“Games? I wouldn’t, if I were you.”
“You’re not me. You’re a step-by-step, righteous sort of guy. I’m impulsive.” She grinned and reached up to pat his head, as if he were a little boy. Mikhail tensed and bristled so nicely beneath her touch, not at all like the methodical businessman he’d been moments before.
She turned and, with a smile, strolled away. She was woman. She was strong and fierce and wise and in control.
Mikhail stopped her with one word. It sailed across the empty pool to wrap around her like a lariat. “Lunch?”
Her warning senses started the flash. She’d teased Mikhail and now she wasn’t certain. “In the kitchen? With Georgia? A learning tour? Sure.”
“In my apartment? Now?” His voice was a husky, sensual invitation she wasn’t ready to take.
“Sorry. I’m going driving on the golf course. Sand trap inspection, you know.” She continued walking, but the sound of his chuckle followed her.
Two tense weeks later, mid-March sunshine slid though the windows of Jarek’s new home. Leigh sighed luxuriously and lay back on the recliner covered with a sheet. “I’ve gone to heaven. No hovering husband, just girl talk. A pedicure, manicure, a facial and my favorite soap opera on television. I can cry all I want when Jonas is unfaithful with his sister-in-law and his daughter is blackmailing the chauffeur, with whom she had an affair, and his mother has forged his name on contracts he doesn’t want for kickback money…. And Katerina is being pampered by Mary Jo and Bliss. I think she’s going to have Mary Jo’s green eyes, just like Mikhail and Jarek…. Thanks, Ellie. I love my family dearly, and my baby, but I really needed this.”
Ellie placed her hand against the window of Leigh and Jarek’s home, overlooking the beach. The afternoon was warm and on the beach, Tanya ran to discover whatever the tide had left. Grinning, she scampered back to show her shells to Fadey, who was obviously enjoying himself as he picked up the little girl and whirled her around. He tossed her lightly into Jarek’s arms, then Jarek nuzzled her playfully before passing her to Mikhail.
That was how Mikhail had handled Ellie, after their first kiss, tossing her lightly to Fadey. I kissed her. She liked it, and now she’s mad…. She wants me, of course.
Of course she wanted Mikhail. She wanted to run him down, stake him out and devour him until he was helpless.
Ellie rubbed her arm. But Mikhail had never been helpless, and she could be the one to be devoured, an experience she wasn’t likely to forget.
Leigh came to stand beside Ellie, watching the big men play with the little girl. “I grew up like that, racing and playing and loved. Most of all, I was loved. Bliss and Ed liked to follow the winds of the universe, and for a time, as an adult, I resented it. But now I know that I had the best of everything—love. Um…I should warn you that Bliss and Ed think children shouldn’t be burdened by clothing in warm weather. Most of the time, I just wore love beads and sunshine.”
In the sunshine, Mikhail had knelt to examine Tanya’s collection, and the little girl stood beside him, her arm looped loosely around his neck.
The peaceful scene contrasted sharply with Hillary’s burning, erratic calls to Ellie. “I’m going to get my kid, one way or the other.”
Paul’s call had been fierce and brisk, and he didn’t waste threats or empty words. He would make good his promise to rip the Amoteh from Mikhail and shatter the incomes of people depending on him. And he would take his time, making Ellie wait. Paul knew how to build fear of reprisals.
“Let’s just play this game out, shall we?” Mikhail had said easily as he worked on business in her suite. Asleep in the other room, Tanya was always well watched. Like most rooms in the Amoteh, Ellie’s suite was furnished with Stepanov furniture, bold against the softer shades of mauve and cream. Just like the family, it was
“You’re not me. You’re a step-by-step, righteous sort of guy. I’m impulsive.” She grinned and reached up to pat his head, as if he were a little boy. Mikhail tensed and bristled so nicely beneath her touch, not at all like the methodical businessman he’d been moments before.
She turned and, with a smile, strolled away. She was woman. She was strong and fierce and wise and in control.
Mikhail stopped her with one word. It sailed across the empty pool to wrap around her like a lariat. “Lunch?”
Her warning senses started the flash. She’d teased Mikhail and now she wasn’t certain. “In the kitchen? With Georgia? A learning tour? Sure.”
“In my apartment? Now?” His voice was a husky, sensual invitation she wasn’t ready to take.
“Sorry. I’m going driving on the golf course. Sand trap inspection, you know.” She continued walking, but the sound of his chuckle followed her.
Two tense weeks later, mid-March sunshine slid though the windows of Jarek’s new home. Leigh sighed luxuriously and lay back on the recliner covered with a sheet. “I’ve gone to heaven. No hovering husband, just girl talk. A pedicure, manicure, a facial and my favorite soap opera on television. I can cry all I want when Jonas is unfaithful with his sister-in-law and his daughter is blackmailing the chauffeur, with whom she had an affair, and his mother has forged his name on contracts he doesn’t want for kickback money…. And Katerina is being pampered by Mary Jo and Bliss. I think she’s going to have Mary Jo’s green eyes, just like Mikhail and Jarek…. Thanks, Ellie. I love my family dearly, and my baby, but I really needed this.”
Ellie placed her hand against the window of Leigh and Jarek’s home, overlooking the beach. The afternoon was warm and on the beach, Tanya ran to discover whatever the tide had left. Grinning, she scampered back to show her shells to Fadey, who was obviously enjoying himself as he picked up the little girl and whirled her around. He tossed her lightly into Jarek’s arms, then Jarek nuzzled her playfully before passing her to Mikhail.
That was how Mikhail had handled Ellie, after their first kiss, tossing her lightly to Fadey. I kissed her. She liked it, and now she’s mad…. She wants me, of course.
Of course she wanted Mikhail. She wanted to run him down, stake him out and devour him until he was helpless.
Ellie rubbed her arm. But Mikhail had never been helpless, and she could be the one to be devoured, an experience she wasn’t likely to forget.
Leigh came to stand beside Ellie, watching the big men play with the little girl. “I grew up like that, racing and playing and loved. Most of all, I was loved. Bliss and Ed liked to follow the winds of the universe, and for a time, as an adult, I resented it. But now I know that I had the best of everything—love. Um…I should warn you that Bliss and Ed think children shouldn’t be burdened by clothing in warm weather. Most of the time, I just wore love beads and sunshine.”
In the sunshine, Mikhail had knelt to examine Tanya’s collection, and the little girl stood beside him, her arm looped loosely around his neck.
The peaceful scene contrasted sharply with Hillary’s burning, erratic calls to Ellie. “I’m going to get my kid, one way or the other.”
Paul’s call had been fierce and brisk, and he didn’t waste threats or empty words. He would make good his promise to rip the Amoteh from Mikhail and shatter the incomes of people depending on him. And he would take his time, making Ellie wait. Paul knew how to build fear of reprisals.
“Let’s just play this game out, shall we?” Mikhail had said easily as he worked on business in her suite. Asleep in the other room, Tanya was always well watched. Like most rooms in the Amoteh, Ellie’s suite was furnished with Stepanov furniture, bold against the softer shades of mauve and cream. Just like the family, it was
Similar Books
