My smile wobbles. “You’re not what I expected at all. In fact, I suspect you’re a romantic at heart,” I say. I think I’m drunk. I must be drunk to ignore the scowl she directs at me. “Do you think you’ll ever get married? To someone you actually love, I mean, not someone your uncle sets you up with.”
Katarina turns the cup in front of her. “The odds are not in our favor.”
I almost choke on a gasp. She saidour. “Oh. My. God. There is someone.” I waggle a finger at her. “It’s dick-mold man.”
Katarina goes to snatch my finger, but I pull my hand away before she can break bones. “Don’t ever call him that again,” she warns. “It sounds gross.”
I bite down on my lower lip, but I have to ask. “Who is he?”
Katarina plays with a lock of her long, raven hair. “None of your business.”
“But I’ve just told you what happened with me and Duke,” I whine.
“Exactly. You’re too trusting.”
Reality hits and I pale. “Are you going to use the information against me?”
“No!” she says indignantly, then makes a sound of disgust that I quickly realize is directed at herself. “Maybe Iam turning into a sucker for a good love story. At least one of us deserves to be happy.”
I’m dying to find out more about Katarina’s love interest, but I would literally be putting my life on the line. The ruthless Bratva princess would kill to keep a secret like that, and I already know more than I should. “So, what happens now?”
“Consider yourself recruited into my circle of trust,” she says. “Officially, I’m going to hire your services. You can organize my birthday party.”
“But I’m an interior designer,” I remind her. “Not an events planner.”
She shrugs. “You’re adaptable. Adapt. Duke will be more than happy to clear it with DeVere once he knows you’ll be spending more time together.”
My heart hammers in my chest. I don’t know if this is a blessing or a curse. We don’t have the best track record of keeping our hands off each other. I don’t trust me, so I’m surprised Katarina would. “You’re OK with me working with Duke?”
“Grace, darling, I don’t just want you working with him, I want you to fuck his brains out,” she says. “Duke’s too close to the ledge for my liking and you’re going to be the one to pull him back. Just don’t make too much noise while you’re doing it. You need to bediscreet.”
My jaw slackens. I’d like to think I understand Katarina a little better, but I don’tknowher. It has to be a trap.
She rolls her eyes to the heavens like she’s read my mind. “You don’t trust me?”
“I just…”
“It’s fine. I’m not offended,” she says. “But I promise you, it’s no trick. It’s simply a calculated risk to keep our plan ontrack.” She taps a fingernail on the tabletop. “But, if you want to thank me, you could persuade Duke to hold my party at the Moncrief mansion. He’s insisting we use the Excelsior, but that’s where the wedding is supposed to be. I don’t want formal. They have a huge estate, so if the Moncriefs are being precious about me using the house, we’ll put up a marquee. I want open space where I can let my hair down.”
“I’ll try,” I offer. There could be a good reason why Duke has refused, so I’m not going to overcommit. “Is there anything else I should be doing?”
“Yes,” she says, because of course she’s thought it all through. I’m the only one of us reeling in shock. “To avoid any suspicion, we have to establish that you and I are best friends. We need to convince my uncle’s spies that you’re organizing the party because you like me.”
I give her a look. “Do you think anyone would believe that?”
“Ha, ha.”
That vodka has a lot to answer for. I can’t believe I’m joking with Katarina, but my point is a valid one. “Maybe we should socialize a little to make it more believable.”
“With more reliable witnesses next time,” she says tipping her head to her bodyguards who are currently chatting up the waitress and not paying Katarina any attention. “My uncle relies on Danyl’s opinion most of all, but he’s still recovering from yesterday. And Andrey has an upset stomach for some unknown reason.”
I suspect Katarina knows the reason but I don’t ask.
She checks her watch. “And while I’m off their leash, I’d like to make the most of my freedom. I have an appointment with my hairdresser.”
The sparkle in Katarina’s eyes lights up her face.There’s only one explanation. “Either you really like getting your hair styled, or youreallylike the hairdresser.”
“I thought we established I don’t like anyone,” she says with a good-natured snarl.
