Page 8 of His Smile
Stepping closer to her, Roman felt as if he was dealing witha runaway train. It was as if she was determined to meet every member of theirorganization. If it was anyone else, Roman what I thought they were a spy.
Taking her hand, Mikhail shook it. “My name is Mikhail.”
“Nice to meet you, Mikhail, do you…”
Deciding he had heard enough, Roman interrupted. “Whatparty?”
Turning to look at him, she gave him a heavy sigh anddramatically slumped her shoulders. “Well I was going to surprise you with aninvite,” she flung a pointed look over her shoulder at Nico, who lookedunapologetic. “Every year I throw myself a big party, and this year I needed abigger space for all of my friends. I had asked Dimitri if he knew of a placelast week and he got me in contact with Nico. But Nico here is being difficultand wants me to pay for some expensive insurance, and I’m honestly way toocheap for that.” Grinning she looked back to Nico. “I’m going to call youtonight to resume our negotiations.”
“You can have your party at Vital, Nico will take care ofthe details,” Mikhail intervened.
Rahina looked to all three with narrowed eyes. “What’s thecatch?”
“Now you show caution,” Roman mumbled.
Mikhail just gave her a cool smirk. “Just that we’re all invited.”
Excitement lifted her to her toes at her triumphant win.Leaning forward, her arms came up to hug Mikhail. “Of course, you can, thankyou so much…”
Slipping his arm around her front, Roman barred her attemptto hug Mikhail and pulled her back flush against his chest.
Leaning down, he whispered in her ear, inhaling the cleanscent of her hair. “You got what you wanted now get in the damn car.”
Roman could feel her stiffen in surprise against him andreluctantly released her as she leapt forward and dashed towards the car insurprising obedience.
“Thanks again, bye!” She called to Mikhail and Nico.
Complete amusement glittered in Mikhail’s normally coldeyes. “I will make sure to invite Alexie.”
Ignoring the man’s obvious enjoyment, Roman turned and climbedinto the SUV. The vehicle was custom-made to his specifications. The back seatsresembled a limo, with both benches facing one another and a privacy partitionthat could be rolled up with the press of a button to separate the front seatsfrom the back. Sitting on the bench that put her back to the front, Romannearly laughed at the nervousness visible in her eyes as he sat down acrossfrom her. Mosca needed no command, the lieutenant started driving immediately.
“You are sitting all the way over there,” Roman observed,finally for the first time since meeting the girl he recognized the familiarapprehension he was used to in people. Smiling, he tilted his head. “Are youafraid of what I might do?”
Rahina looked down at her feet before looking back up, theprevious bold energy she had dampened a bit by nervousness. “I would be lyingif I said I wasn’t a little bit wary of your reaction to me showing up today,”she admitted softly. Looking away again from his silent stare, her eyes perkedback up, and she pointed to the neatly folded white bag on the far end of hisseat in sudden remembrance. “I did bring you lunch.”
Quicker than she could mentally process, he grabbed herextended arm with a firm grasp.
“Come here,” he commanded, pulling at the slender arm in hishand gently.
Shock mingled with curiosity in her dark eyes as she wasforced to crawl across the divide between them and sat next to him. Romandidn’t let go of her wrist.
She was close now, closer than she had ever been to him andhe knew she realized it too. Apprehension replaced shock as he watched herreact to his nearness. There it was, finally some sensible fear at thesituation she was in, and as much as he found it comforting to know she wasn’timpervious to him, he couldn’t help but acknowledge a bit of disappointment atthat fact.
His smile broadened.
The fear suddenly left her eyes as if she realizedsomething. Holding up her hand, Roman stilled as he felt the warm tips of herfingers glide down his cheek, her eyes settling on his lips. Her words stunnedhim. “I think you probably have the most wonderful smile I have ever seen.”
Looking down at her, Roman could feel the pulse of herwrist, still trapped in his hand, beat steadily under his fingers. This wasexactly why he could not pull the trigger on this maddening girl. Every time hecame close to calling his men at the gate to bar her entrance, he hesitated.Each time he thought to kick her out of his life, he stopped himself. All thatvibrant energy just suddenly disappearing— the thought always gave him pause.
She was an unwanted distraction; he had reminded himself ofthat daily. Roman still had too many enemies waiting in the shadows of his lifeto pull her into a dangerous spotlight. He couldn’t afford to take any chances,not with her. But those wide tempting brown eyes practically clawed at thegates of his resolve. She thought she was tempting a beast to come out andplay, but she had no idea she was dealing with the devil himself.
Her fingers fell from his cheek when he made no reaction.Unsure of his mood, she lowered her head in thought before looking back up withrenewed force.
“How about coming to see me next week, we’re done with ourshort break, and the show is coming back on. It’s Amarandi’s version of SwanLake, it’s more focused on the relationship between Odette and Odile. You canalready guess who I am,” she gave him slow dramatic blinks with the tilted herhead, and Roman could easily picture her in the black feathered costume ofOdile.
He knew what she was trying to do, and it wouldn’t work. Shewanted to escape this moment, to retreat back into her humor and away from hernervousness. He would not let her. Sliding his hand around her neck, he let hisfingers flex against the heat of her skin as he pulled her closer, pressing hersoft chest against his. Seeing his own reflection in her wide eyes as her pulsepicked up against his hand, satisfied him greatly.
“Keep pestering me, and I will make it, so you dance to anempty audience for the next month.”
