“No, I will not tell you anything.”
Aleksei made a sour face. “Spoilsport. You must really like him if your not willing to share.”
“You want sex stories, go out and find a man and get firsthand experience, not vicariously through me.”
Aleksei sat up. His back hunched forward, his arms draped over his knees, looking sad and despondent. “Don’t you think I have tried, but it’s hard to get out of here and meet guys with an overprotective big brother breathing on my neck.”
Her heart went out to Aleksei. He didn’t want to be part of this life any more than she did. He just wanted a normal life and to do normal things. To meet a guy. Fall in love. She had to end this crime family and get him away from them.
Zoe sat down next to him and put her head on his shoulder. Aleksei tilted his head to rest on hers.
“Aren’t we a pair,” Aleksei mumbled.
“What do you mean?”
“Both of us have to hide how we feel. Bury our feelings so deep, no one can see them.”
“I don’t have to hide my feelings,” she lied.
Aleksei gave her a dry look. “Zoe, I know you. I know what putting yourself out there looks like. Logan has potential to be someone special in your, and you’re scared, so you retreat.”
She hated a kid a decade younger than her who could read her so easily. “It’s just sex don’t overcomplicate matters.”
“Silver, you forget I know you. You’re avoiding direct eye contact and avoiding talking of him and how you feel. It’s more than sex.”
“Things with Logan are complicated.” That was an easy way of saying it. It was like calling a hurricane a light rainstorm. Even if she wanted to pursue anything with Greg—and that was a hard if—she still had her career to think about. She had already decided she was done with undercover work, but she didn’t know what the next chapter would be.
She hardly knew Greg to suggest staying here and seeing where things went. She also had to worry about all the contacts she’d made here. Her life could get dangerous quickly once it was discovered she was the person responsible for Maxim’s arrest.
Aleksei pulled away and pivoted to face her. Zoe looked up at him to meet his hard, pensive look.
“Do you like him?”
“Yes.” That was easy to admit. She did. She enjoyed being with him, the sex, his humor. All of him.
“Does he like you?”
“I guess.”
Aleksei rolled his eyes. “That’s not an answer. Does he like you?”
“Yes,” she said with more confidence.
“Then that’s all the matters.”
It was her turn to roll her eyes. “This isn’t a Beatles song. Love isn’t all I need. Way more goes into it.”
Aleksei took her hands into his and held them to his chest. “Relationships are about taking a leap of faith. As long as both people care about each other and are willing to stick it out, you’ll find a safe landing.”
“When did you turn all philosophical?”
Aleksei sat up straighter, puffing his chest out. “I always have been. You just don’t appreciate my advice.”
“It sounds more like fortune cookie advice.”
Aleksei’s mouth hung open. “Hey, I take offense to that.”
They both stared at each other, then busted up in laughter until her door opened. Zoe whirled her head around, ready to rip into whoever had dared opened her bedroom door without knocking, but stopped herself when she saw Boris. He glared daggers at her before looking above her head.
