Page 40 of Surrogate for the Bratva
It was an excellent point. “It’s complicated.”
“So is life,” he shot back with a smile. “She’s making you work for it?”
“It’s not that and I don’t know what the fuck it is but the fact that I care is driving me crazy.” I don’t make time for women because I don’t have the time to give for games and emotions. And because as long as Voronov drew breath, any woman would be in danger. Like Maria.
“You didn’t ask for my advice, but I’d say that you should let it be her choice. Complicated or not, she’s with you because she wants to be.”
“Or because she’s lonely.”
Maxim laughed. “In a house filled with people.”
“Servants,” I shot back.
“Servants are people,” he clarified with another smile. “Focus on Voronov first then. Take him off the board and see if you still want her when there’s no danger.”
“I like it.” It meant I didn’t have to make a choice now and I still had time to see if April would be interested in taking care of my baby. “We will see.” As soon as we arrived at home, I made my way upstairs to see the woman who was starting to mean too much to me.
But when she smiled at me? I didn’t give a fuck about any of the reasons why we were a bad idea.
All I cared about was her.
Chapter Twenty-Three
April
Kelsie walked into the mansion with wide brown eyes and her red painted lips formed the perfect ‘O’ as she spun around in circle after circle as I led her to the kitchen. “Damn girl this place is amazing!”
I shrugged off her awe because while the place was beautiful it wasn’t mine. “It is.” There was nothing else to say at least from my perspective.
Kelsie, however, disagreed. “Oh come on girl, this place is stunning. High ceilings, fabulous countertops, and flooring. This is the stuff of dreams.” Her smile was wide and I wished I could give her the response she wanted but I just couldn’t.
“Your dreams, maybe.” I caught movement over Kelsie’s shoulder and smiled at Maxim. “Thank you for bringing her, Maxim.”
He nodded. “No problem. Just text me when she is ready to leave.”
“Will do.”
Kelsie’s eyes are wide and her brows wiggle. “Great house, specially prepared meals and man candy, seriously you must be depressed if you can’t appreciate all of this.” She laughed but it quickly faded. “Is it really so horrible?”
I shrugged. “It’s not that it’s horrible,” I began but I didn’t really know how to explain it because I barely understood it myself. “It’s just stressful and complicated.” That about summed it up perfectly.
She set two big bags on the countertop and wrapped her arms around me, squeezing tight. “That’s understandable. The whole cloak and dagger pickup was a trip. I thought Maxim was going to throw a black hood over my head just to be on the safe side.”
I pulled back with a laugh, so happy to have some time with my best friend. “I’m glad you’re here, Kels.”
“You’ll be even happier when you see what’s in the bags!” She opened one and pulled out tacos, nachos, fresh salsa, and a vat of guacamole. “Al Fresco’s!” Her smile was so big and wide, so proud that it was contagious.
“You are the absolute best, Kels.”
She flicked her red hair from her shoulders in a dramatic fashion. “Of course I amdarling. Where are we gonna set up?”
“The terrace,” I answered automatically, helping her repack the bag so we could set up on the table outside. “It’s nice out and I don’t get outside nearly enough.”
She stopped and frowned. “Is he keeping you locked up?” her gaze darted around the backyard to make sure we were alone. “Like in a sex cave? Or an actual prison cell?”
I rolled my eyes. “Dramatic, much? It’s nothing like that, more like a self-imposed imprisonment which isn’t even really a prison because it’s an entire suite of rooms. With a reading nook.”
“Sounds swanky,” she wiggled her brows. “But I hate that this is so hard for you.”
