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“You have to eat.”
“I’ve skipped plenty of breakfasts before you came into my life, Maxim Volkov.”
“Ruth …”
She huffed and rolled her eyes at the warning in my voice. “You’re so overprotective. I’m not going to starve to death if I go without breakfast.”
“A compromise, then,” I told her. “We’ll order in brunch at the office. Share something after that first meeting and before the second.”
“Done, if it’ll make you let me get enough clothes on to get out of here without getting a public indecency charge,” Ruth said, sounding rather breathless. “I hate being late.”
“I’m the only one you being late matters to, and I already told you it was fine,” I said, hesitating a little before my next words, knowing they were a mistake. “This Thanksgiving thing.”
She paused in dressing, and I crossed the room to touch her one last time. I hated to see those perfect tits caged in fabric. If I had it my way, she would never wear a scrap of clothing in my presence.
“Are you sure you want me to go?”
“I meant what I said — both you and your brother are invited,” Ruth answered, humming as I cupped that heavy, silken skin I craved. How were her breasts fuller than ever? She was irresistible to me, her nipples achingly aware of my every touch. “Stop — I’ll never get to work if you don’t let me get dressed.”
“The only tardiness I’ll excuse,” I rumbled.
“I hope it’s excused. You’re the only reason I’m late — and you’re going to be late, too.”
“I’m the CEO. I’m allowed to be late.” I let go of her only reluctantly, sho
oting off a quick text to my personal driver to be ready to whisk Ruth off to her condo — and her driver to be ready to get her in to work. “Alexei and I will go to your Thanksgiving.”
“Really?” Ruth whipped her dress over her head before launching herself at me, hugging me tightly. “Thank you, Max. I’m so happy. I really wanted you to come, but I didn’t want to pressure you. I didn’t want you spending the holidays alone, moping in your office.”
“I don’t mope,” I said with a frown. “And what does one bring to a Thanksgiving celebration?”
“An appetite.” She secured the shoes she’d worn. “Any idea where I left my purse?”
“Foyer,” I told her, following her out. “My driver’s waiting for you, but before you go, I’m serious — what do we bring?”
“If you insist, something to drink and share,” Ruth said. “But don’t go over the top — I know you. This is a tiny, intimate thing. Super casual. We can talk more about it later if you have any questions. Don’t you dare wear a suit.”
If I had it my way, Ruth Miracle wouldn’t wear another piece of clothing for as long as I lived. But as she rushed out the door, a chill settled over me. I knew it was more than my nakedness. I was going to Ruth Miracle’s home for a Thanksgiving celebration, but there would be nothing to celebrate. Her father, Gerald, would be there.
And I had unfinished business with Gerald Miracle.
Fourteen
Ruth
To say that I was apprehensive about having the Volkov brothers at my father’s house for our annual Thanksgiving celebration would’ve been something of an understatement.
I had been an absolute mess these past few weeks, barely paying attention at work while I alternated a wheel of worries in my thoughts — what to wear, what to cook, how to cope if things got awkward, and what my dad might say if and when the inevitable topic came up of why, exactly, I had invited Maxim Volkov into our home.
My dad was somewhat rough around the edges, and didn’t like new people. He was happiest when he was alone, occupying his time with his hobbies and his cigars. There were some times when I felt like he preferred to keep me at an arm’s distance, but I knew how hard it had been for him to raise me without my mother.
I didn’t blame him. It just made me excessively wary about who I brought home. Certainly never any boyfriends — particularly since there never really had been any before.
It was an uncomfortable truth that Maxim was my first boyfriend and the first man I had ever slept with. I could never anticipate Maxim’s feelings, but I could certainly picture my dad losing his mind over the fact that I was dating someone, well … someone so far out of my league. My dad would question everything that had already run through my mind — why someone like Maxim was so interested in someone like me, for example.
In the end, I had to throw myself into food preparation in order to distract myself from the social dynamics that would happen putting Maxim and my dad in the same room.
I was sure Alexei would be fine — especially with Becca there to distract him. Becca hadn’t talked about anything else since I’d broached the topic. She was thrilled that I’d had the idea to have the Volkov brothers over for the holiday.
