She didn’t believe her, of course, but still it felt good to hear the words. Tina smiled at her aunt, then said shyly, “It was my first time.”
“You always were the cautious one,” Yana said with a nod. “And I can see you are still being cautious. What is it you’re afraid of, Katina?”
“I—” It was one thing to think it, Tina realized, but to say it out loud was quite another. She drew in a steadying breath. “I think I’m falling in love with him.”
“And why is this such a bad thing?”
“I don’t know how I’ll survive when he…when it’s over,” she said quietly. “But just thinking about it makes my chest ache. I’m not sure I’m strong enough.”
“You’re strong enough.” Yana’s expression was as patient as it was thoughtful. “But is he?”
Tina furrowed her brow. “What do you mean?”
“Never mind, my dear.” Yana patted Tina’s hand and smiled. “Now tell me, was he a good lover?”
Tina nearly choked, felt the heat of a blush race up her neck and across her cheeks. She couldn’t believe she was sitting here having this conversation with her aunt. But then, she still couldn’t believe that last night had really happened at all.
Smiling slowly, she met her aunt’s eyes. “He was wonderful.”
“Nagyszeru,” Yana said, smiling. “He is also very handsome. I would have liked to photograph him, especially in that towel.” Her aunt’s smile turned lusty. “Or without. Maybe you will ask him for me?”
Tina gasped at the outrageous request. But the thought of it also warmed her blood. She knew what that incredible body looked like firsthand, what it felt like against her own.
“Oh, Aunt Yana.” Laughing, Tina threw her arms around her aunt and hugged her tightly. “I’m so glad you’re here. Welcome home.”
Every Sunday Mariska spent most of her day cooking a six-course meal for her family while Ivan watched sports from his easy chair in the den. From the time they were tall enough to see over the kitchen counter, all of the Alexander daughters helped in the preparation. Though the menu varied, the tradition was strict. Attendance was mandatory, no excuses accepted.
Today was no exception.
“Your mother wants the good silverware and china tonight.” Carrying the wooden box that contained the silver set, Yana came through the swinging kitchen door. “Are we celebrating something?”
“She wants the crystal candle holders, too,” Tina said, smoothing the wrinkles from the white linen tablecloth. She and Yana had walked in the front door only minutes ago and there’d been no time to find out what was going on.
“Maybe it’s because she won at bingo last night.” Rachel pulled plates from the cherrywood buffet and set them on the table. “She made chicken paprika and has a bottle of Putonos chilling.”
“She’s definitely got something she’s happy about.” Yana handed the silverware box to Tina, then winked at both her nieces. “I’ll go see if I can pry it out of her.”
When Yana went back into the kitchen, Tina moved close to Rachel. It was the first time since she’d walked in the door that they’d been alone. “Are you all right?”
Rachel nodded. “I sneaked in late last night after Mom and Dad were asleep.”
Shaking her head, Tina sighed. “We’re too old for this, Ray. We’ve got to talk to Mom and Dad, both of us.”
“I know, I know.” Then Rachel’s eyes widened. “Both of us? Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“Yeah.” Tina smiled slowly. “I am.”
“What’s going on?” Sophia swung through the door carrying the candlesticks. She looked at Tina, then Rachel. “No fair. You’re telling secrets without me.”
“Not me, Tina,” Rachel whispered. “She and Reid—”
“Oh, heck—” waving a hand, Sophia moved next to her sisters and formed a circle “—tell me something I don’t know.”
Tina’s jaw dropped. “How do you know?”
“I saw it on your face the minute you walked in, T. Your feet weren’t even touching the floor.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” No one could tell something like that, Tina thought. Lord, she certainly hoped not. Shaking her head, she stepped away from her sisters and opened the silverware box. “But I will admit, it was a little interesting when Yana came home this morning and found Reid wearing nothing but a towel.”
Gasping, Rachel clasped a hand to her chest and Sophia lifted a brow. When their father looked over at them from his easy chair, they all quickly turned their attention back to setting the table, then glanced up at each other and started to laugh.
