Page 4 of Unexpected Bratva Baby

“Oh, I’m just dog-sitting,” I say, gesturing to Masha.

“For whom?” she snaps.

I wrinkle my nose a bit. “Mr. Sokolov.”

The woman’s eyes widen. “Mikhail Sokolov? The Russian businessman?”

I nod, surprised by her reaction. “Do you know him?”

She lets out a breathy laugh. “Everyone knowsofhim. He’s quite the mysterious figure in our little community. Moved here a few months ago and caused quite a stir.”

I shift slightly, curious. “What kind of stir?”

The woman glances around, as if checking for eavesdroppers, before continuing in a hushed tone. “There are all sorts of rumors. Some say he’s old money from Russia, others think he’s involved in less... savory business dealings, but one thing’s for certain, he’s not someone you want to cross.”

That’s a little worrisome. I open my mouth to ask more, but a commotion from the other side of the park interrupts us. Masha is surrounded by a group of smaller dogs, their hackles raised. A chorus of growls fills the air. My pulse is erratic when I jump up, rushing toward them. “Masha,” I call out, fear making my voice crack. “Come here, girl.”

To my surprise, Masha doesn’t cower or run. Instead, she stands her ground, meeting the other dogs’ aggressive posturing with calm assurance. One by one, the other dogs back down, tails tucked between their legs.

I reach Masha’s side, my hand shaking slightly as I clip on her leash. “Good girl,” I whisper, impressed by her composure. We leave the park quickly after that, and I can’t resist drawing parallels between Masha and her owner. Both carry themselves with an air of quiet strength, commanding respect without seeking it out.

We make our way back to Mikhail’s building, my mind racing with questions that probably won’t be answered. Who is thisman, really? What kind of business is he involved in? And why am I so intrigued by him?

The doorman nods to us when we enter the lobby. This time, I don’t need an escort. Masha knows exactly where she’s going, leading me straight to the private elevator.

We ascend to the penthouse while I smooth down my hair and straighten my shirt. It’s silly, but I want to look my best when I see Mikhail again. I get goosebumps just thinking about his eyes on me.

The elevator doors slide open, revealing him standing in the foyer. He’s shed his suit jacket, and the crisp white shirt underneath emphasizes his broad shoulders. My mouth goes dry at the sight, and there’s an electrifying crackle of anxiety through my body.

Or is it excitement? They’re awfully similar.

“Welcome back,” he says, his deep voice making my thighs clench. “How did it go?”

I clear my throat, willing my voice to sound normal. “Great. Masha was a perfect lady. There was a bit of excitement at the dog park, but she handled it like a pro.”

Mikhail raises an eyebrow. “Excitement?”

I recount the incident with the other dogs as his expression shifts from concern to pride.

“That’s my girl,” he says, crouching down to stroke Masha’s ears. He looks up at me, a genuine smile softening his features. “Thank you for taking such good care of her, Miss MacKenzie.”

“Please, call me Phoebe,” I say, returning his smile.

He nods, standing back up. “Phoebe, then, and you must call me Mikhail.”

We stand there for a moment, the air between us charged with something I can’t quite name. Masha breaks the spell, bumping her head against Mikhail’s leg.

He chuckles, reaching into his pocket. “Right, your payment.” He hands me two crisp hundred-dollar bills. “For your time and excellent service. Will you be available to walk Masha again tomorrow?”

My heart leaps at the prospect, and the money is the least of the reason I’m excited. I try convincing myself it’s because Masha is so adorable, but it’s not entirely the dog either. “Absolutely. Same time?”

He nods with a small smile. “Perfect. Until tomorrow, Phoebe.”

As I step back into the elevator with an awkward wave that I can’t decide if I meant for Masha or Mikhail, I blush even as a grin spreads across my face.

3

Mikhail

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