Page 70 of The Brigadier

CHAPTER 21

Chantel

“You’re getting strawberry syrup all over you, little man.” Damien couldn’t seem to stop giggling as Nikolay yanked his napkin from his lap, laughing softly as he wiped Damien’s face.

The pasta dish we’d actually prepared for dinner, complete with shrimp and mussels had been a surprising hit with the beautiful little boy. From what I’d been told, he was the kid who only ate SpaghettiOs for pasta. He didn’t even like macaroni and cheese.

Well, I would need to make him my grandmother’s famous recipe.

Not that my own mother had made it.

I sat back, studying Nikolay. He’d seemed relaxed, even donning an apron after I’d insisted.

“Can I play just for a few minutes, Daddy?”

Nikolay looked at me as if I was the child’s mother. That brought another ache in my heart. “Okay. Ten minutes then it’s bedtime.”

Damien wrinkled his nose and glanced in my direction.

“Don’t look at me, sweet boy. Your father reigns supreme.” I locked eyes with Nikolay, the man’s dark look piercing mine. I’d felt the heat all through dinner, the eyes constantly watching me, the joy yet worry on the Russian’s face. I guess this was the new normal.

“Yeah,” Damien said as he popped up from the chair, planting his little hands on his hips. “Daddy thinks he’s all that and a bag of chips.”

I’d taken a sip of my wine and almost choked to death, forcing to grab a napkin, shoving it against my mouth and nose to keep from laughing hysterically.

“Oh, yeah?” Nikolay growled and jumped up from the chair, acting like some monster with claws. “I am also the tickle monster.”

I just couldn’t believe the differences in the man. Of course everyone had two sides, but the change in lightness and joy was so significant I was honestly floored.

He chased Damien, who was giggling hysterically, to the door, managing to tickle the boy’s tummy before kissing him on the forehead. “Ten minutes.”

“Yes, potato chip Daddy.”

I had to hold my breath as Damien saluted his father before stomping out of the kitchen like a soldier would.

Nikolay sighed, his shoulders slumping. “That kid is going to be the death of me. Four going on fifteen.”

“Oh, you don’t remember fifteen, do you?” I asked, still remaining in the same place. “Soon it will be girls, girls, girls. Sports. Pushing back at everything you request. Staying out too late with his buddies and escaping from his bedroom window. You’ll be old very, very soon.”

The way Nik looked at me was carnivorous. He acted as if he was going to stalk me, taking long strides back to the table and yanking me from my chair.

“Who are you calling old, young lady? I’ll show you old later. Be prepared for an entire night of debauchery.”

I couldn’t help myself, reaching down to what was left of Damien’s ice cream. After gathering a huge, cold dollop in my fingers, I smashed it against the center of his face and pushed away hard. At least we could both laugh tonight. Tomorrow was likely another story.

“You are one brat,” he said in his low, husky voice. “Later, woman. You will get the spanking of a lifetime.”

“Maybe I won’t allow you to catch me.”

He grinned and licked some of the falling ice cream off his face before grabbing a napkin. We both laughed before a strange and very unsettled feeling shifted over us.

“Do you mind cleaning up the rest of the kitchen while I check in with my men?” I could tell business was still in the forefront of his mind.

“Of course not. Do you want me to put the little man to bed?”

“No, I’ll do that. Somehow, it grounds me. It’s also a good reminder that life is precious.”

“Well, you might just find me in the hot tub when you’re finished.”

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