Page 12 of Wrapped in Perfection

"Ummm...yes, I can do those things."

"Good. Do you speak any Russian?"

She shakes her head. "No. Do I need to?"

I should at least warn her. "My brothers and I prefer to hire Russians and keep what we can in the community. You might have to communicate with some of them. Many of our workers don't speak English very well."

A line creases between her eyes. "I'm sorry. I don't know any Russian words."

"Will it bother you?" I ask her.

"Not understanding what they say?"

"If I need to be your interpreter."

She hesitates. "No. But are your brothers going to be upset I'm not Russian?"

And we're going to be paying you a fortune, and it's leaving the community? Yep.

I lie. "No. You're saving our asses." I shouldn't touch her, but I trace her fingers. "Maybe I should teach you some words?"

Her hand freezes. "Such as?"

I shrug. "The basics."

"Okay. If you want to, that would be helpful."

"Good. It's settled, then." I rise and hold my hand out to help her out of the booth. "Ready?"

"Where are we going?"

"To shower."

Her eyes widen. She swallows hard.

Yes. Me, you, and your sexy body all lathered up and rubbing against mine.

She's still with the douchebag.

But she's moving here, and he isn't.

"I'll drive you to Vivian's."

"She's only a few buildings down. I can walk."

I pick up her laptop so she can't change her mind. "I'll put this in the car and wait for you then. I've got several calls I need to make."

"Okay. I'll hurry so I don't waste your time."

Nothing with you is wasting my time.

"No rush, kotik. I've got at least an hour of calls to make." I don't, but I don't want her feeling stressed.

She tilts her head. "Kotik?"

Pussycat.

"I'll tell you later, over dinner tonight."

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