Chapter 6 #2
"You had a good reason." I lean forward and rest my chin on my hand. "I'd rather be with someone who takes care of his responsibilities than someone who blows them off to impress me."
His whole body relaxes when I say that. His shoulders loosen and he stops fidgeting with the silverware. I've given him permission to stop performing and he takes it, leaning back in his chair and studying me like he's got nowhere else in the world to be.
I lift my glass and tilt it toward him. "To second chances."
He touches his glass to mine and the rim makes a soft clink. "I'll drink to that."
The wine goes down smoothly, and I set the glass on the table and leave my fingers on the stem, twisting it slowly.
"So, tell me… You run a business and you've got people depending on you, and you're nervous about dinner with me.
" I grin at him, lowering my head to look at him through my eyelashes. "Why?"
Kazimir bursts into laughter, and it lights up his whole face and transforms the atmosphere. I could really be smitten by him if I let myself. "Because you're the first woman I've been out with in a long time who I actually want to impress, and I'm realizing I don't know how to do that."
This guy is killing me. He's so genuine, and he's being so open. It's too easy and it almost makes me feel bad knowing what I'm gonna do to him. "You're doing fine." I hold his gaze and let the corner of my mouth lift. "Better than fine."
"Yeah?" He leans forward, resting his forearms on the table. "What am I doing right?"
"Well, let's see…" I smirk. "You were on time—that's a big one.
And you were standing as I approached, and then you pulled my chair out for me.
" I tick them off on my fingers. "Most men forget at least two of those three.
" He's also easy to talk to, super handsome, and I already know he's a good kisser—three more green flags, and three hits against my armored heart.
I'd kill for a man like him to really ask me out. It makes this bittersweet that I'm about to wreck a perfectly good gentleman—albeit a criminal—and take him out of the game for any other woman. He'll never trust again.
"My uncle would've knocked me unconscious if I forgot any of them.
" He grins and takes a sip of his wine. "Ro drilled that into me good…
" His chest relaxes, but his expression turns slightly sad for a moment.
I wonder what his uncle Roman was doing spending so much time in his life.
Other than what he's told me, I know nothing about Kazimir.
I don't know what sort of a childhood he had, or parents.
"Smart man," I tell him, finding myself wondering about him more than I should.
Bogdan warned me when this was all about Roman Kuzin not to get too interested in his personal life.
I know the more I know about him, the more it humanizes him, and the more likely I'll grow a conscience and fail.
But what the heck am I supposed to talk about on a first date if not getting to know him?
"He'd love to hear you say that." Kazimir relaxes back into his chair and the nervous energy starts to drain out of him.
"Did your brothers lecture you about how to behave tonight?
" His eyes sparkle with humor as he asks, and I know he's joking.
After what happened at the gala, he probably thinks they're overprotective of me.
I tuck my hair behind my ear and smile at him. "How to survive dinner with a man who's trying to impress me." I can't give away anything. By now, he may even have checked me out to know who I am and who my brothers are. Though, if that were the case, I'm sure he wouldn't be coming back for more.
He laughs again, and the couple at the next table glances over at us. They don't seem amused, but I'm actually enjoying myself.
"My family is complicated. Lots of brothers, lots of opinions about what I should be doing and who I should be doing it with." I trace the rim of my glass with one finger and watch his eyes follow the movement. "I don't get a lot of say in my own life, if I'm being honest."
My chest feels hollow as I speak about the guys.
The best way to tell a lie is to keep it as true to the truth as possible so you don't have to feign emotions or try to remember all the loose threads.
I do hate how they control me, and they don't give me a lot of say.
None of that is made up, and neither is the emotion all over my face as I say it.
"That sounds exhausting."
"It is." I sigh and then force a smile because if I get too real, this won't go the way it needs to go.
"That's why tonight feels good. I get to be here because I want to be, not because someone told me to.
" That one lands deep for both of us. I have to fake a grin completely, and he warms to me, leaning forward.
I can see it in the way his expression changes, and he looks at me like he wants to fix every hard thing I've ever been through.
Men are predictable when you give them something to protect.
Especially men in my world. They all feel like they're heroes and bodyguards, waiting to bash in a bad guy's face to save the damsel.
I'm not a damsel—far from it—but Kazimir wants to be the hero.
I can work with that.
The rest of the night goes smoothly, dinner and drinks, more conversation and laughter, and when he slides a few bills into the folder to pay the check and stands, offering me his hand, I take it and walk with him to the door.
I've had a decent time with him, and now we're at the moment of truth.
Have I sold myself well enough that Kazimir Kuzin is willing to invite me to dinner again?
Or will he say goodbye and send me on his way?
We step through the door into a light mist of cool rain and he turns to me, sliding his coat off his shoulders to drape around mine. I hug my clutch to my chest as he leans in and presses a soft kiss to my lips. It makes warmth sink down through my body all the way to my toes.
"We got interrupted the other night," he whispers, "and I never got a chance to show you my place."
I smile against his lips and say, "You want to show me your place?"
"I want to show you more than my place, Zora." His lips linger as he nips and sucks at my lower lip. "Come home with me."
His words are not a question, and I have no protest.
I'm in.
And my brothers are gonna have to eat their words for thinking I may fail.
"I'd love to," I say as his hands grip my hips.
And I have a feeling I'm gonna love what this man does to my body too.