out just how I deal with my errant woman when she doesn’t take care of her health.”
She laughed and drummed her fingers on the arm of the chair. “I guess I’ll have to figure out inventive ways to take care of my errant man when he doesn’t take care of his health. I’m fairly certain you don’t even know what a doctor is.”
Sevastyan laughed. “The women in my family are going to love you, Flambé. Let’s go out and grab something for dinner. We can stop on the way home and pick up whatever you need from your house and bring it back here.”
For the first time she looked uncomfortable. A shadow moved across her face and she shifted slightly in the chair. “I shouldn’t stay here, Sevastyan. I think it’s like pouring salt into the wound. At least study Matherson before you make up your mind. I can forward all the research I’ve done on him to you. I’m very thorough and I’ve dug up quite a bit.”
“Then you should know you aren’t safe.”
She looked down at her hands. “I honestly didn’t think he would really make so blatant a move on me here in the States. I should have known better. The road out here isn’t very well traveled. He must have been able to get into my phone to know I was on my way here.”
“The two appointments you cancelled?” he prompted. “Did Franco have anything to do with them?”
The color crept up her neck and into her face. “My leopard introduced herself with a vengeance. I didn’t dare walk out the door. One moment I was perfectly fine and the next I was all over the place. It was really terrifying being that out of control.”
Sevastyan could hear the underlying fear in her voice. She was struggling to maintain. As a rule, Flambé was a confident woman, but between Matherson and her newly emerging leopard, she was off-balance.
“That’s understandable. A leopard in heat can be difficult for any female, even one expecting it. We’ll get you through her emergence.” He poured confidence into his voice. “But, baby, you know you have to stay close to me, not only in case Matherson tries again but in case your leopard rises. Shturm isn’t going to stand for a separation any more than I am.”
He crouched down in front of her, his hands on her knees. “I know you’re nervous. This is the last thing you expected. I’m a stranger to you. I swear, Flambé, we’ll go as slow as the leopards allow us. There are plenty of bedrooms. You can choose one a distance from mine and stick a gun under your pillow if you’re worried I’m going to try to break down the door.”
“I doubt a gun under my pillow would stop you, but okay, I’ll stay here with you.”
He cupped the side of her face gently with his palm and slid the pad of his thumb over the bruise at the side of her mouth. His gaze dwelled on the lump in her hair. “This looks bad.”
“It gave me a headache is all.”
“I hope that’s all.” He bent forward and brushed a light kiss over it, feeling her shiver in response. “Thank you, Flambé, for agreeing to stay. After Matherson, it can’t be easy to give your trust to anyone, least of all a man like me.”
“A man like you?”
Her lashes made her look so innocent, those red-gold tips turning up right at the ends. He loved them already and knew he could spend a lifetime looking at them and never get tired.
“Don’t pretend you don’t know what I am or where I came from. There might not be mention of me in the papers, but there is of Mitya and Fyodor.”
Her eyes searched his. “I was holding out hope that the things they said in the papers weren’t true. Everyone wants to accuse people from Russia of being in organized crime just like they do if you’re Italian.”
“They’re true, Flambé. I was up front with you about what and who I am.” It was very possible, with the leopard’s heat on her so severely, she could barely understand a word he was saying.
“Leopards hear lies, Sevastyan, and that’s the first lie you’ve told me.” She tilted her head and studied his face. “Why would you want me to believe that you’re in the mob?”
He swore to himself but never changed expression. Didn’t blink. Didn’t look away from her. “My father was a vor. He ruled