Chapter 25 Passcodes
Passcodes
Anika
While her aim had gotten better, Anika’s feelings toward Mikko hadn’t.
Diluted pieces of their interactions haunted her, every waking moment consumed by him.
Even though she was emailing consultants and clients, her mind wandered to a week ago when she’d spotted him sulking in the corner of the restaurant she’d chosen for her and Levi’s date.
Ever since then, that memory had propelled her through all of her bad days and nearly every unbearable moment with Levi.
And then there was the gun range. She could still hear his whispered voice and gruff touch. She’d hoped the orgasms she’d wrung from her body as soon as she’d gotten home that day would’ve helped. Apparently not.
She’d be lying if she said it didn’t do something to her stomach.
His phantom touches lingered days later, her chest aching.
Torn completely in two, Anika admired his ability to claw his way beneath her skin despite her disdain for him, but she also wasn’t blind to attraction.
He might be an asshole, but her body couldn’t help itself.
Her mind thought back to his sinful scent of blood mandarin and addictive vetiver and patchouli.
His warmth had completely enveloped her in that small shooting booth, erasing every other thought.
Except for the fact he’d accused her of killing one of his men. Those were bold words coming from a man who was known for torture and murder.
And now scarf stealing.
Adrenaline had already lined her veins, the nightmare causing her to head to the range setting her teeth on edge, but then he’d shown up—slipped past her safety mechanisms. It was in her favor regardless, but again, her body wasn’t caught up with such schemes.
Deep down, she had carnal desires he could sate if she let him, but the thought made her shudder.
No, I cannot go there, especially with him. Anyone else, sure.
Her cell phone rang, drawing her back to the present. The name flashing across the screen had her pausing with a look of disdain.
Levi.
Anika debated on if she should answer, but knew she’d agreed to plans with him this evening and answered with a sigh.
“Hey,” she said as she resumed typing all while tucking her phone between her shoulder and ear.
“Hey, are you still down to get dinner tonight?” Levi asked, his voice light. He was always in one of two moods: enthusiastic or withdrawn. Tonight was the former. Either way, it didn’t matter, he was nothing more than the gum on the bottom of her shoe. A nuisance and a narcissist.
“Of course, where were you thinking again?” She kept her own voice airy and bright, matching his apparent fervor. His insistence on this date had been annoying to say the least, and maybe a little bit endearing. Endearing in the way a dog brings its owner a chew toy covered in slobber.
“Well, I know we usually go out, but since you’ve invited me over to your place,” it’d been a tactic she’d used to get him to let his guard down, “I thought you could come by my place?”
“Don’t feel like you have to repay me for that,” Anika hurried to comfort, her words only surface level, “I only want to do things you’re comfortable with—”
“I know, I know, but I want to. I just wanted to make sure I’d cleaned up before you came over.” Her eyebrow rose, but he continued. “And I thought we could have a relaxing night in, and I could cook for you.”
“Are you a good cook, or am I to have low expectations for this?” Anika teased.
Levi chuckled. “I’ve been told I make a mean gnocchi soup by quite a few of my guests, so I think you’d be surprised.” Who his other guests had been was none of her concern, but she found it weird he’d say it like that, especially if they were to be dating.
What a slimy little man you are, Levi.
“Sounds perfect to me,” she replied breezily.
“I’ll stop by your office in about”—he paused, most likely glancing at his watch—“thirty minutes.”
“See you then.”
And as she hung up, a small smile graced her lips. She was positive a certain someone would hear about this little date and investigate.
* * *
THE RIDE TO Levi’s apartment was an uneventful one, so much so Anika wished she’d turned down his offer to drive. Being by herself meant she could control the atmosphere she resided in, but alas, Levi’s constant chatter kept her company instead.
The elevator ride up to his floor was a quick one.
Her work clothes felt out of place, a piece of the day following her into the evening.
She desperately wanted to take them off, but not in the presence of her current company.
Suddenly she was wishing she’d brought something a little more comfortable to change into.
Too late now.
“My soup recipe shouldn’t take too long to get prepped and cooked,” Levi said as the elevator dinged, stopping at the twelve floor. “Ah, here we are, go ahead,” he continued, holding the elevator door back for her.
Stepping out, Anika’s eyes traced over the plush carpet lining the hall in either direction.
