Devil's Lair (Molotov Obsession #1) - Anna Zaires Page 0,13

behind Pavel, I unpack—a process that takes all of ten minutes—and gaze longingly at the bed with its fuzzy white coverlet. I’m exhausted and not only from the interview. Between the nightmares that haunt me at night and the constant worry during the day, I haven’t had more than four hours of sleep in weeks. But I can’t just sleep the afternoon away.

I was hired to do a job, and I intend to do it.

To perk myself up, I take a quick shower in the enormous bathroom and change into a fresh T-shirt—my last one. I have to inquire about where to do laundry ASAP, but first things first.

It’s time I got to know my young student.

The door to Slava’s room is open as I approach, and I see Alina inside, talking to the boy in melodious Russian. Hearing my footsteps, she glances over at me and arches her eyebrows in a way that reminds me of her husband.

“Eager to start?”

I smile at her. “If you don’t mind, I was thinking Slava and I could get to know each other this afternoon.” I catch the child’s gaze and give him a wink, earning myself a huge smile.

Alina’s expression warms at her son’s reaction. “Of course I don’t mind. I was just explaining to him that you’ll be living here and teaching him. He’s quite excited about the idea.”

“So am I.” I crouch in front of the boy. “We’ll have a great time, won’t we, Slava?”

He clearly doesn’t understand what I’m saying, but he grins regardless and rattles off something in Russian.

“He’s asking if you like castles,” Alina says.

“Yes, I do,” I tell Slava. “Show me what you’ve got there. Is this your fortress?” I gesture at the partially built LEGO project.

The boy giggles and plops down among the LEGO pieces. Picking up two, he attaches them to the walls of the castle, and I help him by attaching two more. Only I apparently did it wrong because he shakes his head and takes off my pieces, then places them right next to where I attached them.

“Oh, I see. You’re leaving room for windows. Windows, right?” I point at the giant window in his room.

He bobs his head. “Da, okna. Bol’shiye okna.” Grabbing my wrist, he places another piece in my palm and guides my hand to the proper place on the wall. “Nado syuda.”

“Got it.” Grinning, I attach the next piece. “Like so, right?”

“Da,” he says excitedly and grabs more pieces. We proceed in that vein, with him guiding me in castle assembly until Alina clears her throat.

“Seems like you two are on the same page, so I’ll leave you to it,” she says when I look up. “You have a half hour before Slava’s snack time. Are you hungry by any chance, Chloe?”

My stomach responds before I can, emitting a loud growl, and Alina laughs, her green eyes lighting with amusement.

“I’m guessing that’s a yes. Any food preferences or allergies?”

“I’m good with anything,” I say, grateful that my darker skin tone conceals my embarrassed flush. I can’t imagine Alina’s elegant, long-limbed body ever emitting such an indiscreet noise—though, if she’s human, it must upon occasion. Of course, jury’s still out on the human part.

In those high heels and that stunning dress, Nikolai’s wife looks too glamorous to be real.

Some of my embarrassment must show because her amusement deepens, her lips curving in a way that again reminds me disconcertingly of her husband. “How very accommodating of you. I’ll let Pavel know.”

Pavel? Is the man-bear their cook or something? Before I can ask, Alina turns to her son and says something in Russian, then strolls out, leaving me alone with my charge.

8

Nikolai

“So, tell me, brother… Did you acquire her for Slava or yourself?”

I pause in the middle of putting on my cufflinks and turn around to meet Alina’s coolly mocking gaze. “Does it matter?” I have no idea how she sniffed out my interest in our new hire, but I’m not surprised.

My sister has always been able to read me better than anyone.

She leans against the doorframe of my walk-in closet, where I’m changing for dinner. “I guess I should’ve expected it. She’s pretty, isn’t she?”

“Very.” I deliberately turn my back to her. Alina lives to get a rise out of me, but she’s not going to succeed tonight. Nor is she going to shame me into staying away from Chloe.

The girl intrigues me too much for that.

“You know she spent the entire afternoon with Slava, right?” Alina strolls deeper