As if he could sense my distress, Maksim closed the gap between us. Taking me by the hand, he started leading me out of the dining room.
“You don’t have time for a quickie, Maksim,” Aleks called to which Maksim responded with a juicy string of what I could only imagine were Russian curses.
Once we were alone in the foyer, he pulled me into his arms. “Are you okay?”
“Well, let’s see. My fiancé and I were just caught in the middle of a primal play scene by his family. And now he’s about to leave me to go torture one of his uncles and some of his men to death.” Gazing up at him, I replied shaily, “I’m peachy.”
Instead of laughing, Maksim stared intently into my eyes. “If you’re not comfortable with what I’m about to d-do, I won’t d-do it.”
I shook my head. “It’s who you are, Maksim. Not to mention these are the men who almost killed you. There’s a strange part of myself that wants to watch what you’re about to do.”
“Seriously?”
“I mean, they almost took you from me.”
“None of that matters if it’s going to d-drive a wedge between us.”
I couldn’t believe what he was offering me. Just when I thought I couldn’t love him more, he offered yet another sacrifice of himself. But this time it was one I couldn’t take.
I patted his chest above his heart. “I can’t ask you to be someone you aren’t. It’s just going to take me a little time getting used to this side of you.”
At his apprehensive look, I replied, “I fell in love with the Bratva heir—for better or worse.”
He closed his eyes as he leaned his forehead against mine. “I can’t wait to hear you say those vows to me.”
With a shy smile, I countered, “I might have watched a Russian wedding ceremony or two, and you don’t say vows.”
Maksim’s eyes shone with pleasure. “I love that you wanted to embrace my culture for our wedding.”
“It’s what is expected, isn’t it?”
“It is. But at the same t-time, I want to integrate your culture.”
With a laugh, I countered, “I’m just Pennsylvania Dutch with a touch of German, which would be frowned upon.”
“Well, how about we incorporate a little of the Russian Orthodox, and then d-do whatever the hell we want to for the rest?”
“I like,” I mused.
“Good. While I’m taking care of business, maybe you and Kira could get started with wedding planning.” When I laughed, he questioned, “What?”
“I was just thinking there’s no cold feet for you, huh?”
A beautiful smile lit up his face. “Absolutely not.”
“Me either. I’ll get to planning.”
“But there’s one person’s permission I need to ask before we truly announce it.”
At the realization of what he meant, tears pricked my eyes. “I know Sammy will be honored for you to ask.”
“We’ll grab some cupcakes and go see him tomorrow. How’s that?”
Nodding, I replied, “From that new bakery we introduced him to.”
Maksim chuckled. “I’m so glad he understands that I can’t go back to O’Brien’s.”
After what had happened with Maksim, Sammy had been told that he’d been mugged outside of O’Brien’s. From then on out, he no longer wanted anything to do with their cupcakes. I hated lying to him, but I also knew he would never quite understand Maksim’s business.
