Page 82 of The Russian's Kidnapped Bride
The moment we reach the private table, the others start with their usual antics immediately.
“Congrats on finishing the school year,” Elena says while pulling Lily in for a hug, all smiles and warmth. “You’re one semester closer to the big day.”
“One semester closer, and yet it still feels so far away,” she says in return, feigning at least some of her exhaustion at the idea.
When they part from the hug, Victoria is quick to take my sister’s place. “But think of how many more nice dinners you have to look forward to.”
“When Mikhail becomes a househusband, he’ll have to brush up on his cooking skills,” Sergey comments, glancing at me with a mischievous glimmer in his eyes.
I scoff, lightly knocking the back of his head while I pull Lily’s chair out and offer it to her before taking my own. “You need to acquire yours in the first place.”
Unfazed by the gesture, he chuckles and reaches for his glass. “And put my chef out of work? Please, I’m not a monster.”
“No, but you cook like one,” Ivan says, smiling over the rim of his glass.
Sergey scoffs good-naturedly and puts his arms out in question. “And since when is this about me?”
“Since you opened your mouth,” Nikolai ribs at him.
Everyone shares a small laugh while we get situated, falling into our usual patterns that are so natural it’s easy to miss them.
Before long, plates full of prime-cut steaks, lobster tails, lamb, and everything else we could want came out, along with more than enough sides to keep us full. Wine and whiskey come out for the rest of us while Lily enjoys a mocktail dressed up enough to convince her it’s all the same, and overall, it’s just as chaotic and warm as usual.
However, there no longer seems to be a divide between Lily and my family. Now, she blends right in, following in Elena’s footsteps and putting my brothers in their places with her own quips to the point where even Roman chuckles. I can’t ignore the constant swell of pride in my chest at seeing how well shemeshes in, and the way her hesitation has completely ebbed away.
My family has always been the most important thing to me, above all else. However, knowing Lily has been brought into the fold completely takes all the worry away. One doesn’t need to be more important to the other when she is one of us, just as I always wanted her to be.
The private dining room is full of our laughter before long, while we sample each other’s choices, working towards a final verdict of whether or not the place is worth coming back to. The gathering settles something in my chest, leaving me with a sense of fulfillment I always strive for.
And having Lily by my side, with my palm occasionally grazing her belly, my cup has never felt fuller.
Every sparkle of life in her eyes, every warm smile that grazes her lips, and each note of laughter escaping her mouth bring me more contentment than I ever imagined I’d be fortunate enough to experience.
I’ve come to see every one of those moments as nothing short of precious, especially where Lily’s concerned.
Eventually, as we admit defeat and can’t eat anymore, our conversations splinter, and I take Lily with me through the back exit leading to a rooftop patio. By then, the sun has already begun to set, and the Vegas strip has come to life with neon lights and those robust signs I’ll never get sick of.
We lean against the glass safety railing and take in the view, all the while, I keep a grounding hand against her hip.
After a moment of peaceful quiet between us, I lean in to press a gentle kiss against her temple. “You know, there’s something I want to tell you.”
Lily faces me with a curious glimmer in her gaze. “I’m listening.”
At her interest, I smile to myself. “I’ve been working on something behind the scenes for you, and with everything finalized now, I think it’s about time I shared it with you.”
“Is it a surprise trip somewhere ocean-side?”
I grin at her question, pulling her a touch closer. “Not quite…but that’s not a bad idea.”
She lifts a brow at me. “Then what is it?”
“I started a foundation in your name,” I say, gauging her reaction.
Lily blinks. “What?”
I chuckle and gently rub at the small of her back. “The goal of the foundation is to give financial support and housing to orphaned kids with young and struggling guardians, especially those affected by gang violence.”
As my words sink in, she stares at me with her lips slightly parted, and her expression is unreadable for a long moment.
