“Claire, youjusthad a baby,” Natalie scolded. “It takes a little longer to bounce back to the body you had before.”
“No. Some women are just born with it.” Claire winked at me.
“Your uncle Andre didnotsay that,” Anya insisted sternly with a scolding look at the girl. “I was listening in. He said he liked hersass.”
Maisie pouted. “That’s what I said.”
Natalie giggled but cleared her throat as she seemed to belatedly remember that she wasn’t supposed to find something like this funny. “Close, but not quite.”
Claire came to my rescue, asking Maisie if she wanted to go help set the table. Natalie led her daughter away, but Anya stayed. “He also mentioned that you went to school for nursing.”
I raised my brows. “He did?”
Claire nodded as she prepared a salad with me. “Yes. Why’s that surprising? You practically live with the smartass loner.”
“I just didn’t realize he… talked about me?” I shrugged. “My sass or my ass.”
We all laughed.
Claire asked me more about my nursing goals. Anya was intrigued too. I learned more about how Claire was once a doctor and now had an in-house clinic in the building. Anya, and Maisie’s former babysitter, Daria, were training under Claire.
If only I could jump on the opportunity to do the same.
When they asked why I’d stopped my classes, I admitted that financial restraints held me back. Namely, my uncle told me to quit wasting my time and to be at the house to keep it clean and to make his food.
But I didn’t stop there. Maybe Claire could know of resources I could use later. When my uncle decided I could come home, I hoped to use the money I was making here to put a down payment for Esmeralda to stay at a facility where she’d get better care than what I could provide her.
Claire and Anya listened and asked questions about my relative’s condition.
“I’ve got a couple of places that would be more specialized to help her,” Claire said.
Right then, the men came out of Mikhail’s office, laughing and seeming to tease Roman about something.
“I am starving,” Sergei said.
“You always say that, Daddy,” Maisie teased.
“Because I spend all my energy chasing you.” He crouched, acting like he’d pursue her to tickle her sides.
As she shrieked around the room, everyone made clearance for their antics. We all moved to the table, and I worried all over again how much of a fraud I was.
Acting like I belonged here, as a guest with this family.
Pretending that I could do this, playing the part of an assistant along for a meeting and meal.
Andre sidled up to me, leaning close enough to whisper in my ear.
“I’m starving too.”
I swallowed hard, knowing that the way he set his hand on my hip implied another kind of hunger. One I wasn’t ready to accept.
“I’m starving for a taste of your sweet pussy, Sofia.” He dug his fingers into my side and urged me closer.
My cheeks flamed again.
Oh, shit.
He wasn’t playing fair, teasing me withthatimage before we’d sit with his family!
