Читать книгу Modern Romance Collection: January 2018 Books 1 -4 - Dani Collins - Страница 20

CHAPTER ELEVEN

THE EVENING AHEAD was a formal occasion. Very formal, Natalya noted, given the venue, the sumptuous grand dining room, the quality linen covering the many tables, exquisite crystal, cutlery and tableware.

Security was evident, invitations carefully checked, and guests personally escorted to their tables.

A gala event of note.

‘Why me?’ she had queried quietly, and incurred his studied look.

‘Why not you?’

‘This is social, not business.’

‘The lines between the two are blurred, are they not?’

Anything else she might have added remained unsaid as a stunning blonde, who appeared out of nowhere behind him, snuggled close against his back, wound her arms around his neck.

‘Guess who?’

Natalya caught a glimpse of diamond rings, a diamond necklace, sensed a drift of exotic perfume, heard the sultry in the young woman’s voice, and felt her stomach plummet.

A friend? Lover? Mistress?

‘Stassi,’ Alexei acknowledged with a tinge of amusement as she released her hands and stepped to face him. ‘Your signature perfume is unmistakable.’

There was a light tinkle of laughter followed by a staged moue...belied by the sparkle in Stassi’s eyes as she stood on tiptoe to brush a light kiss to his cheek before turning towards Natalya. ‘And you are?’

‘Natalya,’ Alexei drawled. ‘Let me introduce you to my irrepressible cousin, Stassi.’

‘Family,’ Stassi declared. ‘So Alexei is off limits, unfortunately. Although he does duty as a partner on occasion.’ She glanced from Natalya to Alexei. ‘And you are Alexei’s...?’

‘Friend,’ Alexei declared.

‘Uh-huh. Euphemism for...?’

‘Friend,’ he drawled, undeterred by his cousin’s inquisitiveness.

‘PA,’ Natalya corrected.

Stassi smiled. ‘Business and pleasure. Interesting combination.’ She offered Alexei a teasing grin. ‘You do realise your mother is planning a family dinner in your honour? She’ll be delighted to welcome Natalya.’

Family? No, not happening. ‘I don’t think my presence would be appropriate.’

‘Alexei will do his persuasive best,’ Stassi stated with a light laugh. ‘He’s very good at it.’ A slow smile curved her lips. ‘I really must return to the parents. They have plotted to introduce me to a gorgeous man who, according to my darling mama, displays excellent potential as future husband material. Should be a fun evening.’ She kissed her fingers and playfully touched them to Alexei’s cheek. ‘Take care.’

She turned towards Natalya. ‘I’ll look forward to catching up with you again.’ With a mischievous smile she began threading her way through the numerous guests.

‘Your cousin is delightful,’ Natalya ventured politely, and caught his musing expression.

‘Yes, she is. She’s also intelligent, with a degree in criminal law. Loves life, has no intention of marrying, now or in the near future. Much to her mother’s despair.’

‘She obviously hasn’t met the right man.’

‘Is marriage so important?’

Sticky question, and not one Natalya was prepared to answer. Five years ago she would have said marriage represented a lifetime commitment, enduring love, growing a family...including qualities such as trust, faith and respect. Sharing the good and the not-so-good times together, without blame or regret.

‘No comment, Natalya?’

She managed a credible smile. ‘Much depends on one’s life plan, don’t you think?’

‘And yours is?’

‘Personal.’

For a moment she glimpsed a slight change in his expression, then it was gone, and she was left to ponder if her imagination was playing tricks.

‘Perhaps we should take our seats,’ Alexei indicated smoothly, inclining his head to a staff member waiting to escort them to their reserved table.

Society’s glitterati at its finest, Natalya noted, as she sipped an excellent French wine. Similar to, but different from, she perceived, other charity functions she’d attended in the past. For there was ample evidence of extreme wealth apparent in the women’s designer gowns, and their jewellery alone could have funded housing and food for a poor nation.

Cosmetic enhancement appeared to be de rigueur for the mature women, varying hairstyles combed and teased to within a whisper of perfection.

Nor, she suspected, was it confined to the women.

It was akin to viewing a movie on screen, where the majority of guests were actors playing a part, prepared by stylists, make-up artists, such was the achieved element of perfection.

The ballroom was enormous, and soon seated to capacity. Soft background music became almost lost to the chatter of voices as stylishly clothed wait staff ensured champagne and fine wines were replenished with reputed flair.

