by Grady, D. R.
“Sure you do. You know my family and history.”
“I don’t know your favorite food, or favorite color. I don’t even know what you do for a living.” Frustration simmered.
He paused in stroking an escaped curl. “My favorite color is,” he paused to stare into her eyes. “Green.”
“What shade?” When had her voice turned husky?
His finger stroked across her cheek and down to her needy lips. The pad of his thumb caressed them. “Look in the mirror.”
“For what?”
“To see what my favorite shade of green is.”
Her heart picked up its beats per minute to a rather uncomfortable tempo. For some reason she was trembling and her hand kept stroking over his arm and shoulder. Like she couldn’t get enough of this man.
Probably she never would. So it was best not to waste the moments she spent with him. Their eyes connected and she loved the way his smiled into hers. Vlad had a certain way of looking at her that set fire to every neuron she possessed. It was rather unfair. No other man wielded this power.
He could turn her into a puddle of goo with one look.
Certainly that should be against the law.
His lips curled up. Her stomach tried out for gymnastics. “What are you thinking?”
“That you should be illegal.”
One of his dark eyebrows shot up. “Illegal?”
“You have far too much power, Vladimir Wellington.”
“I’m quite happy to hear that.” She felt those words against her lips. They made her ache.
Her eyes narrowed. “There will be no abuse of your power,” she stated clearly, decisively. That was good, right?
“Aye aye, princess.” When he connected their lips, he was smiling. She could feel it. But with a heartfelt groan, that smile dissolved into the best kiss yet.
Her temperature shot to somewhere near five hundred degrees while her blood took on the consistency of lava. Being burnt from the inside out was interesting. Not nearly as interesting as the man causing this phenomenon though. Helena twisted her arms around him and clung, her participation absolute.
She moaned and his lips detoured from hers so he could kiss his way from her jaw and chin to her neck. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears as her limbs turned leaden.
“You’re everything I dreamed you would be.” His lips trailed to her ear.
A bit of the passion haze lifted. What had he dreamed she would be? Could she live up to his expectations? Since she didn’t know what those were, her heart offered a terrified thump.
Working to place a modicum of space between them, she lifted heavy eyelids to stare up at him.
“What did you dream?” Her voice was a sliver of a whisper.
“About you.”
Thank you for telling me nothing.
“What do you want from me?”
His answer was sincere, warm, and inflexible. “Everything.”
Chapter 8
When Tia tilted her head like that Aleksi had trouble concentrating on the mundane plate in front of him. Like Vlad had done, he really wanted to whisk his woman away and kiss her socks off.
“Do you think we need to interfere?” Since she sounded concerned, he decided he should take her question seriously.
“Do you prefer my head the way it is?”
Her smile heated his inhibitions. “Yes, I do.”
“Then we don’t interfere.”
“Vlad isn’t going to do a thing to me.” She had stopped eating and was staring at him the way she did. Like she couldn’t believe her life.
That dreamy, happy expression crossed her face. He was certainly no prize, yet she didn’t believe that in the least. It was like she was blind to his faults, except that she knew them all too well. She loved him despite his faults.
Staring at her now, he understood. He wasn’t blind to Tia’s faults either but he loved her more each day. Shoving back his chair, he patted his lap. Smart, beautiful woman that she was, Tia planted herself there in three seconds flat. He was still laughing when she fused their lips together.
“I love you.”
“Likewise,” he managed to gasp as her beguiling tongue beguiled him. “Anything you want, it’s yours.”
“Don’t stand me up at our wedding.”
It was his turn to smile. “Like that’s ever going to happen.”
“I’ll send Vlad after you if you try.”
“Why do people always threaten me with Vlad?” Their conversation didn’t do much to dissuade him from exploring his fiancée’s delectable neck.
“Because he’s scary.” Her voice was breathless and that made him happy.
He raised his head to stare into those blue-green eyes he loved so much. “Yes. He’s always been.”
Her eyebrows bobbed before her forehead creased. “He’s always been?”
“Are you speaking of Vlad?” Emerson sank into a nearby chair.
Tia’s hand slid into his hair as she gave him one last, lingering kiss before wriggling off his lap to return to her own seat. “He’s scary.”
“You are speaking of Vlad.” Emerson nodded sagely. “You won’t need him. The last thing you have to worry about is Aleksi not showing up for your wedding.”
Her smile lit the room. “Thank you, Emerson.” She sent him a private smile that increased the heat already zinging through him.
And that fast, he fell even further in love with her. “You’re the perfect woman for me.”
Emerson cleared his throat for the third time. “About Vlad?”
“Yes?” So he sounded a little impatient. Oh well.
“Where is he?”
“He dragged Helena somewhere.”
Tia tapped her lips and distracted him. “She might have drug him, though.”
One of Emerson’s brown eyebrows rose. “He took Helena and you didn’t stop him?”
“We believe they wanted to be alone,” Tia murmured discreetly as she finished off her sandwich.
“Oh, so she was willing?”
