Page 49 of Ruthless Vows

“But what’s your favorite?”

He proceeds to think about that. “Probably Chinese food, which you don’t like.”

“No, I do not,” I say on a laugh. “Our favorite cuisines are complete opposites. We’re already doomed.”

“Don’t worry,I’ll eat everything you eat. We’ll be alright.”

That’s oddly sweet.Snap out of it, Lucia. The man’s a goddamn sociopath.

“So is that it? You’re trying to find things we have in common? Are we playing twenty questions? What’s next? Favorite TV shows?”

I say that jokingly, but he likes the suggestion.

“You likeOzark, right? I figured you did after that comment you made the other day. Comparing me to a character called Marty Byrde? It was very amusing. When I got home, I decided to look it up out of curiosity. And then I watched a couple of episodes.”

“OfOzark?” I ask, my mouth suddenly dry.

“Yeah. I have to say, though, I don’t see the similarities between myself and him.”

In hindsight, that comment was completely unnecessary. Him watching the show is unexpected, though. I can’t believe he did that.

“You’re both good-looking middle-aged men, so there’s that,” I point out with a shrug.

Ivan actually grins. Like a full-on smile with teeth. It’s a good look on him. Makes him seem a little less intense.

“So, you think I’m good looking?”

“What are you, twelve? You’re objectively good looking, obviously. I wouldn’t have slept with you if you weren’t,” I say confidently because it’s true and there’s no need to shy away from obvious facts. “Just don’t let it go to your head.”

“I’ll do my best,” he says solemnly.

“So you only watchedOzarkbecause I mentioned it?”

“I told you, I was curious. It’s a good show from what I can tell. Although I only watched a couple of episodes.”

“You have to finish it,” I say immediately.

“I will. If you watch it with me,” he returns.

“We’ll see,” is all I say in reply. Really, though, I’m excited to watch it with him. Not because it’s him. I like watching shows with anyone that shows interest. “So do you make a habit of watching shows everybody recommends?”

“Only beautiful women I can’t get out of my head.”

My heart does a little back flip at that. I look to the side, taking in the unruffled expression on his face, even now.

“I can’t remember the last time I watched anything,” Ivan continues. “Shows, movies, those aren’t really my thing.”

“Of course not, old man. I’m sure you make more of a habit of murder and torture,” I retort.

“Well, I do have other hobbies,krasavitsa. And who are you calling old?”

“You’re not even going to deny the murder and torture?” I ask on a laugh.

“You know who I am, Lucia. I’ve never claimed to be otherwise.”

He’s right, he hasn’t. Honesty is something I’ve always appreciated. Especially because I will be brutally honest with anybody given the chance. I like it when people are straight with me. It’s only a form of cowardice when you hide who you really are.

“True, you haven’t,” I say. “Just out of curiosity, who was the first person you ever killed?”

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