Page 93 of Gloves Off

“Did you actually just pay me a compliment?”

“Don’t let it go to your head,” I tell him with an eye roll. “Like I said, you have a lot of work to do.” I turn and walk away. “Don’t be late to our practice tomorrow.”

In the mirror, I see Walker salute me. “Yes, sir,” he says with that annoying cocky grin.

Determination races through me as I head to meet my trainer. How could I even consider cutting the rookie loose? I’m going to help him have an incredible season, but now I need to figure out how.

This matters to me,she said last night in the car about her program at work, about her soccer team.

Looks like I just found something that matters tome.

CHAPTER 45

GEORGIA

Volkov has been awayfor two days when the doorbell rings. Alexei’s tiny, lovely mother stands on the doorstep.

“Hi.” I blink down at her and she beams up at me.

“I didn’t know Cece was your mom!” she says by way of greeting, giving my arm a squeeze and breezing past me into the house, carrying two big bags. “I brought food. You need to eat.”

Why is your mother here?I text him as she heads to the kitchen.

“Alexei isn’t home,” I call after her. “And I was just about to leave.”

I wasn’t, but I need to get rid of her without hurting her feelings, because if I hurt Maria’s feelings, I’d never forgive myself. My phone buzzes in my hand.

I mentioned you were alone for a couple days.

I give my phone an emphasizing look, eyes wide, as if he can see it. What happened toyou can’t get close to them? He was right. This whole thing is going nowhere.

The hate fuck was distracting, but I have a new memory taking up space in my head these days: Alexei driving in the car after soccer, admitting that he doesn’t know how to help Luca.

Another bouquet arrived at my office today.Sainfoin—agitation.Honestly, it’s a relief. The last thing I need is him losing his head over me. No feelings, no attachments, no complications. That’s what we agreed to, and that’s what’s easiest.

Maria’s making noises in the kitchen, opening drawers and turning on the oven. “It won’t take that long,” she calls to me. “Alexei said something about you surviving on protein bars.”

After I’ve eaten so much I might die, Maria insists on sitting in the front room with the bunnies, who freely roam the house when my horrible husband isn’t home.

“Who’s the sweetest baby in the world?” Maria strokes Stefan’s head and he lays there with his eyes closed. “You are.” She looks to Damon, sitting on my lap. “And you are, too.” She meets my eyes and smiles. “Alexei was worried about you, alone in this big house all week.”

I stifle the urge to snort. No, he wasn’t. “Worried I’d set the place on fire, maybe.”

She gives me an odd look. That’s not the kind of thing a loving wife would say.

“From my cooking,” I add. “I’m a terrible cook.” Something jumps into my memory, the perfect distraction. “There’s something I was hoping you could help me translate. I don’t know how to spell it.Gniloy kluben?”

Her brow furrows in confusion. “Say it again?”

I repeat it. I’ve googled variations of it a hundred times but I can’t find it.

She squints for a long moment before recognition dawns. “Oh. Rotten tuber.”

I couldn’t have heard right. “I’m sorry, Maria, can you repeat that? It sounds like you saidrotten tuber.”

“Yes. Rotten tuber.”

I’m going to murder him.

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