Tina realized how important all this was to her. Family. Tradition. Sharing secrets with her sisters. She knew that no matter how much their lives might change, they would always be there for each other, all of them. Through thick and thin, through happy and sad. Tina could only pray that the happy times would be more plentiful than the sad.
They were nearly finished setting the table when Yana came back out of the kitchen carrying a marble trivet.
“Did you find out anything?” Tina asked.
“As a matter of fact, I did,” Yana said. “Rachel, grab another plate and put it on the table, please, and another set of silverware, too.”
“I already have six,” Tina said, recounting to be sure.
“You’ll need seven.”
“Seven?”
When the doorbell rang, every head turned.
Yana smiled. “I’ll get it.”
Tina had a bad feeling as she watched her aunt walk across the living room. A bad, bad feeling.
When Yana opened the door, the bad feeling became a reality.
Reid.
He stood on the front step, the bouquet of roses in his hand bright pink, the dress shirt under his sport coat slate blue. Tina’s heart stopped, then began to race.
“What’s he doing here?” Rachel grabbed Tina’s arm.
“I…I don’t know.”
Tina and Rachel and Sophia all looked at each other, then said at the same time, “Mom.”
“Reid.” With all the grace of a queen, Yana held out her hand. “What a pleasure to see you again.”
“Ms. Romano.” Reid handed the roses to Yana, who lifted them to her nose and breathed in their scent. “How lovely. Please, come in. Mariska will be out in a moment.”
“Thank you.”
The house was open and warm, Reid noted as he stepped into the foyer of the living room. Beige walls, hardwood floors, a large burgundy sofa covered with tapestry pillows. Lots of framed family photos. The delicious scent of spices and chicken made his mouth water and reminded him he’d barely eaten anything since he’d left Tina at Yana’s apartment that morning.
“Girls.” Yana slipped her arm through Reid’s. “Look who’s here.”
“Rachel, Sophia.” When his gaze shifted to Tina, their eyes met and held. “Tina.”
Lips softly parted in shock, she nodded back. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that his visit had not been expected.
Though fewer than eight hours had passed since he’d seen her, it felt like days. He wanted to tell her how pretty she looked in a cardigan the same rosy blush as her cheeks and a simple black skirt, but he held himself in check. Knowing that he couldn’t just walk up to her and kiss her, he shoved his hands into his pockets. “Reid!” Carrying a steaming casserole, Mariska burst out of the kitchen. “You are just in time.”
“Thank you for inviting me, Mrs. Alexander.”
“Please, you must call me Mariska,” she reminded him. “I am so glad you could come at such short notice.”
He glanced at Tina again, who was staring at her mother in disbelief. “I assure you,” Reid said with a smile, “it’s my pleasure.”
When Ivan yelled something rude from the other room, Mariska shook her head. “My husband and football. I have to pry him out of his chair if there is a game on.”
Mariska set the casserole on the table, then frowned at her d
aughters. “Why do you all stand there like stones? Sophia, get our guest a drink. Yana, will you please tell your brother that supper is ready.”
When Rachel started to move toward the kitchen, Mariska stopped her. “Rachel, you keep Reid company while Tina and I bring out the food.”
“But—” Rachel cast a nervous glance at Tina, who shook her head “—all right.”
When everyone scurried off, Reid leaned down and whispered, “Jason was great last night.”
Rachel’s nerves seemed to calm at the mention of Jason’s name, and her eyes brightened. “Thank you for taking care of him.”
While he and Rachel quietly talked about Jason and his band, Reid sipped on the glass of beer Sophia brought him and watched as dish after loaded dish of food came out of the kitchen. Wine and water glasses were filled, crisp white linen napkins were laid beside each plate.
Every time Tina came into the room, their eyes would meet. Every time she would blush, then hurry back out.
“Dinner is ready.” Mariska came out of the kitchen carrying a platter of chicken. “Reid, you sit in the chair beside Rachel.”
