Page 2 of The Bratva's Forced Innocent Bride

The tip of her pink tongue darted out as she smirked at the convoluted relationship. “Yes. I go to Berkeley with Jenna.”

I was pleased she wasn’t Mila’s friend, because my little sister would have stripped my skin off for getting involved with one of her friends, but disappointed that Brooke wasn’t a local. Well, Berkeley wasn’t that far, and it wasn’t like I was never up in the San Francisco area. My second oldest brother Lev had been stationed up there for almost a year now, expanding our territory and making his own mark. Something I longed to do, although that was the farthest thing from my mind while I chatted with the charming Brooke.

She had a slight bit of shyness, but not enough to keep her from falling into an easy conversation with me. I asked her what she made of the place, meaning the ridiculously over-the-top decorations and she sighed as she looked around.

“It’s all so beautiful and grand. I don’t think I’ve ever been to such a nice place. Definitely never been to a house this big.”

“Oh my darling, you haven’t seen anything yet, then,” I said, clamping my lips down on further bragging about my own mansion. Taking her there and letting her see for herself wouldbe better than blustering about it. And it was my sudden goal to take her there.

A blush rose on her pretty cheeks, making her eyes seem more blue than gray. She easily smiled at my attempt to flirt with her, lifting her delicate brows.

“I don’t suppose I’ve seen much,” she admitted, locking her gaze with mine. An invitation to show her.

Who was this little minx? I had to know more about her, unlock all the secrets in those eyes, make that noncommittal smile really shine, and only for me.

“Well, I’ll have to remedy that,” I told her, already planning something to knock her socks off. Among other articles of clothing.

She only laughed, easing back a little and crossing her arms. She was keeping me at a distance, making me work to impress her, something I never had to do before. Something I wouldn’t care about doing where any other woman was concerned.

Brooke was different. Her laughter seemed to ring down to my very bones, making me feel lighter. Her flashing eyes made my blood race to know what she was thinking, and made me turn to see what she was looking at whenever they strayed from my own.

“I’m so interested in this huge family of yours,” she said, her glance dancing over the crowd of my people.

“They’re… interesting, all right,” I said, scowling at one of my brothers, who’d been circling like a shark. Just let him try to make a move on my girl. “We all have our place.”

Those eyes of hers that had me so entranced got a faraway look for a moment before she asked what I did, blowing off any more questions about her studies.

“I’m still in my first year; it’s just a bunch of mandatory classes right now.” She made a sour face, but I wasn’t too keen to dance around the subject of our family’s wealth and how we acquired it.

Instead, I told her about my diner, my pride and joy. There was honest interest in her questions, and I finally told her she’d have to see it for herself to believe it.

“Is that an invitation?” she asked. Hopeful? As if I wasn’t going to take her there.

“Let’s go right now,” I said.

After talking to her for half an hour or so, I found I liked Brooke. Actually liked her. She made me laugh a few times, and she saw right through my flirty facade, batting off my attempts to sweep her off her feet as easily as flies at a picnic. She had a quiet self-assurance about herself that was nothing like that fake bravado of the models and starlets who clamored around me at the Hustle. And Brooke was every bit as gorgeous as any of them. In short, I was smitten. Just like being hit by a heavyweight, I was down and didn’t want to get up.

And she was staying an entire week. Seven days to sweep her off her feet so thoroughly she’d be in the same position I was in. I’d definitely be freeing up my schedule to spend every available minute with her.

My sudden invitation to leave this party for one of our own had Brooke flustered and blushing prettily to the point I thought she might throw caution to the wind and accept. I was about to take her arm and lead her away, slipping us out one ofthe side doors where no one would take notice of us, when my niece, Nataliye, flounced over.

“Katie sent me to rescue you,” she said, pulling Brooke away. She thrust a glass of champagne at me as a consolation prize. “She said you were monopolizing.”

I grumbled, half pleased that Nat seemed to have gotten over the fact that her best friend had married her father. Aleks had been worried how this first Christmas might go, but if Nat was doing Katie’s bidding and blocking my fun with her trademarked mischievous grin, they must have been on good terms again. It was only for that reason that I shrugged and promised Brooke that this wasn’t over with my eyes.

Hers sparkled back at me as she let herself be led toward the buffet by the pool. I grinned at her until she turned away, then let my gaze follow the sway of her curvy hips encased in those perfectly fitting jeans. Draining the glass of champagne couldn’t cool me off, but I decided I better take it easy or risk Katie’s ire. If Brooke was her little sister’s best friend, she was as good as family as far as the big-hearted Katie was concerned.

I had the whole week. No need to be so impatient, and I didn’t understand the urgency that burned in me to get closer to Brooke. It wasn’t like me at all.

Without her to distract me, I was a bit lost and untethered in the bustling party, trying to pay attention to whatever someone said to me as I counted down the minutes until I could get Brooke to myself again without causing too much notice. When I finally disentangled myself from a long-winded gossip session with two of my cousins from Moscow, I noticed another stranger who could only be Jenna, Katie’s sister.

She sat by herself in the library, and it was only by chance that I glanced in and saw her. She looked more than a littleupset, and I wondered if my overwhelming family had gotten to her. It was in my nature to check in on anyone who looked as morose as she did, but I would have been lying if I also didn’t want to get a little inside scoop on her best friend. Being the good, brotherly sort I was, I headed to her hideaway with a plate of Katie’s fantastic holiday cookies.

“Are you okay?” I asked after introducing myself. “You’re Jenna, right? Katie’s sister?”

She made a face, shrugged as if she wasn’t sure, then finally nodded. “Thank you,” she said dully as I handed her the plate. She immediately set it on a side table and kept staring at the floor.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” I asked, still wanting to bring up Brooke but disturbed by her obvious distress. “Can I get your sister for you?”

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