by Lauren Dane
She looked at him awhile. Not speaking. He looked back, wanting her to see he was serious.
“I’m weird.”
“Huh.” He cocked his head a moment. “I was not expecting that. Like at all.”
She laughed. “I’m told I can be unpredictable.”
He leaned closer, pleased at the way her pupils grew larger as he did. “I like unpredictable.” He took a bite, thinking over what else to say. “Are you trying to warn me off? List your supposed negative attributes so I’ll see you’re not worth my time? Because after those kisses I should warn you it’ll take more than you telling me you’re weird. In case you hadn’t noticed, my whole family is weird.”
She paused and he watched what had to be a dozen thoughts flit over her features. So expressive when she decided to share that part of herself with him.
He challenged her.
It made her feel like he knew she was strong enough to own her shit. So he called her on it because she was worth the energy.
“I’m just saying I come with a lot of baggage.” She shrugged. He was an excellent cook. The eggs were buttery soft, the saltiness of the ham a perfect addition.
He eased back, eating once again, but keeping his focus on her. “You’re attracted to me. We have some major chemistry. Are you saying I’m imagining it?”
She was a lot of things but she wasn’t a liar. Not even to herself.
“No. You’re not imagining it. Zing.” She waved a hand between them, indicating their attraction. “We’ve got it big time.”
His smile sent a shock of desire through her. “All right, that’s established. So why hesitate about coming out with me?”
“To be clear, I’m not hesitating about going out with you. I just wanted to be clear up front that I’m damaged goods.”
He sat back to take her in, all feline and powerful. He moved like music, caught her up in him like magic.
“You’re not damaged, Rachel. You’ve had life happen to you. And some of it was a nightmare.”
A nightmare she wasn’t entirely done with. Some scars never healed.
Most people wanted to save her. Pity her while being fascinated by the gruesome details.
He just was. When he was around her, he expected nothing more than what she wanted to give. She’d never really given thought to what it might feel like to be doing this slow dance into romance with someone like him.
Easy. Alluringly so.
“Look at you having such an intense discussion in your head.” He began to eat again.
She could have told him it was too risky. His cousin was now living in her house. Utterly besotted with her sister who adored him right back. Vic also happened to be close as brothers with Alexsei so if things went very badly between them it would impact pretty much every aspect of their lives. His parents lived next door, along with his sister. He only lived half a block up. They saw one another at the various events the bakery had booths at, as well as at the barbershop Alexsei owned and Maybe worked at too. Which was four minutes door-to-door from the tattoo shop Rachel worked at.
But she didn’t say any of it. Because he knew all that already.
“It’s just dinner. We can work our way up from there. If you were going to try to talk yourself out of it, you should have done it earlier,” he added.
“You’re right.” She snapped free of her internal argument and snorted. “Fine. I just want to be sure you’re going into this realizing what you’re doing.”
“I always know what I’m doing, Rachel. I’m deliberate. I always have been. I’ve wanted to go out with you for quite a long time,” he said in an infuriatingly calm voice.
She tore off a piece of toast and jammed it into her mouth, chewing a while before finally asking the question that’d been nagging at her. “So why now? What changed from yesterday? Or the day before?”
She couldn’t deal with pity. Not from him.
“I let you have yesterday because after that fuckery on Sunday you needed a break. I also knew you and Maybe took the day off to hang out and I left you alone. But Sunday is when I knew. I’ll give you all the reasons why when you’re ready to hear them.”
“When I’m ready to hear them?”
“That’s what I said. Tell me, how is work?” he asked, changing the subject. She began to demand he tell her but hesitated.
“Busy. Lots of people like to get ink around Valentine’s Day.”
“Romantic gestures they’ll have to get covered up in a year?”
“I thought I was jaded,” she said.
He blushed and she couldn’t help the way it moved her.
“I’m not jaded. I can see the appeal of getting ink for your sweetheart. I know several people with horror stories, but they’d have horror stories either way, I suppose. The bakery does a brisk business for Valentine’s Day too. This year Evie is making heart-shaped vatrushka and she uses strawberry in the center.”
Oooh! “Did you bring one of those? It doesn’t have to be shaped like a heart as it’s already a pastry and I’d just eat it anyway.”
“I didn’t. For our second date, I’ll bring you some to go with the roses.”
That the normally easygoing Vic was coming back to the second date thing clued her in to the fact that he also could be like a dog with a bone when it came to getting what he wanted.
Damn it. Every second that passed he just got sexier.
Thankfully, since she wanted it too.
The moment stretched out between them as they finished brunch. Rachel tried not to jump up to clear off the table and clean the kitchen, telling him since he cooked she’d clean. It gave her some physical space and something to do while she processed the way he made her feel.
Vic eased back, watching her. Giving her silence but not taking his focus away. Once he’d fully stepped into her world, he apparently wasn’t going anywhere.
Which, she had to admit, was a nice thing. She wanted to be wary of it. Look for ulterior motives. But...he wasn’t that guy.
“Ready to go? I took what I needed to drop off next door on the way here so I can take you straight in. My mom isn’t home or I’d take you over there first,” he added.
