“Why would that make me think less of you?”
Her eyes come back to me, and I can see she’s uncomfortable. “I stayed with him even when I knew I didn’t love him. I stayed because he had money, and that was what was really important.”
“Why did you need to marry someone wealthy? Max said your dad is a billionaire.”
“He’s not.” She snorts. “Between his spending and my mom’s, his part of the inheritance, which was split among him and his siblings, has dwindled down to a little over five million. And considering their lifestyle, that’s a drop in the bucket. No one knows about my parents’ money issues. Everyone just assumes they’re loaded, because that’s the image they project.”
“If they have five million dollars, I wouldn’t say they have money issues, babe.”
“That’s because you’re normal. You probably wouldn’t even consider spending hundreds of dollars on a single dinner out, thousands of dollars on a weekend vacation, or more money than most make in a year on a new car or handbag.”
Hearing that and knowing that’s a life I will never live—and don’t even desire to live—I ask, “Are you normal?”
“I don’t know who I am,” she answers quietly, moving her eyes to the ocean. “I like going out to dinner, but what’s the point of having a nice meal if you don’t enjoy the company you’re keeping? I like vacationing, but I don’t need a five-star resort. And I like nice things, but they don’t make me happy.” She picks her glass back up and takes a sip of wine, then settles back in her chair. “All I want is to be happy—really happy.”
“That’s what everyone wants, Anna, so I think that makes you normal.”
“Are you happy?” she asks, pulling her eyes off the view in front of us to look at me.
I dig deep for the truth, not wanting to lie when she’s been so honest. “Mostly.”
“Mostly?”
“I love my job and my life, but like everyone, I want more. I want to find someone to build a family with, and more time with my parents and brother. I’m not sure I’d be completely fulfilled having all those things, but I think they’d add to my happiness.”
“Simple,” she whispers, studying me intently.
“Pardon?”
“What you want is simple.” She smiles sadly. “It’s not money or some new gadget or car; you want simple things, things that are easily achievable, things that are actually important at the end of the day.”
“And what do you want?” I ask, not even realizing that I’m holding my breath as I wait for her answer.
“I don’t know.” She shrugs one shoulder. “I don’t know what will make me happy. All I know is it’s not what I had before I came here.”
“Are you any closer to finding it now that you’re here?”
She lets out a long breath. “I love living here. I enjoy my job. I wake up every day and can look at myself in the mirror without hating myself. I’m starting to feel settled. So I guess the truthful answer is, I think so.”
“Good, baby,” I say quietly. I’m not sure I’ve ever met a woman like her before, a woman who is capable of admitting things that might be uncomfortable to talk about, things that might make people look down on her. Her honesty is refreshing.
One side of her mouth tips up. “You know the worst of me, Calvin, so if I don’t hear from you after tonight, I don’t even have to question why that is.”
“You won’t get rid of me that easily, Anna.” I hold her gaze, amazed by her strength. Most people would lie or paint things differently, and not many women would open up about their past the way she just did. “You feel up to going for a walk down on the beach with me?”
“I’d like that,” she replies, and I stand, then take her hand and help her up.
Once she’s in front of me, I touch my lips to her forehead before leaning back to catch her eye. “Thank you for opening up to me.” Her eyes fill with surprise, and she gives me a nod. “Come on.”
I lead her down the wooden steps to the beach, then stop to take off my shoes and fold up the legs of my jeans, ignoring my cell when it rings. Once I’m standing, I take her hand and walk with her into the surf, sighing when my phone rings again.
“Do you need to take that?” she asks, kicking her foot through the water as Bane jumps along a wave rushing on shore.
“It’s just work.” Normally, I don’t mind getting calls when I’m off duty, but right now I’m tempted to toss the phone currently ringing in my pocket out into the ocean.
“Your mom mentioned the other day that you have some big case. Could it be about that?”