“Andrii, I can’t make decisions. I despise making them. I’m good with numbers, but I don’t especially like the work. It’s the only thing I am good at. I can make decisions without hesitation when it comes to numbers, but anything else,I’m a wreck. I worry about everything. You see me being nice to a couple of people and think I’m worth something. I’m not.”
“I asked you not to make disparaging remarks about yourself.”
“I’m trying to get you to see the truth about me.”
“All you’re doing is sealing your fate,Solnyshkuh. You’re telling me you need me. You won’t have worries when you’re with me because I’m willing to take those on for you.”
She couldn’t speak. His declaration was obviously sincere, but she found herself too attracted. Wanting to give him everything. She’d be so lost in him.
“Don’t look so scared, Zelie. Trust me when I say I’ll take care of you.”
The pad of his thumb swept gently, tenderly, over her cheekbone, and then traced her lips, setting her heart pounding and sex fluttering.
“I’m just as distrustful as you are. We both have good reasons for being the way we are. Let’s do this together. Say you’ll try for me. Commit, Zelie.”
He mesmerized her, a predator cornering his prey, yet she didn’t want to escape. As much as she feared she would be swallowed by him, he was the only man she had ever been attracted to, physically or emotionally. “All right.” She whispered her capitulation because there was no way to make her voice any louder.
A slow smile softened his hard features. It didn’t make him look any less dangerous, but it made him even more attractive.
“You should be outlawed,” she said. “Seriously, Andrii, I’m not certain I can think straight around you.”
“I’m going to fuck up,” he warned softly, his thumb still moving over her bottom lip. “That temper you saw, it gets away from me. When it happens, you’ll need to know my anger isn’t at you. When I’m upset with you, we’ll talk about it. Calmly. Without anger.”
She swallowed hard. Was she really going to commit to a relationship with a man who admitted he had a bad temper?
“You’re looking scared again.”
Her cell phone played a few bars of Sheb Wooley’s “Purple People Eater.” She scowled before she could school her expression, but she made no move to answer.
Andrii’s brows drew together. “Who is that? Clearly, you don’t want to talk to them.”
“That would be my boss, Alan Billows. He knows I have class tomorrow. I told him I couldn’t come in for a meeting tonight, but he doesn’t take no for an answer.”
“I’ll tell him no for you.”
She found herself laughing. “You probably would. I need the job until I finish school and can get another one.”
She wasn’t certain it would be that easy or smart to walk away from Billows, but she wasn’t going to tell Andrii that. She changed the subject instead. “What’s in the box?”
SIX
Andrii debated whether to allow Azelie to get away with the change in subject. It wasn’t in his best interest—or Azelie’s—for Billows to find out they were dating. He didn’t want more attention on Azelie from Billows. The man was a psychopath, and he was deeply involved in human trafficking. If the information Torpedo Ink had worked so hard to acquire was correct, Billows trained women and teens as sex slaves before they were put up for auction. He didn’t like the thought of Azelie anywhere near the man.
Azelie was a gorgeous woman, whether she wanted to think so or not. She wore baggy clothes to hide her curves, but she had them. Any man who looked at her—and they would look—would be able to guess what was under her sweaters and hoodies. Her jeans clung to her body lovingly, and all that was without mentioning her face. She had beautiful skin that glowed and was rose-petal soft. Her eyes were large, vividly blue, and heavily lashed. Then she had all that wild hair.
Billows trafficked women. He would be able to assess Azelie’s worth easily. The fact that she was a pleaser would go a long way to adding to her value. The man needed herfor her skills in manipulating his books, but if he felt threatened, he would turn on her in an instant. In some ways, being with Andrii would be a protection for her. Men like Billows recognized immediately when there was a threat. At the same time, Billows might feel he was losing control of Azelie. Bookkeepers could be replaced.
“You aren’t returning the dress and shoes to me, are you?” Azelie asked.
Her finger crept up to her bare ear. She didn’t wear jewelry as a rule. She didn’t even have studs in, although her ears were pierced. Andrii loved the little shells of her ears.
“Yes.” He poured firmness into his voice, all the while keeping his tone low. He moved around her to pull the tie from the box and lift the lid. “I don’t want you to give back any gift I give you, Zelie. It’s a little hurtful, although I appreciate that you don’t want to use me for my money.”
She bit down on her lower lip as she took a step back. “Do you have money?”
“Yes.”
“You said you were a contractor and that you played in a band,” she protested. One hand went defensively to her throat, and she gave a little shake of her head. “And that you did security.”
