Page 103 of Sinful Promise

He looks drop-dead gorgeous in his crisp black shirt and slacks, and he’s freshly shaven, which makes his jawline even more prominent. A few strands of his dark hair fall slightly in his eyes, and he flashes us all his signature cheeky smile, which has me melting.

“Sorry I’m late everyone, there was a crisis at work.”

I try to stop myself from seeming pleased that Danil has arrived, but it’s hard to do when my body is so reactive to him.

It’s been less than twenty-four hours since I last saw him, but it feels like days.

When his eyes find mine, I beam at him, and he flashes me a wink that has me blushing like a teenager.

Mom smiles. “So nice of you to join us, Danil.”

“I wouldn’t miss it.” Danil takes his seat beside Dimitri, which is directly opposite from me.

He catches my eye again, and I shake my head at him as I fight a smile.

I thought my feelings for Danil were locked in, but ever since we became physical with one another, they’ve only increased, and I can barely keep a hold on them.

I’m falling hard for this man, and it’s getting harder and harder to hide it.

Mom looks at me when our appetizers arrive. “Tell Tom about college, Emily.”

I have already told Tom all there is to know about my degree, but it seems my mother really wants to make sure he knows all of my best-selling points.

Danil looks like he’s trying his hardest not to laugh, and I scowl across the table at him before diving into another painful conversation about college.

When Tom eventually gets up to use the restroom after the appetizers are cleared away, my shoulders sag.

I lean over closer to my sister. “His cologne is suffocating. He smells like the entire perfume section of Sephora. I’m having to breathe through my mouth to stop myself from gagging.”

She smiles, shaking her head. “It’s sweet that he’s trying so hard.”

“Maybe you should go out with him, then.”

“Mom just wants you to be happy, Emily. Her heart is in the right place.”

“I’m perfectly happy already, thanks very much.”

I sneak a glance at Danil, who is deep in conversation with Dimitri, and my body melts as I watch him.

He’s more than just handsome. He’s breathtaking.

The moment Tom returns, Mom is right back on attack mode. “Tell Tom about the time that you went backpacking around Europe when you were eighteen.”

I reluctantly snap out of my Danil-induced daydream and turn my attention back to the man sitting beside me.

“You went to Europe? That’s fascinating!” Tom leans a little closer to me.

I force a smile and subtly adjust my seat to put more distance between us.

By the time the main courses arrive, I’m suitably irritated, not that Tom seems to notice. It also doesn’t help that Danil seems to be enjoying my pain as every time I catch him looking over at Tom and me, I see him holding back his laughter.

“Emily, tell Tom about…”

I’m no longer listening to my mother.

I look to Zara for backup, but my sister only shrugs.

“It’s nice that the attention isn’t on me for once.”

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