Page 6 of Viktor

“Is Nana’s baby hungry?”

“Uh huh.” Delia shifted impatiently from foot to foot. “Mama said we could order in. I want pizza!”

“You always want pizza.” Sara ruffled her daughter’s bangs. The French braid from this morning was still holding up. “How are you feeling, Mom?”

“I’m fine, sweetheart.” Sue Anne brushed it off. “So, we’re not going out to eat?”

“Not after the day I’ve had.” She sent Delia back to her coloring books and told her about the signing and then the whole crazy ex situation. “Seems I’m not the only one with a violent ex.”

Sue Anne shook her head sadly. “What is wrong with people?”

“Your guess is as good as mine, Mom.”

The knock at the door startled all three. They stood there for a moment, a mixture of fear and trepidation holding them still. It was Sara who finally shook herself free and strode over to the door, looking out the peephole. If it was Roger, she’d call hotel security.

Much to her chagrin, Viktor Kincaid stood waiting outside the door. He looked even hotter than he had this morning, if that was possible. Viktor was dark and broody, his Russian accent thick, and those black eyes of his set all her girly parts tingling. He’d inspired a few fantasies since they’d met, but his overbearing attitude tended to cool her raging lust. She’d had enough men in her life telling her what to do, thank you very much.

If it weren’t for Delia, she’d tell him to fuck off. Dimitri assured her his brother was one of the best in the business, and what he did wasn’t meant to demean, but to protect them. Didn’t make it any easier to accept, though.

She unlocked the door and opened it, forgetting she had on a ratty tank top and her bunny pajama bottoms. Only when Viktor’s mouth tilted into a smirk did she remember. Looking down, she gasped and almost shut the door in his face, but Delia’s squeal of delight stopped her.

The six-year-old came barreling at Viktor, who caught her and twirled her around. She and her mother both gaped. He was a Delia whisperer.

“Hello,malyshka.”

The accent was thicker than she remembered, but it sent a shiver down her spine all the same. Her mother’s quick intake of breath wasn’t missed when Viktor came into the room, Delia swinging off his arm like a little monkey. Sue Anne’s eyes widened, and she took a step back.

Viktor was a big man, his face hard despite the softness of his expression when he grinned down at Delia, who babbled about pizza. Dimitri said he tended to scare kids, but not hers. At least not after his promise. Why Delia accepted it as gospel, she didn’t know, but the child did.

It seemed he frightened her mother, though. Not that she could blame her. Despite the lust currently trying to overtake every cell in her body, she could admit Viktor was a scary man. She shook her head. Best to get the whole lust idea out of her head. She was not going to jump from a failed marriage where she was demeaned into a rebound fling. She needed to focus on her daughter and helping them both heal.

“Mom, this is Viktor Kincaid. He’s the personal security I told you about.” She finally found her voice and skirted around Viktor. “This is my mother, Sue Anne Grafton.”

“Ma’am.” Viktor tipped his head toward her mother and swung Delia around again, the child squealing with delight. “Mrs. Riley, I thought you and I could go discuss your situation more fully now that your signing is done for the day.”

“I, ah…well, we were just about to order pizza and…”

Her mother finally found her voice. “I can do that, Sara Jane. You and Viktor go talk about the things you need to. Delia and I will be fine here.”

Sara glanced at her mother. She didn’t look nearly as frightened as before, but who could really be afraid of a man swinging a child and making silly faces at her every time she swung upward?

“If you’ll excuse me, I need to get dressed.” Sara didn’t miss the glint of amusement in Viktor’s eyes when she grabbed the clothes she’d discarded and fled to the bathroom. It was a relief to hide out for a second and regain some composure.

She’d bet all the Kincaid men were gorgeous, judging by Viktor and his brother. If she remembered correctly, Dimitri said he had five brothers. Sweet Lord, she pitied the women whose hearts they’d broken. And she had no doubts they’d broken hearts. She’d talked to Dimitri about his manwhoring ways, and he’d assured her he wasn’t the only one. His brothers felt the same. They made no commitments, just had good old-fashioned fun.

Until he’d realized he loved Becca, something Sara had known for over a year. She was glad the two of them finally figured out they were meant for each other. Thinking of Becca made her wonder why Viktor was here instead of at the hospital with his brother and Becca. Surely, that was more important than babysitting her for the night. Roger wasn’t even in town.

Splashing cool water on her very heated face, she took several deep breaths then brushed her teeth. She couldn’t abandon her mother out there forever. Hopping on one foot, she yanked on her jeans then hastily pulled on the same green blouse she’d worn to the signing. Giving her hair a quick brush, she piled it up into a messy bun, using the hair scrunchie she’d left on the sink last night.

When she finally stopped procrastinating, she opened the door and walked back into the room. Delia had settled herself on the bed, her mother retreating to the opposite end of the room from where Viktor lounged against the window frame, looking out over the view of the city.

Viktor felt her come back into the room. It was the strangest feeling. He’d never been so aware of a woman before. He’d often heard his father say he always knew when his mother walked into a room, but he’d dismissed it as his old man just being nostalgic. Now he understood the feeling. And it was a feeling he pushed down. His job was to protect this woman and her family, not get sidetracked by feelings he had no business entertaining.

But he did lust after her. Since he’d laid eyes on her that morning, all he could think about was getting her into bed. Those gray eyes of hers had almost knocked him on his ass. Sara could be his undoing without even trying.

He buried all that and put his game face on. Business and pleasure did not mix. That was how things slipped past you and people got hurt.

Viktor crossed his arms and turned to face her, aware of how intimidating his stance was. He knew she’d just come off an abusive relationship, but this was his own way of putting distance between them. The woman and her child needed stability and protection. That was what he was here for.

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