Page 73 of Shining Through

She made a face that was too damn cute and sat up in bed pulling the sheet over her beautiful, naked breasts. “They’d better not. I’ll be there tonight to cheer you on. And counting the minutes until afterward.”

“America’s Sweetheart rooting for Team Russia? Could be controversial.”

She grinned at his teasing. “I’ll root quietly. Until tonight, then?”

He kissed her once more. “Until tonight.”

The city was still quiet as he walked the short distance back to the Village, smiling a goofy-ass smile at everyone he passed. The lightness in his step was such a contrast to how he’d felt even just twelve hours ago.

He bought a cup of coffee and admired the sunrise and the steep hillside where the torch flickered. Maybe he and Tabitha could ride up there in one of the pod-shaped cable cars that traveled above the river. They could look out over the city at the Alps.

It would be the perfect place to ask her to marry him.

Yes. He would do it on the final Sunday, after her competitions were over. That way, she’d know that win or lose whatever life held afterward, she could count on his love.

His goofy-ass smile grew even larger.

The Village was still quiet. Many of the athletes had celebrated late into the night and most of today’s competitions didn’t begin until close to noon. He expected Ruslan would wonder where he’d been. He and Gregor would assume he’d hooked up with one of the hot Slovakian skiers who’d been so friendly at the Opening Ceremony. Of course Daniil’s days of hooking up were over, and he didn’t regret it one bit.

Back at Russia House, he took the stairs two at a time, to his room on the second floor. There was time for a shower and breakfast before he met Anton and Ilya at the practice rink. He walked in, to find Ruslan awake and Gregor there, too.

“Where have you been?” Ruslan asked.

“Why?” He wouldn’t say he’d been with Tabitha right after he’d promised to keep their relationship quiet.

“The police were here, looking for you. They want to talk with you.”

Fear knotted in his stomach. “About what?”

“They wouldn’t say. But they asked three times where you were last night after the Opening Ceremony.”

“We told them we didn’t know,” Gregor said.

Before Daniil could say anything else, someone pounded on the door. The three exchanged glances, and Daniil went to answer. A Russian team official and a cop waited in the hall. The official looked grim. “Daniil Nikolaevich. Please come with us.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

ALONE IN HER ROOM, TABITHArolled over in the soft bed that still smelled like Daniil. And sex. An intoxicating bouquet if there ever was one. She hugged the pillow he’d slept on, and though she wished he could have stayed, knowing they would be together again tonight—-and every night from now on— made her heart sing.

After all the sadness, separation and silence, they’d found their way back to one another. They loved and understood each other. He’d broken ties with his father and had found new direction in his life and his skating. They were both at the Games to win.

He was also willing to wait until she was ready before they made their relationship public. It gave her a chance to break the news to Brett, and the fewer distractions the better. But once the Games and skating were over, she and Daniil would be free to be together.

She went to the shower, enjoying a rare leisurely day. The only thing scheduled was an afternoon practice, and tonight’s team event short program. Her first event, the team ladies’ free skate wasn’t until tomorrow night. She had time to go watch the preliminary skiing, or maybe a hockey game.

Over room service breakfast she considered the possibilities. She was just finishing her fruit salad when someone knocked on her door. Could Daniil have finished with his practice early?

She pulled on a robe and went to answer. Brett and Sergei stood outside her door. Neither was smiling.

“We need to talk to you,” Brett said, as she let them in. His serious expression raised an inkling of fear. This had to be about Peter. Her thoughts swirled in a maelstrom of worst-case scenarios. “Daniil’s in trouble and we think he’s been arrested.”

“What?” She sank down onto the unmade bed. “Why?”

Brett pulled up a chair in front of her and rested his elbows on his knees. “Last night, Sergei and I went to a party in town, over near the university. The apartment is next to a bar and around midnight, some thugs on the street harassed guys at the bar and at the party. Our friend Roberto got into a fight with one of them and ended up in the hospital.”

Tabitha still wasn’t clear what this had to do with Daniil.

“The guy who attacked Roberto spoke Russian,” said Sergei. “And wore a black leather jacket.”

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