‘Darling Alexei,’ a female guest seated opposite at their table inclined with exquisite poise. ‘I heard you’d touched down in this part of town.’ All that was required to complete the woman’s image was a long cigarette holder, for she had the pose down pat of the lead actress who played the original role of Auntie Mame in an old movie. ‘So delighted you could grace us with your presence. But then, you have a vested interest in the nominated charity.’ Her smile held graceful interest as it settled on Natalya. ‘You’ve brought along an interesting new friend. Natalie, I believe?’

‘Natalya.’ It was easy to smile as she offered the correction.

‘Of Russian origin?’

‘It was my great-grandmother’s name.’

‘How interesting.’

Her great-grandmother’s history was interesting...the story of a family who escaped a life of poverty to settle on a distant relative’s farm in northern Europe. As a young girl of eighteen, she’d entered into an arranged marriage and bore four children...the youngest of which being Natalya’s grandmother, who’d fled to America as a teenager, found work and lodging in a Californian vineyard, borrowed a sewing machine and made children’s clothes long hours into the night. Embroidery was her specialty, and at first her exquisitely embroidered gowns sold by word of mouth, until she was encouraged to sell direct to a childrenswear shop in a nearby town. In storybook style, her grandmother had married the vintner’s son, bore two children, a girl and a boy. Sadly her husband and young son were killed in an accident together with her husband’s parents. Stricken with grief, Natalya’s grandmother attempted to run the vineyard, only to sell it within two years, and start a new life with her daughter Ivana in Australia, settling in Sydney, where she set up shop, employed minimum staff, and gradually expanded over time to export her childrenswear overseas.

Natalya’s cherished Babushka...so morally and emotionally strong. A woman who had worked every day of her life and for whom family was everything, and who left behind so many memories of love, wisdom and laughter.

‘More champagne?’

The sound of Alexei’s voice intruded, and the ballroom with its numerous guests returned in sharp focus as Natalya offered a polite smile together with a quietly voiced refusal.

Background music faded, and there was the introductory speech of welcome, followed by the purpose of the charity in question, funds raised, together with a plea for guests to be generous with their donations.

In terms of success, the event topped the scale, given the plaudits offered throughout the evening. Guests appeared at their sparkling best, the food superb and the champagne flowed.

Polite small-talk appeared to be the order of the evening...the best party a few of the society doyennes had attended, who were present, snippets of gossip, and descriptions of apparel...designer of course, and who wore it best.

Different country, another major city...familiar scenario, merely on a larger scale.

Natalya briefly compared the evening with some she had attended with her father; the increasing tension as his alcohol intake rose, and her attempt to minimise the fallout. The relief when the evening came to a close and they could leave.

Now there was tension of a different kind, arising from her emotional reaction to Alexei’s presence. Sexual sensuality...a heightened awareness that threatened her sanity. The question being...what was she going to do about it?

* * *

‘We’ll be dining at my mother’s home this evening.’

Alexei’s seemingly normal statement following breakfast the next morning caused Natalya’s breath to momentarily catch in her throat.

We?

Her fingers momentarily paused from keying words into her laptop.

Surely she’d misheard?

‘I’m sure you’ll enjoy spending time with her,’ she offered with genuine sincerety as she set her fingers tapping on the keys.

There was a need to transcribe recorded notes from the previous day’s meeting, prior to lunch and a mid-afternoon consult...when casual attire would be exchanged for suit, heels to present a more professional image.

Vastly different from his current casual attire of black fitted jeans and black tee shirt which emphasised the breadth of his shoulders, powerful flex of toned forearm musculature...the taut stomach, narrow waist and six-pack abs. The fact he worked out was evident in every move he made.

It made her want to explore. To track every muscle, the hard flex and tone with her hands. Purr with pleasure at the thought of dragging the tee shirt from his body, to tease and caress his bare skin...with the familiar touch of a lover.

Exult in his response, the faint catch in his breath when she unbuckled the belt at his waist, slid the studded button free, then slowly freed the zip of his jeans in a slow sensuous play that could only have one end...almost crying out as he mimicked each movement she made, slowly, with exquisite care. The almost reverent touch as he cupped each breast, lowered his head to taste one nipple, and drove her wild as he used his mouth to draw it deep and suckle, before slowly withdrawing to shift focus to its twin.

The way she trailed a hand over his stomach to trace the extended length of him, feel, rather than sense his indrawn breath, the shift in his body as he lifted his head and claimed her mouth in erotic possession...until extended foreplay wasn’t enough. Nor the whispered words inciting the sensual promise of sexual pleasure.

