Page 11 of Disgraced (Russian Sinners 3)

She chatted about the places she visited this summer, like we’ve known each other for years. While she went into details about things they’ve done, she kept mentioning her friends at a minimum. I thought it odd but didn’t want to question her, maybe she wasn’t that close to them after all. Women were weird when it came to their friends. One day they couldn’t live without each other, and the next they were scratching each other’s eyes out.

She proceeded to tell me she studied child development and was a kindergarten teacher. Again, I knew both already, but I still acted surprised. What I didn’t know was what drove her to study that specific subject.

“What do you love about teaching kindergartners?” I inquired. It was about time I learned everything about my soon-to-be wife that wasn’t on paper. Her favorite color, her favorite movie… everything. I was way overdue.

Scarlett didn’t think twice before responding.

“Their honesty.” I wondered if that meant people in her life weren’t honest with her. Then I reminded myself, I wasn’t exactly honest with her either. “They just tell you how things are, you know. They are still too innocent to have hidden motives.”

Her last words didn’t sit well with me. For a fraction of a second, I debated whether I should tell her who I really was but just as quickly decided against it. It would seem I had hidden motives too.

She was right about children’s honesty though. I didn’t have much exposure to small children. Nikolai’s niece was the only small child I have been around in years. And honestly, I didn’t quite get the kid. She lost her mother too young, and I was better in the department of helping Nikolai avenge his sister than help him babysit.

“You want kids?” I asked her curiously.

She stiffened for the briefest fraction. I would have missed it if I didn’t watch her so closely. Everything about her fascinated me. It wasn’t the best idea to be so wrapped up in her so easily. I experienced twelve years ago what happened when you went all in and had no interest in repeating it.

She shrugged her one shoulder, finally answering in a nonchalant tone. “Yes, maybe one day. I’m not opposed to it but not exactly on my agenda for the immediate future.”

Fair enough. She was still young, almost ten years younger than me. It was quite a significant age gap. Oftentimes, I felt even older than my thirty-four years.

“How about you?” she turned her gaze and watched me curiously.

“I wouldn’t mind it,” I told her honestly. It was one thing that Dimitry, Nikolai, and I always craved. A family of our own. “I’m quite a bit older than you so I probably don’t have as much time to waste.”

Her laughter carried through the breeze, as she threw her head back. The sound was light and unrestrained. “You make it sound like you are an old man,” she cackled.

“Probably compared to you, I am,” I replied with a smile.

“Okay, I’ll bite,” she continued with a smile. “How old are you?”

“Thirty-four.” I watched her to see for her reaction, but if she thought I was too old, she didn’t react at all. “You?”

“Twenty-five,” she replied. “You are not that old. Although I admit, I have never gone out with anyone who was older than me.”

“Ouch,” I commented.

She tilted her head, her lips curved in a smile. “It could play in your favor, you know.”

Now it was my turn to laugh. “Good. It would seem I would need all the favors I could get.”

Suddenly, she stopped, and I wondered what I said wrong when she spat. “Shit.”

“What?” What could have possibly happened?

She pulled her hand out of mine and started digging through her purse. “Shit, shit, shit,” she muttered.

“What’s wrong, Scarlett?”

She raised her eyes briefly. “I forgot to text my girlfriends that I’m not meeting them for dinner.”

I had to hide my smile. If that was the height of her worry, we were doing good.

“I’m sure they’ll understand,” I assured her.

“It’s not that,” she mumbled as her fingers flew across the screen of her iPhone. “This bodyguard is with us and he’ll-” she stopped herself as she took a deep breath. “He takes his job quite seriously. I wouldn’t put it past him to call the police if one of us is not where we are supposed to be.” She rolled her eyes with an exasperated look. “Yeah, he takes his job way too seriously.”

She pressed a quick send and no sooner she did, her phone rang. Her eyes met my gaze, as she chewed her lip with an uncertain look in her eyes.

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