Page 85 of Claim Me

“He’s been unhappy for a long time. He won’t admit it and most people think of him as the playboy, but I know better.”

“He was in love before. Wasn’t he?”

She looked in his direction before inching closer. “You didn’t hear this from me, but yes, he was. Strangest thing too. She was just perfect, or so he said. I don’t know what happened as he won’t talk about their relationship at all, but I think she had an accident and died. Trust me, you can’t ask him about whatever occurred. He can be one nasty son of a bitch when he wants to be. You’re the first real light I’ve seen in him in a very long time.”

“We don’t know each other.”

“No,” she admitted. “But here’s the thing about connections, whether business or pleasure. You know instantly if it’s going to work and if what you’re feeling is something special. The smart ones grab on right away. Mikhail can do that in business, which is why our corporation doubled in wealth in a couple years. I admit, doing so personally is tricky and much harder, but whenyou feel strongly enough about each other, you’ll walk through fire. That’s the question I ask myself when I date some dude. Would I walk through fire for him or vice versa? Usually the answer is right there, no denying it. If it’s a big, fat no, then I toss him out on his rear.”

“That cold?”

“That cold. The best way to handle a man.”

Laughter came so easily around her. She was funny and beautiful, talented and my guess was just as dangerous as the men if not more so. What I adored was that she refused to take crap from anyone. That’s the way I wanted to be.

“I think you and I could be good friends,” I admitted.

She tilted her glass for a toast. “The feeling is mutual. Keep Kazimir on his toes. He needs it.”

I took a quick look in his direction. She’d been right. He was watching me, his eyes almost like molten lava. I could feel the heat even standing several yards away.

“I think someone might have a good night,” Nadia said. When she signed the words, I grinned.

“You sign.”

“I have a friend who’s deaf.”

“Makes sense. I caught Kazimir trying to learn. He bought a book of sign language.” I couldn’t seem to take my eyes off him.

“That settles it,” she said wistfully.

“What?”

“Welcome to the family. I’m never wrong about these things.”

Just then, Kazimir broke through the crowd of men, heading in my direction. His grin was wider than his face, which surprised me. He’d come close to having a warzone inside a resort he now owned half of, yet he seemed at peace. How was that even possible?

I walked closer, trying to act nonchalant, but around him, the world just seemed to fade. The electric sensations were a burst of energy, the chemistry off the charts. I should feel sadness and even continued fear, but even when he was terse, acting as if I was his possession, I felt tingly inside.

Nadia’s question and philosophy lingered in my mind. Would I walk through fire for him? I didn’t need to think about the answer for long. I would. Partially because I knew he’d do the same for me. Without hesitation or remorse.

Even if he was significantly burned.

He closed the distance and I felt all eyes on us. For a man who only showed anger, he didn’t seem in the least bit bothered we were the floor show for the late afternoon.

“Now, about that date. What would you like to do?”

“Hmmm… Well, there’s skydiving.”

His eyes lit up like a child’s on Christmas morning. “Would you really do that? I can arrange it.”

“Oh, God, no. I’m terrified of heights.”

“Then what would you like to do?” He crowded my space even more, the heat from our bodies now oppressive. “What wouldyou consider an incredible date given all the choices in the world?”

“I don’t know. I’ve been on maybe three in my life.”

My answer seemed to floor him. He pressed his hand against his heart, stumbling back a couple of feet. “Oh, that is just not acceptable.”