Stop right there, a silent voice echoed in Natalya’s mind. Mentally reliving an erotic memory of what they’d once shared served no purpose.

Almost as if Alexei knew, his dark eyes lifted and held her own for what seemed to be a long minute, when it could only have been a few seconds.

She couldn’t move, nor did she have the power to utter a word.

A lost moment in time, brief...but it took an age before she managed to gather herself together and gain a sense of focus on the prosaic...laptop, transcribing notes.

Yet her mind lingered... Five years on there was a maturity evident, an innate knowledge of the man he had become. A certain ruthlessness apparent that almost alluded to an element of danger should anyone be sufficiently foolish to attempt to thwart him...on any level.

He possessed charm, respect, loyalty, and employed each characteristic facet with ease. Yet he possessed the ability to freeze an opponent with a mere glance; the power to walk away from a prospective deal without so much as a second’s hesitation.

Was that how he treated his women?

Don’t go there.

‘The invitation includes you.’

Natalya’s fingers inadvertently touched a wrong key, and a silent epithet echoed inside her head as she turned towards him.

Professional, she could manage. Sharing dinner with Alexei’s mother was in a different category entirely.

‘Will I be required to take notes this evening?’ The query held polite civility, and one as his PA she was entitled to ask.

Alexei’s expression remained unchanged. ‘Possibly, given my two brothers and I form part of a European-based business partnership. Although primarily the evening will be a family gathering.’

Her stomach executed a slow roll of discomfort. She didn’t do family...specifically not an ex-lover’s family.

A slightly hysterical laugh rose and died in her throat. Like she’d had more than one lover?

A couple of close encounters that hadn’t ended well, when there had been the expectation of more than she was prepared to indulge.

‘Given the evening is family-oriented, and any business matters are unlikely to be discussed on a level requiring my presence,’ she inclined, ‘I’ll—’

‘Pass?’ Alexei lifted one eyebrow. ‘My mother is expecting you. My sister-in-law will be delighted to have you there to tone down what she refers to as excessive male testosterone.’ A faint smile curved the edges of his mouth. ‘Despite qualifying affection for her two brothers-in-law.’

‘I don’t think it’s appropriate.’

‘What are you afraid of, Natalya?’ His eyes held a glimmer of dark humour. ‘We might be issued an invitation to stay overnight?’

In the same bedroom? How much of her former relationship with Alexei was his family aware of?

Almost as if he knew the passage of her thoughts, he offered quietly, ‘Any fears you might have are completely groundless.’

Were they? So why this feeling of heightened awareness? She didn’t want or need a reminder of what they’d once shared. She’d dealt with the past, moved on, created a pleasant life for herself.

Who do you think you’re fooling?

‘I agree,’ she managed firmly. ‘For each of us.’

Alexei moved in close before she had time to draw breath and laid his mouth over her own in what began as an explorative kiss that soon changed and became something else.

She wanted to protest, and lifted both hands to create a distance between them, only to have them falter as the years melted away as she was transported back to a place and time where everything was right between them.

She had no recollection of the passage of time...only the assault on her senses as he brought her emotions alive in a manner that tripped her heart into rapid beat.

Heaven, and then some, as she began to respond, uncaring at that moment where it might lead...and if it did, would she gain the emotional strength to step away?

Then he released her, and the room came into focus...together with reality.

There was a need to breathe in a conscious effort to still each throbbing pulse in her body...acutely sensitive to the once familiar touch personally geared to send her totally undone. As it had in the past.

‘An experiment, Alexei?’ She even managed to inject a shred of disdain into her voice, caught the dark glitter in his gaze before it was masked, and she valiantly ignored the sudden lump that rose in her throat.

There was only the heavy thud of her heartbeat as she sought to bring wildly swirling emotions under control. The words I hate you remained unsaid...just.

Or was it herself she hated? For momentarily succumbing to the special magic they’d once shared. And its vivid reminder.

‘An answer.’

Which didn’t sit well with her at all. ‘You think?’

With forced calm she crossed to the mirror, extracted her lipstick, repaired the damage, then she caught up her satchel, included her laptop, recording device, added sundry necessities...and moved towards the front door of their hotel apartment, all too aware of his close proximity as they rode the elevator down to lobby level. Prepared, in essence, to become the quintessential PA as business meetings were due to unfold for the day ahead.