“Really?” A flush of happiness hit that Irena wanted to see her and say hello. Vic’s mom had become more and more involved in the lives of the Dolan sisters.
Actually, it was more that Rachel and Maybe had been involved in their lives. The Orlovs and their wonderful, giant, loud family who’d begun to treat them as if they were family too.
“Yes, really. She likes you and Maybe. You listen to her stories and let her teach you things in her kitchen. That means a lot to her.”
It was totally mutual. Being able to hang out in Irena’s kitchen had been a reasonably new experience in her life. Rachel loved it there. Vic’s mom knew so much about so many things and was always happy to share her expertise. She was hilarious and nurturing and in general, a lot of fun.
“It’s the other way around. She’s always so patient even when I’m terrible at something.” Rachel grabbed her things and made one last check to be sure the stove was turned off before they headed out.
Vic said, as they reached her front door, “It’s what moms do.” It must have been her snort in response because he paused and then said, “What they should do.”
Even though he’d reassured her that she had nothing to apologize for after that scene with her parents, it still embarrassed her that he’d witnessed it.
She used the excuse of locking her door to get herself together again. But when she turned, he was there, a hand out to stay her.
“Wait,” he murmured as he bent to zip her coat. “Don’t want you getting cold.”
It was so unexpectedly sweet it knocked her off balance a moment. “Thanks,” she managed to say right before he gave her a quick kiss. Right there on her front porch.
&n
bsp; His hand, warm and sure, sat at the small of her back as he steered her to his car and opened the door for her.
On the way to the south end of downtown that made up Pioneer Square, where Ink Sisters was located, she could have told him she didn’t need a ride to work. She could have driven. She could take the bus and still make it on time.
But the truth was, she wanted to spend more time with him. He smelled good and it was really cold and parking was expensive.
And she wanted to be able to be honest about her life with someone other than Maybe and their best friend, Cora.
He lightened her mood just by being around. Accepted her without expectations that felt like a burden.
“If it helps any, my mother is bossy and nosy and insufferably meddlesome sometimes,” Vic told her, surprising a laugh from her lips.
It used to feel sort of rusty when she laughed. Like an old hinge on a door not often used. But it didn’t feel like an act to laugh with him, didn’t feel unnatural to guffaw or snicker.
“I may have noticed that a few times,” Rachel told him, deadpan.
* * *
HE DUG HER sense of humor. Dry and sarcastic with a sense of darkness he undeniably clicked with.
“What time do you get off tomorrow? For our date.” He figured it was time for another pass at nailing down details.
She blushed, ducking her head slightly so her hair slid to partially screen her face. “Tomorrow is Wednesday so I’ll be done by seven.”
“I’ll drop by the shop at seven, then, to pick you up. I’ll drive you home and then you can come to my house when you’re ready.”
“I’m fairly sure you must have gotten this bossiness from your mother. I can just get home and meet you after that. Or we could go straight to dinner from Ink Sisters.”
“I know you can. I’ll pick you up at seven tomorrow night but I’m sure I’ll see you before that.” He hoped.
He pulled to a stop in the loading zone in front of the shop.
He wondered if she was going to argue and then wondered whether it would be a disappointment or not if he had to coax her into the plan. Coaxing her was rather pleasurable. And her crankiness was hot.
“Fine,” she agreed at last. “Thanks for brunch and the bread delivery. And the ride.”
“Wait just a moment,” he told her, reaching back to grab the bag he’d placed there for her earlier. “Shortbread cookies made this morning. Just in case you get a craving for something sweet later.”
Her mouth curved up into a smile before she leaned in to quickly brush her lips over his and scrambled away and out of the car. She held the bag aloft. “Thanks for these too.”
With a grin, he waved before heading back into traffic once he got an opening.
* * *
NEEDING TO TALK to Maybe immediately, Rachel hurried through the shop to the back where the lockers were.
“He gave me cookies,” Rachel told Maybe over the phone the moment she answered. She was so giddy she was past being embarrassed at how giddy she sounded.
“Who gave you cookies?”
“Vic! He came over and made me food and then grilled me sort of and then he told me we were going on a date. Our second one. Which we are tomorrow night and I’m not sure how it all happened. He’s very smooth and possibly he mesmerized me with his forearms. Maybe, have you seen the man’s forearms?”
Her sister laughed. “Took him long enough. I honestly was beginning to wonder if he was ever going to jump to it or if I was going to have to manufacture something to get you together. Jeez. And of course I’ve seen his forearms. They’re like art. They need to be appreciated.”
“So say we all,” Rachel told her. “It’d be a crime not to.”
“So you have a date. A second date, which means you declared brunch a date, which means there was at least some smooching today. Tell me everything right now,” Maybe demanded. “Did you do below the underpants stuff? Or is that what the second date is for? Probably second date.”
Rachel laughed so hard people in the shop most likely heard. “He made me food and kissed me stupid and gave me a ride to work and when we got here, he handed me a bag of cookies. You know, if I wanted something sweet today. It’s pretty hard to resist,” she admitted.
