It’s unfair considering he’s already seen me naked. Someone has to teach the man a thing or two about fairness.
When I get back to my office, I return to focusing on work.
The familiar scent of cedar and expensive cologne reaches me before I hear his voice. “Busy?”
My fingers freeze above the keyboard. I look up to find Leonid standing on the opposite side of my desk, pinning me with his gaze.
Staring at me seems like his favorite thing to do recently.
I quickly look away and start typing a load of gibberish in a bid to control how my body reacts to his presence. I absolutely despite the way heat coils in my stomach as every fiber of my being flares awake.
“Don’t you have some bratva things to do?” I ask, trying to act unbothered and internally cursing at my voice for shaking.
He huffs, his eyes darting to my screen for a moment before returning to my face. “Iamdoing bratva things.”
I bite back a smile. “Watching me work isn’t a bratva thing, Leo.”
He cocks his head to the side, and a lopsided grin plays on his lips. “Leo?” He chuckles. “No one’s ever called me that.”
I’m not sure how the nickname slipped from my lips. Even more, I’m jarred by how okay with it he seems, despite being an absolute maniac of a man. Still, I play it cool.
“Well, there’s a first time for everything.” I stop typing and stare at him. “Leonid is such a long name. I almost bite my tongue each time I say it. Don’t you like it?”
He shrugs and casually slips a hand into his pants pocket. “Not romantic enough, but it works for now.”
“Romantic? You call me pt…” I mumble, trying to remember the word.
“Ptichka,” he says. “You don’t like it?”
“I don’t know what it means. Is it an insult?”
“Little bird.” He pauses and watches my face for a reaction. “It means little bird.”
Heat creeps up my cheeks and my stomach flutters.Little bird.I wonder how he came up with such an absurd nickname.
Before I can think of a suitable comeback, Jimmy appears carrying a paper-wrapped sandwich. He pauses at the door and his eyes widen with terror when he sees Leonid standing in front of my desk.
“Can you not stand here and terrify the staff?” I grit out through clenched teeth before shifting my focus to Jimmy. “Is that lunch?”
He nods. “I knew you’d forget to eat again, so I thought I’d bring you something.” He turns to Leonid, barely glancing at him. “Welcome, sir.”
It looks like I’m the only one relieved for the interruption, because Leonid doesn’t respond to Jimmy’s greeting. Instead, his expression darkens.
I almost laugh.
This can’t be what I’m thinking.
Surely Leonid’s not jealous of a sixty-year-old marina manager with bad knees and grandchildren bringing me lunch.
He doesn’t like me enough for that.
Yeah, not possible.
Jimmy stiffens uncomfortably as he walks past Leonid and places the sandwich on my desk. “I got you a chicken salad sandwich. Your favorite.”
I smile at the old man, grateful that despite Henry’s absence, there’s still someone here who takes time out of his busy schedule to grab me something to eat.
Speaking of Henry, Leonid hasn’t spoken much about him since our wedding. I hope he’s fine, wherever he is.
