Page 43 of Captivated By Him

Lena glances over her shoulder at the broad-shouldered Russian standing behind her. His features instantly soften when her smile hits his gaze.

“He’s just hungry,” she teases and turns to him, flattening her hand on his chest. “Let’s get to the dining room so we can get a good seat.”

“What good seat, it’s just us,” her husband says, though he follows her.

“The seat near the basket of bread. I’m hungry, too.”

“That’s Micah Ivanov?” I ask, still watching the two disappear from the room.

“Yes. How do you know him?” A tinge of accusation colors his question.

I turn back to him, holding the small bouquet of flowers Nora was able to procure for me between us.

“He’s the head of the Ivanov family, Jakub. How would I not know who he was?”

He frowns at me. “I’m not sure I like you knowing as much as you do.”

I lift a shoulder. “It’s too late on that front. Besides. Just because I know who people are doesn’t mean I know anything about them. Dad used to talk about people, but never with any details.” My heart sinks when I think of my father. It would have been nice to have him here. To have him walk me down the aisle, glare down Jakub, make a few threats of what he’d do to him if he hurt me.

But things don’t go that way for me.

“I’m sorry your dad isn’t here,” Jakub says, touching my arm. It’s unnerving how easily he can see into my mind.

“It’s fine.”

Jakub’s eyes narrow, like he’s about to launch into a lecture about honesty or something similar.

“Should we go to the dining room, too?” I gesture toward the double doors of Joseph’s office.

“Yes. Let’s go. The sooner we eat, the sooner we can get out of here.”

As we enter the dining room, Dominik escorts his wife to a seat at the end of the long dining table that’s been decorated with white lilies and roses with light blue paint on the edges. It’s simple in design, but beautiful nonetheless. Lena and Micah are already seated at the other end of the table, leaving two seats for Jakub and myself.

Jakub holds out my chair for me, though his stern expression reminds me of a little boy being forced into using his manners. I take my seat, placing the small bouquet in front of my place setting.

“Thanks,” I mutter as he takes the seat beside me. All we need now is Joseph to take the seat at the head of the table and we can get this fiasco over with.

All of this theater is nauseating. No one here believes Jakub and I are happy about this arrangement. They can’t possibly believe this is anything other than a business deal waiting to blow up in all of our faces.

“Thank you, all, for coming tonight. I know it was all very last minute,” I say to his family while we wait for Joseph to finish talking up the judge and see him out.

“Nothing new for this family,” Lena says, tipping her wineglass in my direction before taking a long sip.

“Do you have to start?” Dominik says across the table, settling a heated glare on his little sister.

“She’s only saying the truth. Leave it be.” Kasia, Dominik’s wife, pats her husband’s hand.

“Yeah, Dominik, leave me be,” Lena teases.

I can’t help but smile over the sweet banter of these siblings. They’re grown adults, all with power of their own in this city that I could only have dreamed of as a child, but here they sit teasing each other as though they are in grade school. It has a certain sweetness to it I missed growing up as an only child.

“Well, that’s taken care of.” Joseph enters the dining room with a loud clap of his hands. “The judge sends his regrets,” he says to Jakub as Joseph sinks into the chair. As soon as he’s settled a coughing fit takes over and it’s several seconds before he catches his breath. He waves off Jakub who’s leaning toward him.

“I’m fine. I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine,” Jakub retorts. “You should see someone, that cough isn’t getting better.”

“Enough about my cough. Let’s eat and celebrate your nuptials to this gorgeous young lady.” Joseph casts a wide smile in my direction. For a moment I can almost let myself believe the warmth of his statement, but it’s not real. I have to make sure I continue to understand. This is temporary. These people are not my family. And Jakub will let me go as soon as it’s safe.

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