He sees the text and gives a small smile. “I’m glad she likes them.”
“When did you do that?”
“At the hospital while you were saying your goodbyes.”
“It’s like you’re two entirely different people,” I tell him. “The first time I saw you, you were killing a man. If you’d looked over your shoulder and told me that one day you’d be buying my mom flowers and paying for her cancer treatment, I never would’ve believed you.”
He shrugs and grabs my hand, leading me downstairs. “Everyone is more than just one thing. You won’t be exposed to that other part of myself again, so you don’t need to worry about it. You get the sweet stuff. You’re theonlyone who gets the sweet stuff.”
“We still get to play naughty hide-and-seek, though, right?”
He laughs and picks me up. “Is that what we’re calling it?”
“Yep.”
“In that case, we will always play naughty hide-and-seek,kiska.”
He sets me down so I can pull my shoes on and pet the dogs who are crowding around us for some love. After a few minutes of scratches and belly rubs, we all go outside. I follow him to the garage, but this time he ignores the car and motorcycle and instead stops in front of a black four-wheeler. Getting on, he holds a hand out to me, helping me get on the back. I’ve never been on one of these before, but when he starts it up and speeds down the gravel road leading into the woods, I laugh and tighten my arms around him. We race through the woods, the dogs chasing behind us, and I can’t stop laughing and smiling because it’s just so much damn fun.
Slowing down, he pulls up in front of a small log cabin that I’d had no idea was back here. He stops the engine and helps me off, leading me by the hand to the front door. The place is small but cute, and it would look adorable with some window boxes and colorful flowers.
“What is this place?” I ask him as he leads me inside, revealing the cozy cabin. It’s an open-floor plan with a small living room and kitchen. Beyond that is a short hallway with a pretty big bedroom and the bathroom is large enough for a shower and a separate tub.
Volodya leans against the doorway while I inspect everything and then turn back with a confused look on my face. “Is this where you want me to live? Wait,” I say as it suddenly occurs to me that I’m out of a job because surely I’m not still the maid, right? “Shit, I need to go find a job,” I quickly say, feeling like an idiot.
“What the hell?” he asks, pushing off from the wall and coming to stand in front of me. “What are you talking about?”
“You want me to keep being your maid?”
He laughs and looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Kiska, you’re not my damn maid. I never needed one to begin with, by the way. I just hired you because I wanted to keep you close.”
“Because I saw you kill someone,” I remind him.
“Yes, but also because I didn’t want to let you go,” he admits. “And I sure as hell don’t want you living out here in the cabin. I want you with me in the house and in my bed, and you’re not getting another job.”
“I have to get a job,” I tell him.
“God, you’re stubborn,” he groans, but there’s a smile tugging at his lips when he says it. “I don’t think you have the faintest idea of how much I love you. I want to take care of you, baby. What’s mine is yours. You don’t need a job because I have more than enough money to take care of us, and this cabin is not for you.”
He looks around and then runs a hand through his hair. “I thought maybe your mom might like to stay here. I know it’s not huge or anything, but if she stayed here, then she wouldn’t have to worry about rent, and we’d be able to keep an eye on her better. Plus, it’d be easier to take her to and from appointments.”
He’s barely gotten the words out before I’m flinging my arms around him and jumping in his arms. “God, you’re such a softie,” I tell him, laughing when he gives my ass a hard spank for teasing him.
“I am for you, sweetheart, andonlyyou.”
He carries me back out and sits me on the four-wheeler. I expect him to drive us back to the house, but instead he goes deeper into the woods, showing me the different parts of his land. There’s another cabin that’s further away, and I’m guessing maybe his men stay here from time to time, but there doesn’t seem to be anyone staying in it now. When he drives us past it, I peek in the windows, noticing that it looks dark and vacant.
“What are the cabins for?” I ask as he turns us onto another gravel path.
“Sometimes I need them for work,” he says, giving me one hell of a vague answer. I’m about to ask for more information, but he speeds up, making me tighten my arms around him and let out a laugh. We race out of the woods and onto the beach right as the dogs appear from the other end of the woods. They run over to us and then race along beside us. Volodya gets us close to the water, spraying us lightly while he laughs and the wind whips my hair around and the salty spray hits my face.
I look up at the overcast sky and close my eyes, feeling completely free and happy and hoping like hell this feeling never ends.
Chapter 12
Volodya
When we get back to the house, I help Maddie off the four-wheeler, unable to take my eyes off her face. I swear she’s glowing, lit up from the inside, and the sight of her smiling face leaves me staring down at her like an idiot. She laughs and pulls me down for a kiss, the taste of her instantly making me forget about everything else. If I could, I’d take her right back up to bed again, but unfortunately I can’t spend all day buried inside her.
