Her jaw fell, and then she was slapping her hand down on the back of fancy leather sofa number two. “You do not judge me! You do not know what it has been like living in fear that my ex-Russian-mobster-boyfriend was going to show up and find out I had his baby. I thought I might one day have to run for my life. I saved every penny I could in case that happened.”
His brow flirted with the hair that had once again fallen over his forehead. “Ex-Russian-mobster-boyfriend?”
Her hands fisted when she heard the amusement curling through his voice. A teasing humor danced in his pale eyes. “Yes. You goons represent something very scary to us peasants who live in squalor.”
Lekzi punctuation her mother’s sarcastic remark by yanking on Alekzander’s bowtie that she’d undone.
“You have no more reason to fear me than this baby does. I’d take myself out before harming you.”
Aaand there went her heart. The stupid thing started beating against her chest as if trying to break out so it could go over play with the one it loved.
“Well, that is very sweet.” She plucked at the soft leather, knowing she’d overreacted because she was embarrassed by her simple, barren apartment. It couldn’t compare with Alekzander’s lifestyle in any way and not come up lacking. “But I was not aware of that this past year so I prepared myself for the worst. And my apartment appeared empty because I had already hidden all of Lekzi’s photos before you arrived. My fragile items I do not display because I do not want the children to break them.”
“I see. Well, it was clear you hadn’t tampered with her nursery. It was one of the most peaceful, comforting rooms I’ve ever been in. If you could duplicate it here, I’d appreciate that.”
Sacha was once more rendered speechless. How did he know just what she needed when she needed it? “Okay,” she whispered, her hurt feelings soothed.
“Were Angela and Steve your first clients?”
She nodded as Lekzi began to squirm.
“Have you been to the office? Sheppard’s office?”
She twirled her rings. “No.”
“Why not? You used to come to TarMor all the time.”
She shrugged distractedly, her fingers clenching when Lekzi looked back at her. Sacha wanted to take her but didn’t want to “take her” from Alekzander.
“Have you met his family? I hear they’re fucked up.”
“No. I do not know much about them.” She clasped her fingers together and took a half a step toward them. Lekzi was sucking on her fist. She was hungry.
“So you hadn’t met Vex before?”
“Who?”
“Sheppard’s brother.”
“Oh. Er, no.” Her breasts were beginning to tingle.
“He’s the president of the Manhattan chapter of a well-known MC.”
“What is an MC?” Lekzi was noisily sucking now and trying harder to see Sacha.
“A motorcycle club. Do you remember hearing me talk about the Obsidian Devils?”
She’d heard the name often enough to be intimidated. “Yes.”
“So why don’t you know him?”
“Who? Vex?”
“You were with Sheppard for months, and he didn’t introduce you to any of his family? Not even Vex? Why?”
A high-pitched whine had her stepping forward as what he was really asking finally registered. “She is hungry. May I have her? I will feed her and then give her some cereal. Or you can give her the cereal, if you’d like. I do not mean to take her away, but…” Her hands were fluttering, and she could have sworn she saw a softening in Alekzander’s face.
“Of course. I’m sorry. I was distracted.” He got up and handed her over.
“You were distracted by nothing.” She took his hand when he went to sit back down. He’d been honest with her. It was time she came clean with him. “I lied, too.”
His pale eyes went flat. “About something else?”
“Yes.”
“Do tell.”
“I wanted to hurt you the way you hurt me so I pretended Justin and I were romantically involved. What you said when we were dancing was accurate. I was not very convincing when I told you he was my boyfriend, because he is not. He is only a friend. A very close friend who I adore,” she added quickly, figuring she should get it all out at once.
He was staring at her intently. “Not your boyfriend. Just a friend. Who you adore.”
She nodded and forced herself not to cower as she waited for the explosion.
“He’s never seen you naked. Never touched you. Made you come.”
“Alekzander!” Her face squished up before she could stop it. “No! God, no.” Then she laughed, remembering Justin’s David Beckham comment. “That is not something he has any interest in.”