Page 64 of Wrapped in Perfection

"Penny for your thoughts?" Anna says.

I turn. "Wow." I scan her body. She's wearing jeans, a hot-pink top with the shoulders cut out, and her black ankle boots. Her hair is straight, and she has natural-looking makeup on. I pull her into me. "You look amazing."

She bites on her pink lip. "Thanks."

I kiss her then glance at the time. "We should get going."

We leave and get into the car.

"So you're really close with your brothers?" she asks.

"Yeah."

"What are they like?"

"You met Maksim. Unfortunately, I'd like to say it was a bad day, but that's him."

She tilts her head and smiles. "I guess I'll get to stick it to him when I finish the project before his deadline?"

I trace her fingers, which are resting on her leg. "You have the right attitude."

"What about your other brothers?"

"They're more laid back than either Maksim or me, but they are also younger. Unless you get Boris in the ring or piss him off."

"So, Boris is who I want in a dark alley with me?"

I snort. "That's a good way to describe him. But you could take any of my brothers or me into that situation and you would be protected."

She crawls on my lap, straddling me. She takes a deep breath then asks, "You're dangerous, aren't you?"

My pulse pounds between my ears. "I would never hurt you."

She shakes her head. "That isn't what I'm asking. I trust you, remember?"

I put my hand on her cheek. "What's dangerous mean to you, kotik?"

"I'm not sure."

My heart races. "What could I do that would make you run from me?"

She covers my hand on her cheek and closes her eyes. "I can't be positive anymore."

"Why not?"

Her brows furrow. "I think I'm confused."

My thumb strokes her jaw. "About what?"

"Everything I used to believe."

"And what do you no longer believe?"

"That if you try hard enough, you can make anything work. But you can't."

I stay silent, knowing she's talking about her ex. I hate hearing what she used to do and feel for a person who couldn't appreciate her.

She continues, "If you do what you're supposed to, everything will work in your favor. But that's a lie."

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