“So don’t. Why resist at all?” Maybe’s voice had softened.
“Well, you’re right. I’m not going to.”
“Duh. Save me two cookies. I want to hear every last detail about the brunch but I’ve got to run, my client is here. Don’t tell Cora first or she’ll lord it over me forever.”
The sisters had been close, but in the years since she’d been kidnapped, they’d become best friends. Without Maybe, and then later, Cora, Rachel wasn’t sure she’d have made it through some pretty rough spots as she recovered.
The three women had a deep bond and connection that included plenty of teasing and ass-kicking along with the love and support.
“I’ll tell her you said that. She’s going to ask me what happened the minute she comes in.”
“She’ll understand. Tonight how about we catch up on some shows, eat pizza and hang out? You can fill us both in then. Alexsei will be here until ten and then he and Vic are having drinks afterward so we have plenty of alone time to gossip,” Maybe said. “I gotta go. Love you. See you tonight at home.”
CHAPTER THREE
CORA SMIRKED AS she dumped off her bag and coat before coming through to the kitchen where Maybe was.
“I can’t believe you wouldn’t let her tell me about the brunch. What if something of a sexual nature had taken place?” she said, pointing at Maybe.
Maybe said, “If something of a sexual nature happened she’d have made me come to the shop this afternoon. Or she’d have called you to meet her at Whiskey Sharp before she was due in. Crybaby. Pizza should be here in like ten minutes. I called when I got home.”
Cora hugged Maybe quickly before she got them all glasses, filling them with ice for the root beer she’d brought along.
“What are we watching tonight?” Rachel asked as she got plates down from the cabinet.
Maybe took one of her hands and tugged her to the couch, where she sat, Cora across from them perched in the big chair. “While we wait for pizza you need to tell us what happened with Vic.”
“Well, he texted me. I told you both about that. And then he waltzes in and smells all good, like bread. Seriously, it should be a cologne, right? Anyway, then he kissed me! And gave me flowers.” Rachel indicated the overflowing vase on the table. “And he cooked. Not just toast or an Eggo. An omelet!”
“Back to the kissing,” Maybe said. “We really don’t care about eggs.”
“He’s a really good kisser as you might have imagined. He tastes good. The beard is soft and smells nice. Self-assured. Confident. All signs point to really knowing his way around a lady’s best parts.”
Maybe clapped her hands over her mouth, eyes comically wide. Cora stomped her feet as she whooped and Rachel just shook her head at the two of them.
“And I’m pretty sure he was happy to see me, if you get my meaning, and I know you do because you are both women of loose morals.”
Cora wiped a sarcastic tear from the corner of her eye and then flipped Rachel off.
“So, was he like really happy to see you? Like big guns happy?” Maybe asked.
“Proves my point. Floozies, the two of you. I assume you’re inquiring about the size of his equipment?” Rachel asked, faux pearl-clutching.
“Of course we are. So? Is his dick big or will he try really hard to make up for it in other ways?” Maybe snickered.
“He won’t need to make up for anything. I mean, it was like laundry day or something because he felt like he had a few rolls of quarters in his pocket.”
The three of them dissolved into laughter for a little while.
&n
bsp; “Anyway. Like I said, he’s a very good kisser. He’s got a great body. He’s smart and funny and I don’t know, it’s easy to be around him. He’s our carb connection and your boyfriend’s bestie so there’s that risk if things go south. But he makes me feel all this really wonderful stuff. You know?”
The pizza arrived so they filled their plates and settled in on the couch to continue the conversation.
“I do know and I’m in total support of it.” Maybe shrugged. “It’s good to see you taking this step. Letting yourself have some romance.”
“It’s not like I’ve been a nun since Brad and I broke up,” Rachel told her sister.
Cora said, “No. But that wasn’t romance. That was casual—but prudent—sex. You had these long-term fuck friends but none of that was about anything more than sex. Which was all you wanted and so yay for you because fuck pretending a lady doesn’t need some sex to clear out the cobwebs and be living our best lives and stuff.”
“You’ve always been happier in a relationship. Even back in high school,” Maybe said. “You just never had the right guy. Vic though? He’s another level. He’s the kind of person you deserve. Who’ll give you the energy and focus you deserve. And he’s a grown man. He doesn’t need saving or taking care of. If things don’t work out, it’s not going to be weird.”
Cora said, pointing at Maybe, “Yes to all that. He’s gorgeous. He clearly knows how to kiss and he’s got a big dick. This is all very good. He brings you flowers and bread. He’s definitely worth a second date. Now, not to be a buzzkill or anything, but what’s up with the situation with your parents? Maybe said you two are seeing someone about it?”
“We’re meeting with an attorney tomorrow,” Rachel said. “We’ll file for a protection order against Mom and Dad both. Keep them away from Ink Sisters and Whiskey Sharp as well as the house. He needs to have it underlined that we don’t want anything to do with him and that we won’t tolerate any more of this threatening crap.”
No one was going to cage her ever again.
* * *
WHICH IS WHAT she said to her attorney as she and Maybe sat in front of her the following day.
