The work I do is dangerous. So are the people I associate with, which is why I swore I would never involve anyone else. And here I am, having dinner with Sadie and Allie. No one will harm the girls while we’re here. I don’t have to watch my back or the kitchen constantly. They’d likely have poisoned our food if we’d eaten at the Italians’.
“It is,” I say. The most straightforward lies are the ones fabricated around the truth. “What about you?” I ask, turning the questions onto her. “Do you have a boyfriend?”
Allie drapes her cloth napkin over her lap. “No.”
“Girlfriend?” I ask.
“No, but that’s very modern of you to ask. I like him already,” Allie says. There’s a huge smile on her face.
Is that all it takes? I’d have thought it would have been a lot harder.
“As long as we’re asking the personal questions,” Allie says. There’s a glint in her eyes. I don’t know what’s coming, but I suspect I should be nervous. “You’re the first guy Mom’s brought home—ever. What are your intentions?”
“Allie!” Sadie scolds her daughter.
“I have to look out for you,” Allie says, folding her arms across her chest. She’s protective as hell.
I quirk a grin. “It’s okay. I understand your concern,” I say, trying to ease her daughter’s mind. “I care about your mother very much.” Again, not a lie. It’s easy to admit that, considering she’s such a good person. She helped me immensely. Do I not owe her the same back?
“But what are your intentions?” Allie asks, gesturing with her hands. “Are you going to marry her?”
“That’s enough!” Sadie’s cheeks burn, and her eyes are bright and wide. “I’m sorry, Dmitri. I don’t know what’s come over my daughter.”
“No, it’s fine,” I say, trying to remain calm. “I understand where she’s coming from. She wants to make sure that I’m not going to hurt the two of you. And I promise I will do everything to ensure that will never happen.”
“Dmitri,” Sadie’s tone is a warning.
The charade has to end eventually. We’re just doing this to keep Allie from suspecting what happened. The kid doesn’t need to know that her mom was drunk, and I’m not much of a gentleman.
I didn’t force her to have sex. I’m not a monster. But my desires always win.
“Dmitri and I are taking things slow,” Sadie says. “We don’t want to rush into anything.”
“Except for bed,” Allie quips.
Sadie’s mouth drops, shocked by her daughter’s remark. “When we get home—”
I take a sip of water and clear my throat, interrupting Sadie’s threat. “That’s enough, Allie. You need to show some respect to your mother.”
The teenager rolls her eyes, not that I’d expect a thank you. “I don’t think I like you very much anymore.”
I shrug, not the least bit bothered. “That’s fine. You don’t have to like me. Most people don’t. I’m used to it,” I say a little too flippantly.
Sadie’s brow is pinched. She wants to ask about my remark but thinks better of it. Her tongue darts out and swipes the top of her lip.
I reach for her hand, and she takes it, squeezing mine. It’s more of a friendship handhold without our fingers interlocked together.
“Mom, he’s lame. You should ditch him for the waiter. He’s got dreamy eyes.”
“He’s a bit too young for my taste. I prefer my men aged, with some experience.”
“Ewww.” Allie’s nose scrunches, and her eyes pinch closed. “That’s disgusting.”
“Then stop trying to pick out my dates for me. I’m perfectly content with Dmitri.”
“Perfectly content?” I don’t like the sound of that. She should be screaming on the rooftop how good the sex is and that she wants no man other than me. That no one else compares. I squeeze her hand with a grin. “That means there’s room for improvement.”
Sadie presses her lips together, her cheeks red. “Content is good. It means I’m happy.”