“Have you ever done a national tour? I’m touring withSeize the Nightright now.”
She shook her head and shut off the wand, wiping it down before she poured the milk. “I don’t think I’d want to move around that much. I like having a home base.” Her gaze flicked to Dimitri and away.
He could understand that. He liked having a home base, too. It was hard enough being in Los Angeles, away from his parents. Nik had made it easier, but now he was gone, too.
Well, except for right this moment, when he was sitting in the kitchen.
Maybe it had been hard for Natasha, too, being away from New York, Gina leaving, and now, losing access to her apartment.
The way she poured the milk distracted him. “Hey, are you—” He stopped and laughed. “Where’d you learn to do that?”
Natasha pulled back the pitcher and admired the little white heart formed in the foam on top of the espresso. A pleased smile played on her lips. “It never gets old,” she said. “I used to work at a restaurant with an espresso machine at the bar. We practiced latte art when business was slow.”
He pointed to the heart. “Is that for—”
She snatched the cup away and carried it over to Nik.
“Aww, look, I got a heart!” Nik’s phone was already in his hand, so he snapped a picture. “Tash, you’re a woman of many talents.”
When she came back to the counter, Dimitri crossed his arms over his chest. “What, I can’t have a heart?”
She stared at him from the corner of her eye. “So, you’re admitting you don’t already have one?”
“Very funny.”
Across the kitchen, Nik moaned as he sipped, then gave Natasha a thumbs-up. “Excellent brew,sestra.”
When Natasha picked up an espresso cup in one hand and the milk pitcher in the other, Dimitri shot his brother a glare. What the hell was he doing, calling Natashasister?
Her moves with the milk caught his attention. She tilted the cup as she poured, carefully turning it as she shook the pitcher lightly, pouring from farther away, then closer as the image began to appear. Even lines formed on top of the coffee, curving and becoming a beautifully detailed leaf, or feather.
“There,” she said, setting it on a saucer and nudging it toward him. “That’s for you.”
It was so pretty, so perfect. “I don’t want to drink it,” he said.
At her soft gasp, he hurried to finish his thought. “It’s too nice looking, I mean. I don’t want to ruin it.” Damn, he was always saying the wrong thing around her.
Nik came around and took a picture of Dimitri’s cup, then filmed a video while Natasha poured her own. She made a design that looked like a heart coming out of a flower, as if it were the easiest thing in the world.
“Cheers,” she said, smiling into the camera as she raised the cup to her lips.
Dimitri sipped his own as he watched. If he kissed her now, she’d taste darkly sweet, like espresso and sugar.
“I didn’t know you could do that,” he said as she drained her cup.
She raised an eyebrow at him. “You never asked.” She set her empty cup in the sink. “You’ll clean up? I don’t want to be late for work.”
Nik answered for him. “Of course he will. Don’t be late because of us.”
“Thanks, Nik.” She tilted her head, and accepted his kiss on the cheek. Then her gaze shot to Dimitri’s, and her dark eyes turned wary.
She wasn’t going to kiss him goodbye. It shouldn’t piss him off, but it did. She’d kissed his brother like it was nothing, but after all they’d done together, last night and for the past three years, a simple goodbye kiss was too awkward.
What . . . the fuck . . . was wrong with them.
“Um, I have to get going,” she said, not really looking at either of them. “See you later, D. Bye, Nik.” And then she was gone.
Dimitri sipped his café con leche and waited. It wasn’t long before Nik leaped to fill the silence, slipping back into English now that they were alone.
