Chapter 12 Getting out of line #2
A genuine smile grazes my lips. “Look at that, he does remember the things I tell him, but only when it’s convenient for him.”
“Okay, so if we’re not playing hockey…I guess we can color.”
“Emett, I’m sure Severin’s very busy and he’s not here to color—”
“Actually, I’ll have you know, I’m a professional colorist,” Severin interrupts me. “And I do need more pictures for my kitchen. That one you gave me last week is all lonely there.”
My jaw must actually, physically, be on the floor. He kept that picture? And hung it up?
“Are you really?” Emett giggles.
“Yep. Now, where are those coloring pages?”
“Come on, you can sit with me in my spot.” He gets down from Severin’s arms and takes his hand instead, leading him down the bar.
“These are kiddie ones,” Emett says flippantly, as if he’s not one of those kids, showing a few place mats I gave him.
“All of the cool ones are at home, but we have to stay here for a little bit while Mommy finishes work, and then I’ll show you the good stuff. ”
I watch Severin rolling those puffy lips, his short mustache twitching as he tries to hide his laugh.
Jesus Christ…I’m checking out a professional hockey player’s lips while he’s coloring with my son. At my work. After he looked at me like I was his enemy.
What is this? Some kind of alternate universe?
“Severin Minaev, is it?” Liam asks, leaning on his arms against the counter as he watches him carefully. Almost threateningly.
“Yeah, it is.”
“That’s Uncle Liam,” Emett introduces Liam, and Severin moves his gaze between us.
“I didn’t know you had another brother.”
“I don’t.”
“I’m not her brother,” Liam says just as someone hollers for him from the other side, needing a drink.
Reluctantly shooting me a glare I don’t understand, Liam moves over to take care of the customers.
“He’s just Uncle Liam, Mr. Brick. Here, I have the best blue crayon for you.” Emett hands him the small crayon that looks almost comical in Severin’s large hand as he squeezes it and starts drawing. Slowly, carefully, as if it’s a piece of gold and not just some paper.
A shiver runs down my spine when I think what those hands could do to me. How they could touch me. Own me. Protect me.
Suddenly, Severin’s eyes lock on mine as if he can read every dirty thought that just passed through my mind, and I feel my cheeks heat from his gaze.
I clear my throat, looking away from him. “So, what are you really doing in Iris Lake?” I ask, my words quiet enough to not carry over the hum of the Pub.
“I’m really here to see you and Emett.”
“Why?” My tone is both snappy and intrigued because just like my heart, it can’t decide which side are we on when it comes to Severin Minaev.
Severin is quiet for a long moment, just dragging the crayon across the page and it almost feels like he doesn’t have an answer to it any more than I do.
“Liam…is he—”
“He’s a friend. Not that it matters.”
Those caramel eyes lock on mine. “No, you’re right. It doesn’t. You’d be mine anyway,” he throws out casually, then goes back to coloring in the grapes on the page.
I open my mouth to say something…anything, but I hear my name getting called by customers and walk over there.
What does that mean? What did he mean?
The night turns busy, and I keep running between tables and orders, not having the chance to go back to see how Emett and Severin are doing, but I do catch glances of them laughing or whispering things to each other.
My heart simultaneously thaws and freezes right up at the sight. As a woman, this is like catnip to me. As a mom, I must think about my son first and foremost because Emett is getting attached and sooner or later, Severin will get bored with us.
“Aurora,” Liam hisses when I come to collect a few drinks. “What is he doing here?”
“If I knew, I’d tell you.”
“I don’t like it.” He narrows his eyes at Severin.
I click my tongue and couple it with a roll to my eyes. “Quit the caveman boyfriend bullshit, Liam. You’re neither a caveman nor a boyfriend.”
“Yes, I am,” he pouts.
“Which of the two?” I arch an eyebrow.
“I could be both,” he mutters, and I burst out laughing.
“Oh, Jesus Christ, Liam. I needed that, thank you.”
“I have no idea why you’re laughing right now. I would make an excellent boyfriend to you.”
“Uh-huh…and the million other girlfriends you have on the sides…what are we going to do with those?”
“You know, all you have to do is just the say the word, and I’ll be only yours.”
“Ah.” I clutch my pretend pearls. “And take Iris Lake’s favorite playboy off the market? Do you want all the cougars to go after me?”
“Oh, shut up.” He swats me with a towel playfully, barely suppressing his own smile.
“Is everything all right here?” Severin materializes out of nowhere with a scowl on his beautiful face and my laugh cuts off swift and instant. That heart of mine jumping at his proximity like it does every time.
