I studied her expression and responded with a bigger smile that I didn’t feel. “Better.”
Her eyes flitted to the side. “Is everyone still watching us?”
I ignored her question. Grisha was approaching the bar. “You want another drink?”
“Not really.”
“I’m getting you one.”
I left her standing alone as I made my way to the bar. Grisha didn’t greet me as I stepped toward him. Instead, he remained neutral, waiting for me to make the first move.
“Mila and I have been put in the same room. I wanted to make sure that wasn’t a mistake.”
He paused, and then he nodded as satisfaction spread across his face. “It’s not a mistake anymore. Consider yourself blessed.”
I looked over at Mila. She stood by herself, on the outskirts of the room, clearly an outsider in her own family. There was something so innocent about her.
I knew I was a cold man, hardened by my job and my environment, but the way Grisha had just casually given me permission to sleep with his niece, without any thought to her desires or comfort, made me feel a deep disgust for him, for his world and for my part in it.
“Thank you.”
“You’re still on thin ice.”
“Of course.”
“Tomorrow is our skeet competition. It starts at 7 a.m. I’ll be assigning teams in the morning. Tell Mila to be prepared to be outside all day.”
“I will.”
I looked back at Mila while the bartender poured me and Grisha our drinks. Her dark hair tumbled down her back and her pouty lips gave her a feminine aura. She caught my eye and gave me a tentative smile. I knew it was fake, but the one I returned was surprisingly real. Her expression softened in response.
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Grisha nodded as he watched her. “This is the least I can do for her. Enjoy the rest of your night.”
I walked back to Mila and replaced her barely drunk glass with a full one. She took a delicate sip. In a moment of weakness, I drained the rest of her old glass in one long gulp.
She watched me with a perplexed look.
“Sorry, did you want to drink that?” I asked.
“I’m actually done drinking for the night.”
I took the full glass from her hands. “Let’s get out of here.”
Back at the room,she moved to one side of the bed and then stood to give me a hostile look.
I put my hands in my pants pockets and rocked back on my heels, deliberately needling her with an innuendo I didn’t mean. “Grisha’s given us his blessing.”
In response, she grabbed one pillow, ripped the bedspread off the bed, and dragged it over to the couch. “Stay away from me, or I’ll scream so loud even the front desk will hear.”
Why is she so cute when she gets riled up?
I hid my amusement and kept my tone mild. “Relax.”
She crossed her arms. “I don’t care who gives us their blessing. You’re not touching me.”
“You don’t have to worry about that.”
Her voice went up a notch. “What does that mean?”
