Page 76 of Break Me

Case in point.

I bit back a groan, coughing to try to cover up my discomfort.

“Well, am I?” he dared ask me.

“You’re a terrible man.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment since the last time you called me a monster.” He let me go and I bit my lower lip, even swatting him.

“He’s just a friend, baby girl. Now go wash up for me. Okay?”

Her heavy sigh meant she didn’t believe me. And where in the hell had she learned the term boyfriend? I blamed my sister.

“Why don’t I put the pizza in the oven for you,” he suggested, the same look of amusement I’d seen one too many times on his face.

“Yes, do that. I’ll set the table.”

As I backed away, I continued watching him as he’d done with me. I would never expect him to act as if he enjoyed doing nothing more than making pizza, but he seemed far more comfortable than I could dream of.

In truth? I liked having him in the house.

Where this was going, I wasn’t certain.

Time would tell.

As I backed away, I heard my phone and decided to ignore it. I had a night to enjoy. To hell with everyone else.

CHAPTER 18

Alexsey

As I stood in the doorway of Emily’s room, I marveled at how entirely different Halle was with her daughter. At least in reference to her feisty personality when dealing with me. She was so calm, collected, and loving that her actions and the tone of her voice reminded me of so many times spent with my mother.

At least my childhood had been mostly typical of a big loving family. Of course, I’d never had to endure spending even a day living in Moscow, having been born and raised in the United States. That didn’t mean the heritage or legacy of my father and uncle hadn’t been honored. I’d been required to learn to read and write Russian at an early age.

While I rarely spoke the language, understanding the words my father had spouted off had been necessary since he refused to set aside the old ways. He’d been a tough man, enough so I’d hated him until I’d reached my twenties.

But at least I’d grown up with and still had him around for advice. Even though I might not like to hear what he had to say.

Halle had the burden of being both Emily’s mother and father. The breadwinner. The provider. The security blanket. Who did she have to take care of her? Yes, at least she had her sister, but that was different.

Maybe I was a bit old-fashioned in the sense I believed women should be protected and cherished. That was something I valued from the love shared between my parents.

“It’s time to go to sleep, baby girl,” Halle said as she closed the book she’d been reading and lovingly brushed her fingertips across her daughter’s face.

“Can’t Mr. Boyfriend read me a story too, Mommy?” Emily’s voice was hopeful.

I stifled a laugh, doing my best to remain in the shadows. The little girl had decided calling me her mother’s boyfriend was easier than using Alex, which is what I’d introduced myself as.

“Nice try, little snort. But no. You need your rest. You had a big night.”

A big night of making perhaps the best pizza I’d had in my life and watching a movie that had delighted Emily. Her squeals when watchingDumbowould remain with me for a long time.

Emily huffed in the exaggerated way she’d done several times. “Okay. Maybe tomorrow?”

Another hopeful question.

“We’ll see. Now, dream about princes and big white horses.”