Zach returned as she wandered back into the kitchen and a strained silence fell between them. He was the first to speak. “I put your suitcases in the master bedroom,” he said brusquely. “I’m in the one across the hall.”

She nodded, not taking time to question her growing sense of disappointment. They’d agreed to delay their wedding night, hadn’t they?

“Are you hungry?” he asked, walking to the stove and lifting the pot’s lid, as she’d done earlier.

“Only a little. I was thinking about slipping into the hot tub, unless you want to eat first.”

“Sure. The hot tub’s fine. Whatever you want.”

Janine unpacked and located her swimsuit, then changed into it quickly. The warm water sounded appealing. And maybe it would help her relax. Draping a beach towel over her arm, she hurried into the kitchen, but Zach was nowhere to be seen. Not waiting for him, she walked out to the deck and stepped gingerly into the hot tub. The water felt like a soothing liquid blanket and she slid down, letting it lap just under her breasts.

Zach sauntered onto the deck a minute later, still in his suit. He stopped short when he saw her. “I…didn’t realize you’d be out so soon,” he said, staring at her with undisguised appreciation. He inhaled sharply and occupied himself by uncorking the bottle of champagne, then pouring a liberal glass. When he’d gulped it down, he reached for a second one and filled it for Janine.

“You’re coming in, aren’t you?” she asked, when he handed her the crystal flute.

“No,” he said abruptly. “I won’t join you, after all. There were several things I wasn’t able to finish at the office this week, and I thought I’d look over some papers. You go ahead and enjoy yourself.”

He was going to work on their wedding night! But she didn’t feel she had any right to comment or complain. She was determined to conceal her bitter disappointment.

“The water’s wonderful,” she said, as cheerfully as she could manage, hoping her words would convince him to join her.

Zach nodded, but his eyes now avoided Janine. “It looks…great.” He strode to the end of the deck, ran his fingers through his hair, then twisted around to face her. He seemed about to say something, but evidently changed his mind.

Baffled by his odd behavior, Janine set aside her glass of champagne and stood up so abruptly that water sloshed over the edge of the tub. “You don’t need to say it,” she muttered, climbing out and grabbing her towel.

“Say what?”

“You warned me before the wedding, so I walked into this with my eyes wide open. Well, you needn’t worry. I got the message the minute we arrived at the house.”

“What message is that?”

“Never mind.” Vigorously, she rubbed her arms with the towel.

“No,” he said. “I want you to tell me.”

Against her better judgment, she pointed a quaking finger at the front door. “You went out of your way to tell me how fond of me you were and how there wasn’t going to be any grand passion. Great. Perfect. I agreed to those terms. That’s all fine with me, but—”