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Her smile turns grateful. “The nursery,” she rushes to fill in. “It looks beautiful, Dmitri. I can’t believe you did all that yourself.”
I shrug. “It wasn’t all that much work.”
“And the carved toy cabinet by the window… It must have cost a fortune.”
“Not really. It was an old cupboard that I had restored before I started carving.”
She stops short, her eyes going wide with disbelief. “I’m sorry—are you saying you did those carvings?”
I nod. “I like to tinker around with carpentry from time to time. It’s cathartic.”
She gapes at me, her mouth hanging open for a second. I have the urge to lean in and claim her lips, and it takes all my willpower to stay seated with my hands at my side.
“You’re amazing,” she breathes.
I chuckle. “Didn’t realize you had a fetish for carpentry.”
“I have a fetish for men who use their hands.” The moment she says it, she flushes again. “Um, what I meant was… Oh, God. See? This is what I mean. I start babbling like an idiot.”
“You’re no idiot,” I assure her softly.
“Agree to disagree.” She removes her hands from her face and takes a deep breath. “Thanks for inviting me out for dinner. I was tired of sitting in the apartment all day long.”
“It was my pleasure.”
“But can I ask you a question?”
“Yes?”
“Is it my imagination or are people staring?”
I follow her gaze to the table adjacent to us. The older couple turn away pointedly and I have to resist the urge to roll my eyes. I turn back to Wren with an unconcerned expression. Of course they’re staring—but despite what my brother thinks, she doesn’t need to know everything.
I have a faint inkling that this might all come back to bite me in the ass sooner rather than later. But for right now, I’m determined to keep her shielded from all of it.
“Of course people are staring,” I tell her smoothly. “Look at you. How can they not?”
18
DMITRI
“Wren?”
There’s no sign of her when I walk into her room. Then I notice that the bathroom door is ajar and there’s a low moan radiating through the gap.
I shove my way in to find her keeled over the tub, wincing in pain.
“Wren, fucking hell! Are you okay? Is the baby coming?”
She straightens up when she hears me, but she keeps one hand plastered on her lower back. “No, no, nothing like that.” Her forehead is beaded with sweat. “Apparently, I’ve made too comfortable of a home for him in here.” Her voice has a scolding tone but she runs a hand over her belly affectionately. “It’s just the random spurts of back pain from lugging around this gigantic stomach.” Pointing at the water, she explains, “I was just gonna soak for a while. Water’s the only thing that makes me feel light anymore.”
I reach for her robe. “Let me help you.”
She backs away from me as though I’ve pulled out a knife. Her eyes flicker down to my extended hand. “That’s okay. I don’t need help.”
“You just almost cracked your spine in half from trying things on your own. I’d say help is exactly what you need.”
She scrunches up her nose and scowls in my direction. “I’m not getting undressed in front of you again, Dmitri.”