“We’re not certain who dragged who, but the desire was obviously mutual.” He grinned as both Tia and Emerson groaned.
***
“Are you certain we have to return to work?” Helena darted a remorseful look at Vlad’s retreating back.
“I’m sure. Your lips are so swollen I’m surprised you can talk.” Tia kept a firm grip on her arm.
“I’m not going to run off.”
“Ha, that’s debatable.”
“Yes, very likely.”
Tia laughed as she turned into the lab. Since her boss still clutched her arm, she had to follow.
Jorge and Maria were already there. They were exclaiming over the mostly empty benches. Helena let out a gasp of her own. “It’s all gone.”
“Yes,” Tia answered smugly. “This is all that’s left of the equipment.”
“We can easily store these in the long term closet.” Maria viewed the remaining items with satisfaction.
Jorge was busy opening cabinets and humming a happy tune.
“There’s plenty of room in the cabinets for the items we use regularly.” Helena padded to the new, larger storage closet. “Oh, Tia, you should see this.”
“See what?”
“We found a secret passage before lunch.” Maria tugged on Tia’s arm.
“Really?” Tia didn’t appear to need much tugging.
“Vlad was here and he had a small penlight, so we followed it through.”
Tia’s eyes couldn’t get any larger, not and still remain in her head. “And you did all this without me?”
“You were busy,” Jorge pointed out as he brought up the rear of their train.
She and Maria escorted Tia into the new storage closet and then showed her the gap. “There’s even additional storage between these racks.”
“This is amazing.” Tia twittered about as they showed her the racks and the secret panel.
“We have to find a torch before we can show you t
he passage though.” Of course there wasn’t one in sight.
“Torch?” Tia’s forehead crinkled in confusion.
“Flashlight,” Maria corrected. “Europeans call them torches.”
“I think I knew that.” Tia didn’t look any less confused. She did brighten though. “I’m really excited to explore that passage.”
“Except that we have cabinets to fill now,” Jorge said.
“Yes, work before fun.” Tia sighed.
They played with the panel a bit before separating to stack supplies they used often. It didn’t take long to set up the lab in the most ideal manner. They also stored the equipment and tools that didn’t get taken.
“I believe this setup is going to work really well for us.” Tia washed her hands at the sink.
“Yes, I’m happy Vlad came to visit today.” Maria shook off the last of the water from hers and then accepted the paper towel Tia handed her.
“You are staying here permanently now, right?” Helena asked Tia.
“Yes.” She paused. “Well, I am going to America to finish up a few projects soon.” At their blank looks, Tia clapped a hand to her forehead. “I didn’t tell you,” she moaned.
They all converged on the stools gathered around the largest bench. Once everyone was settled, Tia explained. “As you know, I am under contract with the school where I worked when I agreed to help Aleksi.”
They all nodded.
“I can break the contract. There is a loophole in it that enables me to walk free in the event something significant happens. Like the fact I’m marrying the Prince of Rurikstan.”
She enjoyed the little thrill that shivered through Tia at her pronouncement. It was nice to see them so in love.
“But you still have to return to America?” Maria sounded worried.
“Yes, if I finish up the project I was working on, it will help matters substantially for my leaving free and clear. Plus I need to pack and sell my condo.”
“In other words, you have to finish life at your former home before you can begin your new one here.” Being a fellow American, Maria probably knew a lot about that.
“That’s correct.” Tia tapped a finger on the benchtop. “I’m glad we’re having this discussion because Graham and Aleksi wanted me to address this with you.”
A tiny, sinking feeling started in her tummy. What if they were sent back to the hospital? She didn’t want to return there. She wanted to remain here. Of course, they had just rearranged the entire lab to suit themselves so that had to count for something.
Still, she couldn’t not ask. “You’re not planning to send us back to the hospital are you?”
The deep breath Tia took wasn’t reassuring. “Yes.”
She gasped and heard at least Maria, if not Jorge, follow suit. Her stomach muscles clenched.
“When I leave, you three are to report to the hospital to clean out your areas and train the new hire.” Tia contemplated them. “If you would like to return to this lab, you are all welcome.”
Her abdominal muscles relaxed. “So we’re to finish any work at the hospital, but are expected to return here?”
“Yes, your contracts expire soon, so you have to carry out the last duties at the hospital to fulfill that commitment.”
“I was wondering about that.” She hoped no one would remember, but apparently Graham had.
“Your temporary return will meet the contract terms and conditions. We need to keep watch on the water wells long-term.” Since that was the reason Tia had come to Rurikstan in the first place, it made sense. [Bad Nerd Rising – Book 7 – The Morrison Family Series]
“However, we’re also going to be participating in some hospital studies in addition to continuing some personal research of mine.” Tia looked tense and a little worried.
The last of her tension drained away. “Thank goodness. I didn’t want to return to the hospital.”
Both Maria and Jorge nodded vehemently. “We want to stay here.” Maria darted a quick look at Jorge whose nod was definite.
Tia’s smile rivaled a searchlight. “I’m so happy,” she said with the exuberance of a child. “I couldn’t bear it if any of you left.”
