Page 45 of Sergei
“Sure. Whatever you think.”
When her lips curled into a smile, I knew I’d made the right decision.
She needed this. Hell, maybe I did, too.
The next afternoon, I found myself standing in the middle of a boutique with my hands full of shopping bags, watching Alina as she scanned through another rack of tops and dresses. Just like in all the other shops, her eyes would light up when she saw something she’d like, but she’d hesitate, like wanting it was some kind of crime.
I’d seen her pass up several things she’d liked, and I wasn’t having it. “Try them on.”
“No, they are too expensive here. We should go somewhere else.”
“This place is fine.” I motioned my hand over to the sweater she’d just passed and said, “Give that one a go.”
“I don’t know.” She picked it up and studied it. There was nothing fancy or flashy about it. It was just a simple white sweater, but it looked like her. “It’s a little short.”
“Maybe. But you won’t know until you try it.” I motioned over to the pants and skirt she’d shown interest in and said, “Try those, too.”
“It’s too much, Sergei.”
“It’s not. Now, go try it on.”
She bit her lip, then grabbed them from the rack and disappeared into the dressing room. I leaned against the wall outside, ignoring the hovering salesclerk, and waited for her to come out. A few minutes later, the curtain drew back, and my chest tightened when I saw how incredible she looked.
I stood there watching her, the soft fabric shifting with her movement, and I felt something stir inside of me. Anger. Jealousy. Maybe a mix of the two. Every person in that store could look at her and see what I already knew. With a whisper,she could have anything she wanted. She could have anyone she wanted.
And for this moment in time, she was there with me and no one else. Hell, I’d put a bullet in anyone who even thought about taking her from me. I was walking on a dangerous line. I knew that, but that didn’t stop me from wanting to make her mine.
Alina ran her hands down her side and grimaced as she waited for my reaction. I didn’t say anything at first. I needed a moment to collect myself before saying, “Beautiful. We’ll take it.”
A light blush crept over her cheeks as she tugged at the hem of the sweater. “Are you sure it isn’t too short?”
“It’s perfect.”
She turned toward the mirror and studied her reflection, and after a few seconds, she smiled and said, “Okay, but I’ll pay you back.”
“That smile is payment enough.”
“Not even close.”
She shook her head and went back into the dressing room. Once she had changed, we checked out and went to the restaurant. It was tucked away on a quiet street where only the locals knew about it. The lighting was low, and the crowds were minimal, which is why I’d chosen it. I wanted a place that was private, but one that Alina would find comfortable.
And when I saw the relaxed expression on her face, I knew I’d found the perfect spot. She sat down across from me and let out a sigh as her eyes scanned the room, taking in all the people and the easy conversations they were having. She’d been away from this for far too long.
I leaned back in my chair as I said, “It takes some getting used to.”
“You can say that again. I keep expecting someone to recognize me and ask why I’m not dead.”
“New York is a long way from here.”
“Yes, but there’s always a possibility.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “At least, my hair is different.”
“Everything about you is different.” I let my eyes rake over her. “You’re not the same woman who showed up at my door a month ago.”
“You don’t think so?”
“No. You’re someone else completely.”
I slid a small envelope across the table and watched as she picked it up. “What’s this?”
