Chapter 13 #2
She stared at him. "I..." She swallowed her saliva. "That's not quite two months away." She toyed with the hairs on his chest. "Look, we need to talk about this in a rational manner."
Tilting her chin up, he planted a kiss on her mouth. "You're not reneging."
"Renege... This is not some business deal..."
"No, it is not," he agreed, amusement coloring his tone.
"I'm not living in Russia!" she burst out. "I'm sorry. I know we're supposed to discuss this kind of thing..."
"I like living here, and I never expected you to uproot your life to move halfway around the world."
She blinked at him. "You don't?"
He smiled at her look of surprise as he brushed back her hair.
"No. I'm not the firstborn. Alexei is, and he's already taken up his position of heir to the company.
I will be required to go back and forth, but my grandparents are hoping and hinting that I will stay.
They are already making arrangements to put the farm in my name.
" He cupped her chin. "I know how important your work is to you and would never ask you to give it up. "
Tears clogged her throat and burned the back of her eyes. "I never expected this," she whispered huskily. "I was content to go on without any of it. I never dreamed..." She had to swallow, and even then, could not get the words out. "I don't know if I deserve you."
He touched her cheek gently, eyes soft with unspoken promises.
"You deserve happiness, more than anyone I know.
I want to give you that, if you'll let me.
" His words settled between them like a quiet vow, making her heart ache in the best way.
She drew a shaky breath, feeling the warmth of his devotion wrap around her, steady and unwavering.
*****
He had called ahead. So, by the time they got to the farmhouse, his grandparents were waiting with open arms and beaming smiles on their lips.
"I'm going up to change." Dimitri extricated himself from his grandmother's arms and looked over at the woman who had brought the light into his life. "Care to accompany me?"
"I don't..."
"Of course," Elizabeth intervened. "Dinner will not be served for another half hour. And I'm sure Dimitri is eager to show you around."
That was not what he had in mind, but it could be arranged.
"We have a bottle of champagne chilling," Alvin told him. "You two go right ahead and leave us to arrange everything."
Taking her hand, Dimitri led the way along the narrow passageway toward the lovely staircase. "You looked like you were going to refuse." Tucking her hand through his arm, he guided her up the steps.
"Because I knew you wanted the opportunity to fool around." She tilted her head to look at him. "And I'm warning you right now, that's not going to happen. I'm not messing up my hair and makeup, and we just spent the entire morning making love. It has to stop."
"Does it?" Grinning like an idiot, he turned swiftly, and before she could protest, she was in his arms.
"Put me down, you moron." A maid scurried past them with wide eyes and a smile before dashing down the stairs.
"You were the one who put ideas inside my head.
Here we are." He nudged the double doors open to a large sitting room.
"When they realized I was coming here, my grandparents, mostly my grandmother, had the entire suite redecorated.
She called Alexei to inquire as to my particular taste and color scheme.
" He stepped into the huge bedroom, where a fireplace took up one side of the bedroom.
Warmth flooded the room, the fire casting shadows over the shimmering gold and tan wallpaper.
A king-sized bed was draped with a matching quilt.
Pale gold drapes were at the six windows, all of them opened.
"I like to look at the sunrise from here. And if you notice, the fruit trees make a spectacular backdrop."
"It does," she murmured. "It's a lovely suite."
"I promise not to mess up your makeup, but I have to..." There was no need for the rest of the sentence as he laid his lips over hers. With a sigh, she wrapped her hands around his neck and sank into the kiss.
It took more than thirty minutes for them to go back down, and she had to do some repairs to her hair and face.
The older couple did not mind one bit, and there was such an air of celebration among the staff that Dimitri and Allison realized that the news had spread.
The dinner was sumptuous and served in honor of their unofficial engagement in the elegant formal dining room with its teak wood furnishings and fire simmering inside the hearth. The meal consisted of both American and Russian cuisine, which surprised Dimitri.
"It looks like you were expecting this kind of news," Dimitri commented, looking over at his grandmother.
"I predicted that there was going to be an announcement very soon.
" Elizabeth looked lovely and regal in a shimmering emerald green dress and was wearing pearls around her throat.
It touched Allison to note that the woman had dressed for the occasion.
And it made her simple black wool dress appear inappropriate.
The tiny frisson of uncertainty that they would not accept her had melted away.
