“What is your type?”
“Not her,” is all he says, watching me and knowing I want to ask more.
I bite my bottom lip to keep my damn mouth shut and grab our empty plates. When I try to squeeze by, he refuses to budge for a few seconds, waiting until I meet his eyes before finally shifting his weight so I can slip past. I’m starting to appreciate the cool temperature of the house. It’s the only think keeping me from spontaneously combusting.
“Leave those for now,” he says, getting up and waiting for me to set the dishes down and join him. “I want to show you something.”
I follow him outside, smiling when all three dogs immediately run over to us. It’s like they haven’t seen us for days. We pet them for a few minutes, but when Volodya says something to them in Russian, they run off to go play.
“I left your car where it was, so I got you this instead.” He hands me the set of keys that Nikolai had dropped off and motions towards a brand-new, black Jeep Wrangler. He runs a hand through his hair, and if it was anyone else, I’d say it was a nervous gesture. “I got you an automatic because I wasn’t sure if you knew how to drive a manual. I can switch it for something else if you don’t like it.”
“You bought me a Jeep?” I turn to him, unable to hide the shock from my face. “Why did you do that?”
“Your car is a piece of shit, and you need something reliable.”
I shake my head and walk over to the vehicle. He has no way of knowing this, but I’ve always wanted one of these. They just look like they’d be so much fun to drive, but now when I look at it, I just feel guilty. This thing could pay off so many medical bills.
“Don’t even fucking think about it,” he says. “I’m keeping the title in my name until I know I can trust you to not sell it.”
“How in the hell did you know what I was thinking?”
He presses the keys into my hand. “You’re pretty easy to read,kiska. Come on. I still need to show you around the house.”
I follow him back inside. He takes me from room to room, showing me where everything is. He has a huge home gym that he says I can use whenever I want, and there’s also a media room with the biggest TV I’ve ever seen along with a leather sectional couch that looks buttery soft and more comfortable than any bed I’ve ever slept in. By the time we hit the stairs, I’m overwhelmed. Kaylee and Scott’s house is just as big as this place, but it’s older and not as nice. It also lacks the beautiful views out of every window.
“There are a couple of spare rooms down the hall,” he says, pointing off to the right. “And this is my room.”
We step into a large room with a king-size bed and windows that stretch along two of the walls, giving a view of the rolling ocean and the wooded area to the side of the house.
“Wow,” I whisper, taking in everything. My eyes drift over to his bed, but I quickly look away and refuse to let my mind wonder about whether or not the man sleeps naked. “Your home is really beautiful, Volodya.”
“Thank you.”
When my eyes go back to his bed, he gives a soft laugh that makes me feel like he’s caught me doing something wrong. I try to cover it by asking, “When was the last time you washed your bedding? I like to do it once a week.”
The look he gives me makes it obvious he knows I wasn’t just mulling over the laundry schedule, but I ignore him and wait for his answer.
“Two days ago.”
“Okay, I’ll do them every Thursday then.”
I follow him back downstairs, already coming up with a cleaning plan. I’m about to start the dishes when a memory hits me from a few weeks ago.
“What is it?” he asks, noticing the way my brow is scrunched up.
“I just remembered something. It’s probably nothing, but there was someone who came over to Scott’s a few weeks ago. I’ve never seen the guy before, and he didn’t stay long, but he definitely wasn’t a part of Scott’s usual crew.”
“What did he look like?”
I think for a second and say, “He was older, probably mid-thirties, and his head was shaved, not like he was bald, but like he’d recently shaved his head because I could see black stubble where it was trying to grow back.”
“What else? What was he driving?”
“I don’t know. He just walked through the kitchen while I was making supper. He barely looked my way. He didn’t seem pleased to be there, and Scott looked nervous, but he left a few minutes later. That was the only time I’ve ever seen him.”
“Thank you for telling me.” He’s already digging his phone out and heading for the door.
“I put myself in your contacts. Text me if you need anything. I also told the men at the gate that you’re allowed to come and go as you please, but don’t forget what I said, Maddie. Someone will be watching you.”
