Page 8 of The Pakhan’s Forced Bride (West Coast Bratva Pakhans #3)

I’ve discovered that Ardalion does have a sense of humor. It’s dark and dry, but hilarious. Every time we eat dinner together, which I’ve started to enjoy, I learn a little more about him, and I might even be starting to like his company.

It turns out there’s more to him than the grumpy, non-smiling asshole I first met. The problem is that now, when he does smile—and he smiles often—I’m even more drawn to him.

Ardalion is working from home today upstairs in his office.

I’m lazing about in the sunshine filtering through the wide windows of the living room as I sprawl out on the sofa, reading a book.

I’m lying on my back, and my legs are draped over the backrest. My hair is spilling over the edge of the sofa and down to the floor.

I’m more relaxed than I’ve been in a long time.

Lately, I’ve been comfortable here. No longer constantly bickering with him, it's starting to feel familiar and safe.

This place is beautiful—the views are, too, and I love it here—but I really want to get out and see LA.

In one of his business magazines, I saw a review of a restaurant that I’m dying to go to.

I decided that today I’ll ask him to take me for lunch there.

He can come with me. That way, he won’t have to worry about me running off or misbehaving.

I want to explore, and I really hope he’s going to say yes.

We’ve been getting on so well lately, I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t.

I’ve been trying not to interrupt his work, but I’m also excited to ask him about lunch. I’m getting impatient.

Finally, just a few minutes past eleven, I drop the book onto the glass coffee table and slide off the couch, stretching lavishly as I do so.

I can’t wait any longer. I’m sure he won’t mind if I take a few minutes of his time to ask. Then I can take my time getting ready while I wait for him.

With a skip in my step, I leave the sun-filled living room behind and walk through the entrance foyer towards the stairs that lead up to his office.

“Who are you?” a sharp, but elegant voice asks.

It catches me by surprise as I turn towards the open front door and see a beautiful woman standing there in a tight red dress, holding a set of car keys and a phone, her nails painted as red as her dress and her lipstick to match.

“Who are you?” I ask, instead of answering her. I’m the one who lives here—she doesn’t get to ask the questions.

She pulls her mouth tight, her eyes roaming up and down my body slowly. I tilt my chin higher, refusing to let her make me feel self-conscious under her scrutiny.

“I’m here to see Ardalion. He and I are…" She smiles coyly. “We’re very close. I wanted to find out if he was free tonight for our usual fun.”

“Fun,” I repeat, narrowing my eyes. What does that mean? Are they together? Is this his lover? It’s certainly what she’s implying.

She walks further into the house, moving with smooth confidence. “Oh, sweetheart. Ardalion is insatiable, I’m sure he’ll be very happy to see me.”

I press my lips together, wondering how to deal with her. It’s none of my business if he has a lover, yet it’s disappointing. He’s been flirting nonstop with me. Making suggestive comments. He had me believing he thought I was attractive.

“Ardalion is at work.” It’s not really a lie. He is at work. I don’t have to be specific about where.

“That’s disappointing. Will you let him know I stopped by? Ask him to call me.”

“It might help if I knew who you were,” I snap rudely.

“Lydia. The one and only.” She laughs musically, and it makes me want to punch her in the throat.

“Okay, Lydia, the one and only , I’ll pass the message on.”

“Thank you, sweetheart. Bye now.” She waves her hand in the air as though dismissing me.

Lydia spins on her ridiculously high heels and sways her hips as she leaves the same way she came in.

For a long time, all I could do was stare at the open door.

Why would it bother me so much that Ardalion has a lover?

But no matter how much I try to ignore it, I’m hurt by it. I’m disappointed. Definitely disappointed. Why the hell am I disappointed? That’s so stupid.

Anger flares inside my chest like a fire sparking to life. Anger at myself, not Ardalion.

I’m fully aware of Ardalion’s reputation as a womanizer and a bad boy. I’m angry at myself because I was reckless enough to let it get to the point with him where I might be even the slightest bit jealous.

And I’m more than slightly jealous.

This is bad. I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to face him.

I feel like such a fool right now. All the charm I was falling for was just his usual bullshit that he uses to pick up women.

I roll my eyes with extra drama and stomp my foot.

I don’t need him to take me to lunch. I’ll go on my own.

Since Ardalion and I have been getting along, he halved the guards around the property.

There wasn’t a need for them because he trusted me not to escape.

Well, I trusted him not to play me with the same game he plays all the other women in his life, so suck it up, Ard.

I’m not waiting for your permission to leave.

Upstairs in my room, I change into a prettier top to match my fitted jeans, throw on a pair of crisp white sneakers, and grab my purse.

It’s far easier than I thought it would be to leave.

Ardalion has a rack of car keys in the garage, and I select one of them and just drive out.

The guard even waves at me. Obviously, they’re assuming I have permission. Joke's on them. And Ardalion.

