Page 12 of The Bratva's Innocent Pregnant Bride
Why not keep the suite here at the resort? She’d turn up and those sparks would ignite again. I kept all my stuff in the room and told them I’d be staying, at least for the next three weeks. We’d be together again. There was no denying those sparks.
Imagine my delight when she did turn up again, and right under my nose at the lodge. The temporary job she’d been so cagey about was as the holiday nanny for my cousins’ kids. That was freaking adorable. And convenient. My eyes sought her out like she was a beacon, despite trying to ignore me. Her cheeks were a gorgeous shade of red, blooming all the way up from the neckline of her cream colored sweater.
I was on the phone canceling my reservation at the resort when Katie came over with a dark look on her face. “Stop staring at our nanny like she’s the main course. She’s off limits.”
In spite of her youth, Katie was a force to be reckoned with. She was married to Aleks and handled him like he was a kitten instead of the fierce king of the most powerful Bratva family in California. She ran a successful catering company as well as keeping up with all of Alina’s activities, and she’d learned to keep all of her husband’s younger siblings in line as well.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, not fooling her at all.
Still, she brought me over to “meet” Paisley, who looked more horrified than when she first saw me walk in. I understood she needed to be discreet but she didn’t have to act like I was a monster crawling out of the sewer.
Since when did any woman’s reaction to me sting my feelings? Since never, and it wasn’t starting now. I let her off the hook and pretended I didn’t know her, but couldn’t help giving her a little trouble as soon as Katie was out of earshot.
The next order of business was switching around the place cards so I’d be sitting next to her during dinner, and yes, I did enjoy a few teasing remarks at her expense. Her blushes were just too pretty. She gave as good as she got, even managing to shut me up for a minute or two, wondering if she hadn’t actually been affected by our night together. The way she jumped up like her seat was on fire should have sealed that impression, but I caught a glimpse of her looking at me as the kids hustled her upstairs.
I saw that same look last night. Pure longing beneath those red cheeks and flashing eyes. I’d see it again, up close,sooner rather than later. And I had thought this vacation was going to be a waste of time.
Katie caught up with me as soon as dinner was over, stopping me from heading upstairs.
“Leave Paisley alone,” she said sternly, gripping my arm. “I can’t believe some of the things you said to her at dinner. Out of line, way out of line, Dan. She’s our employee and I won’t have her harassed.”
“Harassed?” I asked. “I was only joking around a little.”
Of course Katie didn’t know anything about Paisley and me already meeting, already being well on our way to having history together. “Just cool it,” she said, giving me a hard stare.
“I’ll be good,” I said, pretending to be contrite. “No more jokes.”
I meant it, at least while the others were around. In truth I meant to get Paisley alone again as soon as possible. She had completely bewitched me. The rest of the night was a bust, without another glimpse of my blushing beauty, and I slept alone, fitful and yearning for the first time in my life. What was even more shocking than that was I didn’t spare a single thought for the Collective or go over the information I brought along with me. She completely consumed me after just one night. How could I let her go without a fight?
The next morning, there was a hubbub in the kitchen. Some of the wives were preparing to bake gingerbread cookies with the kids so they could decorate them. Paisley wasn’t with them, but it looked like Brooke hadn’t shown up with her little boy, Jakob, yet, either. Where else would the nanny be than where the kids were?
Alina saw me and jumped off her stool in front of the counter. Her hands were already covered in flour but that didn’t stop her from throwing her arms around me. Artie was close behind her, with Stephan and Pavel toddling after them on their short, sturdy legs.
“Make cookies with us,” they clamored, talking over each other about sprinkles and icing and gumdrops.
Things that would have made me catatonic if it weren’t for the reward of spending time with Paisley. I couldn’t wait to get under her skin again. Or have my hands on her skin again. Either one was fine with me.
“Let him loose,” Emerson called over the din. “Dan doesn’t want to make cookies with you little savages.”
“Of course I do,” I said, cutting off the shrieks of disappointment.
I didn’t hate being the favorite fun cousin and I had to admit I was looking forward to when Mat and CJ had a kid so I could be the fun uncle, but it was really only Paisley that had me tying on an apron and sidling up to the counter.
Katie gave me the stink eye, obviously still upset with me about how I acted at dinner last night, and handed me a bowl full of spice scented dough to knead. “Isn’t it nice of Dan to spend his morning with you kids?” she asked, much too sweetly.
“Yes,” they all said in unison.
“Isn’t he the greatest?” she continued. She was really laying it on thick, but I was busy looking past her, waiting for Paisley to come through the door.
“Yes,” they said again.
We were well into rolling out the damn dough and she still hadn’t materialized. Where the hell was she?
“She’s got the morning off,” Katie said under her breath as she sidled up to me to point out the lumps in my dough. “But I’m sure that’s not why you keep looking at the door like a dog who’s lost his owner.”
Well hell. That was close to how I felt. I shrugged. “Who are you talking about?” I asked. “Masha?”
Katie rolled her eyes. “You know Masha would rather take a punch than bake cookies, just like you. You thought you were going to torment my nanny again.”
