Page 37 of Diamond Don

Nik pulls out the lasagna, and the scent is so good I want to moan. I didn’t realize until now just how hungry I am. No wonder—I haven’t eaten today. I planned to grab a bite with A.J. after our meeting with Camilla. I was hoping we would have cause for celebration.

After setting the dish down, Nik removes the oven mitts he’s wearing. For some reason, I’m shocked to notice he is barefoot. He rolls up the sleeves of his sweater before grabbing a wine bottle from the refrigerator, and I realize I’m staring again.

The entire scene is so domestic that it’s a struggle to reconcile the man before me with the sensual lover from the gala and the commanding, all-powerful mafia boss I encountered earlier today.

Not that he doesn’t look sexy right now. The man couldn’t stop oozing sex appeal even if he tried. But it’s a different kind of allure. He looks approachable and inviting instead of forbidding and unattainable.

I kind of like it.

“Why are you doing all of this?” I ask, unable to hide my suspicion from my tone.

He pauses while removing the wine cork. His forearms look impossibly hot as he works the corkscrew, and I have a hard time focusing on anything else.

“Well, we have to eat, Kat,” he says, shooting me a confused look.

“No, I mean, why are you doing this yourself?”

“Oh. You mean why not have someone else do this for me.” He looks amused. “I gave the staff the day off today once I decided to have you over for dinner tonight.” He winks at me.

“Once you decided to have me kidnapped, you mean.”

“I thought we had agreed not to argue semantics, Kat.”

Nik removes the cork from the bottle and pours out two glasses of red wine, not even bothering to hide his amused smile. Naturally, he doesn’t ask me if I want a drink. Simon says I will have a glass of wine, and that’s the end of it. I let it slide, as well as his remark.

“So we are all alone here, I guess.” I sip my wine. It’s rich, smooth and delicious.

“Why do you ask? Are you planning to have your way with me?”

“Ha-ha. Hilarious. You’re the one trying to wine me and dine me, buddy.”

“I’m just trying to feed you and myself. Everyone’s more pleasant with a nice, warm meal in their stomach. And before you get any ideas, I should probably tell you we’re not completely alone. A few of my men are still here. They’re going to be hanging around the place until you and I are done with our little job. I’ll introduce you later.”

“Scared I will get the best of you?” My question amuses him, and his eyes glint with humor. It’s a good look on him.

“They’re not here for backup. So, if you were feeling good about your chances of subduing me with a butter knife, think again. I’m sure I can handle you, and I assume you’re not eager to have me spank you again for misbehaving. Or are you?” He inches closer to me, a kitchen towel draped over his shoulder.

“In your dreams, maybe. And thanks for the reminder. It completely slipped my mind that I owe you payback for that.”

“Aw, Kat. Don’t threaten me with a good time,” he says. I faintly recall telling him something similar the night we met.

Ignoring his attempt at levity, I press on. “If they’re not here for backup—just in case I overtake you with my mad ninja skills—what are they here for? I thought you said I’d be safe with you, but if you need to keep security around…”

Nik grows a little serious at my concerned tone. “It’s not that. You are safe here, Kat. They’re here for the same reason you are. I don’t want to waste my time looking for them if I need them.”

“You know, Nik… They have these new gadgets nowadays that I think might interest you. You can use them to reach people anywhere whenever you want to. They call them cell phones. Maybe you should look into that.”

“Cute,” he says. Pulling a stool out, he gestures for me to sit down. “Sit. Eat. I saw you eyeing the lasagna.”

After sitting down, I dish out a generous slice of lasagna. I don’t appreciate his bossiness at all, but I don’t have the energy to argue with him after the day I’ve had.

Besides, I really do want some lasagna.

He sits on another stool facing me, putting a bit of everything on his plate.

“Speaking of cellphones,” he says, pulling something from his jeans pocket. He stretches his hand, palm facing up, offering me my phone back. “You probably have people worried about you.”

I’m stunned for a second, but then I remember—Nikolai knows I can’t escape him or his plans for me. It makes no difference to him if I have my phone or not.

---