Unless I was wrong. Could I be wrong? Maybe Svetlana was just someone with a crush on Nikolai, and I had mis-read the situation. I shifted slightly in my chair, irritated. Pip looked at me. She knew what I was thinking, shook her head once.
“There he is,” Svetlana exclaimed.
The man approached our table. I pasted on a pleasant look as he and Svetlana kissed cheeks.
“Ladies, may I introduce Ruslan?” she said.
Ruslan smiled. I smiled back. Pip just looked bored.
“Please, sit with us,” Svetlana invited.
He did. Juvie shifted in my peripheral vision. It was nothing too obvious, but his slim form looked like it had changed its mind about relaxing.
Ruslan sat and folded his hands on the table. “I apologize for interrupting.”
“No, you don’t,” Pip murmured.
His gaze moved to her.
Svetlana laughed softly, trying to smooth over the moment. “Epiphany has a wonderful sense of humor.”
“Does she?” Ruslan asked, giving her a look meant to shame her.
“When people are actually funny,” Pip said, unashamed.
I bit the inside of my cheek. Ruslan’s smile tightened. For another few minutes, the conversation pretended to be polite. Ruslan asked how we were enjoying the island. I told him it was beautiful. He asked if we planned to stay long. I told him my husband made those decisions, since he was the man. He chuckled like he approved. I wanted to slap him. Then he asked if I had enjoyed dancing at the reception. Pip’s knee bumped mine beneath the table. I set my untouched latte down.
“The reception was lovely.”
“And Nikolai said you were a charming partner.”
I looked at him as I dug through my purse and extracted a lip balm before sliding it back under the table. I moisturized my lips. Ruslan didn’t blink. Svetlana’s fingers tightened around her teacup and she laughed nervously. My head tilted.
“Well, that’s nice. I would hate to think I danced with a man and left a bad impression,” I said finally.
“Some impressions are very difficult to forget,” he murmured.
“I’m sure.”
Ruslan sighed. Then, the pleasant little meeting died quietly.
“Well.”
Pip leaned back. “Here we go.”
His eyes cut to her, then back to me. “I had hoped this would be easier.”
“So did I,” I said.
His expression sharpened. “You are going to stand up.”
“No.” The answer left my mouth quickly.
His smile disappeared.
“Mrs. Sidorov?—”
“That’s me. Got the ink to prove it,” I said cheerfully.
