Page 48 of Mafia Christmas Vows

I like you.

It’s a surprising thought. I didn’t think that I would be here so soon but…

I think I’m falling for Alexei.

Rationally, I know it’s not possible. I haven’t known Alexei long enough to fall for him. Things like love, actual, meaningfullove, take time. Anything prior to really knowing him is just a chemical reaction. Just attraction.

But living it is an entirely different thing than recognizing it in a textbook.

I feel the same way around him as I feel around my mom. I mean… different, of course. I’m not sexually attracted to my mom.

But my heart is easy. I feel relaxed, and welcomed.

Seen.

All of these are things that I experience with love.

But you can’t love him yet.

I keep that in my mind, because it’s true. Attraction is instant.

Love takes time.

“Okay. We’re here,” he murmurs behind me.

My breath catches again as he tugs at the silk, and the feeling of it sliding off my face seems borderline indecent.

For a second, I blink. The light is still muted due to the continued storm, but it’s bright enough that it takes me a minute to focus on the world around me.

And when I figure out what I’m looking at, I can’t help it.

I gasp.

I’m in an enormous room. There are huge windows, floor-to-ceiling just like in Alexei’s mom’s room, but the furniture in this room isn’t covered. Big, lush couches, huge long tables, and a fireplace that I could easily walk into dominate my view.

But beyond that?

Books.

Shelves and shelves of them, bordering the windows and lining the walls, stretching as far as I can see.

“Alexei…”

“Come in,” he says, tugging my hand.

I can’t do anything but follow.

He brings me over to an elegant desk carved out of blonde wood. My mouth drops as I see the shiny laptop, leather-bound notebook, and expensive pen set sitting there.

“What’s this?”

“You were going to school. To be the… head doctor,” he stumbles.

I smile. “Psychologist.”

“Yes. Well. I do not know exactly, but I think you can finish your courses… here. Or you can find a new study. Russia has many fine learning institutions,” he says.

I turn.

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