I am. I promise, Vic assured his dad.
CHAPTER TWO
RACHEL STOOD IN her closet, looking at her clothes. Annoyance warred with delight. Itd been a while since shed dressed up for a man for more than just a few weeks of sex and then moving on. That was easy. A mask, a costume that spelled out the limits and boundaries of the interaction.
Sexy in a generic sense.
But Vic wasnt some dude shed bounced on a while. He was someone she knew and liked. Someone who came over to her house on a regular basis. A guy whod seen some of her most private stuff aired out.
God. She shouldnt do anything with him. Just stay friends. If they started something and it went bad it would be awkward. And she really liked the Orlovs and his cousin was living in her house, sullying up her sister. Gah!
So much energy buzzed just under her skin. Had been since shed gotten out of bed and tried to pretend it wasnt a big deal that he was coming over and making her food and giving her a ride and being all helpful and nurturing and it was really insanely hot and comforting and he was sexy. So sexy and he wanted her. Her!
Going off the rails here, she murmured to herself.
Of course she was naturally going to try to talk herself out of getting into anything romantic with him. It was dumb and risky, just as shed reminded herself.
And of course she was going to do it anyway.
He made her dizzy and sort of sappy and dumb and really horny. She wanted to see what it would be like. To have something with him, to give the zing a chance. She wanted to let herself feel all this really good stuff.
* * *
BY THE TIME he showed up at her door shed managed to get the eyeliner on both sides into pretty respectable wings and given the goofy look on his face when he checked out her tits, the choice of the snug T-shirt shed worn over a long-sleeved Henley was a good one.
Hi. He smiled at her, all gorgeous teeth framed by his beard. Sometimes she let her cheek brush it when he hugged her. And she wondered what it would feel like against the sensitive skin of her neck. Or the inside of her thighs.
Holding up an armful of packages, he thrust a huge bouquet of flowers at her. I bring food and flowers in tribute.
Rachel took them, pausing to breathe in the scent of the pink-tipped cream-toned roses hed given her.
Good morning. She stepped back to let him come inside, taking a surreptitious sniff of him as he passed.
Yum.
She led him into the kitchen, where he began to unpack the haul hed brought. Trying not to show how giddy she was that hed brought her such pretty flowers, she made busy with trimming the stems and arranging them in a vase she placed in the center of the kitchen table.
Thank you for the roses, she said, shyness in her belly.
He turned, approaching her slowly until hed backed her to the counter, his body shy of touching hers. You deserve roses.
The shyness in her belly turned to butterflies.
I do?
He nodded and then, shocked her into total stillness as he dipped and slid his lips over hers. Tasting. Sipping.
He backed up just a little before he got close again, this time sliding his tongue against her lips and into her mouth when she opened on a sigh of pleasure. The heat of him blanketed her, along with his scent, and she had to exercise all her self-control not to rub against him.
One last kiss, this one with a nip of her bottom lip. Ive been waiting a long time, he murmured, gaze searching hers. Looking for fear? Hesitation?
She went up on her tiptoes and kissed him quickly, one last time, chasing that query from his eyes.
I hope it was worth the wait, she said, trying to sound saucy.
He smirked. It was.
She smiled. Good. I concur. On the being worth the wait, that is. Coffee?
Yes, thatd be great. Omelets okay? he asked.
Nodding, she poured them both a large mug, leaving his near where hed begun to assemble the ingredients for their meal.
You know where the milk and sugar are if you want some. She indicated the sugar bowl.
My mother says Im sweet enough on my own, he told her.
Snorting, she rolled her eyes and went back to looking at him, enjoying the tingling left after that kiss.
You do pretty well in that department, I must admit.
Visibly pleased, he shrugged, not at all bashfully. He was just so damned self-assured. Easy with himself as he moved around her kitchen.
Ive decided we should go on a date. First dates can be weird, even when you already know the person. So I propose this to be our first date so when I take you out, it can be the second date and we dont need to be nervous. Naturally therell be flowers because, as I mentioned, you deserve them. He nodded as he began to assemble things in a fashion her love of order found very sexy. He poked around in the cabinets until he found what he needed and got about his business.
