The Only Woman to Defy Him(78)

                Not just because he hoped she was pregnant—Alina was still a little bit shy and he had every intention of bedding her soon. He didn’t want her embarrassed because she had her period.

                He’d work on it, Demyan decided.

                Every day, he would work on her shyness and the heart he had damaged so.

                His eyes said that as she turned and saw him.

                She didn’t go pale, she didn’t drop anything, her eyes just brimmed with tears and she shook her head.

                * * *

                ‘Table four—Zukov,’ Pierre instructed.

                ‘Can Glynn serve him?’

                ‘He’s asked for you.’

                And what Demyan Zukov wanted he got.

                Not this time.

                No.

                Her heart quite simply couldn’t take it. A few weeks ago Alina would have run to him. Now there was another heart beating inside her and her child would never be used as a pawn in the Zukov game.

                ‘You’re looking very well...’ Demyan said, when she stood at his table.

                He couldn’t know, he must not know.

                ‘I’ve been hitting the hotdogs,’ Alina said, and, yes, she could admit to mourning him, but she had to let him know she was over him now.

                She had to get him out of her life.

                ‘I start my diet on Monday.’

                ‘Pity,’ Demyan said.

                ‘What do you want to eat?’

                ‘I want a cocktail,’ Demyan said. ‘You choose which one.’

                ‘I’ll get the wine waiter.’

                ‘I went to your apartment...’

                ‘I don’t live there any more,’ Alina said as he looked through the menu.

                ‘Tell me the dish of the day.’

                ‘Please don’t do this, Demyan.’

                ‘I’m hungry.’

                She read out the dish of the day, she was beyond games now.

                ‘You didn’t take my calls.’

                ‘I never will.’ She looked at him. ‘I’m done.’

                ‘You mean, we’re done, which means I have a say in it.’

                ‘Don’t you try and correct my English,’ Alina snarled. ‘I’m done. What you want doesn’t come into it.’

                ‘Tell me the dish of the day again and the chef’s special selection.’

                ‘Sure.’ She blew out a breath. ‘Some messed-up Russian and for an extra treat we throw in his naked ex-wife.’

                ‘You forgot the teenager.’