Page 45 of Delicious Surrender
The door opened, and she was momentarily speechless at the sight of him. He wore a snug-fitting black cashmere sweater and faded blue jeans that were molded to his muscular thighs.
“Have you come to finish the conversation you started last night?”
“Um, no, not now. I need your approval for Dimitri, who wants steaks off the dining room menu. And he ordered a very expensive bottle of wine too. Bill said I should check with you.”
“He’s always testing my limits.”
“That’s what Bill said,” she said, wringing her hands.
“That’s fine. I’ll let it go this time. Is he behaving himself otherwise?”
“Not exactly. He’s just trying to make me uncomfortable, but I can handle it.”
“Don’t let your guard down.”
“I won’t. Gotta go!”
She was halfway through the door when she heard him say, “Don’t think I’ve forgotten your disobedience or those brazen texts.”
Her stomach fluttered as she took the stairs two at a time.
Bill was wiping down the rare bottle and had retrieved a decanter. He followed Brynne to the table and presented it to Dimitri, who nodded his approval. She was glad it was himhandling the exceptionally rare Pinot Noir. The consequences of spilling a four-thousand-pound bottle of wine didn’t bear thinking about.
The young sous chef had already plated the meals and blew her a kiss when she picked them up. She thanked him profusely and hurried to the elevator.
After she put his plate down, Dimitri grabbed her wrist. “I find it hard to believe a woman fully satisfies you.”
Brynne started, “She is very special.”
“If you were mine, you wouldn’t have to work another day. I would take care of you. You could live in the lap of luxury, like a pampered pet.”
“That’s very sweet, but I’m not interested in being apet.”
“If you wanted a woman, one would be provided for our mutual enjoyment.”
Her face suffused with heat, and she tried to pull her wrist free. “Your food is getting cold, Mr. Ivanov.”
He reluctantly let her go and she escaped to the back for some water. His approach was so intimidating, it made her pulse race with fear and, if she was honest, a bit of excitement, too.
Bettie interrupted her daydreams when she came back to complain about how slow it was. “Lucky for you, Tink, you landed a whale tonight. He’s on his way to spending a few thousand.”
“That whale is throwing all that money away on wine—it would pay my rent for three months.”
“I think he’s letting you know he could just as easily spend that kind of cash on you. I admit, he is sexy in a scary mafia kind of way.” Bettie giggled.
“Yeah, but when he tires of you, you disappear into the English Channel.”
They laughed and Bill poked his head in the back. “Ladies, back to work. Bettie, you have a new table, and Ivanov is looking for you, Tink. Get going.”
They both hurried out to the lounge. Brynne reached the table and asked, “Is everything to your liking, Mr. Ivanov?”
“The food is fine. You’ve been neglecting your duties. My wine needs topping up.” His voice had an icy edge to it.
“Of course, my apologies.” Brynne carefully lifted the decanter and refilled his glass. She looked at the other guy, and he nodded, his glare making her nervous. She filled the bald man’s glass and put the decanter down. “May I get you anything else?”
“Da. You may answer another question for me.”
Brynne sighed and gritted her teeth. “What if I don’t feel obliged to answer your questions?”