Page 121 of Bride By Coronation

Matteo gives her an approving nod. "Absolutely. I'll tell the chef. Should I have him select some sides for it? Or do you want to specify?"

"Please have him pick," she directs.

"Very good. And for you, sir?" He turns toward me.

"Same. Except I'll have vodka in my mimosa. And bring two Russian Breakfasts, please," I order.

Amusement fills Fiona's expression. "Don't you mean you want a screwdriver?"

I grunt. "No. Screwdrivers are for pussies who can't handle vodka. A Russian brunch has it in the mimosa, along with the champagne and orange juice."

She wrinkles her forehead, murmuring, "Vodka in a mimosa?"

"Yep."

She shrugs, beams at Matteo, and declares, "I'll try mine that way."

"Okay. I'll be back soon," he asserts, then disappears.

My wife leans closer, asking, "What's a Russian Breakfast?"

"Shots."

She arches her eyebrows, slides her hand over my thigh, and questions, "Are you trying to get me drunk and take advantage of me?"

The claw in my stomach scrapes my insides. The night of my eighteenth birthday, when my father made the new women they kidnapped drink to "loosen them up," flashes before me. I bark, "No. I would never do that to you. Real men don't take advantage of women."

Fiona flinches, her smile fading. "I was just kidding."

"Oh," I say, feeling foolish, and cursing myself for letting the ghosts of my past interfere in my current life.

19

Fiona

"Mmm," I moan, taking the last bite of the branzino.

Amusement sparks on Kirill's face. "Glad you like it. The crew does a great job catching it when we're here."

"It's amazing how you can taste the difference when fish is fresh," I add, then finish my vodka-laced mimosa.

Matteo appears with another round of Russian Breakfast shots. He sets them on the table and then refills our mimosas. He asks, "Can I get anything else for you?"

"I'm good," I answer.

"Me, too," Kirill says.

Matteo nods. "Very good. I'll check on you in a little while." He disappears off the deck.

Kirill grabs my hand, pulls it to his lips, and kisses it, then declares, "I know a fabulous restaurant in Lisbon. What do you think about having dinner there?"

I beam with excitement. "That sounds awesome. I haven't been to Lisbon yet."

"Never?"

"No. I went to the Algarve once, though."

"Lisbon is a busy city. It's different, but you'll love it. There's a lot of art there. If you want, we can spend the night and sightsee tomorrow."

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