by Leslie North
Epilogue
EpilogueHARPER
"Whoa," Harper said. "I didn't realize this coffee shop was staffed entirely by your self-chosen sister wives, Dmitry. No wonder you're a regular here."
Déjà Brew was filled to brimming with customers that early November morning, but that didn't prevent Dmitry from being zeroed in on the instant they walked through the door. Harper let her hand slip from his, amusement bubbling up inside her as she assessed the situation from afar. The two female college students behind the counter had whipped their pretty heads around the instant Harper and Dmitry had entered together; their waiting Stepford smiles combusted beautifully on their faces when they realized the couple had come together.
"Should I leave the three of you alone?" Harper offered. Dmitry rolled his eyes—something she liked to think she had taught him—and settled the hand she had rejected possessively on the curve of her rear. She thought the barista at the steam wand was going to boil her milk over, her angry attention was so riveted on them.
"This can't be a surprise to you," Dmitry muttered as he steered her toward a back table. "I thought that Belvedere—the sexy, world-renowned hacker—was in the business of knowing everything about me? Besides, you come in here at least as often as I do."
"Not enough times to know the score, apparently." Harper settled herself primly into the chair he pulled out for her. She had gone back to her natural red hair color in recent days, and she fluffed it over her shoulder now; positive or negative, she enjoyed the attention she was getting as the handsome bookseller's hateful girlfriend.
"I guess we have always come in separately," he mused as he took the chair across from her. "Mind if I treat you today?"
"You mean I get more of a treat than I already have?" she demurred. It wasn't her best line, but there was no denying how dead sexy the man she got to call her own was. She found she didn't have the energy to despair over the other women who might look at him—their attention and envy was inevitable, and really, she would be more surprised if they didn't look. Dmitry was the fixture every coffee shop deserved: a book-loving, bespectacled Adonis dressed as down-to-earth as his personality, the kind of man who made even the most milquetoast and even-keeled women wonder just what he could be hiding underneath that cable knit sweater that was almost too tight in the biceps. Harper felt certain Dmitry was the unwitting muse of every screenplay and romantic novel hidden behind a computer screen in their vicinity—hell, she had the skills to prove it.
She may have momentarily retired her white hat in the wake of solving Sergey's case, but that didn't mean she couldn't have a little fun spying on the café's open network once they had settled in with their coffee.
Dmitry leaned across the table toward her, and Harper reciprocated, enjoying the privacy they were able to find together in the crowded room. She let herself doubly enjoy the way his eyes drifted to her deepened cleavage. There was nothing quite like a man in reading glasses helping himself to an eyeful of you for the sake of research.
"You look like a high-end tart I just purchased out of a bakery case," he said in a low continuation of her metaphor. "Good enough to eat out."
"Dmitry!" She swatted him on the shoulder, hoping her outward show of indignation would disguise the stirrings his filthy words inspired in her. He had to know by now just how much she enjoyed being the one to bring out this side of him. That damn Karev definitely had a mouth on him, and she knew firsthand just how well he could work it.
Dmitry surprised her by turning those lips on her now, drawing her in for a surprise kiss that made her stomach heat and her toes curl. So much for privacy in a crowded room, Harper thought as he drew away with a perfect, lingering press of his lips. There was no way any interested eyes in the establishment would miss the Russian marking her as his.
"So what will it be?" he intoned.
"Just a cup of coffee, please," she murmured, lowering her eyelashes in a sultry display. "Something tells me I need to keep my stamina up today."
"Something tells me you're right." Dmitry rose. His hand found her shoulder and gave it an affectionate squeeze as he moved off toward the front.
"And tell them to hold the arsenic," she mentioned.
While she waited for him to return, Harper occupied herself by pulling out her phone and checking the security settings on the café's wireless. They were as insufficient as ever. She chewed on a stir stick and amused herself with snooping around. She decided to check on what the perplexed-looking man nearest to her was doing. He pored over his computer screen, chin in his hand, coffee forgotten; occasionally, he cast his eyes toward Dmitry. Turns out he was conducting a Google search on man buns and looking up the nearest capable barber in the area. Harper gave a small, involuntary snort at her findings. The women of the world would definitely benefit if more handsome men took up the hairstyle, that was for certain.
The man's eyes returned to Dmitry, and Harper followed his gaze. Dmitry had his phone out and was indicating something on the screen to one of the Stepford baristas. The barista glanced up to look at Harper, and there was something different in her expression… something almost warm. She went so far as to give Harper a thumbs-up when Dmitry wasn't looking.
What the hell could Dmitry have possibly just shown her on his phone?
Harper wasn't left in the dark for long. Her phone pinged, and she swiped open her email inbox, brows drawing together in confusion. "I didn't book a trip to Tahiti," she muttered to herself as she thumbed through the ticketing info. "Hell, I don't even have a passport."
Was it a phishing scam? She scrolled down. There was Dmitry's name booked into the seat right beside her. What's more, the email had originated from his address—and there wasn't a chance in hell that anyone dating a hacker would ever be compromised.
