Page 120 of Always Yours

“Maybe. He’s a tough nut to crack.”

“True, but Katarina is a marble.”

“Hell, she’s cement,” he says, shaking his head. “But thank you for coming.”

“I wanted to.”

“I know, but thanks,” he says, kissing my fingers. “Now, will you kiss me? Right here?” he says, pointing to his lips.

“Right there?”

He grins. “Right here.”

I lean in. “Fine, but only because I want to.”

Just as I meet his lips with mine, we’re interrupted by his mom’s entrance. “Dimitri, I found it— Oh! My bad.”

He laughs against my lips before turning around. “Thanks for ruining our kissing, Mom! That’s how it starts, in order to make grandchildren.”

I gawk at that as, over his shoulder, he flashes me a deep-dimpled smile. I see her hand something to him, but I don’t know what. Nor do I care when she says, “Got to have a wedding before a baby.”

Dimitri snorts at that. “Says parents who were pregnant with me when they said I do.”

“But you didn’t come until we were married,” she retorts, patting his chest. “So, get to work.”

Before he even turns, I can see the devilish grin on his face, and I know he’s about to say something that will have me flushing head to toe. “On the baby-making part or the marriage part? I’m always down to practice for baby-making.”

I cover my face and groan as everyone laughs at my misfortune. “You are impossible.”

I look through my fingers, and he’s just grinning from ear to ear. “And you love me for it.”

Oh, how I do.

So very much.

Thankfully, it’s time to go home, and I won’t have to be subjected to him embarrassing me in front of his parents or having to answer for my actions with his dad. I don’t mind either of those things, but I really just want to be alone with him. I don’t think I’m mentally prepared for the next couple days, visiting Tiny Russia, but I am very thankful that Dimitri is coming with me. I hope to find some closure, and I want to say goodbye to my Babu, tell her how much she changed my life.

How her love taught me how to love Dimitri.

I notice Dimitri hasn’t said much by the time we’re almost home, which is very unlike him.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, why?”

“You’re not running your mouth or teasing me.”

His lips quirk. “Tired, I guess.”

“I don’t think that has ever stopped you,” I say, holding his gaze, and he shrugs.

“Got a lot on my mind, Janie.”

“Like?”

“Just stuff.”

I bring my brows in. “Just stuff? What the hell?”

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