Page 37 of Dangerous Liaisons
“You should be outside with them.”
She glanced over her shoulder at Kira, surprised she wasn’t alone, Eddie standing there with her. He shifted as if uncomfortable, but raised his hand in a friendly wave. “Hello.”
“Hello,” she echoed, turning to face them. “Are you here for your friend?”
“I was… Well… I left my wallet?”
“I don’t imagine I need to explain the purpose of the wallet chain you wear.”
“We did not expect for you to be here.”
“And what, dear Kira, did you plan to do if I was not?”
“I can go,” Eddie whispered.
“You will stay,” Kira chuckled. “She is having a good time at your expense. Perhaps we will stay and use the pool.”
Smiling, Isabella dropped her glasses onto her desk before closing her laptop. “You are welcome to stay as long as you like, Eddie, but you will both keep in mind that my son is very impressionable at his young age.”
“Yes, Mother.”
She wanted to laugh when Kira rolled her eyes, but smothered the urge, shooting them another scolding look. The second they disappeared down the hallway, she let out a bark of laughter. Out of habit and the knowledge that another Crimson Legion member was in her home, she locked the office door. She took a moment to grab a bottle of water from the fridge before making her way to the backyard, smiling at her son running circles around the tall biker.
Xavier smiled as he caught sight of her, nodding his thanks when she handed the bottle to him. “I was thinking you were going to stay inside that office all day.”
“And I was thinking you had made yourself at home.”
Cocking an eyebrow, he sipped the cold water. “Is that a hint I’ve overstayed my welcome, Isa?”
A wave of indecisiveness hit her, and for a brief second, she wondered what it would be like to always have him there. She was unsettled by the panic it caused, yet a deeper part of her welcomed the warmth that filled her body. “You have done no so thing.” She bent down to catch Mikhail as he catapulted himself toward her. Swinging him in a quick circle, his laughter again filling the air, she squeezed him tight before placing a quick kiss on his cheek and lowering him. “You are having fun, little one?”
“Mamushka, Xavier pushed me so high! I touched the sky!”
“I am glad you’re having fun. Go play. I need to talk to Xavier alone.”
With a happy yell, he ran to the large swing set, and she returned her attention to Xavier taking steps closer to her, the move bringing them inches apart.
“What do you need to talk to me about, baby?”
“Xavier…” She blushed.
“Are you about to tell me you don’t like me calling you that?” he smiled. “Something tellsme you don’t mind.”
She couldn’t help but return the smile, wanting nothing more than to touch him. “You are unbearably cocky.”
“You like that, too.”
She didn’t stop him as he wrapped an arm around her waist, his other hand stroking the hair from her face.
“Is this okay?” He nudged his head in Mikhail’s direction. “I don’t want to do anything you’re uncomfortable with him seeing.”
Gazing up at him, another piece of the wall crumbled around her heart. “It’s okay.”
He bent his head, and she melted into him as their lips met. He kept the caress light, and while she wasn’t sure if he was trying not to spook her son or her, it didn’t matter. She never wanted the moment to end.
“Sergei, stop!”
Isabella broke away at the sound of Kira’s panicked voice. She stepped back in time to see the Russian marching toward them, a look of pure anger on his face. Her immediate attempt to place herself between them was stopped as Xavier pushed her out of the way at the exact second Sergei lunged for him.