Page 60 of Sinful Union

I tap my fork against my plate, pretending to think it over. “I do. But I don’t think I’ve read any princess stories.”

Appalled, Ana gasps. “None?”

I shake my head. “Not a single one.”

She looks at me like I’m a lost cause, and sighs. “We have to do something about that.”

Kat bites back a laugh, and I glance at her before returning my attention to my little girl. “All right, then. You’ll have to pick a good one for me.”

Ana claps her hands. “I already know which one!”

I smile at her, something unfamiliar spreading through my chest. “It’s a deal.”

Across the table, Vlad watches the exchange quietly. He doesn’t say anything, but there’s approval in his eyes.

Kat reaches for her glass again, exhaling softly, the tension fading bit by bit. She looks at me, and I know what she’s thinking: This is going better than she expected.

Vlad clears his throat. “Thanks for letting us stay for lunch, Pavel,” he says. “I appreciate the hospitality.”

I give a curt nod. “Happy to do it. It’s about time we shared a meal—all of us.”

His gaze slides to Kat, then back to his plate. “Yes, it is.”

After that, we fall into easy conversation.

Eventually, I find myself with an empty plate, feeling more relaxed than I have in days. However, my stomach churns slightly with anticipation. Once we finish lunch, I’ll have to talk with Vlad and Kat about everything I’ve learned about Darya’s revelations and the looming threats. But for now, I will enjoy the moment with my daughter.

She’s quite the chatterbox, describing the water slide at the condo in complete detail. “It went round and round and round,” she says, twirling her fork in the air, “then splash! You land in the pool at the bottom. Mama, can we get a pool and a slide like that?”

Kat laughs, a genuine laugh that I haven’t heard in a while. “We have a pool, baby, but it’s outside, so it’s too cold to swim right now.”

“Maybe in the summer,” I say, giving Ana a grin.

She lights up. “Really? Can we invite Camille?”

“Of course,” Kat agrees, looking to Camille for confirmation.

Camille offers a warm smile. “I’d be delighted.”

Ana giggles, turning back to her plate. “Yay!” She leans in, whispering loud enough for half the table to hear. “Mr. Fetisov, do you like to swim? I do. I’m a good swimmer. I took lessons!”

I chuckle. “I’m pretty good, yes.”

She seems satisfied, resuming her meal. I can’t help but notice how comfortable she’s become around me in such a short time. It’s surreal and oddly wonderful.

The conversation drifts. Vlad cracks a subtle joke about the cartoon Ana forced him to watch five times in a row. Camille tells us how she and Ana tried to feed the ducks in Central Park, only to have the birds chase after them.

Kat’s leg keeps bouncing under the table, even as she happily engages with everyone. She’s anxious—she knows what’s about to happen after we finish lunch. She also likely wonders if I’m still upset with her. I can sense her looking my way every few minutes, gauging my mood.

Camille moves around the table once everyone’s finished eating, gathering plates with smooth efficiency.“I’ll clean up,” she says. “You all talk.”

Ana stretches her arms overhead, then pats her belly. “I’m full. That wassogood! Thank you, Camille.”

Camille smiles warmly at Ana as she stacks dishes. “You’re very welcome,petite étoile.I’m glad you liked it.”

Kat catches my eye. “That was lovely. Thank you, Pavel. And Camille,mercifor cooking.”

Camille nods, still clearing. “It was my pleasure,comme toujours.”

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