Page 115 of Wrapped in Perfection

She smiles. "That's nice. My sisters and brothers all have kids. It's fun being an aunt."

"They are here in Chicago?"

"Oh, yeah. The O'Malleys would never leave Chicago. That would be a sin, according to my grandfather."

"Ahh, you're Irish. That explains your beautiful red hair."

She touches it. "Yes. It's hard to escape in my family."

Boris slides his hand around her and drags his finger down her bare arm then twists a lock of her hair around his finger.

She flushes and inhales sharply.

He leans in near her face, giving her an intense set of fuck-me eyes. I know those eyes because Dmitri looks at me with the same expression. Boris says, "Anna is Chicago's newest, up-and-coming interior designer."

She turns redder then tears her eyes away from Boris. "You're an interior designer?"

"Yes."

"Do you design restaurants?"

"I worked on several over the years before I started my business, but I've not designed one on my own before."

"Could you?"

"Yes, I suppose."

Boris says, "You two should meet up and discuss this. Nora's been struggling to find someone good, haven't you?"

"Yes. There have been some issues."

Boris leans closer to Nora's ear and strokes her neck from her ear to her collarbone. She squirms in her seat. "But all of them are going to go away. Sometimes a clean slate is best, don't you think?"

Worry fills her eyes. She nods.

He strokes her cheek.

Why don't you throw her on the table and screw her right here, Boris?

His attention to her makes me slightly uncomfortable. It's like experiencing foreplay, except I'm not the recipient.

I clear my throat. "Well, I'd love to meet up and talk with you if you want."

She turns to me. "I would. Very much. Please."

"Okay." I pull out my phone, and we exchange information.

A waitress comes over and puts bread on the table. Maksim orders wine and champagne for the table.

Dmitri butters a piece of bread then holds it to my mouth. His lips twitch. "Something for you besides nuts, kotik."

I try to stop my smile but can't. I take a bite, and he pops the leftover part in his mouth.

He leans into my ear. "I prefer your nuts."

I elbow him, and he kisses my head. He opens the menu, and we read it together.

"What's good here?" I ask.

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