Page 72 of Always Yours

But I can’t really believe my own mind when I think that.

When the song ends, he moves his fingers down my jaw and then kisses my nose. “I gotta pee.”

“How gallant.”

He grins. “Don’t worry, Janie. I’ll be just as gallant as Claudius once we get home.”

“Dimitri!” I gasp since Claudius is not gallant at all, but super indecent. And oh my God, I’ll die if Dimitri tries half of what Claudius does even in the first chapter!

Dimitri knows this, and his dimples appear. “Be right back.”

I almost smack him when he presses his lips to my nose, but I refrain as he walks away, buttoning his jacket while he laughs. I find that I’m breathing hard, grinning from ear to ear as I watch him go. I decide a drink will be best, so I walk off the dance floor toward my family’s table. At first, I don’t even notice that Peepaw has fallen into step with me, and soon, the anxiety of whatever he has to say threatens to suffocate me.

“Looks like you were having a good time out there.”

My heart is pounding in my throat. I try to hide it by taking a long drink of my water. “I am.”

I can feel his gaze on my face. “I hadn’t realized you were involved with Dimitri Titov.”

I clear my throat. “We’re getting to know each other.”

“Sure you are,” he teases, shaking his head. “I know what getting to know each other means nowadays.”

I can’t help but laugh.

“Well, let’s hope he doesn’t hurt you, because I’d hate to ruin his career.”

I snap my gaze to his, glaring. “What?”

“What?” he asks, surprised by my reaction. “I won’t let him hurt you, Austen.”

“So, you’ll ruin his career? That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”

He shrugs. “He should know better than to get involved with you. With who I am and all.”

“Who you are?” I ask incredulously, anger burning in my soul. “That’s not how we will do this,” I insist, holding his gaze, and not only is he surprised by my anger, but so am I. “I am not going to allow behavior off the ice to determine what will happen to a good player’s career. That does not include drug use or drinking, for which I will get them help, but I won’t ruin a player for being in a relationship with someone I don’t approve of. Because who am I to decide who they should be with? It’s none of my damn business.”

“Austen—”

“Hear me out,” I urge. “You see those four,” I say, pointing to my sisters, who are all dancing with different guys. “They will sleep with a hockey player—more than one, I can promise you that. How are we going to penalize the player, when those four know what they want? Not even a saint would be able to resist them.”

He blows out an annoyed breath, bringing his gaze to mine. “Austen, you remind me so much of your mother before she joined that damn cult and lost every bit of herself.”

I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or not because I don’t know who my mom was before. I only know the woman who forced me to be abused. I do remember her rebelliousness, though, not with the Grandmaster or my father, but for sure with everyone else. Especially my sisters and me.

“But you’re right, mostly about your sisters, and I’m impressed by the woman standing before me.”

I know my peepaw well enough, and with the way he is looking at me, I know he has an ulterior motive. I know he will ruin Dimitri if given the chance, and it scares me. “I know you love me deeply and want to protect me, but you have to trust I can take care of myself.”

His pointed gaze softens. “Austen, I don’t worry about you in the least, but I know hockey players, and I told you to watch out for them.”

“That’s unfair, because not all hockey players are what you know. I have met some of the sweetest, kindest, most helpful guys in the last couple weeks. I have met no one like who I grew up with. Dimitri is none of that.”

He gives me a look. “You hardly know him, and of course you’re blinded by his good looks.”

Before I can argue that, Dimitri says, “Don’t worry. I’m blinded by her beauty too.”

My breath catches as I shift my gaze to where he has appeared. He holds out his hand to me. “Ready to dance?”

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