Page 68 of Unbreakable Vow

But then she closes it, and her hand slides into her lap.

“I’ll be by soon,” I tell Nora as she wheels Mom away from the table and out of the kitchen.

“Sorry I slept so late,” I say to Sergei as I pick up Mom’s bowl and glass.

“You needed it.” He stands up and takes the dishes from me. “Sit. I’ll get you coffee and some toast.”

“I can—” The stern look he flashes at me kills the rest of my sentence.

“Sit.” He nods to the chair, and I sink into it.

He’s dressed in a black button-down shirt and a pair of dark gray slacks. The sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, showing off the muscles of his forearms.

I have to avert my gaze. All of his movements are seductive, and I know it’s not on purpose.

Which really makes it worse.

“Cream and sugar?” he asks from the kitchen island.

“Yes. Both, please.” I nibble on the inside of my lip while he drops one small spoonful of sugar into the mug. “Can you put a little more sugar?”

He looks up at me, then drops in another spoonful. The spoon hovers over my mug as he gives me a questioning look.

“Just a little more.” I pinch my fingers together.

The left side of his mouth kicks up just a fraction. It’s a tiny movement, but it’s enough to make the sexiest little crease on his cheek.

He stirs in the creamer then brings it to me, placing it in front of me as the toaster pops up the toast.

“Butter?” he asks.

“Yes, please, just a little.” I cradle the coffee in both hands as I bring it to my lips. Mmm, heaven.

“Enough sugar?” He spreads butter across two pieces of toast.

“Yes. Thank you.” I smile into the mug and take another sip. Nothing is better in the morning than coffee.

Well, I guess I can think of one other thing.

He sits across from me once I have the toast in front of me and drinks from his own coffee cup. The first bite makes my mouth water. I must be hungrier than I thought; I devour the first piece in no time.

“I’m sorry about last night.” I finish off the second piece of toast and go back to my coffee. “I don’t usually drink. And I haven’t been that drunk since my first year of college.”

He cocks an eyebrow. “You got drunk when you were that young?”

“Oh, please.” I sip my coffee. “Tell me you weren’t drinking vodka when you were a toddler?”

He lifts a shoulder. “It’s different back home.”

“Well. Anyway, I didn’t mean to get that drunk. I hope I didn’t embarrass you at your cousin’s house.”

“No. You didn’t embarrass me.” He leans back in his chair, his elbows dropping from the table.

“Good.” I push a smile onto my face.

“I saw the articles, Cora,” he says after a long pause.

My stomach rolls again.