She didn’t take one for herself but sipped a white coffee.“You have a housekeeper.”
A statement.He frowned.“Yes, and staff to maintain the grounds.I’m often away, and this makes my life less complicated.”
“I see,” she said.
One searching glance didn’t illuminate him as to what she saw, but he let this slide.
Rissa arrived with cooked breakfasts, heavy on the meat.Edwina accepted her plate but picked at the food.He wanted to remonstrate and tell her she needed to eat, but he’d tossed a lot at her in the last twelve hours.He was bloody lucky she wasn’t a mass of tears and tantrums.
Rissa cleared the plates and cups once he and the other men finished eating.
“Fasten your seat belts,” Rissa reminded them before she retreated.
He and Edwina shifted back to their original seats and buckled in.Edwina scanned the view outside, although she wouldn’t see much.They were landing at a remote airport, one close to his property, that allowed him to come and go with more privacy.Handy when he didn’t want his grandfather to learn he was out of the country.
This time, he wanted to get his new wife home and settled before he moved to the next stage of his plan.He gave a soft snort of derision.His plan had blown to smithereens when Edwina claimed him, and he’d realized exactly what a jewel he’d discovered entirely by accident.
He sucked in a calming breath, then swallowed hard because it smelled of her.His tiger stretched beneath his skin and rumbled out a lusty purr of pleasure.Mikhail tightened his control, refusing to let his tiger exert a say in proceedings.Responsibilities already overwhelmed him.His juggling skills were excellent, but fighting his tiger wasn’t ideal.
“I didn’t ask you,” he murmured.“Most shifters don’t enjoy flying.Are you all right?”
Edwina swung her green gaze in his direction.“Now you ask.”She paused and wrinkled her nose.“Sorry.That was rude.Flying isn’t my favorite thing, but I’m fine.It’s always better once my feet are on solid ground.”
He nodded, appreciating her silent peace offering.“I feel the same.Flying is necessary, but standing on an unmoving surface is preferable.”
The wheels struck the runway, and the plane slowed before halting.
“We have a welcoming committee,” Edwina said.
“What?”No one except his housekeeper had known they were returning this morning.
Rissa arrived with the men’s suit jackets.
“Thank you,” Mikhail said, thrusting his arms into his.The back of his neck itched insistently.He strode to the main door, waiting for it to open.
“Let us go first,” Ivan murmured.“I don’t like this.”
Mikhail ceded to them and waited with Edwina.
“What’s wrong?”she whispered.
“We weren’t expecting anyone.”
“Who is it?”She lowered her voice further.“Dangerous?The mafia or something?”
“Unlikely.”His tiger relaxed, which meant so did he.Interesting, because his temper was legendary.He wasn’t always patient or calm.
“Fuck,” Ivan muttered.
That one word had his stress levels rising again, as did the look Ivan sent over his shoulder.
“Who is it?”Mikhail demanded.
“You’ll see soon enough.You won’t need a weapon apart from your wits and cool mind.No temper this time,” Ivan warned and started down the stairs leading to ground level.
Mikhail hesitated before ushering Edwina forward.He cursed under his breath, understanding what Ivan had meant when he spotted Clarice waiting at the terminal building door.
7