She sat back in her chair, utterly charmed. Damn it, why did he have to be so sexy and funny? So emotionally well adjusted and stuff? The whole of him was utterly irresistible.
Itd been hard enough when he was aiming all that charm at others. But over the last several months hed turned it on her. Making it clear what his intentions were. Even as he never pressed for more than she was comfortable with she couldnt deny the chemistry between them.
Hed pushed his sleeves up, exposing ridiculously sexy forearms, and then washed and dried his hands. He stood, giving her his profile, his features exposed because his hairacres of thick, gorgeous hair, nearly shaved at the sides but long on topwas captured in a ponytail at the back of his head. He usually wore it that way when he worked.
It should have been douchey or bro-something. It was hot. Slightly messy but that was because hed been up since four working on that upper body she got a little dizzy when she looked directly at. Like the sun.
When you turn on the taps you go all the way, dont you, pretty boy?
Too much? he asked, knowing she wasnt going to agree.
Its impressive.
Impressive is good. Cocky, he raised a shoulder slightly.
That remains to be seen, she told him, teasing.
His laugh was one she hadnt heard from him before. Low and lusty. It made all her hormones stand up and cheer.
Im very competitive. It means I tend to get very focused when Im trying to hit something out of the park. Get your rest.
It was Rachels turn to laugh. Flirting with him felt good. And she couldnt deny the curiosity about just what hed show her to impress her.
Do you want ham or turkey? He pointed at the cutting board with his knife.
Ham is good. Thanks.
Silence lived between them for a bit as he cooked, filling the kitchen with some really good scents. It wasnt uncomfortable. Being with him rarely was.
Busy morning at the bakery? she asked.
Even my mother was pleased with the business today. Shes a hard taskmaster and has very high standards when it comes to what she considers a successful days take.
Rachel laughed. Mrs. Orlov was one of her favorite people. Though small in stature, she was a big presence. Especially within her family. A force to be reckoned with in her community.
She only hoped to one day live as boldly as her own person as Irena did.
As he made the food, she hopped down and began to slice thick pieces of bread to be toasted. Pretty much daily throughout the last several years, shed eaten bread created in the Orlovs ovens. It had given her roots. A sense of place in her new life.
And at least a few more pounds.
I brought fresh butter, he told her, indicating a wax paperwrapped square on the counter.
Fresh bread and butter brought to her by a gorgeous man? She must have done something pretty awesome in a past life.
I also brought some of the tea I texted you about earlier today. Drink it an hour or so before you want to go to sleep. He paused. How are you feeling? Aside from the sleeplessness that is. I havent seen you in person since Sunday night.
Embarrassment flooded her. Im so sorry. I cant believe you had to see all that. We invite you over for a meal and then act like assholes.
He looked up, anger on his features a moment. You dont apologize for that. I told you Sunday. Everything that happened was from your father. Dont insult me with apologies. He made a sound. A distinctly Russian thing his whole family tended to do when they got annoyed or impatient. A bah! of a sound.
It made her smile. She saluted him. Okay then. Im feeling tired. Worried, I suppose. But pissed off is the dominant emotion.
Did you call Seth about a protection order?
I called someone else. A friend of a friend. I used to be in law enforcement, remember? I have a meeting with an attorney tomorrow. Though if Washington was like most other states, getting this order would be difficult because her father hadnt physically threatened her.
But if an official body like a court told her father to leave her alone, he would. It would be the underline of authority hed need to truly back off.
It hurt to know she was going to take an official step to keep her parents away from her. Hurt to know she had to.
Hed gone to the stove, the omelet now in a skillet.
They worked in the kitchen, stepping around one another to complete their tasks and she realized he didnt evoke the need to step away. She didnt think about how shed take him down if he ever tried to hurt her. Not anymore anyway.
