Page 25 of Triplet Babies
I laugh, though there’s no humor in the sound. “Fun? I worked a lot, tried to stay out of trouble, and saved money when I could.” I omit all details of my tumultuous relationship with Alex.
He seems perturbed by my answer. “That doesn’t sound like much of a life for a twenty-six-year-old woman.”
I set down my fork and meet his gaze directly. “Life doesn’t always leave room for fun.”
He nods as though in agreement. “What about now? What do you do when you’re not working?”
I think about my quiet evenings with Nina, our terrible reality TV marathons, and the simple pleasure of feeling safe in my own apartment. “I read, cook with my roommate, or go for walks when the weather’s nice.”
“Simple pleasures.”
“The best kind, I think.”
We talk through the main course, which turns out to be perfectly prepared salmon with vegetables that taste incredible. I relax despite my initial nervousness. Yarik is an excellent listener, asking thoughtful questions about my interests and opinions without prying into areas I clearly want to avoid. He tells me about books he’s read, places he’s traveled, and his thoughts on everything from art to politics.
It’s the first real conversation I’ve had in years with someone who’s genuinely interested in what I think rather than just waiting for his turn to talk. The wine and candlelight and his undivided attention combine to create a sense of intimacy that makes me forget why this is supposed to be inappropriate.
I say as Mrs. Nykova clears our plates and brings coffee and what looks like chocolate mousse, “You’re different tonight.”
“Different how?”
“Relaxed. Less...” I search for the right word while stirring cream into my coffee. “Less controlled, I suppose. Like you’re not performing for anyone.”
“I’m not. Right now, I’m just a man having dinner with a woman whose company I enjoy.”
I set down my coffee cup with a slight clink against the saucer. “You’re still my boss.”
“Not in this room. Not tonight.” He reaches across the table and covers my hand with his where it rests beside my dessert spoon. “Tonight, we’re just Yarik and Sarah.”
His fingers are warm against mine, and I don’t pull away even though I should. The contact sends electricity up my arm, and I have to concentrate on keeping my breathing steady. “What happens tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow, we go back to being professional, but tonight...”
“Tonight what?”
“Tonight, I’d like to kiss you again.”
The admission makes my breath catch in my throat. Heat spreads through my chest, and I feel my cheeks flush. “Yarik?—”
“I know all the reasons why it’s complicated. I know we work together, and I know about my engagement. I know this makes everything more difficult.” His thumb glides across my knuckles in a gentle, hypnotic rhythm. “None of that changes how I feel about you.”
I can’t resist asking, “How do you feel about me?” I should be pulling away, but I can’t without hearing his answer.
“Like I’m drowning, and you’re the only thing keeping me above water.”
The raw honesty in his voice makes my chest tight with emotion. “That’s not fair. You can’t say things like that.”
He looks slightly amused. “Why not? It’s the truth.”
I shake my head, trying to maintain some semblance of rationality. “It’s not that simple. You’re getting married?—”
“To a woman I don’t love, in an arrangement that has nothing to do with what I want.” His grip on my hand tightens slightly, not painful but insistent. “Sarah, look at me.”
I lift my gaze to meet his across the candlelit table, and the intensity I see there makes my heart race. His blue eyes are dark with something that looks like desperation and desire mixed together.
“I’ve never felt the way I feel about you for anyone else. Whatever this is between us, it’s real, and it’s not going away just because it’s inconvenient.” He sounds convinced and confident, as though nothing can change his mind.
I try to find my voice, but it comes out as a whisper. “It’s more than inconvenient. It’s impossible.”
