Page 19 of The Beauty Who Loved Him

“What happened?” Demyan asked, his voice fainter with every step Vaslav took further away.

“I don’t know,” he heard Vera say. “Just ... give me a second, Papa.”

Chair legs scraped against the deck wood.

Vaslav kept walking even when she called his name again. He needed a second, too.

Or perhaps more than a few.

By the time Vera had caught up to him, he’d paced a line in the dirt at the front of the house and finally settled on jumping into the driver’s seat of the side-by-side. Vera came to stand just beyond the opening from door with her arms folded over her chest. He considered not even giving her an explanation, to let the dust from the ROV’s tires say his goodbye.

The knot of confused sadness between her eyes when she tipped her head to the side stopped him from turning the engine over. The loosely tied laces of the hiking boots on her feet spoke to how hastily she’d pulled them on trying to get out of the house.

“What are you doing?” Vera asked. “I thought we were having lunch?”

Jaw tight, he shook his head once and forced out a clipped, “No.”

“What happened? Something just happened, right?”

“Are you staying?” he asked.

Vera blinked. “What?”

“Your father will not be leaving this property unless it is to leave the country. So, if you have any plans to stay with him for an extended visit, let me know now. I’ll have your things brought from the city.”

“Vaslav.”

Her quiet exclamation of his name only irritated him further.

It wasn’t even her damn fault.

“How am I going to get back to the house?” she asked then.

“Walk.”

It wasn’t that far. Especially in her current footwear with decent ankle support.

“But tie up those goddamn laces if you get any bright plans,” he said for her benefit.

Vera’s brow jumped high when he turned the key forward, and the engine of the side-by-side roared to life. Over the growl, she yelled, “You can bring my things!”

He glanced her way.

Vera, even scowling at him, was terribly beautiful in front of a backdrop of gray bricks and green vinery. “I would like to spend time with my father as long as you don’t intend to make it a hassle the entire damn time.”

Fair enough.

He nodded once.

Vera’s defensive stance loosened as her arms fell to her sides. “I just don’t understand ... you brought me down to have lunch, we were only talking, Vas. This is my father, who by the way, I know you’re aware how long it’s been since I’ve spent meaningful time with him, so can’t you just—”

“That’s the only reason he’s even alive.”

Her lips flattened into a grim line. “He didn’t do anything!”

“He’s here.”

“You brought him here!” she shouted.