Page 105 of Sinful Betrayal

I scoff. “That’s really reassuring. Thanks, Dimitri.”

“You’re welcome. Now, how about another round?”

Nina patiently sitsthrough another hour of Dimitri’s endless talk and teasing before she stifles a yawn, and I decide it’s time to get her home.

Yakov takes over my empty seat to discuss some business with Mikhail as I escort Nina out of the bar toward my car where I settle her into the passenger seat.

She lightly naps on the drive back to the house, and I keep my fingers interlocked with hers the entire time.

When I eventually put the car in park, I gently untangle my fingers and head around to her side where I lift her into my arms.

She stirs, her eyes fluttering open.

“Don’t wake up,” I whisper as I adjust her in my arms.

“I’m awake.” She snuggles against me. “I’m just comfy.”

I smile down at her peaceful face before carrying her inside the house.

“Do you want to go to bed?”

“I’m hungry,” she mumbles, and my chest vibrates with silent laughter.

“That food was meant for you, but it seems my cousins didn’t get the memo.”

“S’okay. I liked them enough to share my food.”

“That’s a big compliment.”

Nina smiles lazily at me as I carry her into the kitchen where I set her down on the counter and get to work fixing her something to eat. She’s still wrapped in her huge coat, so I crank up the heating and put some water on to boil for some tea.

“Thank you for introducing me to your cousins. I know how close you all are, so it means a lot to me that you wanted me to meet them.”

“You made a very good impression. They liked you a lot, and their approval means a lot to me.”

“I’m glad.” She fidgets with her fingers.

“Do you ever wish you had siblings or cousins? Or do you like peace and quiet?” I hand her a mug of ginger tea.

Nina nibbles on her lower lip, her eyes fixed on the mug of tea in her hands.

“Um, maybe.” She shrugs out of her coat, setting it down beside her.

“Surely, being an only child made you closer to your parents? But I remember you saying you weren’t that close with your father. Were your parents divorced or…”

Nina noticeably cringes at my question, so I let my voice trail off.

“Sorry, I’m prying. It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it.”

I silently curse myself for bringing up her family again. I remember from the last time I asked her that she was reluctant to talk, so I know there’s a story there, but pushing her to tell me isn’t the way to get her to talk.

She’ll open up when she’s ready.

“I’d rather focus on your big happy family.” She offers me a small smile. “Having all those cute babies around, I’d just want to spend every second snuggling them.”

“Maybe I could take you round to meet Lucia and Vivi. I think you two would really hit it off.”

“I’d like that.”