Page 111 of Dance of Devils
“Excellent,” he says. “I appreciate your time this morning, Mr. Nikolayev.”
I’m already halfway out the back door when I hang up, slipping the phone into my pocket.
“I thought you might have a sentimental attachment to it.”
She smiles as she turns to me. “Thank you,” she beams. “Really. I know Pearl is a wreck, but?—”
“Pearl?”
She grins and jerks a thumb at the old Accord. “The car.”
Looks like I was spot on with the sentiment attachment idea.
Then my brow furrows as I look at the old dance bag in her hands.
“What are you doing?”
“I have rehearsals,” she shrugs.
“You also have a brand-new Hermes bag upstairs in your room.”
Brooklyn’s lip catches between her teeth as she glances down and then back up at me. “It’sgorgeous…”
“But?”
She smiles wryly. “What am I supposed to say when my friends ask how I afforded a bag that costs a couple thousand dollars?”
My brow furrows. “The truth, maybe.”
Her face twists. “I…” She looks down.
“What is it,” I ask, stepping closer and lifting her face with a fingertip under her chin.Christ, it takes everything I've got not to kiss this woman every fucking time I touch her.
“This is going to sound terrible,” she says quietly. “And unappreciative, and like I'm such a bitch?—”
“You’re wondering what they’ll say if you tell them you’re living with me, accepting my gifts.”
She nods slowly.
“I'm sorry, that sounds awful?—”
“No, it sounds like reality,” I growl.
She’s right, and I’m pissed at myself that I didn’t even consider that angle.
“It’s just…” She sighs helplessly. “It'll look like I’m screwing the owner of the ballet for gifts, maybe special treatment…”
I arch a brow. “But you’renotscrewing the owner of the ballet.”
“I’m apparently not even allowed totouchhim,” she snaps, a clear edge in her tone that I don’t miss.
“I should have thought of that,” I frown. “The optics, I mean.”
She smiles sadly. “It’s agorgeousbag. I just…”
“Can’t bring it to work without people asking questions.”
She nods.
