Page 65 of Emerald Vices

Fifteen minutes later, my stomach is larger than ever and my heart is full as Misha sets off towards the shore. Remi’s already prancing around in the tide, tail wagging as he splashes. Andrey’s sprawled beside me on the beach blanket, arms behind his head, legs crossed at the ankles.

“Thank you for today.” I break the peaceful silence. “A surprise beach trip is something I didn’t know I needed.”

He squints up at me. “I think we all needed it.”

Misha is squatting in front of the water, dipping his hand in whenever the waves venture close enough to touch.

“He doesn’t know how to swim.”

“I know.”

I turn to him. “You did? Since when?”

“A few months ago.”

“Months?!” I gasp. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t think he’d appreciate me telling you. And I didn’t think you’d appreciate me being within earshot of you long enough to tell you. We weren’t exactly in a good place at the time.”

I hear Misha’s voice in my head. It isn’t easy on anyone. God, it was selfish of me to assume I was the only one suffering back then.

“We can’t do that anymore, Andrey. No matter what’s happening between us, we have to be able to talk to each other. When it comes to our children, we’re on the same team, okay? Always.”

He nods. “Always.”

The tightness in my chest alleviates. Well, marginally. But I know from experience that making pacts is all well and good—keeping them is the challenge. Especially when you’re wading knee-deep in anger and bitterness.

For now, though, the sun is shining and pacts about love and loyalty feel like they’ll stand the test of time.

Smiling, I slink my way down onto Andrey’s towel—at least, to the extent that a land whale like me can “slink” anywhere these days—and press a kiss to his sun-warmed cheek.

“Always” sounds good to me.

The high of the beach trip carries over to Monday morning.

I pop out of bed with a giddy song in my heart and a pep in my step. It’s been hard to get my ass in gear and get to work lately, but I’m excited about it today.

“Who would have thought going to work at an insurance company could put that smile on a girl’s face?” Aunt Annie teases from bed when I stop in to check on her in the morning.

I think what Andrey and I did to each other in bed post-beach has a lot more to do with the smile on my face, but that is filed firmly under “Things I’ll Never Tell My Aunt.”

“I’ve just got a new lease on life.”

“And does that new lease on life have anything to do with the handsome man you’ve got in your bed every night?”

I almost choke on my tongue as I whirl around. “How do you know we’re sleeping—sharing a bed?”

“Your bodyguards talk too much.”

“Leif or Leonty?” I demand. “Secrecy is part of their whole thing. I’m gonna make Andrey fire them.”

Aunt Annie laughs. “Oh, go easy on the boys. They spend their days following you around, making sure you’re safe. The least you can do is provide a little palace intrigue from time to time. Now, off you go. Go remind the world you’re a hard-working, independent woman who doesn’t need a man.”

Laughing, I kiss her forehead and walk onto the porch—and almost collide into Andrey. He grabs me before I can stumble over in my heels.

“You alright there?”

I cling to his bicep. “I’m better now. Where are you off to?”

---