Page 15 of Bloody Lace

“No,” I say coolly, and I see that flicker of disappointment again. “Those were my terms.”

“Good.” Dimitri takes another sip, sitting up straighter. “Then I have one condition of my own.”

I tense instantly. I have no idea what it could be, but I’m instantly on guard, and I know he can see it. He chuckles, clearly enjoying my discomfiture. “What’s that?”

“I want to spend some time with you before the wedding. We should get to know each other better. I need to take care of some incidental details tomorrow, but the night after—I’ll take you to dinner?”

My immediate response is to say that I’m busy, but I remember, with a drop in my stomach, that I’m actually not. Other than contacting my clients and letting them know about the situation, and starting to deal with any refunds that will beneeded—I don’t actually have anything to do. For the first time in years, my schedule is empty, and it doesn’t feel as good to have the time off as I would have thought.

“If it’s a marriage of convenience, then we don’t need to know each other well.” I settle for that, instead, hoping that it’s convincing enough. “There’s no need to ‘date’ each other. This is a business arrangement.”

“I like to know my business partners,” Dimitri says smoothly, his smile quirking up on one side.

“Do you take them all out to dinner?”

“Sometimes, yes. The company will be much better this time.”

“How do you know that?” I frown at him. “You don’t even know me. This is the third time we’ve met.”

“You’re only making my point.” He grins at me, and I struggle not to toss what remains of my wine at him.

“You’re insufferable.”

Dimitri shrugs. “You did tell me when we first met that you had poor judgement when it came to men.”

“Oh, my—” I grit my teeth. “Fine. Dinner night after next. We can go to L’Riche.”

Dimitri chuckles. “You have good taste. I haven’t actually been there yet—I hear it’s good. One of the top new restaurants that’s just opened. I might not even be able to get us a reservation.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Aren’t you the heir to the Bratva?”

“ABratva family, yes.” Dimitri smirks. “You have a lot to learn about how all of that works. I’ll explain over dinner.”

“I’ll bring a notebook.”

We look at each other over the table, my heart suddenly pounding in my chest all over again.I’m really doing this, I realize, a mixture of dread and anticipatory adrenaline floodingme, like what I imagine bungee-jumping off of a bridge must feel like. Like it might be thrilling, or I might be leaping to my death.

I clear my throat, draining the last gulp of my wine before standing up. Dimitri stands as well, and he’s suddenly in my space, that scent of juniper clouding my senses.

“In writing,” I croak. “I mean it.”

He looks down at me, his blue eyes never leaving mine. “I’ll call my lawyers tomorrow.”

I nod, suddenly speechless. And then, before I can do something stupid like let this man kiss me, I pivot on my heel and all but flee the Copper Pot, out into the freshly fallen snow.

6

DIMITRI

Idon’t think I’ve ever met a woman who is more entrancing and infuriating, all at once, in equal measure.

This is a bad idea.I knew it when I suggested it last night, and I know it now, as I sink back down into my chair and watch Evelyn flag down a taxi. I should have offered to call her an Uber, but something tells me she wouldn’t have let me. She’s independent to a fault, and I know it’s going to cause me trouble.

A lot of things about her are going to cause me trouble. Not the least of which is how desirable I find her, combined with her insistence that there will be no sexual aspect to our marriage, at all.

I hadn’t expected that. My own arrogance, I suppose, assuming that no woman would have the chance to fuck me and turn it down. It was a blow to my ego, that’s for certain—I can still feel the sting. But worse than that is the fact that I have no earthly idea how I’m going to marry Evelyn Ashburn, and keep my hands off of her.

It’s better than marrying Nicci, isn’t it?

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