Page 4 of Rebellion

“You’ve been busy?”

She was trying to act casual but wasn’t sure she successfully pulled it off. The fact was that she’d absolutely noticed that he hadn’t been around much lately. If he had been, it was after the restaurant closed and she’d gone home.

And she’d missed him.

It wasn’t healthy. She really needed to push him out of her mind, but she couldn’t stop herself from thinking about him.

“Yeah,” he said tiredly. “What about you, lass? You’ve been busy?”

“A lot has happened,” she replied.

Colm leaned back in his chair and wiped his mouth with his napkin. Jeez, that really shouldn’t be sexy.

But it was.

What was wrong with her?

“Sofia, I was wondering if you’d like to?—”

“Ahh, there you are,Kulkolka,” the voice said from behind her.

Shit. Fuck.

Why did he have to turn up now? What had Colm been about to say?

Had he been going to ask her out?

That would be just her rotten luck to get the one thing she’d wanted since she’d met him.

“Kulkolka?” Colm repeated as Oleg’s wrapped his arm around her waist, pushing her into him.

Sofia had to fight hard to keep the revulsion and fear off her face. Oleg smelled like garlic and onions, and while she liked both of those things, his scent was fast turning her stomach.

God, she hated him.

“It mean,little doll,” Oleg said gleefully in his broken English. “Isn’t she beautiful? Just like doll.”

She hated that nickname and Oleg knew that. Sofia knew she had to be careful to hide her true thoughts and feelings around Oleg, though.

“Don’t think we met,” Oleg said in that slimy voice that had vomit rising into her throat. “I am Oleg, Sofia’s boyfriend.”

God.

It was horrifying hearing him call himself that. Her stomach rolled and she had to swallow hastily, worried she would actually vomit.

You have to do better than this, Sofia.

“Boyfriend?” A look of shock filled Colm’s face before it disappeared just as quickly, and he appeared only mildly interested.

Oleg squeezed her side when she didn’t say anything.

Play your part, Sofia.

“Sorry. Yes, this is Oleg. My boyfriend. He moved here from Russia a few months ago. It’s . . . new, but we’re very happy.”

“You look it.”

She couldn’t tell if Colm was being sarcastic or not. She certainly didn’t feel the slightest bit happy.

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