Page 179 of Dirty Grovel

“Richard is no more suitable for this family than Sutton is,” she admits. “But he makes me happy. Just like Sutton makes you happy.” She suppresses a smile when she sees my jaw drop. “You know, in a roundabout way, you and Sutton inspired me to take things with Richard to the next level. I was keeping things casual until I saw what a real, committed relationship looked like. I suppose I wanted that for myself, too.”

I narrow my eyes at her. “Okay, who are you and what have you done to my mother?”

“I was wrong about Sutton,” she continues, turning towards my ethereal fairy princess of a fiancé. “She has far more grit than I gave her credit for.”

“You would have seen that if you gave her a chance.”

“Between sex tapes and boudoir shoots, that was hard to do.” She holds up her hands the moment I turn my scowl on her. “I’m not holding any of it against her. At least, not anymore.”

“Because of—” I incline my head towards Richard. “—that guy.”

“No. Because ofyou,” she explains. “I can see how happy she makes you. How focused and fierce. The way you handled the Martineks. The way you handled the board after Boris’s death… I couldn’t have done it better myself.”

My throat actually feels a little tight. “High praise coming from you.”

“Perhaps this new baby can symbolize a new beginning, for all of us.”

“That’s a lot of pressure to put on an unborn child.”

She smiles. “If anyone’s child can take it, it’s yours and Suttons.”

“How did she manage to win you over so completely?” I ask shrewdly, knowing that this change didn’t happen overnight.

“I saw how she took care of her sister,” Oksana says. “Setting her up with a job, going to therapy with her, nurturing and caring for her. She’s going to make an amazing mother.”

“Without a doubt,” I agree proudly.

“She also asked for my help in redecorating parts of the house. We’ve been working together over the last few weeks. She has a good eye.”

“I’m glad you two are getting along.”

“She had every reason to ice me out and keep me from you and my grandchild. But she chose the high road,” Oksana says. “She chose to forgive rather than hold a grudge. I can admit, it’s not something I would have been able to do.”

Both of us whirl around at the steady clinking of steel on glass. Sydney is standing at the center of the bow, tapping a knife against a champagne flute.

“That’s right, that’s right.” She beams with rosy-cheeked pride. “It’s that time of the party. Speech time.”

She makes meaningful eye contact with me over the crowd and nods. Sutton is standing off to the side, her forehead creasing with a frown as she notices the look Sydney passes to me.

Her eyes find mine and we walk to one another, meeting in the middle.

“Oleg,” she murmurs, “please don’t tell me you’ve arranged for some elaborate gift to give me now. Because I really don’t need anything. This baby shower is gift enough.”

I kiss her on the lips. “We’re just giving speeches now, princess.”

“I’d like to thank everyone for joining us today,” Sydney starts off. “For those of you who don’t know, I’m Sydney, the sister of the baby mama and bride. And yes, she is still a bride because, despite Oleg’s best efforts, he still hasn’t managed to seal the deal and get hitched.”

Artem lets out a loud wolf whistle.

“But whenever they do get married, I’ll be there, front and center, ready to celebrate with both of them. And that’s saying something, because I’m not someone who believes in marriage. But I do believe in Sutton and Oleg. Theirs is a modern-day love story, a real-life fairy tale. And thanks to them, I have hope for myself.” She raises her glass. “So, join me in toasting to the couple of the hour, my baby sister and her handsome groom-to-be—Sutton and Oleg!”

The crowd booms with applause and cheers. Everyone takes a sip of the Dom Perignon that’s being poured around. Then Sydney gives me a wink.

Sutton clenches my hand. “Something is going on…”

Ignoring her, I put my palm on her waist and loop her against me a little tighter. “I just want to say a quick few words before we continue the festivities,” I start as Sutton’s suspicious glare burns a hole into the side of my face. “Everyone knows our wedding plans have had their fair share of false starts.”

The crowd titters with amused laughter.

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