Chapter 2 #2
“As do I. That’s why I decided to stay and not get the annulment you so graciously offered after tricking me into marriage.”
Adam frowned. “I didn’t trick you into this marriage. I might not have explained everything beforehand, but I gave you the opportunity to get out, and you declined to take it.” He narrowed his eyes. “You want…or maybe need this marriage as much as I do.”
“Fine. I do want this marriage. I’m not getting any younger and I want a family as well.
I do request that we get to know each other before we become intimate.
I don’t think that is too much to ask. And why did you wait until now to have this conversation?
” She looked out at all his brothers, just standing there. They were patient men.
He placed one hand on the roof of the SUV and the other on the open door. “I didn’t know how to approach it or you, but I knew it was something we needed to get out there for the world to see, or at least us. It’s not too much to ask and I agree. I assume that at your age you’re not a virgin.”
She rolled her eyes. “Well, nothing like being blunt but you assume correctly. I’ve been engaged before.”
“That’s a conversation for another time. I see all of my brothers are now waiting to meet you.” He took her hand, then he helped her down from the truck, he didn’t let go of her hand but led her to stand in front of his brothers.
“Brothers, this is my wife, Millie. She will be helping us all. Please come meet her, in order by age. Benjamin you are first.”
A man who looked to be close in age to Adam stepped forward and held out his hand. “I’m Benjamin but you can call me Ben, if you prefer. I’m very happy to meet you, Millie.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Benjamin.” She winked at him.
Next was Christopher, he also shook her hand.
Daniel, Everett, Frederick, and Gabriel followed him and stated their pleasantries.
By the time the last brother shook her hand, Millie wasn’t sure that the appendage wasn’t permanently sprained. “It’s genuinely nice to meet you all. I know you told me your names, but I’m terrible with names and faces. So bear with me as I learn who you are.”
All the brothers smiled and nodded.
She looked up at Adam. “I’d like to see the house now.”
“Of course.” He turned toward his brothers. “Okay. Will you all unload the groceries, please?”
The brothers broke up and went to work getting the groceries from the truck and carrying them inside.
Millie gazed up at the home before her. It looked magnificent. Three stories of roughhewn logs, lots of windows on the two sides she could see. The large picture windows on either side of the door drew her. They faced the east and would get a lot of morning sunshine.
Adam retrieved her bags from the back seat of his truck and stopped at her side. “Are you ready?”
“Yes. So far, I love your home, Adam. It’s beautiful and so unique. One doesn’t often see three-story log homes.”
As he looked up at the house, he smiled, “My father built it for Mom. I was about ten at the time construction started and I helped as much as I could, but Dad did most of it alone. By the time it was finished two years later, Benjamin and Chris, were both old enough to help us move in. But Daniel was just too young, as were Everett and the twins.”
“Where are you parents now? Are they snowbirds?”
He closed his eyes for a moment. “Two years ago, they were killed in an avalanche while cross-country skiing in the back country. We didn’t find them for several days because the area was so remote.”
Millie placed her hand on Adam’s arm. “I’m very sorry for your loss.”
He shook his head as though shaking off the memories. “Thank you. Shall we.”
She grinned, excited to see her new home.
“We’ll go in through the kitchen.” Adam led her to the door on the side of the house.
Millie’s eyes widened as she took in the room. The kitchen was as she not what she expected. Oh, it had all the modern conveniences, but the room also hadn’t had a good cleaning probably since his mother passed away.
Dishes were piled in the sink. Grease spatter covered the stove and burned-on food from days or weeks of meals. The floor was covered is muddy footprints from who-knew-how-long ago. The island was covered with pots and pans that would probably need a good scrubbing before going into the dishwasher.
The countertops were black granite with sparkles and streaks of gold running through it.
All the appliances were stainless, which was a good thing, because if they hadn’t had the ability to hide some of the mess, she couldn’t imagine what the room would look like.
A large rectangular table with ten chairs sat at one end of the room. It looked to have empty grocery sacks on it. Well, at least they put the groceries away.
She noticed a door, opposite the stove, which she thought was probably the pantry.
“Follow me, and I’ll take you to the bedroom.”
Between the kitchen and the living room was the laundry room, which was piled high with both dirty and clean laundry. She decided she’d just wash everything since she wasn’t positive what was clean. The stairs even had clothes on them.