Still, there was no way this could be real. Harper's eyes rounded, and she looked up again quickly. Dmitry had his back turned to her and was making himself busy at the milk bar. Her Dmitry had booked a spontaneous trip out of the country? Where was the budgeting spreadsheet, the itinerary, the SPF sunscreen? Where was the plan that would completely rob Tahiti of its fun and turn it into a bore?
It was an incredible gesture, one that made her heart soar and her lips ache to show every inch of him just how much she appreciated it. But she wasn't going to be outdone. While a surprise vacation was clearly a step in the right direction, Harper couldn't afford to have her position as the couple's wildcard challenged. A few rapid thumb taps later, and she retired her phone back to her pocket, smiling breezily as Dmitry rejoined the table with their coffees.
"Well? Anything interesting come up while I was away?" he asked her, careful to keep his eyes down and his voice neutral.
He was so obvious.
"I don't know," Harper answered, matching his disinterested tone as she blew into her coffee. His phone buzzed a notification, and she watched Dmitry swivel to draw it out of his pocket. He read the message on the screen; then his eyebrows shot up so far and fast his reading glasses nearly jumped off his handsome nose.
"You hacked my surprise flight and changed our tickets? How?"
"Keep reading," Harper said casually. Dmitry looked as if he couldn't decide whether to be angry with her, or impressed and amused by her skill. He scrolled down.
"Hawaii," he read aloud. "Not bad, and you even managed to save me money on the flight. But why the islands?"
"To get a passport in time I'd have to acquire a fake one illegally. As fun as that'd be, I figured you wouldn't want that." Harper shrugged. "But obviously you want to see me in a bikini, so I tried to take some of your feelings into account."
"How thoughtful of you," Dmitry commented, his smile of faint disapproval morphing into one of appreciation as Harper rose to come around the table and seat herself in his lap. She loved feeling so close to him, and from the way his hands came up automatically to cinch her waist and hold her tightly against him, she knew she wasn't the only one. She laced her arms around his neck and bit her
lip suggestively.
"Are you mad?" she asked.
"That you're going to make me propose to you in Hawaii?" Dmitry's grip on her waist tightened. "Are you kidding?"
Harper threw her head back and laughed in pure exhilaration. It was a discussion that had been on the table before, but Dmitry's admission of his intentions really did take her by surprise.
"I love you." She knocked her head forward and gazed deeply into his eyes. Her natural red ringlets fell into her eyes, concealing their secret moment from the rest of the shop. The next moment, Dmitry's lips were upon hers, tasting her confession for himself. Harper gave it again eagerly, wordless this time, sliding her tongue past his lips and tangling her fingers in his blond hair as every cell phone in their vicinity started to go off, a chorus of beeps and buzzes that sounded—almost—like wedding bells.
End of Her Relentless Russian
The Karev Brothers Series
Book Three
PLUS: Do you like strong, sexy Russian men and your romance with a bit of action? Read an exclusive excerpt from Leslie North’s bestselling novel The Russian’s Stubborn Lover (The Fedosov Family Series Book 1) below.
Thank You!
Thank you so much for purchasing and reading my book. It’s hard for me to put into words how much I appreciate my readers. If you enjoyed this book, please remember to leave a review. I want to keep you guys happy! I love hearing from you!
For all books by Leslie North visit her Website and follow her on Facebook for exclusive offers, updates and more!
Get SIX full-length, highly-rated Leslie North Novellas FREE! Over 548 pages of best-selling romance with a combined 634 FIVE STAR REVIEWS!
Sign-up to her mailing list and get your FREE books HERE!
Blurb from
The Russian’s Stubborn Lover
The Fedosov Family Series Book 1
The Fedosov Family was all business until Julia Thompson came along.
After meeting in a nightclub in America and sharing a passionate kiss, Julia was the last person Demitry Fedosov expected to see in his boardroom back in Russia - especially after she turned down his advances.
Julia never been one to let others push her around. She didn't need the complication of a relationship with Demitry, now or in the future. After being sent to Russia on an exchange trip, she was his employee and he was her boss. End of story. Yet she can't stop thinking about his deep gray eyes and the way his 6'6" figure dwarfs her. She feels such an attraction to him, but she knows she must fight it.
Demitry is business orientated, reserved, always following in his father's footsteps and way too serious most of the time. He was not used to having women in his business world unless they were secretaries. Julia has made it clear she doesn't want a relationship with Demitry but he can't hold back the feelings he gets when she is around. She was so different to Russian women, and winning her over is turning out to be more challenging than any business deal.
The American woman pushed all his buttons, and when his brother, Alexey, starts to flirt with her Demitry feels an overwhelming urge to stake his claim.
Download The Russian’s Stubborn Lover from: www.LeslieNorthBooks.com
Excerpt from
The Russian’s Stubborn Lover
The Fedosov Family Series Book 1
Julia Thompson sat at the bar and watched the crowded dance floor, once again trying to find her best friend, Tonya, amidst the masses of writhing bodies. She pushed her glasses up on her nose, and her brown hair off her forehead, fanning herself to move the air around.
