Page 38 of The Healing Touch

“I don’t know, Papa. I don’t do relationships…”

His father’s snort cut him off. “Don’t know where I went wrong with you boys. None of you have a healthy respect for women, except Viktor. That boy understands finding a woman and earning her love and respect is worth more than anything else in this world. You can amass a fortune, surround yourself in all the trappings of happiness, but if you have no one to share it with, to grow old with, who will still laugh at your very unfunny jokes? What’s the point if not that?”

“I do have a healthy respect for women,” he denied, only to be cut off by his father again.

“Don’t forget who you’re speaking to, Dimitri. I know my own son. You don’t respect women, not the way you go through them like your mother does shoes. They’re like toys to you, and once the newness wears off, you toss them and look for the shinier, newer toy. You don’t give them a chance to be anything more.”

True enough. He’d never looked at it like that. Once he’d gotten a bit of money and his name started to mean something in the author world, he’d accepted all the women who’d vied for his attention. He hadn’t always been an asshole, but they’d worn him down. He’d seen them arguing not over him, but his money and his claim to fame, small that it was. It disheartened him. He said as much to his father.

“Son, people are people, good and bad, man or woman. You seem to latch on to the ones who want what they can get. Have you looked for one who doesn’t see your money? Only looks at you?”

“Looked for one? No.”

“Have you ever met someone like that?”

“Becca.” His answer tumbled off his lips unbidden. “She’s been here from the beginning. She wouldn’t care if I was penniless. She’d still be my friend.”

“And what does that tell you?”

“That she’s worth more than a casual booty call.”

Ronin laughed. “Were you the one to teach yourBabbythat word?”

“Hell, no. I learned it from her!”

“I swear, it’s her favorite word. She used it yesterday in line at the grocery store. Embarrassed the fool out of your mother.”

“That sounds like ourbabushka.” Dimitri laughed. He really needed to make time to go over and visit his family. It’d been a few years, at least.

“I’m not going to tell you to go out and start something with this girl.” Dimitri sobered up when his father turned serious. “You’re right in that taking it to a sexual relationship might ruin everything. She loves you, and if you think you can never return those feelings, then put the brakes on. Control your dick. If you love her as much as you say you do, then don’t hurt her.” He cleared his throat. “But ask yourself that same question I did. Think long and hard on the answer, before you walk away from the one woman who you make a point to speak to every day. That’s all I’m saying.”

“I will, Papa, thank you.”

Ronin coughed again, reminding Dimitri of his mother’s worries. Maybe he’d make that trip to Russia sooner rather than later.

“Your mama’s calling me. If I keep that woman waiting, she’ll never…”

“Don’t say it!” Dimitri interrupted him. That was an image he did not need in his head.

Ronin laughed. “I’ll talk to you soon, son. Love you.”

“Love you too, old man.”

Dimitri disconnected the call and sat there, staring at the trees and the flowers, thinking about everything as his papa had asked him. He watched the sun start its descent and felt the air grow cooler as the hours passed.

Mind made up, he stood and started the slow trek back to the hotel, the pain in his legs the least of his worries.

Chapter Eleven

Becca rubbed her back. Sitting for so long really did a number on it. She’d ignored the pain and gotten all the pre-orders done and organized everything he’d need in one of the plastic baskets she’d ordered, from markers to pens, to his swag and business cards. The only thing she was having issues with was the banner. How the hell did people get them put up? This one was defying gravity. She’d smacked herself in the head more than once before giving up on it. Dimitri could figure it out.

She surveyed her work and felt a little pride. She’d managed to get everything done. All he’d have to do tonight was sign the books she’d already organized.

Her eyes flitted to the door like they had a hundred times the last few hours. Where was he? She kept worrying about him. He’d been in a lot of pain. He’d been limping when he left. What if he was out there somewhere, hurting?

He had his phone, she reminded herself for the thousandth time. If he needed her, he’d call.

Which was the crux of the current situation.

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