“We need to stay together. We’re a team,” Maria announced in her best mom voice.
After a spurt of glee, she finally ventured a question. “We return to the hospital for how long?”
“You’re to finish out any projects that weren’t complete when you left. You will also be training the new personnel who were hired to take over your duties there.” She frowned at the notes in front of her. “However long that takes.”
“They shouldn’t need much training.” Jorge looked like he’d been granted a life sentence reprieve.
“That’s correct.”
“When do we make this transition?” Maria brushed some hair off her forehead.
Tia consulted her notes again. “Right after I leave. You’re all to report to your old jobs at the hospital since the current contracts expire in less than a month. You’ll have paperwork to complete and such. Plus you’re to clear your desks, that sort of thing.”
“When do we return here?” Please be soon.
“I’ll be gone for three to six weeks. It’s going to depend on my projects and how soon I sell my condo.” Tia’s mouth curled up a bit. “Although Aleksi did convince me it couldn’t take longer than six weeks.”
She grinned. “He’s a tough negotiator.”
“It worked in his favor that I wasn’t eager to be gone longer than three weeks,” Tia answered dryly.
They all laughed before they returned to their discussion. “What do we need to do here before we leave?” Maria asked.
Tia shuffled through her notes. “Jorge, the water technicians are cleared to do the bulk of the water testing, is that correct?”
“Yes, they all passed this time and they understand what happens if they mess up.”
“Good. They need to know that a bad test means we all have to boil water until it’s cleared.”
Jorge nodded. “They are aware of this. The hospital is continuing to take precautions so there is no more contamination to the wells.”
“Someone needs to keep testing those samples, even when we’re gone, Tia.” Maria gestured toward the bacterial incubator.
“Yes. Do you think you three can work out a schedule where one of you reports here at least a few hours a week so that this lab is covered in addition to your obligations at the hospital?”
They all nodded. “I’m guessing it will take me a week, tops, at the hospital.” Maria spoke with easy assurance.
She and Jorge both nodded. “That’s what we’re thinking as well.”
Tia looked relieved. “So if you can coordinate a few hours for that week, we should be covered.”
“We can figure that out after we see what is necessary at the hospital,” Jorge said.
Helena agreed. “I can’t imagine there’s much to do there.”
“It will depend on how qualified the person is who replaced you.” Tia made a note on the papers in front of her.
Helena grimaced. “That’s true. If this person is fresh out of school, it might take longer than a week.”
“No one should need longer than two weeks though,” Maria said briskly.
“Once we’re back in the lab full-time, why don’t we let you know and maybe you can send us some stuff from your current project?” Otherwise it might be really boring. They had already cleaned and organized the lab.
“That’s a great idea, Helena. I might be able to finish a lot sooner than I’m fearing.”
“We’re going to need something to keep us occupied,” Jorge reminded her.
“Yes, with the water wells in great shape again, we can start on more interesting projects.” Tia tapped the bench. Her lips pursed as she thought. She added another note. “I’ll start working on that. It might cut down the time I’m in the states.”
“We appreciate it.” If she was busy at work, she might th
ink less about a certain man who melted her nuclei far too easily.
Maybe.
Chapter 9
He drove through the quiet streets, never once consulting a map or his phone. Before he ever arrived here in Rurikstan, Vlad had memorized the way to Helena’s apartment. He knew four different direct routes to her and at least that many indirect ones. This way he could reach her quickly in the event of danger.
Or so he told himself. It didn’t help that he wasn’t buying his own explanation.
Instead, he cut those thoughts off as he coasted to a stop in front of her apartment building. It looked like what it was. A stately old mansion that had long ago been converted into flats. Judging from the outside, he bet her apartment was nice inside. He hoped, for her sake, that it was safe.
He approved of the heavy-duty bolt and lock on the door and the small, but nice foyer. A locked door led to the stairs and first floor flats. Mailboxes lined one wall. Beside them was an intercom system and the last names of the residents. A series of numbers completed the list. He punched in the numbers after her name and waited.
“Hello?” Helena inquired.
“It’s Vlad.”
“Oh my goodness.” She sounded breathless. A buzzing indicated she had unlocked the door. One he could have easily gotten through without her buzzing him in, but he would obey the rules. Helena didn’t know his skills and there was no reason why he couldn’t play at being normal.
Helena’s place was on the third floor. Vlad approved. It would be harder to break in to. Not impossible, but harder. As he traversed the hall, he was busy assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the floor. Where could an intruder hide? Where was the structure at its most vulnerable? Were there easy access points to this floor? To the roof?
All that data rolled through his brain as he stopped in front of Helena’s door. Before he could knock, the barrier opened and he found himself staring into the green eyes that haunted his dreams. “Hi.” Her shy smile melted some cold places inside him.
His answering smile wasn’t shy. “Hi.” He trailed a finger down her cheek.
She stepped back to invite him inside. He gained as much ground as she allowed. The door snapped shut behind him and he locked it out of habit. Then he got lost in her eyes.
