Page 208 of Night's Fall
“I’d say you have a fair bit more to get used to in a life with me thanIdo having you in my life.”
This was true.
Even so.
“But on the whole, no.Ithasn’t always been about you,” he finished.
That was being kind.
I mean,Ididn’t even know he owned theSpireand had his office there.
“You’re pretty fascinating,Aleksei.”Iindicated the room with a sweep of my arm. “I’vebeen missing out.”
“Most people think whatIdo is tremendously boring.They’reonly interested in the amount of moneyImake doing it.”
“Well…”Isaid no more butIdid make a show of taking in his incredible office, something his money bought him.
He chuckled.
I walked to him, tossed my clutch on his desk and rested my hands to his chest, my weight into them, as he curled his long fingers around my hips.
“I’m duly impressed,”Isaid.
“I hope so,” he replied.
“I get a kick, learning about you,”Ishared.
His sky-blue eyes warmed. “Ihope so with that too.”
“Beware,I’mintent to do more of it,”Itold him.
“Consider me warned.”
“I’m crazy nervous,”Iadmitted, abruptly changing the conversation (yes, back to me, gah!).
“You look beautiful.Youroutfit is perfect.You’llbe fantastic.”
I took in a big breath and asked whatIhad to ask, but didn’t want to ask, and further, didn’t want to care about the answer.
“Any news?”
Now his expression grew understanding and he gave me a squeeze. “No, love.Yourfather’s units are in a queue.Idon’t want to give your mother any ammunition to fire at us, so we’re doing this by the book, andIcan’t pull any favors to jump that queue to give you quicker answers.Wewon’t know for a couple of weeks if he’s committed a crime.”
I nodded.
He placed a hand on my jaw and stroked my cheekbone with his thumb.
“There’s still time to change your mind about the content of the interview,” he said.
I shook my head. “No,I’mdetermined.Ithink this might be the perfect bent to whatGermainecalls my ‘brand within a brand.’”
“You don’t have to make your life about being abused,Laura,”Alekseistated firmly.
“IfIdo, thenImight be able to make something good come of it.Right?”
“Right,” he whispered on another stroke of his thumb.
“I was late arriving.Weshould go.Areyou ready?”Iasked.ThenIteased, “Andon the way to thePalace,Iwant to hear about whose brilliant idea it was to make that tablet hover.”
