Page 85 of Scarlet Vows

“Oh.”

I nod. “The last thing I want is to make things more difficult for you.” I go to her and gently put my hands on her shoulders. “So I’ll call everything off if it makes you uncomfortable.”

“What do you mean?”

“Santo is coming here tomorrow for dinner. So you’d have to play wife. You don’t have to kiss me or anything like that.”

“God forbid,” she says, a small smile on her mouth, but there’s concern in her blue eyes with golden specks, and a touch of guilt.

“And if you feel uncomfortable and don’t want to do it, letme know. I’ll cancel. There are other ways. This is just one, and it might not work?—”

“Ilya,” she whispers, putting her hands on my unshaven cheeks, “we’re married, right? The deal is about this, and more importantly, we’re friends. Close friends. Our arrangement means that at times we’re going to need to act like we’re married. I knew this going in. I’m fine.”

I breathe out. “Thank you,malyshka. I owe you one.”

“I know,” she says as she slips her hands down to my chest. “I know.”

Chapter Nineteen

ALINA

Albertand I go to the library, but I can’t sit still. Albert picks up on it, whining at me and then barking softly.

“I know, Albert. You don’t have to tell me,” I whisper. “I’m pathetic. But I put on a good show, didn’t I?”

Albert tips his furry head, those liquid eyes giving me a deep, penetrating look.

“I did mean it, and I know you’re in love with Ilya—”Too.I almost said too.

But I mean the dog loves both me and Ilya, not I love Ilya.

Although I do. More than I ever thought, and I’m so confused about the feeling inside me for him because he’s my friend. He’s hot, gorgeous, lovely, and I’m attracted to him. But being in love with him is different.

I’m not.

I can’t be.

I breathe in and put a hand to my stomach. If I’m being honest, while I totally want to help Ilya, and I will, I’m still nervous. Who wouldn’t be? I’m nervous about having to act like Ilya and I are a couple in front of Santo again.

This time as newlyweds.

Regardless of the jokes I made to put Ilya at ease, the no-kissing part may not be feasible. Santo isn’t going to buy our relationship if I’m not affectionate, if I don’t do it right, and a new bride would be into PDA.

The problem is, every time I get close to Ilya, feelings begin to stir. I get confused and overwhelmed. I can’t help it. He shakes me apart, right down to my foundation. I want him, and then the guilt rushes in. I want him, and I’m not sure if I’ll screw everything up by crossing the line.

What if Santo sees all that?

Something catches Albert’s attention, and he whips his head to the door. My stomach clenches, the air thickening. I turn.

Ilya’s there, still in the suit that makes me want to drool.

I honestly don’t care what he wears. He’s always been hot, good-looking, but it’s like the suit distills everything into pure sexuality that makes it hard to breathe. The suit shows him off. It makes him powerful, a man who’ll take control of anything and win.

I swallow.

“Fuck,” he says. “Malyshka, you look like you’re anxious. Go out tomorrow. Have a girls’ night with Isla. I’m sure hermalenkaya devochka…Maize? I’m sure she’ll love Albert.”

I smile. Her little girl would love Albert. Albert, however, may need shorter, smaller meetings with her.