At the top of the stairs ran a long hallway with five doors. The first on the right was a bathroom that was in dire need of cleaning.
“We don’t use this part of the house much anymore since Mom and Dad passed away. We all moved to the bunkhouse.” He kept walking and stopped at the first door on the left. “This was Benjamin’s room.” Adam opened the door.
A king-sized bed, dark wood desk with computer, nightstands that matched the desk and chest of drawers. The room was relatively neat with the bed the only thing that was not perfect. The bedspread had been pulled up to cover the pillows and called good.
The next room was Christopher’s. It was neat and clean, except for dusting.
The last room on the left was the master bedroom.
Adam’s parent’s room. The space was very large with windows on the south and one on the east wall.
A kind-sized bed, like in all the rooms, was made perfectly.
She bet she could bounce a quarter off of it.
The beautiful headboard and footboard were made of oak that had been carved into woodland scenes.
Along the north wall were two doors. Inspection of them revealed a large five-piece bathroom behind one and a walk-in closet behind the other.
A chest of drawers and a large nine drawer bureau was against the west wall along with a cheval mirror.
All the wood was varnished oak just like in her parent’s kitchen.
Adam cleared his throat and the swung his arm out to take in the entire room. “This is our room. I hope you like it.”
“It’s beautiful.” This is where I’ll be sleeping with Adam. Am I ready for this? I don’t even know this man. Well, as the old saying goes, you’ve made your bed now lie in it.
He placed her suitcases on the bed. “I’ll leave you to unpack. If you need anything, just call out. I’ll be in the kitchen.”
Millie nodded. “Okay, will do.” She moved to the bed and opened both suitcases.
Adam left the room.
She unpacked and, by moving his parents clothes to one side of the closet, found room in there for her things.
The same happened with the drawers on the bureau.
She moved the contents to the left side and middle of the bureau until she had created enough room for not only her clothes but Adam’s as well.
When she was done she headed down to the kitchen.
Adam was sitting at the table with a mug of coffee.
“I hope there’s some of that coffee left. It smells wonderful.”
He turned and smiled. “Just made a fresh pot.” Adam stood and headed to the cupboards, where he pulled out a mug and filled it for her. “Come sit.” He waved his arm at the table. “Do you take anything in your coffee?”
“Nope. Just black. We never had the money for cream and sugar when I was growing up, so when I sipped from my parents cups it was black coffee and I learned to like it.” She sat across the table from him. Of course, now her father was a Pakhan in the Bratva and money was no longer scarce.
“While you were unpacking the brothers and I brought in the groceries and put them away.”
Millie looked at the sink, stove and counters. “Before I can do any cooking this kitchen needs to be scrubbed from top to bottom.” She sipped her coffee. The drink was rich and the flavor delighted her tongue. “You make pretty good coffee.”
Adam wrapped his hands around his mug. “Thanks. It’s the one thing that all of us are good at.”
“I’ll finish this coffee and then get after cleaning. I can get something ready for dinner in probably two hours. Have any requests?”
“Steak. We always have steak on grocery day.”
“Okay, steak it is. But if you want them grilled someone else will have to do it.” Millie cupped the mug with her hands.
“I do it, and yes, we do have them grilled.”
“Good. One less thing to think about.” She took another sip of coffee, looked into the mug and was surprised to find it nearly gone. She obviously was drinking it faster because she was nervous. “I thought I’d start a load of laundry while I clean the kitchen.”
Adam reached out and placed his hand on Millie’s arm. “You don’t have to do everything at once, Millie. You’ll be here for a long time.”
“Yes, and I want that time to be pleasant. I don’t want to ever see this house in this condition again. It’s much too beautiful to be mistreated the way you all have since your parents passed.”
Adam furrowed his brows and narrowed his eyes. “It’s not for lack of trying. We simply don’t know how. Which is why I married you, or have you forgotten already?”
She stiffened her back. “I’ve forgotten nothing, Adam Sullivan. Absolutely nothing.”
“Good. If we stick to our agreement, all should be well.”
She hoped he was right, and that Sokolov wouldn’t find her. If he did, then all bets were off, because she would run the first chance she had. After all she had no desire to die.