“Am I allowed to ask where we’re going?”
“I’m showing you the place. The parts you can go, anyway. Might as well get your bearings since you’ll be here for the foreseeable future.”
“Oh. Thanks.”
He glances over his shoulder. “Do you need anything?”
“I, uh…” The question catches me off guard. I’m already surprised by the tour of this estate. Now he’s asking me if I need anything? “I guess I need underwear?”
It’s an odd place to start, and the flicker of amusement through his blue eyes seems to agree. My cheeks heat.
“It’s not like you guys let me pack a suitcase when you dragged me here. The only thing I have is the clothes on my back, which are beginning to smell. I only have the toothpaste and toothbrush the older woman brought me the first night.”
Again, a flicker of amusement sparks in the bear’s eyes, but this time it’s accompanied by a chuckle. “All right. I’ll have clothes and other things sent to you. Alona should know your size. Anything smaller than me, and I’m lost, and I know better than to ask about a lady’s weight.”
I just stare at him.
“What about things for the shower?”
I nod, a small frown on my face. “I guess shampoo, conditioner, a razor. A brush. Hair ties would be nice.”
“I’ll add that to the list.”
“Oh, and, uh—” I pause again, steadying myself before I blurt, “—and birth control. I get horrible cramps if I don’t take it. And I’ll need feminine supplies as well.”
My voice drops as I say the last part, and I can feel his discomfort even though all I can see is the back of his dirty-blond hair, which he keeps cropped close to his head.
“Tell me what you need, and I’ll make sure it gets to you.”
“Thank you,” I say to the back of his head.
“This is the living room.”
He sweeps an arm to indicate the room as we speed through, giving me just enough time to gawk at the huge, airy space with walls of windows on three sides, all three looking out to an expansive patio, manicured lawn, and the cerulean blue Pacific.
“This is the dining room.”
We march through a room with an enormous table, more creamy stucco walls, and exposed beams on the ceiling. Art hangs on one wall, but I don’t have time to study it as we keep going.
“Bathroom, theater room, another bathroom?—”
“Theater room?” I echo.
“Yeah. You can use it as long as you ask permission. Extra bedrooms and bathrooms through that doorway and down that hall.”
Dmitri gestures to an open door, and through it I can see a long hallway, pale carpet, and more doors. I only half see them, because my head is still trying to wrap around the idea of a home theater I’m allowed to use.
“That’s the breakfast nook, and this is the kitchen.” Dmitri finally stops walking and crosses his massive arms over his equally massive chest. “You can come in here whenever and get whatever food you want. If you need anything, you can tell the housekeeper, Alona. If she won’t do it, tell me. She likes to pretend she only speaks Russian, but she understands enough English to get you what you want.”
I stare at the spotless chef’s kitchen, larger than two rooms of my house. From here I can see the ocean, an enormous pool, and the outdoor living room that’s probably as big as my house. I wonder what the hell is going on.
“Why are you doing this?”
Dmitri’s eyebrows draw together at my question. “Because you hacked into?—”
“No, not that.” I shake my head. “Why are you giving me all this freedom? Clothes, access to the kitchen and the theater room?”
Those enormous shoulders rise and fall again. “Same reason you pay attention to your fish tank. What’s the use of having a fish if you don’t give it what it needs and it dies? Pretty sure we wouldn’t get much work out of you if we did, and if you’re good enough to hack into our systems, you’re good enough to do the work we need.”
