Chapter 4
Try as I might to forget what happened with Nikolai, his face won’t leave me.
I’m sitting at a lovely table having what will likely be a truly incredible dinner with a shockingly handsome man. Yet, Nikolai does not leave my mind’s eye. I twirl the silver dinner knife on the table within my fingers as I wait for my dinner companion to return from the restroom. Horus, he introduced himself after my charming response to his call earlier today. Normally, I would have asked for a last name but given that he’s the man Alek sent to watch over Liz and me, I don’t really feel like I”m in a position to question such things. I’m just grateful that he is here at all. He’s certainly easy enough on the eyes that I don’t have to worry about him making me uncomfortable while doing his job. Horus is tall and very well built, with dark skin and a stern expression. Yet, he doesn’t come across as cruel. Warm and inviting in his grey suit.
I certainly didn’t miss the way that Horus had subtly checked me out upon arriving. Where Nikolai was obvious and commanding in his attention, Horus is far more subtle. I can certainly appreciate that sort of thing. Charming, impossibly so. That’s the impression that I get within the first few minutes of meeting him. But, while I don’t doubt that Horus is perfectly lethal, he doesn’t have that same obviously dangerous edge that Nikolai has.
I have got to get him out of my head.
I need to focus on the facts - just the paperwork in front of me and nothing else. That’s officially why we are here anyway. It’s supposed to be a work dinner, paid for by Alek as my client, so that I can update Horus on all the details of the case. Originally, I had planned to present the signed divorce papers triumphantly, but Nikolai foiled me there as well.
“Thank you for your patience.” Horus says with a soft accent that I can’t place right away. I don’t know where to begin with him, so I merely smile as he lowers himself into the seat across from mine. This isn’t the sort of place with menus to look over. Just present any allergy concerns and they bring out course after course until the bill is placed on the table. I’ve always wanted to go to places like this but when I was married, it never was possible. According to Billy, the only reason I could ever have had to come to a place like this was to flaunt that I made money while he was stuck at home working on his various startups.
What’s so bad about liking the finer things in life?
I turn on a bright smile and lift my chin to greet Horus. “Nothing to thank me for in the slightest, I’m happy for your company.”
“You flatter me.” Horus smiles in return. There’s something charming about the bashful almost modest way that he lowers his gaze. I wonder what makes him tick. Perhaps he’s just not used to such forward women in his life? It will be a fun thing to play with if that’s the case.
“You’re easy to flatter.” I push the manila envelope with copies of my signed contracts to Horus and he quickly accepts them, bending to place them inside of his briefcase and then he turns his undiluted attention to me as our first course is brought to the table. I wonder if he has somebody waiting for him at home?
“I trust that your meeting with Mr. Volkovich went without difficulty?” Horus asks as he happily examines his plate. I can see by the way his eyes widen that he’s something of a foodie as he turns his plate this way and that.
I need to remember exactly what I said to Nikolai so that I don’t blur the lines and end up doing something that will cost me my job. I need this contract.
“He certainly is an interesting character. I think I made the mistake of underestimating his intelligence.” I confess, only to stop mid train of thought by a bite of the delicious food in front of me.
Horus smiles in understanding. Does he know Nikolai as well? “Many tend to make that same mistake. His brawn and reputation make many think that he’s only muscle and violence. Nothing could be further from the truth.” He points to something on my plate. “You should try those two things together.”
I do as he says. Oh, he’s definitely a foodie. This is perhaps the best dinner that I’ve ever had in my life. “You speak as if you know him well.”
“You could say that I am rather well-acquainted with him. Enough to tell you to never make the mistake of dropping your guard near him. He is far more perceptive than you think. He was raised in a very cutthroat, competitive environment where he had to always be three steps ahead of his competition at all times. The fact that he was caught was a very well-timed stroke of luck. Please do not make the mistake of thinking that because he is confined, that he is any less lethal.”
“And yet I am supposed to free this man? Be alone in a room with him?”
Horus smiles kindly as the small first course is cleared away and a second one is placed in front of us. “Mr. Volkovich is famous for his temper, this is true. However, he does not make any moves without reason or cause. Even if his actions seem random, he always has a reason for doing something.”
“You’re not making me feel very confident, Horus.”
He politely wipes his mouth. “A smart woman like you is more than capable of handling him, I assure you.”
“And what about the previous smart women in his life?” I ask, curious about some of the rumors that I’ve heard.
“You mean Anya, his wife?”
“And any of the others that have been tied to his name.”
“I am truly sorry, but those are not my stories to tell.”
“You must be a very loyal person, Horus.” I smile, meaning it as a compliment. For a moment I swear something like sadness flickers across his expression. I get the distinct feeling that perhaps there is something more to this story than they have told me.
