Page 47 of The Arrangement

“You let him up into the bedroom that first night I was here, so that makes it your fault by default.”

For a moment, the man staring down at her seemed flabbergasted—totally speechless. The giggles caught in her throat were just barely held back. One of the biggest mob bosses in North America was wrapped around her finger. Viviana had to wonder if he truly realized just how much he let her get away with sometimes.

“Is this how I can expect the next seventy years of our life to go down?”

She smoothed out a wrinkle in the silk, white shirt he wore, cocking her head to the side with a sly smile. “Yes.”

“Great.”

He didn’t seem to mind all that much about it, especially when she felt her chin being tilted up in strong hands. His lips melded so smoothly to hers, and for once, Anton didn’t dominate the kiss like he usually did. Instead, she found herself probing gently against the seam of his mouth, wanting it opened. When it was, their tongues moved a slow, lazy rhythm, taking time to explore, taste, and feel the sweet kiss. The lingering taste of tobacco, mint, and heat danced from his mouth to hers.

“Happy birthday, Anton.”

The hum he sounded against her lips rocked Viviana straight to the core. “Thank you.”

“Do you feel any older?”

“Ancient. Three years off thirty. Arthritis and Alzheimer’s will be setting in soon.”

“Ah, you have jokes so you must be in a better mood.”

“A little.”

“And Daniil?”

Anton’s quiet sigh held both relief and sadness. “Better, too, but they’re keeping him sedated a lot while they continue to drain the remaining fluid from his lungs.”

“Are we going to the hospital?” Viviana asked, wondering why he chose to wear such a smart looking suit.

“No. I spoke to Mom for well over an hour a little while ago, and she was pretty insistent that I just let you enjoy the surprises in store for you today.”

“It’s your birthday.”

“Oh, well,” he replied with a wink. “Like I said, Sasha insisted.”

“I wouldn’t mind going.”

“I know, so we’ll visit first thing tomorrow morning. We have a lot to do today.”

“Just the party, right?” She assumed that was the surprise, considering she had yet to see one of his businesses up close and personal.

Anton’s grin had a whole lot hidden behind it. “Maybe a little more. I had something special brought in for you.”

“Something like what?”

“Something you don’t have yet, but need.”

With his forehead resting on hers, Viviana smiled as his thumbs rolled over the apples of her cheeks. “I don’t need—”

“You haven’t bought a single dress, baby. Nothing fancy. No pretty shoes to make your legs look a mile long. How on earth am I supposed to show you off tonight if you haven’t a thing to wear?”

Viviana eyed his suit. “I am feeling sorely underdressed standing next to you.”

“Well I need to fix that. Can’t have my fiancée feeling that way now, could I? Arrangements were already made for you in my office at Seven Lights. Nothing too big, but you’ll have a decent choice to pick through. You haven’t been to Brighton Beach in what, ever?”

“Something like that,” she agreed. “Wasn’t a smart move for the daughter of a Cosa Nostra boss to be slummin’ it in the Russian territory, or so I was told. We don’t mix well.”

Anton laughed. “We do now.”