Chapter Two
“Wait. You’re going to Sleepy Hollow with Ivan? To…explore Russian literature.”
“That is what I said.” Anna looked at her best friend, Amy, as she continued sorting out the clothes she planned to take with her. August was always a strange month in the Hudson Valley. The days could be in the 80s, while the nights could drop as low as the 50s. The Petrov family home was one of the old historic houses in Sleepy Hollow, not one of the famous ones, but one that dated back to the Revolutionary War. It was well cared for and modern, a two-story colonial that had been renovated over the years. On the outside, the red brick face still showed signs of age, but inside, it was comfortable and cozy. Anna folded a light-weight sweater and added it to her duffle bag. “It’s nothing like you’re thinking,” she stated.
Amy harumphed. “It’s exactly what I’m thinking. Ivan Petrov has been trying to get in your knickers since the two of you were first-year students in college. And you’ve been smitten with him since the first day he uttered his name with that heavy Russian accent.” Amy stood and walked towards Anna. “I am Ivan Petrov, from Moscow,” she stated, imitating Ivan. “And you are a beautiful American woman. Could you fall in love with someone like me?”
Anna stared at Amy. “Your accent is terrible. You need to lower the pitch of your voice. Make it a little gruffer.”
“Like this?” Amy asked, suddenly sounding like Dolph Lundgren. “I will take you down, Rocky Balboa.”
It was enough to send Anna into a fit of giggles. She lightly pushed Amy away from her when her friend started making kissing noises at her. “I assure you, it’s all academic. He made a bet with me that he could prove to me that Russian literature was anything but dark and depressing.”
“How?” Amy tossed her long, curly hair over her shoulder, crossing her arms over her chest. She knew Ivan was in love with Anna, even if Anna didn’t. They were all friends, and he’d confided in her years before about how he felt. This was about more than just convincing Anna that Russian literature was good. This was about winning her best friend’s heart.
“I don’t know how he plans on doing it other than I’ll be reading a lot of authors whose names I can barely pronounce,” Anna stated. She turned to her dresser and began tossing underwear into the bag.
Amy walked over to the bag and retrieved the panties. “Uh…no. You’re going to be with Ivan, and you’re going to need something way more sexier than these,” she stated. She carried the undies back to Anna’s dresser and began to go through the lingerie. “Girl, do you not have anything more appropriate for a week with the Russian hunk?”
“Um…I’m not planning on Ivan seeing my underwear,” Anna protested as she picked up the offending undergarments and put them back in her bag.
Amy threw her hands up in the air. “That’s it. We’re going shopping. This is the perfect opportunity for you to find out what your best friend is packing in his tight blue jeans.”
“Amy!”
Amy looked at her watch. They had enough time to get to the lingerie store, grab a bite, and finish packing before Ivan showed up to pick up Anna. “I’m trying to get you laid.” She tossed Anna her purse. “Whether you want to get laid or not.” She grabbed Anna’s arm and tugged her out of her apartment. “You can thank me later. Or shoot me if he doesn’t live up to your expectations in bed.”
“You’re assuming we’re going to sleep together!” Anna sighed as she fell into step with the other woman.
“You’re sleeping together.” Amy held up her hand, flagging down a taxi. Shoving Anna into the car, she got in and gave the driver the address to Victoria’s Secret in Times Square. “And if you don’t, I’m taking you to the hospital myself and having you committed.” She grinned. “Cause, let’s face it. Ivan is a hunk; you have the hots for him, and it’s time for you to just give in to what all of us see right in front of us.”
“Which is what?” Anna grumbled.
“You and Ivan Petrov are in love, and it’s about time one of you did something about it.” Amy chuckled. “You can play his game.”
“I don’t want to play any games. I just want my time slot back,” Anna groused. She watched the people walking on the sidewalks of New York City, going about their lives. She always wondered who they were and what they did for a living. Did they have a family? Were they married? Did they find the love they always wanted, or were they single and carefree? Were they happy? Were they sad? She stopped the thoughts before they could take any deeper hold. Her questioning was starting to sound like one of those Russian novels she found so dark and depressing.
“Besides, you are both consenting adults. What happens in Sleepy Hollow stays in Sleepy Hollow, right?”
Right, indeed. Anna sighed. She knew Amy was right, and she had to decide now before her credit card took a hit with all the sexy clothing Amy was about to make her buy. “I don’t want whatever happens between us to ruin our friendship,” she finally admitted. She shifted in her seat to look at her friend.
“Might I interject, ladies?” the cabbie asked.
“Please. Tell this girl she needs to give in to her carnal instincts,” Amy encouraged.
“If the young man is offering up his home, buying groceries, and wanting to spend time with you, he ain’t looking for some one-night stand. He’s looking for someone he can form a connection with.” The cabbie peered back at them as they sat at the stoplight. “Why enjoy what he’s offering up?”
“The light’s green,” Anna stated, pointing to the front of the car. She sighed in resignation. “Now I’m getting advice from a cabbie.”
“Married thirty years. I still woo her every weekend with date night,” he claimed proudly.
That made Anna smile. If only she could be so lucky to be wooed like that. But maybe that’s what Ivan had planned. Maybe the pilfering of her time slot was a more elaborate ruse to get her alone so that they could finally address the sparks that seemed to fly between them every time they were in the same room together. It made her feel a little better. And Amy was right. She couldn’t very go with the plain cotton panties in her dresser, even if she preferred them.
She handed the cabbie a twenty, and as he pulled up to Victoria’s Secret, she waited for Amy at the door. “No thongs.”
“Oh god, no. You wouldn’t catch me dead in a pair of those. My teeth need to be flossed, not my ass,” Amy stated in horror. “But go with something a bit sexier.” She walked past Anna, pulling the pair of boy cuts from her hand and putting them back on the display. She took her arm and drug her deeper into the store. “Trust me. By the time we’re done in here and Ivan sees you in what I have in mind, you will be singing my praises from here to Jersey.”
An hour later, Anna emerged with three bags of goodies from Victoria’s Secret. She was lucky they were having sales, and her credit card wasn’t groaning quite as much as she thought it would. She had everything from sexy bikinis to cheeky panties to bras that cupped her breasts just right while emphasizing her cleavage, which, to be fair, needed as much help as they could get. She had yoga pants to relax in, nighties that were slinky, and even a pair of satin pajamas in case she was too shy to get undressed. A few t-shirts with PINK all over them and some new body spray finished the purchase. They had a quick bite and headed back to her apartment.
“You know, part of me hopes you’re right, and part of me doesn’t,” Anna exclaimed as she finished packing the new clothing in her bag. She looked at Amy. “You sure you don’t mind watching Sebastian until I get back?”
“I do not mind watching Sebastian. Cal likes it when he comes to visit. They’ll tear up my place from top to bottom, but they do give the best cuddles, and I love falling asleep to purring in stereo. Let’s get him in his carrier, and I’ll get out of your hair.”
It took them a few minutes to wrangle Sebastian into his carrier, but Anna gave him plenty of treats and pets before Amy whisked him away for a long playdate at her house. Anna’s stomach was in knots. She knew she had no reason to be nervous, but she was. She looked up as Ivan’s car pulled up in front of the apartment building. Picking up her duffle bag, she walked out of the building, ready to face the challenge he had put in front of her.