Page 3 of Viktor

“Uh-huh,” Dimitri muttered. “This is some runny shit.”

Exactly why he’d bypassed the eggs himself.

“It’s free. What do you expect?” Sara’s voice was as soft and musical as her daughter’s. He’d bet good money it deepened to something wild and sultry when she was in the throes of a passion, and it was guaranteed to set him on fire.No, what are you thinking? She is the client. No business with pleasure, he reminded himself and took Delia to the table where he’d plopped his own plate.

“Where’s Becca?” Sara sat across from him, her yogurt in hand.

“She’s still asleep. After last night, I figured she could use the rest.”

The fuck? Last night? His brother didn’t…

“Last night? Tell me you aren’t screwing up the one female relationship you have that we all approve of.”

“No, I’m not screwing it up.” Dimitri took a drink of his juice. “I’m talking about Charlene and her bullsh…her BS.”

“What’s BS?” Delia stopped eating and stared at them all curiously.

“Nothing you need to worry about, poppet.” Sara Jane shot them both a warning glare. “Finish your waffles.”

He and Dimitri shared a look, both remembering their own mother when someone said something they shouldn’t have around her boys. His mother would like Sara Jane, he decided. While she wasn’t Viktor’s usual type, he had to admit she was striking. Her brown hair looked blonde in the sunlight that poured in through the windows, despite the darker shade of its natural color. The steel in her expression matched the steel gray of her eyes.

From what Dimitri told him, Sara was a fighter, but then she had to be if she walked away from her husband. It took a strong woman to do that. Even fighters needed help sometimes, though. He’d be her protection blanket for a while and hopefully get her ex tossed in jail sooner rather than later. She and her daughter deserved a break.

“What has your stalker done now?” He saw Delia trying to mop up non-existent syrup with a waffle, and he poured his leftover syrup on hers. She grinned and dug in. Kids. It didn’t take much to make them happy.

“She’s not only spewing her hateful verbiage at me, now she’s targeted Becca.”

Viktor’s lip thinned. He knew Becca from high school. She was a sweetheart and didn’t deserve what was being handed to her. He’d speak to their younger brother Mason, the self-proclaimed hacker, about shutting her down if Dimitri hadn’t already.

“I saw all that on her page last night.” Sara’s eyes met Viktor’s, and she quickly looked away. Viktor’s lips twitched. She was trying not to stare and failing miserably. She wanted him and was fighting to not show it. He kept his own feelings locked up tight. He knew exactly what she’d left behind her, and him hitting on her, client or no client, wasn’t cool. She needed him to protect her, not fuck her.

Not that he’d mind, but it was off the menu. For now.

“It upset her to the point she had a major panic attack.” Dimitri put his fork down. “I need to tell you both about that. Viktor, you know how Lily has a thing about being touched?”

Did he ever. She’d nearly had a meltdown when he’d tried to hug her right before Christmas. He thought for sure she was going to pass out at one point.

“Becca has an extreme fear of crowds. It sets off panic attacks. Really bad ones.”

“Then what is she doing here?” Sara Jane asked.

“Because I asked her, not realizing how bad they could get. She came because I needed her.”

“Dimitri.” The censure in Sara’s voice made Dimitri hang his head, ashamed. “You shouldn’t have put her in that situation. Delia’s the same way around strangers.”

Now, that surprised Viktor. She was a little shy, but he saw no signs of anxiety or panic in the child. “She’s doing okay with us.” He winked at the kid, and she giggled, a dollop of whipped cream at the corner of her mouth.

“That’s because I prepared her to meet you. I’ve been talking about you since yesterday to calm her nerves, and she’s heard me and Dimitri talking on the phone and Skype. He’s not as much of a stranger as you are.”

“I’m not taking her to the signing, anyway, not after her meltdown last night. I’m not putting her through that. As soon as the event is over, we’re packing up and heading to LA.”

This was news. “She’s going to LA with you?”

“Yes. I booked train tickets this morning. You wouldn’t happen to need a vehicle, would you? I don’t know what to do with my Jeep.”

“I rented a car, but if you want to give me yours, I’ll take it.” That would be easier than running up credit card bills paying for rentals. He turned his attention to Sara Jane, who blushed like a schoolgirl. The blush sent a warm feeling coursing through him. Ignoring his feelings, he turned to the task at hand. “We will need to sit down after your event and go over everything. I just wanted to meet you this morning. Anything that’s private,” he nodded toward Delia, “we can discuss then.”

“Thank you for doing this.” Sara pushed her food around on the plate. “I appreciate it. I’m at my wits’ end, and the stress is starting to get to me.”

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