Reid was beginning to have an understanding of what Jason had been going through by needing to hide his feelings for Rachel. It was killing him, Reid thought as he pulled out Rachel’s chair for her, that he couldn’t touch Tina, or slip an arm around her waist, or even kiss her cheek. Though this might not be the right time, he was determined to make it clear—very soon—that it was Tina he wanted to be with, not Rachel.
Ivan sat at the head of the table, the expression on his face not exactly what Reid would consider cordial. While a bowl of watercress salad made its way around the table, Mariska said to Yana, “Reid’s father is going to be our next senator.”
Yana held up her wine glass. “Gratulalok.”
“Thank you, but it might be a little early for congratulations.” Reid scooped up a spoonful of dark, fragrant rice with vegetables. “We’ll need to have an election first and make it official.”
Yana met his gaze, her smile knowing. “One should always hold hope.”
“I agree.” Reid glanced at Tina, who quickly reached for her wineglass.
“So are you interested in politics yourself?” Yana asked.
He shook his head. “I’m just taking a month off from the family business to help establish a campaign headquarters.”
“So, Reid,” Mariska said, clearly wanting to steer the subject in a different direction, “I understand you come from a big family. Do you see yourself having children one day?”
He felt Rachel stiffen beside him, while Tina softly coughed. Ivan glared at his wife.
“I’m sure I will,” Reid said evenly. “One day.”
“When you find the right woman, of course.” Mariska handed him a platter. “Chicken?”
Tina’s cough turned to a choking sound, and Sophia slapped her on the back.
“Thanks.” He speared a leg and set it on his plate. “This all looks and smells delicious. You must have been in the kitchen all day.”
“It is nothing.” Mariska waved a hand. “Rachel helped with most of the preparation. She is a wonderful cook, you know.”
Rachel furrowed her brow. “I chopped the celery and onions, Mom.”
“And so beautifully,” Mariska said. “Every piece perfect.”
Ivan’s mouth pressed into a hard line as he stabbed a chicken breast.
“Tell Reid about your bingo win last night, Mariska,” Yana said, sipping her wine. “It’s such an interesting story.”
Thrilled to repeat the story everyone else had already heard five times, Mariska leaned close to Reid. “I have only one number left, B7. Ivan, he has one, as well, B1.”
In spite of being distracted by Tina’s presence, Reid was truly trying to listen to Mariska. Until he felt a bare toe slide up his pant leg. He froze and looked at Tina, who appeared completely absorbed in her mother’s story, then glanced at Sophia, who was casually sipping on a glass of ice water.
When the toe slid higher, Reid grabbed his own water glass to ward off the threatening cough, careful to keep his gaze on Mariska.
“The ball comes up, it is blue, so I know it is a B, and what number do they call?” Mariska slapped a hand to her chest. “B7!”
“It was a hundred dollars.” Scowling, Ivan took his knife to his chicken. “You would think she won the lottery, the way she carries on.”
“It is a hundred more than you won, Ivan Alexander.” Mariska waved a fork at her husband.
The argument was without heat, but it was enough to distract Tina’s parents for the moment. Reid looked at Tina, watched her gaze slowly lift to his. Though it was only for a split second, the look she flashed him was as hot as it was arousing.
He really needed to get this woman alone, he thought, taking a gulp of his wine. He hoped like hell it would be soon.
Mariska was serving strudel and coffee when the phone rang. When she started to rise, Rachel sprang out of her chair.
“I’ll get it.”
“If it is a salesman, hang up on him,” Ivan yelled after Rachel, then looked at Reid. “A man cannot have a meal in peace with his family.”
Not sure if the comment was directed at him, Reid simply nodded.
“Since when has this family had a peaceful meal?” Mariska said. “You are always grumbling about something.”
Ivan frowned at his wife, then forked up a bite of strudel. “I do not grumble. I make observations.”
