Page 15 of Mafia Pregnancy

Radmir tilts his head, studying me. “Why?”

“Because it changes the dynamic and makes me dependent instead of just employed.”

He studies my face with an intensity that makes me fidget with the polishing cloth. “And you prefer independence.”

I lift my chin. “I prefer not owing anyone anything I can’t repay with work.”

“Admirable, though unnecessarily difficult given your circumstances.”

My jaw tightens. “My circumstances are my responsibility.”

“Are they?” He moves closer, circling the table slowly. “What if those circumstances were created by choices someone else made?”

The question catches me off guard. “I don’t know what you mean.”

He stops directly across from me, the polished table the only barrier between us. “Don’t you? Four years ago, someone made a choice that affected your life in ways you couldn’t have anticipated.”

My breath catches. We’re venturing into dangerous territory, acknowledging the connection we’ve both been pretending doesn’t exist. I busy myself with the polishing cloth. “I should focus on the table setting.”

“The table can wait a moment.” He moves around to my side, close enough that I can smell his cologne. “We need to address what’s happening here.”

I keep my eyes down. “Nothing’s happening here. I’m doing my job.”

“Are you? Because it seems like you’re avoiding looking at me. Avoiding acknowledging who I am.”

I finally look up at him. “I know who you are. You’re Mr. Vetrov, my employer.”

His eyes narrow slightly. “Try again.”

The challenge in his voice makes my pulse race. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

He steps closer. “I want you to say my name. My real name.”

The word comes out breathless, loaded with four years of suppressed emotion. “Radmir.”

“Better. Now tell me you don’t remember.”

I swallow hard. “Remember what?”

“ The hotel room in the Gaslamp Quarter, or the way you challenged me about wine selection and made me forget every rule I’d set for myself.”

The careful control I’ve maintained finally cracks. “You mean when you lied to me about your name and disappeared without explanation?”

He moves another step closer. “When I tried to protect you from getting involved with a man who could destroy your life.”

I laugh, but there’s no humor in it. “Protect me? You think abandoning me was protection?”

“I think giving you my real name would have been cruel.”

My voice rises slightly. “Crueler than waking up alone wondering if I’d imagined the entire night?”

He reaches out slowly and touches my face with fingertips that feel exactly like I remember. “Yes. After that night, you would have wanted more than I could give you.”

I should pull away from his touch and remember that his business guests are arriving in less than two hours. Instead, I close my eyes and lean into his palm for just a moment before jerking back. “Your guests will be here soon.”

He doesn’t step back. “They will.”

“I need to finish preparing the dining room.”

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