Page 114 of Toxic Temptation
“Because I know exactly what you’re going to say.”
“No, you don’t.”
I plant my hands on my hips. “T-R-O-U-B-L-E.”
A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. “Okay, maybe you do.”
“I know what I’m doing.”
“He’s dangerous, Vesper. Very bad news. I did some research on him and?—”
“Did you stop to think that maybe I know more about him than Google does?” Angry heat surges to the surface of my face. “That maybe your baby sister isn’t the empty-headed idiot everyone thinks she is?”
Way rolls his eyes. “You’re a pediatric surgeon. No one thinks you’re empty-headed.”
“I’m also blonde and young and my father was Thomas Fairfax,” I remind him. “Half the medical community thinks I got where I am because of nepotism, not because I earned it.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “And dating a crime boss is your way of proving that you’re brilliant?”
I start walking away from him. “If you’re going to be a condescending ass, this conversation is over.”
“V, wait.” He catches up in two long strides. “I’m not trying to piss you off. I’m trying to?—”
“Protect me. I know. That’s exactly what’s pissing me off.” I whirl around to face him. “Like I said, I don’t need you to take care of me anymore, Waylen. I can handle myself.”
He rubs his temples like he’s fighting a headache. “I don’t need the details of your arrangement. Just promise me one thing.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Depends what it is.”
“Promise me you won’t fall in love with him.”
The words knock the breath out of my lungs.Love.What an insane thing to even suggest. For a moment, I can’t speak around the sudden tightness in my throat.
“I’m not— God, that’s not what this is. We have a plan, Waylen. It’s business.”
“Dad had a plan, too.” His voice goes quiet. “And we both know how that worked out.”
I force myself to meet his eyes, to stay calm and steady. “I am not going to fall in love with Kovan Krayev.”
He smiles, but it’s sad and knowing. “Okay then. Conversation over.”
He wraps his arm around my shoulders and we keep walking. But the entire time, I can’t shake the feeling that I just lied to the one person I’ve never lied to before.
Luka bursts through my apartment door like sunshine breaking through storm clouds. As beautiful a sight as it is, I still findmyself craning to see the man who’s going to walk through that door after him.
When a Krayev man sticks his head around the corner, though, the sinking disappointment in my stomach is undeniable. Because it’s the wrong Krayev man.
“Hey, Pavel,” I say as cheerfully as I can.
“Where’s Kovan?” Waylen beats me to the question, saving me from the embarrassment of asking it myself.
“Work stuff.” Pavel shrugs. “I’m supposed to drop off the rug rat and bounce.”
“Hey!” Luka protests. “I’m not a rat!”
Pavel ruffles his hair. “See you tomorrow, kiddo. Actually go to bed when they tell you to, yeah?”
Luka gives him the world’s least convincing thumbs up. Pavel laughs and retreats back out of the door, leaving us alone.
