Page 32 of The Russian's Kidnapped Bride
He chuckles along with the others before returning to his seat. “I was only being nice.”
“You’re being a pest already.”
“You’d know a lot about that,” Ivan muses, and I already know I’m in for the fight of my life.
It turns out that instigating situations not directly involving you results in everyone else trying to deliver their payback swiftly and justly when the right moment arrives.
And knowing my siblings, they’re more than willing to give me a taste of my own medicine.
While I offer the chair to her, Lily hesitates and then takes it. Once she sits down, I carefully push her chair in before taking my own.
“Everyone, this is Lily,” I say, trying my best to regain my grip on the reins.
Not quite in unison, sounding more like a garbled mesh of words, they all greet her in return. It’s not exactly as smooth as they’re capable of, and I can’t help but wonder if this is my instant karma.
One by one, I go over the who’s-who, hoping that Lily is retaining at least some of it, saving me the hassle down the line.
“You’re a med student, right?” Elena asks, inserting herself as my saving grace.
If anyone can be normal and civilized, it’s her, thankfully.
“I am,” Lily answers simply, not sounding proud; instead, she seems almost pained by the reminder.
She didn’t have to say anything to me before about how critically important her returning to class tomorrow is for me to already know. I picked up on her nervous fidgeting before I even brought up dinner.
In a way, I can’t help but feel like I’ve somehow soured the very accomplishment for her, like even being a threat to her education has made me a demon in her eyes.
“Smart girl,” my sister says with a small grin, sipping her wine. “Don’t let my bum of a brother stop you.”
So much for her help.
I narrow my eyes at Elena in warning, but that only eggs her on, influencing her smile to grow as she puts her hands up in defense.
“What? It’s an honest field to pursue. Let her be more impressive than you.”
A low rumble of amusement moves across the table, but I don’t comment.
Instead, I glance at Lily, managing to catch the faintest hint of amusement sprinkled into her features.
She finds it funny…that’s something, at least.
While my siblings continue to talk, I zone out of it and focus entirely on her.
Of course, I thought she was beautiful since the moment I laid eyes on her at the club, but tonight, she looks even more gorgeous somehow. I should be focusing on what’s happening around me and participating, but with her nearby, I can’t help it.
Even if she hates every moment of being here, surrounded by my family, she’s everything I’ve been craving.
That black dress hugs her perfectly, reminiscent of that night, and it makes my chest ache. Her makeup is simple but elegant, and her hair is done up in a way that guides my attention to her neck.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d assume she was born into this life and that it suits her well. She pulls it off, even if she’s secretly miserable beneath it all.
Dinner unfolds around us as usual, full of laughter and family stories we’ve shared hundreds of times before. All the while, drinks are poured, and it’s easy to forget about everything else for a time.
But when I glance over at Lily, the situation comes rushing back to me.
She doesn’t eat much of anything. Instead, she pushes her food around, answers questions politely when she’s asked, and keeps her answers short. She does it all with a med student’s poise—professional, yet not entirely at ease.
When I look at her, that warm tension moves through me, and instinctively, I just want her to relax. I want her to see me as the man who can let loose with his family and talk about anything other than work and business.
