Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 107687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“Looks like you were having a good time out there.”
My heart is pounding in my throat. I try to hide it by taking a long drink of my water. “I am.”
I can feel his gaze on my face. “I hadn’t realized you were involved with Dimitri Titov.”
I clear my throat. “We’re getting to know each other.”
“Sure you are,” he teases, shaking his head. “I know what getting to know each other means nowadays.”
I can’t help but laugh.
“Well, let’s hope he doesn’t hurt you, because I’d hate to ruin his career.”
I snap my gaze to his, glaring. “What?”
“What?” he asks, surprised by my reaction. “I won’t let him hurt you, Austen.”
“So, you’ll ruin his career? That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”
He shrugs. “He should know better than to get involved with you. With who I am and all.”
“Who you are?” I ask incredulously, anger burning in my soul. “That’s not how we will do this,” I insist, holding his gaze, and not only is he surprised by my anger, but so am I. “I am not going to allow behavior off the ice to determine what will happen to a good player’s career. That does not include drug use or drinking, for which I will get them help, but I won’t ruin a player for being in a relationship with someone I don’t approve of. Because who am I to decide who they should be with? It’s none of my damn business.”
“Austen—”
“Hear me out,” I urge. “You see those four,” I say, pointing to my sisters, who are all dancing with different guys. “They will sleep with a hockey player—more than one, I can promise you that. How are we going to penalize the player, when those four know what they want? Not even a saint would be able to resist them.”
He blows out an annoyed breath, bringing his gaze to mine. “Austen, you remind me so much of your mother before she joined that damn cult and lost every bit of herself.”
I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or not because I don’t know who my mom was before. I only know the woman who forced me to be abused. I do remember her rebelliousness, though, not with the Grandmaster or my father, but for sure with everyone else. Especially my sisters and me.
“But you’re right, mostly about your sisters, and I’m impressed by the woman standing before me.”
I know my peepaw well enough, and with the way he is looking at me, I know he has an ulterior motive. I know he will ruin Dimitri if given the chance, and it scares me. “I know you love me deeply and want to protect me, but you have to trust I can take care of myself.”
His pointed gaze softens. “Austen, I don’t worry about you in the least, but I know hockey players, and I told you to watch out for them.”
“That’s unfair, because not all hockey players are what you know. I have met some of the sweetest, kindest, most helpful guys in the last couple weeks. I have met no one like who I grew up with. Dimitri is none of that.”
He gives me a look. “You hardly know him, and of course you’re blinded by his good looks.”
Before I can argue that, Dimitri says, “Don’t worry. I’m blinded by her beauty too.”
My breath catches as I shift my gaze to where he has appeared. He holds out his hand to me. “Ready to dance?”
I’m not, but I don’t want to be near my peepaw right now. “Absolutely.”
“Be careful with her, Mr. Titov.” Peepaw’s words are low and dripping with all kinds of warnings.
Dimitri looks over at him, an easygoing smirk on his lips. “Honestly, Mr. Davenport, I’m more scared of her than you, but I’ll remember your warning for sure.”
I look up at him. “You’re scared of me?”
He nods. “More than I’d like to admit.”
“Why?”
“Too many reasons. Come on,” he says, pulling me along. Before we can reach the dance floor, a breathtaking girl steps in front of us. She favors Dimitri completely, and her eyes are just as intoxicating as his. Her long black hair is well past her bottom, and the bodycon dress she wears hugs her thin, model-like body in a way I’ve never seen. Lord, she is stunning.
In Russian, she tells her brother, “I am ready to go. Can you take me home?”
Dimitri rolls his eyes. “No, I’m busy.”
Her eyes cut to mine. “She doesn’t look like your type. Though, I do like her dress.”
I chuckle at that, and they both look at me. I clear my throat and reply in Russian, “Thank you. I love yours.”
Her eyes widen, and Dimitri chokes on a laugh. I look up at him. With an amused expression, Dimitri asks, “You speak Russian?”
“I do,” I answer. “It’s one of five languages I know. Like I told you, I had nothing to do growing up, so I taught myself different languages.”