Page 21 of The Billionaire Dating Game

“Candice, this is my baby sister Katya.”

“It’s nice to finally meet you.” His sister squealed again, this time hugging Candice. She was a little taken aback by the warm welcome, but it did soften the unease in her stomach.

“Oh no!” Alexei said when they entered the backyard. “You let him man the grill?”

“I was hungry.” Katya chuckled. “Besides, what's a little food poisoning between families?”

“Ha, ha, funny.” Dmitri embraced his brother, then did the same to Candice.

Soon, they were joking and teasing each other on lawn chairs in front of the pool. The grill was on, the scent of barbeque tickled the air, and no one wore shoes. Alexei was right—this was laid back. She expected them to switch to Ukrainian when they discussed the new tech company they were backing or the party they were throwing to entice the investors. Jasmine had when she tried to dismiss Candice’s presence, but Alexei’s family didn’t.

By late afternoon, Alexei and Dmitri pretended to box on the deck of the pool. She could watch Alexei all day as he traded punches. He was toned and fast on his feet, missing most of his brother’s jabs.

“You’re drooling,” Katya teased.

Yes, she was.

Dmitri took a wild swing, and Alexei ducked, catching his little brother around the waist and pushing him into the deep end of the pool.

“That should cool you off.” Alexei strutted to where Candice and Katya sat in chairs, leaving his brother in the water.

“Katya, help me out.”

“Nope.”

“Candice, please give me a hand?” Dmitri turned hopeful eyes on Candice. “I know you’re not as mean as those two.”

She got up from the chair and Alexei took her spot without batting an eye. Candice shook her head. Hewasbeing pretty mean…then again, she didn’t have siblings. She offered Dmitri her hand just as Alexei warned,“Don’t do it.”

Too late. Dmitri grabbed her hand, pulling her over the edge of the pool. Her tumble wasn’t even sexy. She went sprawling, face first. She came up for air and coughed.

They doubled over laughing. She climbed the pool ladder with all the grace and dignity she could muster. Water poured from her sundress as she walked across the deck and straddled Alexei. If she was going to be drenched, so was he.

“Woo!”

She wiggled on his lap, making sure she didn’t miss a spot.

Instead of lifting her off of him, he chuckled, wrapping his arms around her waist. “You’re wet, malo svitla.”

Those words always made her tingle. “Only for you,” she whispered, nipping his ear. That earned her a groan that set her pulse racing.

“After we clean up, I want to see.”

Candice flushed and stayed that way for the rest of the evening. Each time she glanced in his direction, she found his eyes on her, drinking her in. They were putting the last of the food away when Alexei retrieved their bags from the car to take them to a guest room they’d be sharing—she still couldn’t go to his bed unless she planned on staying there. Not that he’d asked.

Part of her wanted him to ask. She wanted to say yes. But the other part of her, the sensable half that had been disappointed by men she thought cared, remained cautious.

“He called you malo svitla,” Katya said, staring at Candice intently.

Candice dragged her eyes from Alexei’s retreating form. She’d unconsciously followed him from the kitchen. He’d started calling her that after she’d said she wasn’t afraid of him. She still wasn’t, though he had the power to tear her heart into shreds.

“I know what it means, but he won’t tell me why he calls me that.”

“Our mamo called him my light. He was her rock.” Katya’s voice cracked.

“He is all of our rock,” Dmitri said, hugging his sister.

If the mere mention of their mother caused them pain, it was no wonder Alexei didn’t talk about his past.

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