Page 14 of Inked Adonis

The smart answer would be no. The safe answer would be no.

But I’ve never been particularly smart when it comes to beautiful things that might hurt me.

NOVA:Maybe...

One word. Five loaded letters. A thousand possibilities, each more terrifying than the last.

I stand up, tugging gently on Trixie’s leash. She follows without hesitation, trusting me completely to lead her wherever we need to go. Dogs are like that—they’ll follow you straight into hell if they love you enough.

As we walk away from the park, my phone stays silent in my pocket. But I can feel it there, heavy with promise and warning. Like a collar waiting to be fastened around my neck.

The question isn’t whether Samuil Litvinov will text back.

The question is whether I’ll be able to handle what happens when he does.

5

NOVA

My phone taunts me from the cafeteria table, screen dark and silent like the traitor it is. I’ve checked it seventeen times in the past four minutes. Not that I’m counting.

“Expecting a call from someone, sweetheart?”

I immediately drop my phone into my lap. Guilt burns my cheeks as I meet my grandmother’s knowing gaze. “Sorry, just… coordinating with new clients.”

Grams gives me a fond smile, and I return it, feeling guilty as hell. I never lie to her. She’s one of the only people in my life who’s earned that level of honesty.

Until Samuil Litvinov started occupying every spare neuron in my brain.

“The merger is going well, then?” Grams asks, reaching for the butter.

I latch onto the change of subject like a lifeline. “Really well. Hope has been amazing about sharing her client roster with me.I brought in two new clients—a golden retriever named Maude and a greyhound named Malti.”

“My first dog was a golden retriever.” Her eyes light up with the memory. “Wonderful animals.”

This is why I love her. While everyone else’s eyes glaze over when I start talking about four-legged creatures, Grams leans in. Until a few years ago, her house was more sanctuary than home—a revolving door of rescues and strays that made my heart feel full.

It was my kind of chaos.

“I miss not having some cuddly little creatures around,” she sighs.

“Hey, don’t give up on that dream yet.” I reach across the table, covering her delicate hand with mine. “I’m going to buy a house one day and you’re going to come live with me. Then we can have all the pets we want and no one can stop us.”

Those familiar blue eyes—the only part of her that time hasn’t touched—study me with a mixture of love and resignation. “Sweetheart, you don’t want to live with an old woman.”

“Who’s old?” I make a show of looking around, hand shielding my eyes as I squint into the middle distance. “I don’t see an old woman at this table. It’s just the two of us—hot, young women ready to embark on the next phase of their lives.”

My phone chimes and my heart does a pathetic little flutter. I dig my nails into my palm to keep from checking it.

Grams chuckles. “You’re sweet, but I’m certifiably ancient now. I don’t want you planning your life around me. An old folks’ home is where I belong.”

I glance around the dining area of Legacy Retirement Village. Faux windows are painted on the beige walls, complete with painted birds sitting on the sills and fluffy white clouds floating by. It’s nice, but Grams deserves more than fake views and over-whipped mashed potatoes for dinner.

It’s a struggle to keep the smile on my face, but I manage.

Barely.

“You belong with me. You belong with family. This place is fine for the time being, but don’t get too comfortable. I’m gonna bust you outta here in the very near future.”

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