Modern Romance Collection: January 2018 Books 1 -4. Dani Collins
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‘The family are waiting in the lounge. Let’s join them, shall we?’
Beautifully appointed, fine handcrafted furniture, framed family pictures on the walls. Warm, welcoming, Natalya perceived as Calista indicated a large comfortably furnished lounge where two men stood... Alexei’s brothers, without doubt, given the likeness in height, stature, and facial features. A young woman displaying the slight emerging bump of early pregnancy held the small hand of a young girl.
‘Cristos,’ Alexei greeted and clasped his brother in a brief hug before indicating, ‘Cristos’s wife, Xena, and their daughter, Gigi. My younger brother, Dimitri.’ He turned to include Natalya. ‘Natalya. My PA.’
Natalya smiled...a smile was good. Polite, professional.
It was Xena’s daughter who captured Natalya’s attention. Petite, dark curls framing beautiful features, offering a smile to melt hearts.
‘Gigi is a lovely name,’ Natalya said gently.
She was rewarded with a polite, ‘Thank you.’
For a few fleeting seconds it proved difficult to ignore the faint wistful ache in the region of her heart.
It was relatively easy to converse, to fit in, as the evening progressed. A skill she’d mastered since mid-teen years, together with an interest in current world affairs and a degree of genuine charm.
She accepted a small measure of wine, which she sipped as she observed family dynamics, their affection, and genuine interest in the current play in each of their lives.
Cristos headed the New York arm of the family business, while Dimitri travelled to interstate branches, and maintained an active social life...very social, Natalya surmised from the slightly wicked gleam in his eyes.
A family originating in Greece, as had Calista’s late husband. Evident in some of the classical pottery on display in a few of the glass cabinets.
A faint lilt, not exactly an accent, in Calista’s speech on occasion.
Xena, who was charming, and delighted the babe she carried was a boy.
The food was superb, and Natalya felt at ease...comfortable, she amended silently. Gigi began to tire, willingly retiring to bed for an overnight stay at her grandmother’s home.
They were a pleasant family, Natalya perceived, extending polite interest in Natalya’s role as Alexei’s PA, her familiarity with the field of electronics...although not why, how or where she’d gained that knowledge.
It was after eleven when the evening drew to a close.
‘You seem surprised,’ Alexei drawled as the car cleared the drive and headed towards the inner city.
Perhaps because she’d expected...what? Cool reserve?
Why, when Alexei hadn’t imagined it necessary to mention her existence in his life?
‘In what way?’ She could do cool, and tempered it with a touch of deliberate sweetness. ‘Because you chose not to out me as my father’s daughter?’
He shot her a quick glance before returning his attention to the traffic. ‘Would you have preferred me to do so?’
‘Perhaps I should thank you.’
‘Give it up, Natalya.’
The atmosphere had taken a subtle change. A personal element that didn’t sit well, for too many reasons she was reluctant to explore.
Consequently it was a relief when Alexei drew the car to a halt outside the hotel entrance, where a uniformed attendant hailed a waiting employee to drive the car down into the underground parking area.
A few words, a generous tip, and a leisurely pace through the foyer to the bank of lifts...one of which swiftly transported them to their designated floor.
* * *
One day led to another, as Alexei, Cristos and Dimitri conducted high-powered meetings, each with their individual PAs in attendance, as they brokered deals, added valuable real estate to their company portfolio at a pace which left Natalya in awe of their combined expertise and staying power.
Ruthless power, she added silently, at the end of a particularly fraught day...one that was far from over. Debrief, dinner, highlight pertinent points from recordings, send same to Alexei’s laptop. Shower, bed, sleep...
Except sleep proved elusive, and she lay staring sightlessly at the darkened ceiling for what seemed an age before emerging from the bed to pull on a wrap and quietly emerge into the lounge, where she crossed to the wide floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors, parted the drapes a little and looked out over the brightly lit city, lingered on the kaleidoscope of neon signage on numerous city skyscrapers.
‘It’s a bit late to be admiring the view.’
Alexei’s quiet drawl caused her breath to hitch as he moved to stand at her side.
‘It beats counting sheep.’ The words were out of her mouth before she gave them thought.
‘Something is bothering you?’
You, she wanted to throw at him. There, in my face...all day, every day. A constant I don’t need or want.
Because...she didn’t want to explore the why of it.
Okay, she totally got the business part. What she hadn’t bargained for was the constant twenty-four-seven away from home bit. Far away from where she could retreat at day’s end to her own home. Dammit, her own sanctuary.
‘Go to bed. We have another full day tomorrow.’
‘Perhaps you should take your own advice.’
Admit he couldn’t sleep? Her image haunted him, firing the need to pull her into his arms, claim her mouth with his own...and let whatever would happen, happen.
So why hesitate?
With any other woman he’d play the seduction game, accept the unspoken invitation and enjoy the sexual activity...heart untouched.
Natalya...their shared history was gaining too much intrusion on his original intention to gain revenge. So why now question what he’d believed to be fact?
Something didn’t add up...but what?
He felt compelled to do the unexpected, and lifted a hand to trail light fingers down her cheek. And felt her tense.
‘Don’t.’
His mouth curved a little at the slight huskiness apparent in her voice. ‘No?’
If she acted on sexual need, she’d tear the clothes from his body...and to hell with the consequences.
How many nights had she lain awake restless with the aching need of wanting him? Only him. Fighting an overwhelming urge to stem the tears that filled her eyes, angry with herself for lapsing into an emotional watershed as she wretchedly fought for control.
Alexei watched as she turned and escaped into her bedroom suite, heard the faint snap of the door clasp...and remained where he was for several long minutes, unaware of the night skyline, the many lit buildings, flashing multi-coloured neon, the traffic.
Instead he became caught up by her reaction...the faint quiver of her lips, the warmth of her cheek beneath his touch.
All too aware of his own body’s damning response.
For the past five years he’d worked eighteen-to-twenty-hour days, fuelled by the need to succeed beyond measure in the name of revenge, ruthlessly crafting each move, each strategy in a personal vendetta where there could be only one survivor...him.
He’d won. Big time.
Satisfaction should be his...and it was.
So why this feeling a subtle shift had come into play?
* * *
The weekend provided a welcome change