Liam cuts his gaze to mine. “And which one is he?” It’s his turn to raise an eyebrow that I ignore with a tiny scowl.
“All good, are you leaving?” I ask Severin.
“I thought you still had another hour in your shift.” He tilts his head, checking the expensive watch on his wrist, and I nod.
“I do.”
“Then no, I’m not leaving yet.” Without awaiting my response, or explaining his, Severin saunters through the bar crowd, back to where Emett is still engrossed in his coloring.
“I’d say caveman but there are ambitious plans to take up the other position as well,” Liam quips helpfully from the side.
I let out a heavy sigh, once again ignoring my friend because I have enough to deal with and take the drinks to the patrons.
The only problem…I can’t ignore Severin’s eyes on me. I look over my shoulder and find them locked in on me and my heart does that weird thump again.
The one where we can’t figure out if we should run away or run to him.
SEVERIN
Everything felt right. From the moment I stepped into Blade’s, the tightness in my chest disappeared.
It wasn’t gradual or slowly easing. No, it was all at once as soon as my eyes landed on Aurora and Emett.
On his bright, innocent smile. On the million shades of Aurora’s sun-kissed blonde hair tossed in a haphazard ponytail that gave me all kinds of bad, filthy bad, ideas.
They were safe. I could see them and by all means, I should’ve left after confirming it. Instead, I saw another man laughing with them, standing too close and feeling way too familiar and lost all semblance of control.
Not that I seem to have any around the woman.
I know there’s more below the surface. I know there’s darkness, there are secrets, but with every second I spend in her presence, I question it. I wonder…
“Mr. Brick, you’re getting out of line,” Emett’s voice snaps me out of my wayward thoughts. “Look, your red is way off from the apple!” He points at the picture we’re coloring.
I’m getting way out of line in more than just this picture, little man.
“I’m sorry, bud, I promise I’ll do better next time.” I fix my eyes back on the coloring page, instead of his mom’s ass.
“Hey, do you want something to eat?” I ask, realizing we’ve been here for some time now. “I’ll order some food.” I raise my hand to flag that fucker, Liam, from the other side of the bar when Emett stops me.
“I don’t like any food here.”
“You don’t?”
“Nope. It smells funny,” he adds without looking up from the picture, and I frown because from what my nose could sniff around, it smells heavenly.
“All right, I guess we won’t order anything.” I’m hungry but I’ll just wait to grab something later.
“Don’t worry, I’ll feed you at home. Mom made the best noodle soup ever.”
I stop, my eyes slowly lifting to watch this little boy who’s still way too concentrated on his drawing and a small smile creeps onto my face as realization sets in.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the food here.
But do I call him out on his little plan? No. Why? Because apparently, I’m a masochist. So, instead, I pick up another color and go back to drawing.
“Okay, honey, I’m all done,” Aurora says, taking off the black apron she’s wearing.
“Perfect timing!” Emett grins. “We just finished the last placemat.” He holds up all ten we’ve colored in the last hour or so.
“Wow, that’s a lot coloring.”
“Yeah, turns out, Mr. Brick needed a whole lot of practice.”
I let out a chuckle. “I guess I did.”
“It’s okay.” Emett pats my arm. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of. I’ll give you some more to practice on when we get home.”
“Okay,” Aurora says with a small laugh. “You’ve already monopolized Severin’s time enough. I’m sure he has places to be.”
“Yes, he does, I already invited him over to our house for dinner.”
“Um, you—you did?” Aurora stammers, her gaze flickering to mine, unsure.
“Yep. He’s hungry, and I told him about the noodle soup you made, and he really wants to try it.”
I cover my mouth with the palm of my hand, trying hard to suppress the laugh that’s threatening to spill. This kid…
Aurora clears her throat, clearly conflicted about the situation and if I was be a better man like the world thinks I am, I’d gracefully back out, giving her an easy out. But I’m not a better man. Not when it comes to this woman it seems.
Fuck, I should back out, if not for her sanity then for my own.
After a few seconds, she must realize there’s no way out of this and sighs, plastering a fake smile on her porcelain face. “Okay, I guess noodle soup it is. I’ll be right back.”
A moment later, she returns with her flimsy winter coat, a large knit scarf and her bag, motioning for Emett to get down and dresses him up as well. “Um, I guess we’ll see you at our house,” she tells me and ushers him out the door.
I leave a bill for my juice before following them out, but as soon as we step out, I realize her duct tape car isn’t here, and sure enough, Aurora and Emett start walking down the street on foot. His small hand in hers as he tells her something animatedly.