Reid drew in a breath when Tina—he hoped it was Tina—ran her toes up his pant leg again. She was intentionally torturing him, he realized, and was already planning payback when Rachel returned.
“Salesman?” Ivan asked.
“Hang up.” Rachel slid back into her seat.
A moment later, while Ivan and Mariska were still discussing how incredibly rude and inconsiderate some people were, Rachel cleared her throat, then looked at Reid and said, “Would you like to go to the movies?”
Phone call forgotten, Mariska beamed. “That is a wonderful idea.”
Ivan scowled. “My daughter does not ask a man on a date.”
“It’s not a date,” Rachel said quickly. “There’s a new comedy at the cinema. Tina and Sophia said they wanted to see it, too. After we did the dishes, I thought we could all go.”
He was beginning to get the picture, but Reid realized it had nothing to do with the movies. Obviously that phone call had been the source of Rachel’s unexpected invitation. “I’d love to go.”
“You and Reid go.” Mariska was already rising from her seat. “Tina and Sophia will help me with the dishes.”
“Katina and Sophia will go, too,” Ivan decreed.
“Sorry.” Sophia shook her head. “I’ll help with the dishes, but I promised I’d help out in the office at the club tonight.”
“Then Katina will go,” Ivan said firmly. “It is settled.”
Thank you, Ivan, Reid thought, and when he glanced at Tina, could see she was thinking the same.
It took a while to say their goodbyes, but once they were outside and away from the house, Rachel looked at Tina and Reid. “I’m sure you realize we aren’t really going to the movies.”
“I figured it out,” he said with a nod.
When headlights flashed from a parked car down the street, Rachel hugged Tina, then hurried off.
Left alone in the darkness behind a tall hedge, Reid dragged Tina into his arms and kissed her. Placing her palms flat on his chest, she leaned into him and kissed him back.
“You taste like apples,” he said against her lips.
“So do you.”
He kissed her again, then whispered, “Well, that was interesting.”
“Kissing me?” she teased. “Or having dinner with my parents?”
“Both.”
“Interesting is not exactly the word I’d use.” She blew out a breath. “More like horrific.”
He grinned at her. “So you want to tell me exactly what
you were doing back there at the dinner table?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean,” he said, lifting a brow. “Sliding your toe up my leg. I nearly had a heart attack.”
Furrowing her brow, she met his gaze. “I didn’t touch your leg with my toe.”
He felt a moment’s panic, then saw the smile in her eyes and frowned at her.
“Very funny,” he said, then pulled her close and slid his mouth to her neck. The hitch of her breath, her soft sigh, the slight trembling in her hands made his own pulse stutter.
“I asked you a question last night,” he murmured, lifting his head. “I don’t believe you ever truly answered me.”
Her fingers moved restlessly over his chest. “What was that?”
“Will you come home with me?”
Her lashes slowly fluttered up. Smiling, she looked into his eyes. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Eight
The penthouse was spacious. Marble foyer, high ceilings, rich, glossy hardwood floors. Antiques—an impressive, and expensive, mix of eighteenth-and nineteenth-century pieces—were artfully arranged throughout the large living room and parlor. Softly lit paintings, mostly oils, graced the hunter-green walls. From an art history class she’d taken at the local college, Tina knew that several of the paintings were nineteenth-century Southern artists.
More than a little intimidated, she stood in front of the wall-to-wall leaded windows overlooking Forsyth Park. A full moon shone silver on the thick treetops; downtown city lights twinkled in the dark. She could only imagine how spectacular the view from here would be during the day.
Wondering briefly if she would ever see that view, she turned and strolled around the room, paused to admire a walnut Chippendale sideboard table, then moved on to examine the intricate leaf carvings on a mahogany framed mirror.
Engrossed in the detail of the frame, she didn’t notice Reid come up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her before she could turn.
“Sorry. I had to return a call from Ian.”
Her pulse jumped when she met his gaze in the mirror. “Everything all right?”
The Cinderella Scandal (Dynasties: The Danforths Book 1) Page 10