It was Friday night and they were supposed to be celebrating Julia having won the coveted exchange position in her company. Every year, three employees from the American-based mining company traded placed with three employees from the Russian-based mining company. Prior to this year, all of the exchange positions had been filled with men, but Julia had proven that she could hold her own in the financial world. Much to her counter-part’s dismay, she had been given the chance to fill the position for the upcoming year. She would be leaving for Russia within the next few weeks and needed a break before the madness of preparing to leave the US for a year began.
She had been ecstatic and she and Tonya had gone out to celebrate. The hottest nightclub in the city was DYSH and they had waited for thirty minutes to gain access to the inside. The crowd was to be expected so early on a Friday evening, and Julia hoped that as the night progressed, the people would begin to thin out.
She loved to dance, but being pressed up against five other people while she did so was not her idea of a good time.
While she waited for Tonya to return, she glanced around the large room once more, focusing once again on the group of good-looking men sitting at the corner table. They were all tall, with dark hair, and great physiques. The two younger men kept going out on the dance floor, but the third man simply watched.
Feeling someone staring at him, Dmitry raised his head and once again caught the young woman sitting at the bar looking directly at him. He raised an eyebrow at her and then smiled when she held his gaze and didn’t look away.
Julia wasn’t sure why she kept staring at him. He gave off an aura of power and danger, but she was feeling on top of the world at the moment, and the alcohol buzzing through her system helped her project a confidence she normally didn’t have.
Dmitry motioned with his head for her to come to him, pleased when she slipped from the stool and sauntered over to him, a small smile upon her face. “Hi,” she said when she was standing next to his table.
“Hello. Would you care to join me?”
Julia nodded and slid into the booth, “How come you’re not joining your friends on the dance floor?” She tossed her head towards the throng of people and then looked back at him.
“Too many people. What about you?”
“Same. I love to dance, but getting trampled on isn’t my idea of fun.” Julia let her eyes roam over his face, loving what she saw. His gray eyes were striking and very intense. This man seemed like someone who had trouble relaxing. His accent was unusual, and she wondered where he was from, “You’re not from around here.”
It wasn’t said as a question, but a statement of fact and Dmitry nodded, “No, I’m not. My brother and cousin are here with me on business.”
Julia looked around the crowded bar, “You conduct business in a nightclub?”
Dmitry looked at her, smiling at her jest, “No, we concluded our business earlier today. My brother and cousin wanted a chance to unwind before we returned home. Hence, the reason I am sitting here.”
“Oh. You don’t sound like you’re having fun.”
“Not at all. Now that you are here, the night is looking much better.”
Julia blushed prettily and then lowered her eyes before replying, “So…”
Before she could finish her statement, the two younger men returned, sliding into the booth and forcing her to press up against the third. “Hey, I’m Alexey. What’s your name?”
Julia couldn’t help but smile at the enthusiasm on the younger man’s face, “I’m Julia.”
Alexey took her hand and placed a kiss on the back of it before reluctantly letting her pull it from his grasp. “So, you want to dance?”
Julia shook her head, “Not really.”
Alexey looked disappointed, but then seeing Tonya heading towards their table, he brightened up, “Do you know that girl?”
Julia had seen Tonya leave the dance floor and nodded her head for her to come over. “That’s my best friend, Tonya.”
“Think she might dance with me?” Alexey asked, never taking his eyes off the gorgeous red-head coming towards them.
“Probably. Why don’t you ask her?”
Alexey didn’t even wait for to reach the table before he jumped from the booth and grabbed her hand, pulling her to the dance floor at her nod of acceptance.
The other younger man excused himself and headed back to the dance floor, leaving Julia alone once again w
ith the man whose name she didn’t even know. “I told you my name. Care to return the favor?”
Dmitry smiled and then nodded, “Dmitry. Since you don’t want to dance, would you care to head over to the small diner next door and grab a coffee? The loud music is beginning to wear.”
Julia had been thinking the same thing and nodded. Dmitry scooted from the booth and then pulled her from the booth. Her ankle twisted as she attempted to stand up and she fell against him, plastering herself across his entire front.
Dmitry wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close enough that he could smell her perfume. She smelled delicious! It had been many weeks since he had last spent time with a female as beautiful as Julia and he found himself reluctant to loosen his hold.
Julia looked up at him, knowing she should pull away, but somehow liking the feelings rushing through her body. He was hard in all the right places and she looked up into his face, wondering if his lips were as firm as they looked.
Dmitry gazed down upon her face, leaning in slowly to place a chaste kiss upon her lips. A firestorm of desire rushed through his body at their contact and he found himself deepening the kiss, regardless of the fact that they were in a crowded nightclub.
Finally regaining some self-control, he murmured, “Come, let’s get out of here.”
“Wait! I need to text my friend and tell her where I’m going. We kind of have a system for keeping each other safe, you know?”
No, he didn’t know, but if texting her girlfriend was some sort of ritual that allowed her to leave with him feeling safe, so be it. “Quickly.”
Julia looked at him, and then grabbed her phone from her purse and quickly typed out a message.
