Page 70 of The Mistake

I let go of his hand and press my own to my face. I hate that I feel this way. It’s messed up and wrong. So very wrong.

Arms surround me, and I love his embrace. I don’t want it to stop.

“I’ve got you,” he said. “And your dad was a total dick for not loving you.”

No one had ever loved me. All my life I’d wanted my father’s love, but that had been replaced, because now, all I wanted was Ive’s, and I had no idea how to get it.

Chapter Fifteen

Ive

Charlotte doesn’t know how to play.

Charlotte deserves a puppy.

All she wants is love.

Staring across the dining room table, I watch as she cuts into the steak that is beautifully prepared byMichael. I missed my chef’s food. Michael had been a star find. I knew how to cook, but I fucking hated it. When I purchased this place, the first thing I did was find a chef, and Michael had been working for me in one of our top restaurants. The only problem was he got bored easily and the guests liked to have the same menu for a great deal of time. Michael liked to change it up all the time. No one appreciated his gift, but I did. So I offered him the job. He was in control of my kitchen. He cooked for me and the staff, whatever the hell he wanted to. No one got to tell him what to cook.

He had already sworn his loyalty to the Volkov Bratva, and it wasa pretty good deal. The food was top rate. There were a few times when food had been served to me and I was about to eat it, and he’d storm into the dining room, take my plate from me, and declare it was shit. He would then go and make me something else. I adored him. At least he’d never given me food poisoning and I’d done that to myself, plenty of times.

“Michael is the best,” Charlotte said.

“That is sweet music to my ears, darling,” Michael said. His British accent was back. I nodded toward him. He’dalready told me he’d been given the memo about this being my honeymoon. Everyone was under strict instructions to keep me away from my office.

I didn’t like being out of the loop but I had no choice—I hadto trust Ivan and Victor to take care of business while I was away. I should have put up more of a fight but I enjoyed the idea of being alone with my wife.

When Ivan told me I was to marry her, I’d been pissed off. She was too young and I’d not wanted awife. Charlotte had grown on me.

My wife turned to the chef and her smile was sweet. “It’s so good. Ive took me to so many restaurants in the city—Italian, French, Spanish, Mexican, there might have been an English one as well—but none of them match your food.”

“That is because I am the best.”

“And he is not modest,” Ive said. “Have there been any calls?”

“No business. Just pleasure. Now, I made a beautiful praline tart. I know it’s your favorite. I wanted to make sure your first meal on your honeymoon was the best.” He pressed his fingers to his lips and kissed the air.

I looked toward Charlotte. “He means you. He doesn’t give a fuck about me.”

This made Charlotte laugh. “It’s been the best.”

“Excellent.” He picked up the dishes and left for the kitchen with the promise of dessert.

“You’re sure you didn’t mind coming here for our honeymoon?”

“No, this is the house Ichose for myself,” I said, winking at her. I did so, just to see her smile. “Why did you pick here? You could have gone anywhere. Ivan would have seen to it that you got what your heart desired.”

Charlotte shrugged her shoulders. “I … this is the only place I have ever felt at home. I know it’s silly. I always had a home growing up, but this is different. This feels more like home.”

“Thisisyour home. It’sourhome.”

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

Michael interrupted the moment to bring us his dessert and it looked amazing. There was a small dollop of whipped cream on the side.

I waited for Charlotte to take a bite, as did Michael. Her eyes closed and she moaned as she did so.

My chef clapped his hands and disappeared once again. He’d be plottingour breakfast for tomorrow.

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