Chapter 12 - Abe
An hour later, I poured my sisters-in-law a glass of wine each and got away with muttering the occasional observation, but the whole time, my eyes kept darting toward the door.
Where was Pippa? Should I have gone and invited her down herself? Was she lost?
Finally, I saw the door open and watched a hesitant Pippa enter the drawing room, her eyes darting around like a lost kitten in a thunderstorm.
“Oh, Pippa! So glad you could join us,” Emory said, raising her glass in the air in welcome. My brothers and Adley turned to her with smiles, but she didn’t take one step forward. She just stood there and smiled nervously.
Clearly, she needed help feeling comfortable.
"Settled into your room alright?" I asked, approaching her with what I hoped was a reassuring smile.
She nodded, her gorgeous green eyes meeting mine briefly before flitting away. "Yes, thank you. It's lovely."
I could practically feel the nervousness radiating off her in waves. Despite being our guest, she looked ready to bolt at any moment. Can't have that, can we?
"How about a drink?" I offered, gesturing to the bar. "Might help take the edge off."
A flicker of relief crossed her face. "That would be nice, actually."
As I poured her a glass of red wine, I couldn't help but admire the way her pencil skirt hugged her curves. Damn, this woman was trouble with a capital T.
"Here you go," I said, handing her the glass. Our fingers brushed, and I felt a jolt of electricity. What the hell was that?
Pippa took a sip, her red lipstick leaving a mark on the glass. "Thank you, Abe."
“There’s a whole bottle waiting where that came from,” I gave her a wink.
She gave a small smile, and I guided her to the couch where the rest of my family was gathered. As we sat down, I noticed how she smoothed her skirt, ever the picture of propriety.
The conversation flowed easily enough, with my brothers and their wives doing most of the talking. Pippa chimed in occasionally, her responses polite but reserved. I found myself wanting to draw her out more, to see what I knew lurked beneath that prim exterior.
Before I knew it, we were being called to dinner. As we made our way to the dining room, I placed my hand on the small of Pippa's back, guiding her. She stiffened slightly at the contact but didn't pull away.
Once seated at the table, Pippa's manners were impeccable as she complimented the food and decor.
"The roast is absolutely delicious, Adley," she said to my sister-in-law.
Adley beamed. "Oh, thank you, it's an old family recipe."
I watched as Pippa exchanged pleasantries with each member of my family, her posture straight as a rod. It was like watching a perfectly choreographed dance.
Vlad leaned over to me, speaking low enough that only I could hear. "Christ, she's young, isn't she? Can't be more than what, 26? 27?"
I nodded, my eyes still on Pippa as she laughed politely at one of Ivan's jokes. "28, actually. But yeah, she's young."
Yes, Pippa was young, and yes, she was clearly out of her element—something Vlad didn’t have to say, but I knew he implied. Yet there was a strength in her that I admired. She was holding her own in a room full of hardened people, and doing it with grace.
As the evening progressed, I noticed Pippa's shoulders gradually relaxing, her laughter becoming more genuine. My family had that effect on people—when we weren't busy being ruthless out there, we could be surprisingly charming.
"So, Pippa," Ivan said, leaning forward with a curious glint in his eye, "has our Abe been behaving himself?"
Pippa suddenly looked fresh, her naughty mind working overtime. "Have you ever seen him behave himself?" she replied with a nonchalance that made the whole room laugh.
"Well, at least someone’s honest," Vlad said rather loudly with a grin, earning himself a swift kick under the table from me.
Pippa's lips twitched, fighting a smile. She had noticed. I swear, nothing missed her eye.
She opened her mouth to say something when suddenly, the dining room door burst open.
Two small whirlwinds of energy came barreling in—my niece and nephew, still in their pajamas. "Daddy!" they shrieked, making a beeline for Ivan.
I expected Pippa to recoil from the sudden chaos, but to my surprise, her face lit up. "Well, hello there," she said softly as she got out of her chair and crouched on the ground to meet them at their level, her entire demeanor changing as she addressed the children.
