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“No way,” Yasha insists. “They like having you around. It’s nice for them to have someone they can go to with household operations questions. Ivan hates that stuff.”
“I thought Niles handled all of that.”
“He does it because Ivan refuses, but it would usually fall to the Bratva wi—lady of the house,” he corrects quickly. “But no one expects anything of you right now. You’ve earned some time to rest and relax.”
“Amen,” Jorden agrees.
“Speaking of…” Yasha lays a hand on Jorden’s shoulder, and I can practically see the sparks flying between them. “Maybe you want to nap? I can escort Jorden out if you want to be alone.”
I start to shake my head. “No, that’s okay. I’m actually—”
Jorden jumps up quickly. “You do look sleepy. You know, sleep is one of the most important factors in overall health. You need to bank some to catch up, I bet.”
I narrow my eyes at her, but she won’t be shamed.
“I’ll get out of your hair.” She turns to Yasha. “You can escort me out if you—”
“Yeah, okay.” He gives me a tight, guilty smile. “See you later, Cora. Goodbye.”
The two of them run into the house like the patio is on fire. I can’t even be mad at them. I’m glad they’ve both found someone. Jorden deserves a good guy and I know Yasha will take care of her.
I’m smiling when I feel strong hands massage my shoulders from behind.
“Niles, what strong hands you have,” I moan.
Ivan bends down and nips at the very top of my ear with his teeth. “That’s not funny.”
I jolt playfully, throwing my arms over my chest to cover myself. “Oh, Ivan! It’s you. I thought it was… someone else.”
He walks around my chair, his woodsy scent wrapping around me as I take in every climbable inch of him. Maybe I’m no better than Yasha and Jorden. He’s been here for half a second and I’m molten.
He sits in Jorden’s chair and then deftly pulls me onto his lap. “I like Niles. It would be a real shame to have to kill him.”
I hook my hands behind his neck and kiss him. “Don’t kill Niles. I think his lemonade is the only reason Jorden keeps coming to visit me.”
He laughs and my heart squeezes. I still can’t get over how nice it is to see him like this.Free.
“What’s so funny? Are there really drugs in it? Jorden thought maybe he was dosing her, getting her hooked.”
“Niles buys lemonade by the gallon from the store. He pours it into pitchers and then takes the bottles to the recycling.”
I gasp. “No way! He uses fruit ice cubes.”
“Those are all Niles. But the rest?”
“Liar!”
He rubs his nose against mine and lowers his voice. “Don’t tell him I told you. He doesn’t even know that I know.”
I shake my head with faux disappointment. “I can’t believe the kind of loose ship you’ve been running here, Ivan. I thought I was signing on for the life of luxury, but I’ve been drinking store-bought lemonade like a common peasant.”
“What can I say? I’m a heathen.”
His eyes have flecks of yellow and green in the sunlight, and the sight of him here—smiling and in my arms—is almost too much for me to take. My heart hurts from happiness.
“Then it’s a good thing I’m here to keep you in check.”
He presses a slow kiss to my neck. “You can certainly try.”
