Page 95 of Gloves Off

“I forgot that was in there,” she says quietly.

“He was married?”

“Just engaged.” She watches me with concern. “You didn’t know.”

The sharp ache of rejection moves up my throat. I don’t know why I care. I know this isn’t real.

“It wasn’t serious,” Maria says, and I give her a look of disbelief, gesturing at the wedding invitation with a wry smile. She sighs. “It wasn’t like it is with you.”

A complete farce? A business agreement? I’ll bet it wasn’t.

“I kept it because I wasn’t sure if they would patch things up, and then I forgot about it.” She looks sad for a moment before she smiles at me gently. “Georgia, he’s so different with you. This was years ago.”

“What happened with them?” I don’t know why I’m even asking. I don’t care. I don’t want to know.

She hums, pressing her lips together. “That’s for Alexei to tell you.”

I’d rather die than ask him about it. Instead, I give her a tight smile, close the photo album, and change the subject, asking Maria about her florist shop, what her favorite flowers are, keeping her talking until Nikita arrives to pick her up. He comes to the door to say hello, asks me how my car’s doing, and when they leave, I thank her for coming over and give them both a hug goodbye.

The entire time, my mind flits back and forth to that wedding invitation, and my reaction. Our marriage is a business agreement. That kiss at the airport was for show, and it was a way for him toget on my nerves and get back at me for the stuff in the hotel room. Us messing around at the benefit was a power thing for him, because I made him jealous.

None of it’s real, and yet I’m concerned at the sharp, ugly sting in my chest at the idea of him marrying someone else.

CHAPTER 46

GEORGIA

There will bea grocery delivery tomorrow morning,Alexei texts while I sit in my car after soccer, waiting for the tow truck and watching highlights from his game on my phone.Svetta will take care of it.

I respond with a thumbs-up.

He had been engaged. Was he heartbroken? Does he still think about her?

I left the window open in my gym. Can you close it?A moment later,Please.

I’ll check when I get home.

Home? You’re still at soccer practice?

Outside, sitting in my car.

The typing dots appear, disappear, and reappear.And why are you sitting in your car, Doctor?

I can hear the disapproval in his voice across the continent. I shouldn’t say anything, it’s just going to rile him up.

I kind of like riling him up, though.

Doctor.

I press my lips together. I can hear the tone, imagine the deep, exasperated breath he’s taking and the way he’s rubbing the bridge of his nose.

Do not tell me that fucking car broke down again.

Okay. I won’t.

Lock your doors, and share your location with me. Right now.

Controlling,I text back.

---