They were alone in her house and he was half a foot taller and she trusted him not to use that against her.
It made her feel just a little more human, a little more okay every time she was able to take a step back from that dark pit shed been in for so long. She was more person than wounded animal in a trap.
* * *
THE WANT, THE need to put his mouth back on hers rode him hard. She was more than hed thought even just an hour before.
Now that hed tasted her there was no going back. No unknowing. Part of her lived in him now and he liked it.
He hadnt planned to kiss her that morning. Hed wanted to wait until their date. But well, shed been there and looked at him with that fucking gorgeous face. It had been better than hed imagined it could be. The connection between them sparking to life.
Sexy. So sexy his skin seemed to buzz just being near her.
She placed a pitcher of juice on the table, nudging it his way.
Youre a good host, he told her as they sat.
You did everything. All I had to provide was a table and some plates. I think I win. She shook her head as she peppered her food. And I also have to admit Alexsei is the one who grocery shops most often so I cant even take credit for the juice.
This private Rachel was one he craved. She was open with those closest to her. He loved it when she teased him. Her dry sense of humor had been a delight to discover. And the sexy flirting, a new addition to their interplay, had been a really great surprise.
I bumped into Evie at the grocery store yesterday. She showed me pictures for a tattoo she wants, she told him.
He withheldbarelyan eye roll. His sister was trendy. She had the latest shoes and clothes and now wanted a tattoo. But she was so picky it had been at least a year since she came up with the idea of getting one and hadnt pulled the trigger on it because she couldnt choose.
Its nice that youre so close with her, she said.
Shes a pain in my ass with shit taste in men. He shook his head. But no one makes a cinnamon roll like her so I suppose were stuck with each other. His little sister was the heart of their family. Especially since Danil had died.
Little sisters are the best. Dont tell Maybe I said so. I like to keep her guessing.
Vic snorted. Im fairly sure your sister already knows you have a soft spot for her.
Someone needs to, Rachel muttered.
Vic reached across the table and squeezed her hand, surprising them both. But she smiled, squeezed back and then pulled away.
So. Our second date. What should we do? Dinner? Movie? Drinks? All three? he asked.
She looked at him awhile. Not speaking. He looked back, wanting her to see he was serious.
Im weird.
Huh. He cocked his head a moment. I was not expecting that. Like at all.
She laughed. Im told I can be unpredictable.
He leaned closer, pleased at the way her pupils grew larger as he did. I like unpredictable. He took a bite, thinking over what else to say. Are you trying to warn me off? List your supposed negative attributes so Ill see youre not worth my time? Because after those kisses I should warn you itll take more than you telling me youre weird. In case you hadnt noticed, my whole family is weird.
She paused and he watched what had to be a dozen thoughts flit over her features. So expressive when she decided to share that part of herself with him.
He challenged her.
It made her feel like he knew she was strong enough to own her shit. So he called her on it because she was worth the energy.
Im just saying I come with a lot of baggage. She shrugged. He was an excellent cook. The eggs were buttery soft, the saltiness of the ham a perfect addition.
He eased back, eating once again, but keeping his focus on her. Youre attracted to me. We have some major chemistry. Are you saying Im imagining it?
She was a lot of things but she wasnt a liar. Not even to herself.
No. Youre not imagining it. Zing. She waved a hand between them, indicating their attraction. Weve got it big time.
His smile sent a shock of desire through her. All right, thats established. So why hesitate about coming out with me?
To be clear, Im not hesitating about going out with you. I just wanted to be clear up front that Im damaged goods.
He sat back to take her in, all feline and powerful. He moved like music, caught her up in him like magic.
Youre not damaged, Rachel. Youve had life happen to you. And some of it was a nightmare.
A nightmare she wasnt entirely done with. Some scars never healed.
Most people wanted to save her. Pity her while being fascinated by the gruesome details.
He just was. When he was around her, he expected nothing more than what she wanted to give. Shed never really given thought to what it might feel like to be doing this slow dance into romance with someone like him.