Chapter Thirty-Three Sarah
It was still relatively early in the evening, but I would have to say all my worry had been for nothing.
Although I’d already met two of Maksim’s brothers, I was still ridiculously nervous to meet the rest of his family, especially his sisters.
Considering what a wonderful brother he was, I knew Mila and Kira would be hard to win over.
Thankfully, I’d worried for nothing. Both women were so fun and beautiful and welcoming. In the end, they were both so thrilled that Maksim was so happy. And I felt the same way.
Dinner was a delicious mixture of Russian and Irish fare. Apparently the two cultures weren’t completely fused yet, which wasn’t surprising considering the previous bad blood.
My place-card had been seated between Dima and Kira with Maksim across from me. Dima was still a mystery to me. He’d shaken my hand and seemed glad to meet me, but there was something beneath the surface that I couldn’t put my finger on.
It was like he distrusted me.
And I couldn’t imagine why. It wasn’t like I’d thrown myself at Maksim to try to win him over for his money and power. I’d been kidnapped for fuck’s sake. Considering Lev and Aleks role in my early captivity, I couldn’t imagine that Dima didn’t know the truth.
In the end, I knew I could only try to change his mind by being friendly and gracious. Of course, that was proving difficult since he had his head buried in his phone for the first two courses.
I turned my attention to Mila’s fiance, Kellan’s, scarred brother, Quinn, and his beautiful wife, Isla, were also seated next to Maksim with their baby boy. I’d met them briefly at the groundbreaking. Just as I was about to compliment the baby, Isla popped out of her seat and quickly rushed off.
Quinn grimaced. “She’s got morning sickness…or I guess I should say all day sickness,” he explained.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” I said.
As he bounced his son in his arms, he glanced over his shoulder, concern etched on his handsome face. “If you’d like to go check on her, I can take your baby.”
“Oh thank you,” he replied as he rose out of his seat. Leaning over the table, he said, “His name is Rian, and if he gets really fussy, just find one of my brothers or their wives.”
“Find someone Irish. Got it.”
Quinn chuckled. “I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
“We will,” I replied, as I took Rian into my arms.
“Thanks.”
He then whirled around and headed in the direction Isla had disappeared in. Rian glanced curiously into my face. “Hi there. I’m Sarah.”
His little lip started trembling. “Oh no. Don’t cry. Do you want to walk around?”
Walking away from the table, I started towards one of the lighted ice sculptures. As Maksim joined my side, he asked, “Is everything okay?”
“I’m just trying to diffuse a ticking time bomb,” I said over Rian’s fussing.
After eyeing Maksim, Rian held tiny hands out to him, which caused Maksim to frown. “You can take him.”
His face paled slightly. “I haven’t held a b-baby since Kira.”
“You’ll be fine.”
With fear flashing in his dark eyes, he took Rian from me. Immediately, Rian calmed. After a few moments, he was cooing and patting the tattoos on Maksim’s neck. “I think you remind him of his dad,” I mused.
Maksim didn’t speak. He merely stared down into Rian’s face while swaying back and forth. At the expression on his face, my chest tightened. It was one of a man looking into his future and accepting that he wanted what Quinn had.
He wanted to be a father.
And fuck me if it wasn’t sexy as hell. I’d read about people with a breeding kink, but I’d never in a million years found it appealing, least of all sexy. But the thought of Maksim putting a baby in me had me ready to call my Gyno’s office for a consultation to remove my IUD.
“Get a grip, Sarah,” I muttered under my breath. You’ve known the man for all of six weeks. Not to mention the fact he’s an underworld boss.
Maksim tore his gaze from Rian to mine. “D-Did you say something?”
Shit. “Just that you look good with him. Very natural.”
He smiled. “He seems to like me.”
“What’s not to like?”
Maksim’s brows furrowed. “Nothing. It’s just sometimes kids are scared of me.”
“Because you remind them of a pale Hulk?” I teased remembering what Kyle had said.
He barked out a laugh, which caused Rian to jump. “It’s okay. I’m sorry,” Maksim apologized, as he gently patted Rian’s back.
Rian grinned before going back to studying Maksim’s tattoos. Our beautiful quasi-domestic moment was interrupted by Dima. Having been shot less than a month ago, he appeared to be doing amazingly well even if he did still lean heavily on his cane.
“What’s up, brat?”
I couldn’t help noting Maksim’s somewhat suspicious tone, so I forced a smile to my face.
“I came to see if Sarah would like to dance.”
Maksim regarded Dima coolly. “Do you think you should be on your feet that long?”
“I think I can manage.”
With the tension radiating between them, I said, “I would love to dance. Thank you, Dima.”
As Maksim cradled Rian in his arms, Dima led me onto the dance floor. When his stiff arms came around me, I instantly regretted agreeing to dance with him.
After swaying in silence for a few moments, I knew I would have to break the ice. “I have to say I’m a little surprised you asked me to dance.”
His blue eyes narrowed. “Because of my limp?”
From his tone, I knew his injury was a definite sore spot. “No, it’s more the fact you don’t seem to like me, do you?”
“I don’t even know you,” he replied diplomatically.
“I don’t think that matters.”
Dima intently searched my face. “You are a genuinely good person, Sarah. My family can never thank you enough for what you’ve done for Maksim with his stutter.”
“Thank you. It was my honor to help him.” Cocking my head, I asked, “Then what’s with the animosity?”
“It’s Maks.”
I furrowed my brows. “What about him?”
“I’m afraid of what’s going to happen to him if things don’t work out between the two of you.”
“We haven’t been together that long. Isn’t it a little premature to be wondering how he’ll handle a break up?”
“For someone so smart, you’re very naive.”
“You’re not the first Korolov to say that to me.” As I thought of Lev’s words back at my apartment, I wondered if Dima was inferring the same thing. “You think he’s already in love with me.”
“I know he is.”
I didn’t bother arguing that it was too soon for all that. People fell in love over days while others took years. I knew I felt strongly for Maksim myself. And being in love with someone wasn’t the same as loving them.
“While I would love to promise you that nothing will go wrong between us, I can’t.
But I do care about Maksim a lot. He has shown up for me physically and emotionally more in the last few weeks than any man I’ve ever dated.
And I know without a shadow of a doubt, I would never, ever want to hurt him. ”
“I hope you will remember that statement in the future.”
A mirthless laugh tumbled from my lips. “That sounds a little like a threat.”
“More like a plea.”
“I don’t understand.”
“If things do go south, please try to focus on what you feel at this moment for him. The good you know that is in him. The care he has given you.”
I swallowed hard. “If there’s something I should know about Maksim, you should tell me right now.”
“It’s not for me to say.”
The song ended and changed over to a faster beat. To my surprise, Dima kissed my cheeks three times. “Thank you, Sarah.”
And then he turned and left me alone on the dance floor.