My niece, ever the bold one, marched right up to Pippa. "Who you?" she demanded.
"I'm Pippa," she replied, her voice warm and gentle. "And who might you be?"
“Lily,” she said rather cutely. She had just learned how to talk and could spring together two or three words at the time.
“Like the flower?” Pippa’s eyes widened with joy, and Lily squealed happy agreements.
As I watched Pippa interact with the kids, her natural affinity for them was obvious. Gone was the prim woman, replaced by someone childlike in spirit. It was… unexpected. And oddly appealing.
Just as the kids were warming up to their new friend, the nanny appeared in the doorway, looking flustered. "I'm so sorry," she began, but Pippa shook her head.
"Oh I’m sad to see you go," Pippa said, giving the children one last hug before they were ushered out. “But I will see you tomorrow!”
As the door closed behind them, I caught a wistful look in her eye that made me wonder what she had going on through that pretty little head of hers.
The moment passed quickly, but it left me with a new curiosity for Pippa Burrows. I also noticed that my siblings suddenly seemed more comfortable around her, as though her affinity for children made her easier to have as a house guest.
I couldn't tear my eyes away from Pippa as she seamlessly slipped back into conversation with my family. The way she laughed at Ivan's dry humor, the attentive nod she gave Adley's gardening anecdotes—it suddenly seemed like she'd known them for years, not hours.
"So, Pippa." Vlad leaned in, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Any embarrassing stories about our dear brother here?"
My jaw clenched. Vlad knew damn well Pippa and I barely knew each other. But before I could interject, Pippa's melodious laugh filled the air.
"Oh, I'm sure there are plenty," she said, those green eyes flickering to me. "But he’s kind of in with my boss, so…” she shrugged.
“Hey, we’re in with your boss, too,” Vlad protested.
“True,” Pippa nodded. “But I don’t have to deal with you when I go back to work.”
I smirked, oddly pleased by her quick thinking. But as I watched her easy banter with my brothers, a strange twist in my gut caught me off guard. Was I… jealous of this camaraderie between them? Ridiculous. I shook it off, focusing instead on the way her hands moved when she spoke of things that she was passionate about.
"Emory," Pippa suddenly exclaimed looking ahead at the shelf, "is that a first edition Austen on your bookshelf?"
My sister-in-law's face lit up. "You've got a good eye! Are you a fan?"
"Am I ever," Pippa gushed, her proper facade melting away. "I've read 'Pride and Prejudice' so many times, I practically have it memorized."
"Oh, don't get her started," I groaned playfully. "We'll be here all night listening to Emory wax poetic about Darcy and Elizabeth."
Pippa raised an eyebrow at me. "And what's wrong with that, Abrahim Ustinov? The big, bad wolf is scared of a little romance?"
The table erupted in laughter, and I found myself chuckling along, captivated by the sparkle in Pippa's eyes. Who was this woman, and how had she managed to charm my entire family in one evening?
***
As the last of the plates were picked up by the housekeeper, I caught Pippa stifling a yawn. The evening had stretched on, and I could see the fatigue etching lines around her eyes. I stood, my chair scraping against the hardwood floor.
"I think it's time we call it a night," I announced, extending my hand to Pippa. "Let me show you to your room."
She hesitated for a moment, her green eyes searching mine before she placed her soft hand in my calloused one. The simple touch sent a jolt through me, and I had to resist the urge to pull her closer.
"Thank you all for a lovely evening," Pippa said, her voice warm as she addressed my family. "It's been… unexpected, but wonderful. You truly should have let me help you clear up.”
“Nonsense!” Adley said and rose to kiss her on the cheek.
We said our goodnights, and I led Pippa out of the dining room, hyper-aware of her presence beside me as we climbed the stairs. The silence between us crackled with unspoken words and lingering glances.