It was dark, a rich charcoal accented by the forest green paint adorning the walls.
Soft, warm lighting emanated from sleek wall sconces.
Levi swept by her, leading the way to his apartment.
She noticed the geometric patterned relief in the wallpaper on the swaths of wall between the pilasters.
As much as Levi annoyed her his apartment complex had good taste.
“We’re almost there,” he assured, mistaking her silence for impatience.
“Oh, no worries. Quite the lovely building you live in,” she responded, eyes wandering all while following him deeper into the corridor. “Romanov Real Estate makes sure its employees are taken care of it seems.”
Stopping at a glossy ebony door, his apartment number 1235, he unlocked his phone before holding it up to the escutcheon behind the door handle.
“I’m glad you think so, but don’t tell Mr. Romanov himself”—a faint beep and click of the mechanism inside unlocked—“his ego is big enough.” Didn’t she know it.
Anika smiled, donning her best reassuring face, and he bought it.
“After you.”
Stepping inside, Anika’s gaze caught on the tall, narrow windows overlooking the city in front of her.
While it wasn’t a wall of glass like most apartment buildings favored these days, these still allowed for impeccable views.
Ornate trim outlined the panes of glass, all painted a monochromatic fresh white.
Her heels clicked on the polished as she walked farther inside. A simple kitchen with a wall of deep mahogany cabinets and an island sat to her right and a quaint dining table matching the wood in the kitchen was tucked up against a wall to her left.
A few of the walls had chunks of plaster missing, exposing the brick beneath it—a timeless design choice even though the building was modern.
His couch was leather and stretched out in the room in front of her, the back of it falling below the window sill. A plush rug softened all the other hard surfaces. And two doors, one on each side of the tall windows, stood open. Bedrooms if she had to guess.
“For being a bachelor, your space is quite…”
“Clean?” Levi interrupted, tucking his jacket up onto the coat rack near the door. “Stylish? Homey?”
“Organized is the word that came to mind,” Anika chuckled, “but all those work too.”
“Here, let me take your cardigan and you can leave your shoes wherever.”
Doing as she was told, Anika shed a few articles of her clothing to appease him, and to get more comfortable. Levi strode into his kitchen slinging the refrigerator door open as he collected the necessary items for their dinner.
Curious, Anika walked over to the windows—four in total bookended with dark curtains—eager to see the view beyond. She also needed a moment to orient herself, and let Levi settle into his cooking routine. She knew when she was in the kitchen, anyone in her way made things a disaster.
Placing her palms on the cool, wooden window sill, Anika looked out. Winking city lights glimmered all around, the surrounding areas in full swing despite the growing nighttime hour. Places like Portland truly never did sleep.
Through the slivers of empty space between the structures before her, Anika thought she could see the shimmer of lights on the river. The tips of the bridges spanning between the two halves of the city were lit up and blinking.
“Care for a drink?” Levi’s voice had her turning, honeyed eyes tracing the countertop he stood behind. Atop it were all the ingredients he needed and a bottle of wine.
“How did you know what my favorite wine was?” she asked, slinking closer and letting the curtains flutter semi-closed in her absence. The label of the wine bottle was one she had stocked up in her pantry. “Am I really that easy to read?”
Mikko’s doing no doubt.
The cork popped, an awaiting elegant wine glass sparkling in the kitchen pendant lights Anika now noticed. Deep, red liquid sloshed inside as Levi poured, waiting to serve her before offering an answer.
“Just a guess,” he replied, pushing the glass closer to her side of the island by the foot.
She picked it up, swirled it, then inhaled. The rich plum scent of it made her mouth water, but he still hadn’t answered her question from before. “So, I am easy to read.”
His eyes were downcast, focused on the sole task of washing and prepping the vegetables he’d bought. “No, no, quite the contrary actually,” a small laugh from him had her own lips quirking, “but Malbec happens to somewhat pair with the mushroom gnocchi I’m making.”
That, and it was the same thing she’d ordered when they were together at The Stuffed Pepper, but Levi had been too self-centered to remember such a detail apparently.
“It does,” she perched herself on a barstool. “Glad to see you’ve done your research.”
“Gotta impress a pretty woman somehow,” he chopped the vegetables into small chunks, “in case the meal doesn’t.”
Anika smiled as she glanced over what he’d laid out. “Looks promising to me.”