Mikhail pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket.“We can’t have that.”He wiped away the crimson lipstick and tagged after Edwina and her sister.
Edwina heard voices in the dining room and led Mikhail in that direction.She paused in the doorway, her gaze landing on a man she didn’t recognize.
“Grandmother, did you forget to tell me something?”she asked in an icy voice.
“You’re late,” her grandmother said.“This is Logan White.I invited him to dinner because I wanted you to socialize with people your age.It’s not natural for you to stay in that cabin alone.”
“It’s a hotel property,” Edwina said.“Not a rustic cabin in the heart of the forest.”
“Say hello to Logan,” her grandmother said.
Her grandfather held a frown, but he directed it at his wife rather than Edwina.Gina darted past and slid into her usual seat.
“Is there another chair?”Edwina asked, moving farther into the dining room with Mikhail on her heels.
“Who are you?”her grandmother demanded.
Edwina ignored her grandmother and tugged Mikhail toward her parents.“Mum.Dad.This is my husband, Mikhail Lermontov.We met at the gathering.Mikhail, my parents Janet and Malcolm McClintock.”
“Married!”her grandmother shrieked, her narrow nose quivering with indignation.
“Grandfather, my husband, Mikhail.Mikhail, this is Logan McClintock.”She turned to her grandmother, facing her fully for the first time.“Grandmother, meet my husband.”
Her grandmother darted forward and shifted the collar of Edwina’s blouse.“You’re lying.Where is your mark?”
“Mother,” her father protested.“That was rude.”
“Valerie,” her grandfather said a beat later.“What are you doing?”
“They’re not married.Edwina is playing a prank on us,” her grandmother said, agitation in every line of her body.
Mikhail snapped to attention at Edwina’s side.“I didn’t think we’d need to produce our marriage certificate to prove our marital status, but we are husband and wife.”
“But you’re not mates,” her grandmother snapped back.
“Don’t be silly, Valerie,” her grandfather said, drawing his lanky body up and rising to his full height.“Use your feline senses.”
“That means they’ve shared a bed,” her grandmother announced.
“You’re right,” Mikhail said.“Your grandmother is rude and cantankerous when she doesn’t get her way.”
The room went silent, and Edwina had to work hard to keep her mouth from quirking upward.
“Grandmother, Mikhail and I are mates, no matter what you try to tell yourself.I love him with all my heart, and in a few days, we’re flying to Tahiti for two weeks for the honeymoon we’ve put off since the gathering.Then we’ll fly home to Russia.”
“Wait.Lermontov,” her grandmother said.“You’re Katie’s grandson.”
“I am,” Mikhail said.“But don’t congratulate yourself on maneuvering Edwina into your snare.We married after a mature discussion, where she agreed to be my wife.Our marriage has nothing to do with you.In the future, I suggest you leave any negotiations to Edwina’s parents.Don’t maneuver Edwina’s brothers and sisters.”
“What Mikhail said,” Edwina agreed.“I love you, Grandmother.I don’t know why sometimes because you’re constantly interfering in our lives, but you’re family.You need to find new interests or focus on fundraising for the community instead of wasting your energy on us.We know you’re available for advice if needed, but my parents have done an excellent job.You must stop organizing us because you’ll lose our respect if you don’t.”
“Edwina,” her father said, and pride shone in his green eyes for the first time in her memory.“You’re quite right.Mother, you interfere all the time.We’d appreciate it if you ceased.”
“I’d like to add something before we change the subject.Grandmother, that loan you gave to Mum and Dad and are charging them interest and expecting the principal repayment.I suggest you forgive them the loan and call it a gift.”
“No,” her grandmother snapped.
“If you don’t,” Edwina said.“I’ll drop more truth bombs.Ones you won’t appreciate.”
