Defiant. Sweet. Alluring.
A business deal gone wrong brought me to her doorstep.
She's everything I shouldn't want; everything I was against after watching my mother's obsession destroy her.
Still, I can't stop myself from craving her.
I should know...
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"THEY'RE HERE!"
I shoved my feet into my fur slippers as quickly as I could, turning to face Maebeth. "I can't wait to surprise them."
Her eyes crinkled as she smiled at me. "I'm sure they'll be just as ecstatic as everyone else who has heard the news. Drea's reaction was rather passionate."
And by that she meant Drea screaming her lungs out for three minutes straight like she was possessed. I had to pull the phone away from my ear to protect my ears, and even then, I could still hear her. She was that loud.
I laughed, linking my arm through hers, and leading her into the hall. "I didn't know you paid attention to us while we rambled."
Her smile only broadened. "Of course, I did. It gladdens my heart to see you happy. Plus, you and Aleksei are getting along now."
Speaking of...
"Where's Aleksei and Mikhail? I haven't seen them since we arrived."
"Mikhail left on his bike an hour ago. As for Aleksei, he should be here somewhere. He hasn't left the... speak of the devil."
We paused at the top of the stairs watching as Aleksei climbed up the stairs, his attention glued to his screen. I thought I was a workaholic, but his face deserved to be beside the word when it was searched in the dictionary. At least, I'd taken the day off because I was exhausted over the weekend, but he had holed up in his home office the moment we got home.
Maebeth cleared her throat to get his attention before he bulldozed into us.
Aleksei flicked his gaze down my body, cocking a brow at my dress. "What's the occasion?"
"I invited my family over for dinner. You don't mind, do you?" I realized I hadn't asked him before I invited them over, but at the same time, I didn't think he'd mind.
He tucked his phone into his pocket, running a hand through his disheveled hair to tame the strands to no avail. "I am aware, and no, I don't mind. Do you always dress fancy for dinner with your family?"
I looked down at my black dress. It wasn't remotely the fanciest dress I owned, but I understood why he'd feel that way. I liked to dress up and feel pretty any chance I got, and tonight wasn't an exception. "I like it," I answered honestly with a shrug. "Are you going to join us for dinner?"
"Do you want me to join you for dinner?"
I hesitated. It was no secret that my family didn't like him, Matteo, especially. The atmosphere would be tense, and it'd dampen the mood around the table. Did I really want him to join us?
"Don't worry yourself," his deep voice cut into my thoughts. "I can't join you, anyway. I'm going to bed and I already ate. I'll see you tomorrow morning. Goodnight."
He dropped a kiss on my forehead, walking away before I could get a word out.
"The lingerie worked a little too well," Maebeth mumbled.
