“None?” I ask him suspiciously.
“No. Other. Woman,” he says, enunciating each word to get his point across. “No other woman I’ve been with has meant enough to bring to my bed.” Ivan kisses me as if to reinforce his point.
“Oh,” I say back, thinking about just how many women that could have been. Ivan is more experienced than I am.
“You’re cute when you’re jealous. Don’t think of those other women. They don’t matter. You do,” Ivan tells me.
“I’m not jealous,” I deny. Maybe I am, but I’ll never admit to it.
“Good.” Ivan glances at his phone and notices the time. “I have some business to take care of,” he tells me as he pushes up from the bed. “I want you to take the credit card and go shopping. Anywhere you want to go. Igor will drive you today, and you will also have two other bodyguards with you.”
“Okay,” I tell him.
“First, we take a shower. Let’s go.” Ivan smiles and takes my hand, leading me into the bathroom and starting the water in the shower.
Not much washing happens since we start making out as soon as we’re both inside the shower. Then Ivan ends up taking me one more time against the wall, this time from behind.
Two hours later, Ivan and I have shared breakfast, and he’s in his office, taking care of whatever real estate business he needs to complete today.
Mrs. Ivanova made pancakes and bacon, and I help her clean up the kitchen. We chat about Ivan, and she gives me some insight into his personality and family that she’s learned over the years.
I’m excited that Ivan is letting me go shopping on my own so long as Igor, my new bodyguard, drove and I took extra bodyguards. I’m okay with that since it lets me get out of the house. I need to return my library books, anyway.
The ride into Boston is quiet. These bodyguards are not the most talkative of the bunch, and it feels awkward to carry on a conversation with Igor when two other people are in the car that I haven’t met before.
Igor pulls up to the Boston Public Library and walks with me inside to return my books while the other two guards stay with the car. I peruse the new book arrivals and select one before collecting my reserved books from the check-out desk.
“Where to now, Ms. Murphy?” Igor asks as we’re walking back to the car.
“It’s okay to call me Emma,” I reply with a chuckle.
“Boss says otherwise.”
“You’re no fun,” I tell him, then pout before smiling. “Can you take me to the farmer’s market at Haymarket?”
“Yes, Ms. Murphy.”
“One of these days you’ll call me Emma,” I tell him. Igor pulls away from the curb and heads east towards Haymarket.
He finds a parking spot quickly, and we get out, leaving one bodyguard behind to watch the car while the rest of us walk among the vendors that are set up. Igor walks beside me, staying close while also scanning the crowd for anything suspicious while the third bodyguard follows behind us.
Haymarket is a pretty cool farmer’s market. I’ve been here a couple of times when it aligned with my work schedule, and have always come away with good produce at some really great prices. The vendors are pretty fun to talk to, and they really know their stuff.
I’m at a vendor stall waiting for my purchase to be bagged up when I notice a familiar face walking towards me.
“Patrick!” I call out as he approaches. “It’s good to see you.” I smile and lean in for a quick and friendly hug.
“It’s good to see you, too, Emma. I haven’t seen you around the building in a while,” he says.
“I’ve temporarily relocated. I’m hoping to be back soon,” I tell him. Igor looks like he’s about ready to pounce on the guy, but I give him a look and a gesture, asking him to back off just a little. I don’t see Patrick as a threat, and he shouldn’t either.
“Care to take a walk with me?” Patrick asks.
“Sure.” I look back at Igor and he gives the smallest of nods while also telling me with his face that he’s coming, too. I wouldn’t expect any less from him.
“So how have you been?” Patrick asks as he puts his hands in his pockets. We start walking in the direction of William Carmen Park and its green space.
“I’ve been okay. It’s been a little difficult to adjust since Gran died, but I’m doing my best,” I tell him. “What about you?”
