Page 92 of Goodnight, Sinners

She carefully placed the glass on the marble side table next to her chair.

“Jozef does his business in a club.” Jozef had once explained to her that the club was an easy place to meet clients. There was a casual feel and being surrounded by people made them feel safe.

“You see.” Tatiana looked around at the other women, her voice hushed. “These men, they are always cheating.”

Yelena rolled her eyes and sipped her drink, not commenting. Shaun didn’t say anything either. Jozef’s devotion to her was unquestionable. She had no doubts when it came to him and other women.

When another round of cocktails was brought in, Shaun declined and asked for a sparkling water. Shortly after, she excused herself from the women, citing exhaustion. It wasn’t a lie, she was tired. Her early shift at the hospital, the plane trip and having to speak Russian all day had taken a lot out of her. She was glad when the women were told that the men would continue to meet well into the evening and that their suppers would be served separately.

In her room, by herself, Shaun ate a delicious meal of two kinds of salad and a side of roast beef. She particularly enjoyed the salad with the potatoes, mayonnaise, beets, onions and what tasted like pickles. She noted the ingredients, wishing she had her phone so she would take a picture. She wanted to ask their cook at home to make it.

She thought she would get bored without access to internet or TV, but she found that exhaustion had creeped up on her enough that, after a leisurely bath in a tub that was so huge it could easily cross over into swimming pool territory, she was ready for bed.

She pulled on a gorgeous lacy shorts and tank top sleeping set that she found in her new luggage and crawled beneath the cool sheets of the bed. She propped her head up on a fluffy pillow and watched the moon and surrounding stars until she fell asleep.

She didn’t how long she'd been sleeping, but she was groggy when the banging of a door woke her.

Sitting up, she reached for the lamp, her heart pounding in fear until she caught sight of Jozef clinging to one of the marble columns.

He looked confused, like he’d stopped to use the column for balance while he figured out where he was going.

“Are you drunk?” she asked in consternation.

For as long as she’d known him, Jozef rarely drank, and he’d never gotten drunk.

She flung the covers back and slid off the bed, rushing to help him. Unfortunately, he launched himself at her when he caught sight of her, gripping her around the shoulders and trying to kiss her as they both went crashing backwards.

Luckily, Jozef’s reflections were excellent, even while he was inebriated. He twisted as they fell so he ended up taking the brunt of the hard fall and she landed on top of him.

He grinned at her and a wave of vodka breath hit her in the face

“Oh god, Jozef!” she exclaimed, rolling off him.

As she tried to climb back onto the bed, he gripped her around the waist and hauled her back down to the floor. She clung to the blankets, dragging them off the bed. She laughed wildly as he rolled her underneath him.

It was so weird to see Jozef drunk that she didn’t quite know what to do except laugh. She touched his face, which was warm. She checked his pulse. It was rapid, but nothing out of the ordinary.

He pushed her hands away from his face and buried his nose against her neck, making a growling sound. He began sloppily kissing her while his hands roamed down her body.

“Not a chance.” She shoved at his shoulders, but it was like trying to move a boulder. “Get off me!”

He ignored her, clumsily exploring her body. She sighed, then reached up to pull his ear hard enough to gain his attention.

He swung his head around to glare at her, which allowed her to sternly say, “Get off me right now, Jozef Koba.”

He rolled off her and sat up against the side of the bed. He rubbed his hands over his head, then looked up at her and grinned. It took her breath away. The man had dimples and she hadn’t even known. He smiled rarely and when he did it was always tight, controlled and quick. This was a wholehearted, boyish grin and she adored it. She cupped his face and leaned over to kiss him.

“I love you,” she murmured against his lips.

He brought his hands up to sign and smacked her in the chin.

She laughed and pushed off the floor, standing over him. She held her hand out. “Come on, I’ll help you up.”

He took her hand and nearly pulled her back down to the floor. She had to brace herself to help him up. As he stood, he swayed so wildly that she thought he was going to fall over again.

She slid her arm under his and pushed him toward the bed.

He landed on his back; his arms flung over his head.

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