All the way to the restaurant I wanted to go to, I’m fuming. Honestly, it’s silly. I don’t want to admit it, but I’m using my anger to cover the hurt.

What does it matter at the end of the day? I’m only here as some kind of revenge plot against my brother. Ardalion will send me packing as soon as his plan is fulfilled. Until then, I’m just some kind of toy to him. A temporary amusement.

I can’t believe I was stupid enough to think it was anything else.

Parking on a busy main street in LA, a few blocks from the restaurant, I climb out of the car and take several deep breaths. This place is incredible. Let me focus on that instead of other things. I’m out. I’m exploring, and nothing else matters.

The street is busy with people moving to and fro. Shopping, drinking coffee, laughing, and enjoying the beautiful day.

As I walk along the sidewalks and browse inside the windows of storefronts, my mood lightens. Not enough to ignore that anger, but I am having fun, so for now it doesn’t matter.

In one of the stores, I find a gorgeous black dress, short and tight, and while it might upset a number of the blind dates I went on, I love it for me.

I purchased it along with a glittering gold chain.

Ardalion might be annoyed to find out that I borrowed his credit card, but he shouldn’t have left his wallet on the kitchen counter—and he shouldn’t have kidnapped me.

All the way to the restaurant, I take my time, enjoying the boutique stores, smiling at people, stopping to watch a man drinking coffee with his beautiful border collie sitting happily at his side, staring up at him as though he is her entire world.

I love this. I feel free. Being out of that mansion is exactly what I needed.

But my stomach is starting to protest from hunger, and the restaurant is just around the corner. I hurry on, eager to get there and enjoy the food.

It’s on the pier, right at the edge of the ocean. I can smell the sea and hear a warm bubble of voices coming from the entrance.

When I step inside, a young girl with a bright smile welcomes me in and takes me to a table on the outside deck in the bright sunshine.

It’s perfect. I wish I could share this moment with someone, but at the same time, I feel bold being here alone.

From here, I can see everyone and everything that’s going on around me.

To my left, there is a stretch of beach and people playing in the shallow water.

Deeper out, past the breakers, there is a line of surfers waiting to catch the next good wave.

The ocean is glittering blue to match the sky, and there isn’t even a breath of wind.

The perfect day.

Yet, I’m still annoyed.

“Welcome to the Moonlight Pier Restaurant. Can I get you something to drink?” Another pretty girl asks me, this one in a blue and gray waitress uniform.

“I’d love a rock shandy, please.”

“Is it your first time here? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before,” she smiles.

“I’m from Las Vegas. I’ve never been to LA before,” I grin.

“Welcome. You’re going to love it. You chose the best place for your trip.”

“Thanks,” I nod, agreeing with her. It’s not like I can explain to her that it isn’t a vacation and that I was kidnapped and forced to marry a crime boss.

I giggle at the thought of how she’d react.

She’d probably think I was mad. She tilts her head to the side, trying to figure out what I’m laughing at.

Eventually, she gives up and steps away from the table.

“I’ll have that rock shandy with you in a minute. Take your time to look at the menu, but if you want any recommendations, the crab and sirloin platter is a popular favorite. It’s the dish that featured in a recent article about this place.” She sounds proud.

“I read that article. I’ll take your suggestion and go with the platter.”

That was an easy choice. I remember how good it looked in the photo they had in the magazine.

The waitress hurries away, and I sit watching the world around me, loving every moment of it, until—

“Have you ordered? Sorry, I took so long to get here.” Ardalion grins at me as he sits down at my table.

What the hell?

“How did you know I was here?” I huff, annoyed by his face because all I can think about is stupid Lydia, the one and only.

“I know everything, little bunny.” He waves his hand in the air to call the waitress, and she comes skipping back to the table.

“I’ll have whatever she’s having,” he says.

“Rock shandy and the crab and sirloin platter?” the waitress double-checks as her eyes roam over Ardalion.

“Sounds like exactly what I want, yes, thanks.” His voice is smooth and charming. It makes me want to gag. I can’t believe I fell for that charm.

I fold my arms over my chest and stare out at the surfers. I was having fun. Why did he have to arrive and ruin it?

“I love this place. How has your morning been? You’ve been rather quiet.” He leans towards me, his elbows on the table and his legs brushing against mine beneath it. I force myself to ignore the excitement that washes over me as our bodies touch.

“I was reading,” I answer shortly.

“And some shopping, what did you find?” he dips his hand into my shopping bag, and I scowl at him. He lifts the dress out, and his brows raise, accompanied by a mischievous smile. “Now that is sexy,” he says, his voice oozing charm again.

I roll my eyes. “I know. That’s why I chose it.”

All through lunch, Ardalion seems oblivious to my annoyance. That, or he’s choosing to ignore it on purpose. He is happy, chatting, talking about all sorts of things, people watching, and making amusing comments about what they might be up to.

It would be the perfect afternoon if it weren’t for Lydia, sitting in my thoughts, looping around in my head.