Page 69 of Bought By the Ruthless Pakhan

In the kitchen, just Anna and me.

The air went quiet for a few seconds. She looked away toward the door. "I'll go wash up."

I turned back, plated the bacon and eggs, and brought them to the table.

Besides bacon, I'd made toast, spread thin butter on the slices. Fresh-squeezed orange juice fizzed in the glass.

Within minutes, the bedroom door opened.

Anna came out wearing a light blue knit sweater, hair in a low ponytail, face still dewy from washing.

She'd clearly been lured out by the smell. Her feet stopped at the table, but she kept her composure. "You didn't need to go to this trouble. I can take care of Alex and myself."

She said that, but her body had already moved. She sat down at the table.

I held back a smile. "Eat before it gets cold."

She picked up her fork, cut a small piece of egg, and put it in her mouth. Chewed twice. Her eyes lit up without meaning to.

That little spark was small, like candlelight flickering in wind, but I caught it.

When the little cat tasted something good, she always did this—corners of her mouth would lift slightly, lashes would lower, cheeks would puff just a bit. She never knew how obvious these tells were.

Even without saying anything, I knew she liked it.

Sunlight slanted through the window, caught in her honey-gold hair, and edged it in soft gold. She was cutting her egg, sunlight sliding down her profile, collecting in a fine bright line at her jaw. Her slightly rounded cheeks looked especially soft in the light, like a peeled hard-boiled egg, still warm.

Alex ran out with his little backpack.

He ran to the table. I pushed the toast plate toward him. Tapped his forehead. "Eat up. After breakfast, I'm taking you to school."

Alex dumped his bag on the chair, grabbed bacon, and took a huge bite. "Ivan's taking me to school! Everyone's gonna be so jealous!"

Anna's hand froze on her fork. She looked up at me, lips parting like she wanted to say something, then stopped.

"If you have something to say, say it."

She glanced at Alex, leaned forward slightly, and lowered her voice. "You shouldn't lie to him."

She thought I was lying to Alex? How could she think that?

"I'm actually taking him to school."

She was struck speechless. Her cheeks puffed out like a deflated hamster.

I couldn't help smiling again, leaned close to her ear, voice dropping to almost just breath. "You don't want Alex knowing what happened between us, right? And Nadia's waiting for you. So let me handle this."

Anna's eyes dropped.

Her hand tightened on the glass.

She was torn. I could see that thin layer of hesitation in her eyes, like frost accumulated overnight, melting bit by bit in morning light.

I knew she'd agree. The little cat was a soft-hearted fool.

After breakfast, I kept my word. Took Alex downstairs. He bounced the whole way, told everyone we passed "This is my teacher," even the mailman.

Then I drove back from the school district to downtown.