “Listen, Nina, I know we had a handshake agreement to become partners instead of competitors, but it looks like I won’t be able to honor that. I’m sorry.”
Nina’s stomach did a backflip. She lifted her eyes to Rashad’s, searching for any sign that she’d misunderstood or that he’d misspoken. He couldn’t possibly be backing out of their deal, not after the night they’d spent together.
Or maybe this was about the night they’d spent together. Maybe Rashad, who seemed to have never had a real relationship or shared real closeness with anyone, was scared of the intimacy he and Nina had shared and was willing to sabotage their agreement to avoid awkwardness.
“Listen,” Nina said in the calming tone she used to talk her three-year-olds down. “If this is about last night, let me reassure you that just because we slept together, it doesn’t mean that our business relationship has to change. I’ll still treat you as an equal, and I hope you’ll do the same. In fact, I’ve been thinking about a few ideas for our work together. Perhaps Heartbeat could become a sort of charitable wing of Health Trackr — that way, your business model and profits won’t be endangered, and Heartbeat can expand to other countries where you work. We could?—”
But Rashad raised his hand, palm out, in a stop gesture. He looked a little pained now.
“Nina, I appreciate that, but things aren’t going to work out for us as business partners. Or as partners of any kind.”
Nina took an involuntary step back. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve had a wonderful weekend with you, but that doesn’t mean that there’s anything between us. It would hurt Health Trackr to partner with you. Beyond that, I just don’t see a future for us. I truly apologize if I led you to believe otherwise.”
“Rashad, let’s talk about this.” Nina stayed calm, though she had to clasp her hands to keep them from shaking. “I know that?—”
“I’m sorry,” Rashad said again. He was still looking at her, but his dark eyes were devoid of affection now. “There’s nothing to discuss.”
Tears sprung to Nina’s eyes as the enormity of what he was saying hit her, but she held them back. There was no way she was going to cry in front of Rashad — not now. He’d let her believe that they had, if not a future together, at least a possibility for a good working relationship. Now, Heartbeat would be in danger: if Rashad wasn’t working with her, that meant he was working against her. More than that, Nina had let herself begin to trust this man. Her kids cared about him, too.
Any hope that Rashad might change his mind burst as he broke their eye contact, focusing instead on the waves in the middle distance.
None of that mattered now. Rashad was clear that he didn’t want anything else to do with her, her business, or the twins. Nina needed to stay strong while he was still here, looking so handsome and so ruthless and so detached.
“You did lead me to believe that we’d be able to work together,” Nina said. Her voice broke, but only a little. “You told me that we’d be partners, but I understand now why you didn’t want to get into details while we were here. I imagine you never intended to go through with our agreement. I suppose our night together was just another tactic.”
She looked away from him, out over the ocean. Usually, she found the ocean calming, with its cerulean waters and the way it stretched as far as the eye could see, but today it looked unsettling. Too much was hidden beneath the placid surface.
“Nina—”
It was her turn to interrupt Rashad. “Just tell me what this means for Heartbeat. Will you be trying to buy us out, or outcompete us?”
“I’m not sure yet, but I can promise you that I will be as fair as possible.”
Nina scoffed. “Sure, because your word means a lot to me at this point. Goodbye, Rashad.”
She turned on her heel and walked, slowly and with as much dignity as she could, towards the cabin where her children slept. This was a mess. Clearly, Rashad was planning to take Heartbeat down, one way or another, even if he didn’t have the decency to admit it now. The only question was when he would come for her.
Nina had made a terrible mistake by allowing herself to grow fond of Rashad. She wouldn’t make that mistake again. Now she needed to protect her children, her company, and her own heart as best as she could.
Even if it felt too late to shield any of them.