"You surprised me tonight," I admitted as we reached the landing. "I've never seen anyone win over the Ustinovs so quickly."
Pippa's lips quirked into a small smile. "Is that a compliment, Abe? I didn't think you were capable of those."
I chuckled, shaking my head. "Don't get used to it, princess. I have a reputation to maintain."
We reached her door, and I found myself reluctant to let her go. My hand hovered near the small of her back, not quite touching but close enough to feel the heat radiating from her body.
"Well," Pippa said softly, her hand on the doorknob. "I suppose this is goodnight."
I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to invite her to my room. The need to have her close warred with my respect for her boundaries. "Sleep well, Pippa," I managed, my voice rougher than I intended. "If you need anything… I'm just down the hall."
Her eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of yearning in their depths. But then she nodded, slipping into her room with a quiet "Goodnight, Abe."
As the door clicked shut, I leaned against the wall, running a hand through my hair. What the hell was happening to me? This woman had me tied in knots
I pushed off the wall, my mind reeling as I walked down the dimly lit hallway. The evening replayed in my head like a film reel, each frame focused on Pippa—her shy smile as she entered the drawing room, the way her eyes lit up when she laughed at Emory's jokes, how natural she looked hugging one of the toddlers.
Fuck. When had she become so important to me? I'd tried to keep her at arm's length, but somehow she'd wormed her way under my skin. She stirred something in me I'd long thought dormant, and I didn’t yet have a word for it.
I was so lost in thought that I nearly collided with Vlad as I rounded the corner.
"Whoa there, Brother," he said, steadying me with a hand on my arm. His eyes narrowed as he took in my expression. "You look like you've seen a ghost. Everything alright?"
I grunted, trying to brush past him. "Fine. Just tired."
Vlad wasn't having it. He blocked my path, arms crossed over his chest. "Bullshit. This is about Pippa, isn't it?"
I tensed, my fists clenching at my sides. "What about her?"
"Come on, Abe," Vlad said, his voice softening. "I saw how you looked at her during dinner. What are your intentions with her?"
"My intentions?" I scoffed, but even to my own ears, it sounded weak. "She's just—"
"Just what?" Vlad pressed. "Because from where I'm standing, she's not 'just' anything to you anymore. You said you wanted to protect her? We have men capable of doing that. Hell, the Vadims could have her under watch every second of every day. It’s more than that, isn’t it?"
I ran a hand over my face, suddenly feeling every one of my forty-six years. "I don't know, alright? She's… different.”
“Different?” He cocked a curious eyebrow in my direction.
I leaned against the wall, the cool surface grounding me as I struggled to find the right words. "She's not like anyone I've ever met," I admitted, my voice low. "She challenges me, calls me on my bullshit. And yet…"
Vlad raised an eyebrow. "And yet?"
"And yet she's got this softness to her. The way she was with the kids earlier…" I trailed off, remembering how Pippa's green eyes had lit up, her laughter mingling with the children's squeals. "It does something to me, seeing that side of her."
My brother's expression softened. "Sounds like you're in deep, Abe."
"Maybe I am," I conceded, surprising myself with the admission. "But she deserves better than me. I'm not exactly relationship material."
Vlad snorted. "And since when has that ever stopped you from going after what you want?"
His words hit home, and I felt a familiar resolve settling in my chest. Pippa might be different from any woman I'd known, but that didn't mean I couldn't rise to the challenge. If anything, it made me want to try harder.
"You're right," I said, straightening up. "She's important to me, Vlad. More than I thought possible. But until I figure out what I want, I just need to keep her around."
“You do that,” he said. “But don’t take too long deciding what you want. Good women have a way of tiring from the wait.”
As Vlad clapped me on the shoulder and headed off to bed, I made my way back to my room, my mind whirling from his parting words.
Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, I realized I had a lot to figure out. My feelings for Pippa, how to navigate this new territory of actually caring for someone beyond a fleeting attraction.
How the hell am I going to figure things out?