Page 6 of The Mountain Man's Unexpected Bride
"Hey, shhh. I want to talk to you."
She watches me with wary eyes and lets me pull her away from the entrance of the parlor. I look for the bathroom and she points me in the right direction. I enter a lavish room the size of a regular bedroom and see all the expensive touches. This family is used to the finer things in life.
This daughter, however, has not been privy to that lifestyle, I realize as I see her torn jeans and well-used t-shirt. I'm surprised they don't make her wear a uniform.
"Hey, I'm Brock."
She swallows and slowly looks up into my eyes. She's a tiny thing, maybe only five feet five inches, with curves to die for. I tower over her, and I worry that she might be scared of me. Her quiet concerns me.
"Who are you? I heard her say something about your sisters."
"I'm Savannah. Veronika is my stepmother, and Masha and Dima are my stepsisters."
"So you're one of the Ivanov sisters, then?"
She gets an outraged look on her face, and I see her clench her fists so tight they turn white.
"I'm the only Ivanov in this house. My father was Nikolai Ivanov."
Her words tell me that he's left her without protection in this den of vipers. I think I'm going to do something about that.
"I'm sorry for your loss. Why are you the one serving us, though?"
"As soon as my father died I was told I needed to earn my keep."
"Would you like to leave this place, Savannah?"
"I…"
She looks surprised at my question. It might take some fast talking, but I'm getting her out of here.
"You need to answer me so I can fight for you."
"Why would you do that for me? I'm no one special."
"That's where you're wrong, Savannah. You are the biggest treasure there is in this house."
Her face goes completely red at my compliment, and I love how she can be both shy and courageous at the same time. I'm about to try to convince her to come with me when that stupid bell Veronika wields like a weapon sounds, and a look of fear crosses Savannah's face.
She leaves my side and hurries out of the bathroom. When I hear steps coming my way, I start to wash my hands as if I've been using the facilities.
"There you are!" One of the sisters says loudly. "We thought we lost you in the depths of our mansion."
She grabs me as I'm drying my hands on a hand towel and practically drags me into the parlor and throws me onto the couch once again. They all start talking at the same time, and Itry to keep track, but it's impossible. It's as if they're talking to hear themselves speak.
I want to get up and leave, but I'm not leaving Savannah behind. When she comes in with another tray full of desserts, I search her face to see if she's thought about my proposition. She won't make eye contact with me, and when she's about to leave the room, I decide it's time to interfere.
"Please don't leave."
The room falls completely silent, and every woman there is looking at me, wide-eyed. Savannah is shaking her head so that I don't say anything, but I have to. She's the one I'm here for.
"Veronika, how many daughters did your late husband have?"
"I don't understand the question, Brock. Savannah, go."
"Don't go. I want her here. I heard you say she was your daughter's sister. So I'm confused. I'm supposed to become engaged to one of the Ivanov sisters and I want to know how many there are."
She gives a nasty look in Savannah's direction and clears her throat.
