Page 6 of King of Malice
I chastise myself and then step forward, holding out my hand in an attempt to recover myself. “Pleased to meet you in person, Dimitri.”
“And you, Ava,” he takes my hand, his easily twice the size of mine as his skin glides along my palm. It sends an absolute riot of sensation through my body, as I try to hold myself together.
I’m not equipped for this. I have no point of reference for an attraction this strong. Or really any attraction at all.
I try to make my brain work again as he keeps my hand in his, a small smile playing at his lips.
Can he tell how I feel? The way he’s affecting me? I try to shake it off even as his other hand comes to the outside of mine, my little hand completely engulfed in both of his. I resist the urge to fiddle with my hair as my cheeks heat.
But that’s when I notice. His hands…
They’re covered in sinister tattoos. I blink at them, trying to decide what they mean.
“Umm,” I say before I can stop myself, fumbling from both confusion and attraction. I don’t do this. I take situations head on with a professional demeanor that makes people forget I’m still too young to be head of a department, and I put them at ease. “I’m hoping to ask you a few questions to help get your search for a nanny started.”
“I look forward to answering them. Let’s have a seat in the living room. Can I get you something to drink?”
“I’m good, thank you.”
He finally lets go of my hand and leads the way past a stunning,top of the line, kitchen and into a large living room with oversized leather furniture.
Sure enough, in one corner is a baby grand piano. The kind I’ve only seen in hotel bars. The windows behind it offer a stunning view of the Las Vegas skyline.
He gestures for me to sit on one sofa as he takes a seat in the other across from me.
That’s when a little girl toddles in from the hallway that must lead to the back of the apartment. She looks to be about three, with her dark hair in a high ponytail and her big brown eyes the picture of innocence.
I give her a smile and a small wave. She doesn’t wave back. “Who dat?” She points at me, her lips pulling into a tiny little adorable frown.
Dimitri gets up and crosses the room to pick her up in his arms. “That is Ms. Tantor.”
“Ava,” I say, returning to standing. “I’m so happy to meet you…”
“Anastasia,” he fills in for me. “But I call her Anna.”
“And how old are you, Anna?”
She stares at me, ducking her head under Dimitri’s chin. “Tell Miss Ava how old you are,” he softly encourages. I like it. He’s encouraging independence without any sharp note of judgment.
“Free,” she answers, curling deeper into Dimitri.
“What a big girl,” I gush, my smile growing. “Is she your only child?”
“Yes.”
I clear my throat, this next question is always delicate. “Marital status?”
“Widowed.”
My mouth opens as I look at the two of them, my heart breaking for both of them. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
He gives a quick nod. “One of my aunts came from Russia and stayed for close to a year, but it was time for her to return home. I’ve tried two other agencies, but I’ve not had much luck finding the right nanny.”
I nod. “Despite being a temp agency, we have an excellent record of placing employees in permanent positions. I can provide you a short-term nanny only, while you search for a more a more permanent option, or I can help you find a person interested in temp to permanent.”
He gives a single jerk of his chin. “I need help now, but I’d like your help finding someone permanent. Thank you.”
“Not a problem.” I sit again, smoothing my pencil skirt, before pulling out the intake forms from my bag. I begin entering in the information I’ve already discovered as Dimitri takes a seat on the couch across from me.