“I promise that I will be very diligent in my duties to guard you and your young daughter, Ms. Thorne.”
“I have faith that you will.”
“I will personally be guarding your door twenty-four seven, Ms. Thorne. I hope that this meeting between us will ensure that you feel comfortable in asking me whatever it is that you might need.” Horus offers.
“You’re going to be there even at night?”
Horus smiles with one side of his face, showing a glimpse of a dimple. “Even at night.” he confirms.
“Surely you don’t mean that you’re going to be sleeping in your car or anything?”
“I could hardly serve you properly while I’m asleep, now could I?” Horus teases. He’s such a strong, stable seeming man. He’s exactly the sort of man that I ought to be focusing my attention on. It would be the most responsible choice. There’s absolutely no doubt that he’s attractive. But even still there’s something… missing. Something that I can’t quite put my finger on.
“So you just stay awake for days on end, cramped in your car like some sort of glorified stalker?” I blurt, not thinking that the words might somehow be found offensive. I could at the very least make the couch into a bed for him. Though, that might make him uncomfortable. He would be able to keep a better eye on us that way. That much would be certain at least.
“There is very little that I would not do because of how seriously I take my duties.” Horus winks.
It would be so damned simple to turn this whole outing into a date. Even as they clear the plates and bring out the next, I find myself indulging in the idea of the strong man coming to my rescue. Specifically, this strong man saving me. My focus drifts to his powerful hands. Has he spent his whole life working in security? He must catch me staring, because there’s an almost hidden smile waiting for me on his handsome face when I look back up at him.
“Something the matter?” He asks. It almost feels like he wants me to admit it, but I can’t. I cannot allow those lines to be blurred. But he’s too perfect of a distraction, I just can’t help myself.
I wink back at him as I take my time in savoring the next course. “No, everything is perfect, actually. Thank you.”
“I just can’t do it.” I say to Horus when we finally arrive back home. Standing on my porch, I know that I have to go inside and pay the babysitter for her time so that she can get on with her life. But I can’t stand the thought of Horus going back out to his car and spending the night there. “I insist that you come in for tea.”
Horus smiles. “Well, if you insist, then I suppose that I must.”
He steps in closer to me, invading my personal space in a very welcome way. If only the babysitter weren’t waiting for money, then perhaps the next few minutes would end very differently than they are right now. I unlock the door and head inside. The young girl that comes and stays with Elizabeth after school everyday has been a blessing, even if she’s expensive. A touch neurotic, but that’s actually worked to my benefit so far. I pay her. She gives both Horus and me a lingering, pointed look before she heads down the front door. She only lives a few houses down. Another added benefit.
Horus takes a moment to acquaint himself with the layout of my living room. He checks the curtains and the locks. He then ensures that the front and back doors are properly locked before heading to the small circular table that I have in my kitchen’s breakfast nook. I finish boiling the water and set my meager tea set on the table for him. I set out two mismatched mugs. Surely somebody like him is more accustomed to fine loose-leaf brews in fancy porcelain sets.
“I know it’s not much, but…” I trail off as I place a tea bag into his mug and pass it to him.
“It’s lovely, thank you.”
He’s far too kind.
“Maybe it will help you through the long night hours. You need something to keep you warm at least.”
Horus’ fingers brush against mine as he takes the mug from me, and his touch lingers. It’s only then that I seem to realize the innuendo of what I said. I don’t want to be the one to look away first. Would it be such a bad thing to mix business with pleasure for once?
Fate answers that question for me.
One moment, there’s tension growing between the pair of us and then the next moment Liz is standing in the archway leading to the hallway with sleepy eyes.
“Momma?” She asks, rubbing at her eye blearily. “When did you get home? You missed dinner…”
Normally, that’s something that we do together.
“Let me get her back to bed, one moment.” I smile bashfully at Horus, who dips his head respectfully, and then I head over to Liz. “I’m here now.”
I scoop her up into my arms and head back into her bedroom. Something that’s getting harder with every passing day. She’s so big now that I’m not going to be able to lift her much longer. It only takes a moment to get her back down and into bed. I’ve always been fortunate that she’s such a heavy sleeper. Easy to put to sleep and then tends to stay asleep.
When I come back out, Horus has one foot out of the door. “Thank you for your hospitality, but I’m certain that you have a nightly routine to get to.”
I head closer, I don’t really want him to go. I lift a hand to stop him, hesitating for a moment because while I’m normally a woman in charge, it’s a different vibe here today.
“I’ll be just outside, if you need anything.”
I could kiss him. I know that I could. I could let my body do the talking for me. He could protect me just as well from my bedroom… but something stops me.
With great effort, I take a step back and let him head back to his car.
Perhaps I stopped because I can’t seem to get Nikolai’s face out of my damned head. That man’s already more trouble than he’s worth.