“Roscoe assures me this is true,” Mikhail said.“I can’t say I won’t worry, but I won’t stand in your way.My work with Bridget was more dangerous than anything you’re likely to face.”
“Thank you.I want to finish my studies, so I’ll ask Roscoe if I can work part-time.”She glanced at her watch.“Isabella and Leo will arrive soon with Kian.Sometimes, I go to the lodge and sit on the deck with a gin and tonic.My grandmother thinks I’m turning into a lush.Would you like to go with me?The view is spectacular, and I told Isabella that’s where I’ll be.They have kid’s cocktails, and I promised Kian one the next time I looked after him.”
“That sounds civilized.I can’t think of anything I’d rather do.”He kissed her and parted their bodies.“I could do with another shower.”
“Me too,” Edwina said and waggled her eyebrows.“We have time for multi-tasking.”
Mikhail rolled to his feet.“Lead the way.”
Thenextmorning,aftera leisurely breakfast and a walk, Edwina said, “Are you ready to face my family?I’m expected for lunch and haven’t mentioned you to Grandmother.I’m still annoyed at her for maneuvering me and taking your money.You’ll come as a surprise since she assumes I’m single.It’s driving her crazy that I’m staying here rather than with my parents because she can’t work out how I’m paying for the cabin.”
“I hope she has sleepless nights,” Mikhail said.“What are you going to tell her?”
“The bare minimum.She’ll recognize your name but doesn’t need details.”
“I haven’t spoken to my grandmother much, but I told her she wasn’t to discuss my business or you with her friend.I’m sure she did as I asked because I didn’t hold back on my temper.”
“My grandmother doesn’t know a thing,” Edwina said.“Perhaps I’m an ungrateful wretch, but she treated me like a possession—hers to do with as she willed.I have feelings, dammit.”
“I didn’t treat you much better, carting you from the Scottish castle against your will.”
She bared her teeth.“Ah, but you’ve learned from your error and understand I will geld you if you misbehave.My grandmother believes she has the right to make my decisions, and my stubbornness astonishes her.Thanks to you, I can afford to stay here.If I had to live with my parents, she’d be much worse.As it is, she keeps organizing dates for me.She wants someone useful to the family.”
Even after she’d returned home, her grandmother ordered her around and expected Edwina’s compliance.She fingered the wedding band she’d slipped on five minutes earlier.After not wearing the jewelry, the shiny ring kept snagging her attention.
“I bet you’re much like your grandmother,” Mikhail said.“You’re stubborn and have decided views.”
“Ah, but I’ve been on the receiving end of her bossiness since I was young.I know what it feels like and won’t make the same mistake with my children or grandchildren.Please, if I lean in that direction, tell me to pull in my head and stop acting like a general.”
Mikhail picked up her left hand and kissed her fingers.His eyes danced with humor.“I’m sure Ivan and Gregory would enjoy deflating an enlarged ego.”
Edwina stood on her tiptoes and quickly kissed his lips, loving his scent.He smelled of fresh air and pine trees, a faint hint of tiger, and a healthy dose of her.Their combined scents pleased her greatly and put a spring in her step.“We should hustle.Do you want me to drive?”
“You know where you’re going, but I expect a conducted tour during the drive.”
Edwina pointed out places of interest and made a slight detour to take Mikhail through the heart of Middlemarch.She showed him the school hall where they held meetings about town-related stuff, Caroline’s clothing store, the police station, the vet and doctor for feline residents, the Storm in a Teacup cafe, and other buildings.
They pulled up outside her grandmother’s house ten minutes late.She slid a sidelong glance toward her husband.“Are you ready for this?”
“Your grandmother might consider our marriage a victory,” Mikhail said.
“But she’ll be all sorts of pissed because I didn’t tell her I’d married,” Edwina said cheerfully.“She’ll want to know why I came home without you.”
“Her curiosity will go unquenched.”
“Exactly, and that will irk her something fierce.”Edwina climbed from the car just as one of her younger sisters ran out to greet her.
“Grandmother is cranky because you’re late.”Her sister’s eyes widened on spotting Mikhail.Her nostrils flared as she dragged in his scent.“You…” She clapped her hand over her mouth, her green eyes bugging out.
“Gina, this is Mikhail, my husband.”
“Ooh,” Gina said.
Edwina held out her hand to Mikhail, trembling a little.It was always tricky confronting her grandmother, and this time, her nervousness peaked higher than usual.“We’d better go inside before Grandmother gets even more grumpy.”
Mikhail resisted her tug and, instead, pulled her to him.He bent his head and kissed her with tenderness and passion until her uneasiness disappeared.“I love you,” he said and winked at her.
“You have lipstick on your mouth,” Gina blurted.
