Page 66 of Diamond Don
Nik nods in acknowledgment. “Patrick.”
“I thought that was you from the other side of the room. I wanted to come over and pay my respects. I was so terribly sorry to hear about Maxim. What a pity.” The Irish shakes his head, frowning.
Nik only stares at him in response, but McGuire doesn’t notice his reaction. Or at least, he acts that way.
“And the whole situation with his missing remains, too. Truly a disgrace, if you don’t mind me saying,” Nik’s nemesis says.
“I appreciate the sentiment, McGuire,” Nik says at last. “May I introduce you to my fiancée, Katherine Devereaux? Kat, this is Patrick McGuire.”
McGuire raises his eyebrows so highly they almost reach his hairline. He studies me appraisingly, taking me in from head to toe.
I school my features into a pleasant smile. Fiancée? Thanks for the heads-up, Nik.
“Fiancée? Wow.” Patrick McGuire smiles at me. “Enchanted to meet you, Kat.” He offers me his tan hand, and I shake it gingerly.
“Likewise,” I say, leaning against Nik. He caresses my stomach in response, and McGuire doesn’t miss any of it.
“How long have the two of you been dating?”
“Oh, not long,” I answer. “It’s been a bit of a whirlwind romance, I suppose.”
“What can I say?” Nik adds, shrugging one of his broad shoulders. “When you know, you know.”
I turn my head to glance at Nik and catch him already gazing at me. His eyes lock with mine and the same fire I saw in them the night we met burns hot. I press my body closer to his as he tightens his hold around my waist.
“I think I’ll take your word for it.” McGuire says with a chuckle. “But you must tell me a little about yourself, Kat. I simply must know more about the woman who’s captured Nikolai’s infamously cold heart.”
I turn my attention to him and find his eyes sparkling with unconcealed interest, bouncing around Nik’s hands possessively placed on me.
Smiling, I ask, “What would you like to know? I’m afraid I’m probably very dull if compared to you gentlemen.”
McGuire lets out a sharp and loud laughter. I can’t tell if it’s sincere or not.
“I seriously doubt that. Are you from around this area?”
“I am,” I say.
“Where did you two meet?”
I glance at Nik, implying that the answer is an inside joke McGuire wouldn’t get. “I guess you could say we met at work. Well, I was working, at least.”
Nik scoffs. McGuire’s interest grows even more noticeable.
“Interesting. And what did you say you do for a living?”
“I didn’t. But if you must know, I suppose it wouldn’t be a lie to say I work in the acquisitions and procurement field.” I giggle.
Nik laughs under his breath, kissing my hair. McGuire practically vibrates with the effort to curb his curiosity.
“I can see why Nikolai is so taken with you, Kat. You’re a very intriguing woman. Tell me, would you give me the pleasure of a dance? You wouldn’t mind it, would you, Nikolai?”
I look at Nik questioningly. He gives McGuire a cold but exquisite smile that doesn’t quite reach his gorgeous brown eyes. “Not at all,” he says. After making eye contact with me again, he adds, “Kat knows to save the last dance for me.”
I smile teasingly at him, raising myself on my toes. “Don’t worry, my love. I know who I’m coming home with tonight.” I brush a quick kiss against his lips, but he pulls me closer to press a hard, long one against mine.
Nik’s caress leaves me a little shaken—and unsure of what is real emotion on his part and what is just for McGuire’s benefit—but I make myself smile sweetly at Nik before taking McGuire’s hand. He leads me to a small dance floor where a few other couples are gathered, a couple of dozen yards away from where we left Nik. The Irish mobster pulls me into his arms as the song starts. I half expect him to hold me uncomfortably close or place his hands somewhere inappropriate, but he behaves respectfully—a perfect gentleman.
McGuire chuckles lightly. “Your Russian is watching me like a hawk. I can’t say it’s anything new, but seeing him so bent out of shape over a woman is still amusing. Even one as charming and beautiful as you.”