The couple had enfolded her like a long-lost granddaughter.
"And she was hoping for a spring wedding," Alvin added, eyes sparkling.
He turned to look at Allison. "You have made us the happiest old people in the world, my dear.
We could not have chosen better for our boy. "
Tears flooded her eyes at the compliment. "Thank you." She sniffed and chided herself for being so emotional.
They were in the middle of devouring the delicious Napoleon cake and champagne when Dimitri received the call.
Seeing the expression on his face, she put down her glass slowly and met his gaze.
"It's my father," he told them in a slightly tense tone of voice. "I told Alexei the news and asked him to call me." Taking a deep breath, he reached for Allison's hand before pushing the button. "He's FaceTiming me."
"No doubt, he wants to check out the woman who will be keeping his son here." Her fingers tightened in his.
Ivanov Petrov's face loomed on the screen, his resemblance to his son startling.
"Dimitri." His voice was slightly more accented and had a deeper pitch. His face was stern. "You have some news for me."
"I do. I tried to contact you..."
"There was a crisis at one of the petroleum companies that needed my immediate attention. Who is this woman?"
"Her name is Allison Trent, and I'm in love with her." It was said in a matter-of-fact tone that had the man looking at him in silence. "We're celebrating our engagement with my grandparents."
"I would like to see her." The command was peremptory. Squeezing her hand, Dimitri turned the phone toward Allison.
Allison mustered a gentle, nervous smile as she faced the phone's camera.
For a split second, she wondered what impression she was making on this imposing man halfway across the world.
"Good evening, Mr. Petrov. It's a pleasure to meet you," she said, trying to keep her voice steady while her heart pounded with anticipation.
She felt Dimitri's reassuring squeeze and drew strength from it, hoping her sincerity would come through.
Her response was met with silence as the man aimed his intense gaze on her face. "You're not my son's usual type." The blunt remark gave her a start, and she had no idea how to respond.
She shook her head when Dimitri reached for the phone. "I'm not, no. I'm better than the empty-headed bimbos he's used to being with."
There was a stunned silence around the table at her unexpected remark. It took all of her skills as a lawyer for her to return the man's gaze.
"Do you know who he is?" Ivanov demanded. "He is Russian royalty. He's expected to marry someone from our own circle. His money..."
"I don't give a damn about his resources," she interrupted coolly.
"And yes, I did my research. The last thing I wanted to do was fall in love with someone like him.
But here we are. I'm in love with the man.
Completely and utterly in love with the man.
If he lost everything today, I would still be in love with him, because that's who I am.
I am loyal and committed and will stand by him no matter what.
I'm willing to sign a damn prenup if that's what's bothering you.
I have money of my own. My grandparents saw to it.
No one is going to love him the way I do, no one.
" She turned her head to glance at him and saw the naked adoration on his handsome face.
"And no one has ever loved me the way he does.
" Her voice softened as she tightened her fingers on his.
Tearing her gaze away, she faced the screen.
"He's wonderful, but I suspect he inherited his character traits from his mother. "
For a moment, Ivanov stared at her, expression inscrutable.
Then, to their utter amazement, he burst out laughing.
"I like you, girl. You remind me of another American who did not mince words.
" His expression softened. "My wife. She would have loved you.
I'm convinced. Let me speak to my son. And Allison? "
"Yes?"
"Welcome to the family."
She smiled at him, her smile further dazzling him. "Thank you. I'm looking forward to meeting you in person." She turned the phone over to Dimitri, who beamed at her proudly. Looking across the table, she caught the McKenzies' approving gaze and their proud smiles.
She caught the tail end of the conversation with Dimitri telling his father firmly that the wedding would be in April.
"Doesn't give me a damn time to rearrange my schedule," he grumbled. "I suppose you want to get married in the states."
"We do, yes."
"Damned inconvenient. Let me speak to my in-laws."
Dimitri rose and handed the phone to his grandfather before coming back to draw Allison out of her chair.
Keeping her hand in his, he guided her up the stairs and into his suite.
"What are we doing up here?"
Turning her into his arms, he pulled her into his embrace and inhaled her scent. "I love you."
"I love you too."
He inhaled a shaky breath. "Just wanted to get that out of the way." Tilting her chin up, he kissed her gently and had her bones melting.