Page 33 of Plus-Size Bratva Bride

"I think it's time we call it a night," I announced, extending my hand to Pippa. "Let me show you to your room."

She hesitated for a moment, her green eyes searching mine before she placed her soft hand in my calloused one. The simple touch sent a jolt through me, and I had to resist the urge to pull her closer.

"Thank you all for a lovely evening," Pippa said, her voice warm as she addressed my family. "It's been… unexpected, but wonderful. You truly should have let me help you clear up.”

“Nonsense!” Adley said and rose to kiss her on the cheek.

We said our goodnights, and I led Pippa out of the dining room, hyper-aware of her presence beside me as we climbed the stairs. The silence between us crackled with unspoken words and lingering glances.

"You surprised me tonight," I admitted as we reached the landing. "I've never seen anyone win over the Ustinovs so quickly."

Pippa's lips quirked into a small smile. "Is that a compliment, Abe? I didn't think you were capable of those."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Don't get used to it, princess. I have a reputation to maintain."

We reached her door, and I found myself reluctant to let her go. My hand hovered near the small of her back, not quite touching but close enough to feel the heat radiating from her body.

"Well," Pippa said softly, her hand on the doorknob. "I suppose this is goodnight."

I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to invite her to my room. The need to have her close warred with my respect for her boundaries. "Sleep well, Pippa," I managed, my voice rougher than I intended. "If you need anything… I'm just down the hall."

Her eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of yearning in their depths. But then she nodded, slipping into her room with a quiet "Goodnight, Abe."

As the door clicked shut, I leaned against the wall, running a hand through my hair. What the hell was happening to me? This woman had me tied in knots

I pushed off the wall, my mind reeling as I walked down the dimly lit hallway. The evening replayed in my head like a film reel, each frame focused on Pippa—her shy smile as she entered the drawing room, the way her eyes lit up when she laughed at Emory's jokes, how natural she looked hugging one of the toddlers.

Fuck. When had she become so important to me? I'd tried to keep her at arm's length, but somehow she'd wormed her way under my skin. She stirred something in me I'd long thought dormant, and I didn’t yet have a word for it.

I was so lost in thought that I nearly collided with Vlad as I rounded the corner.

"Whoa there, Brother," he said, steadying me with a hand on my arm. His eyes narrowed as he took in my expression. "You look like you've seen a ghost. Everything alright?"

I grunted, trying to brush past him. "Fine. Just tired."

Vlad wasn't having it. He blocked my path, arms crossed over his chest. "Bullshit. This is about Pippa, isn't it?"

I tensed, my fists clenching at my sides. "What about her?"

"Come on, Abe," Vlad said, his voice softening. "I saw how you looked at her during dinner. What are your intentions with her?"

"My intentions?" I scoffed, but even to my own ears, it sounded weak. "She's just—"

"Just what?" Vlad pressed. "Because from where I'm standing, she's not 'just' anything to you anymore. You said you wanted to protect her? We have men capable of doing that. Hell, the Vadims could have her under watch every second of every day. It’s more than that, isn’t it?"

I ran a hand over my face, suddenly feeling every one of my forty-six years. "I don't know, alright? She's… different.”

“Different?” He cocked a curious eyebrow in my direction.

I leaned against the wall, the cool surface grounding me as I struggled to find the right words. "She's not like anyone I've ever met," I admitted, my voice low. "She challenges me, calls me on my bullshit. And yet…"

Vlad raised an eyebrow. "And yet?"

"And yet she's got this softness to her. The way she was with the kids earlier…" I trailed off, remembering how Pippa'sgreen eyes had lit up, her laughter mingling with the children's squeals. "It does something to me, seeing that side of her."

My brother's expression softened. "Sounds like you're in deep, Abe."

"Maybe I am," I conceded, surprising myself with the admission. "But she deserves better than me. I'm not exactly relationship material."

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