Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 68102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Before she could figure out what to do, Sacha opened the door to the storeroom and walked in. Sacha was a handsome man. Not as broad as Colm, but just as tall. He had dark hair and eyes. One of his lady friends had once described his eyes as cold as the pits of hell.
She hadn’t lasted long.
And she obviously never got the Sacha that Sofia did. The one who could be kind and warm. But she understood that he couldn’t show that side of himself to just anyone.
The reason she got that side of him was because he trusted her.
A trust you betrayed . . .
Her breathing came in sharp pants again.
Sacha came to a sudden stop as he spotted Colm, and his gaze narrowed in on the large Scot.
But Colm never moved his gaze off her.
Risky move if he wanted to get out of here alive.
“What’s going on in here?” Sacha demanded.
Say something.
Speak.
But for some reason, she couldn’t seem to catch her breath.
What was wrong with her?
“Sofia. Breathe.”
That order came from Colm.
“Now.”
God, he was so damn bossy.
The flash of irritation broke through her panic, and she turned to glare at him. “No.”
His eyebrow rose and amusement flashed through his face before he quickly shut it down.
“You don’t want to breathe?”
Great.
Now she sounded like an idiot.
Instead of replying to him, she turned to Sacha with a forced smile. “Aleksandr, hi. I didn’t know you were coming in this morning.”
That suspicious look on his face didn’t fade. In fact, it seemed to grow.
“No need to look so suspicious,” she told him. “Colm was just helping me unload the van.”
Sacha looked from her to Colm, who crossed his arms over his chest and glared at her cousin.
Not helping, man.
She gave Colm a warning look.
He just raised his eyebrow, clearly amused.
Sofia resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Men. So much posturing and pretense. She didn’t know how the hell they ever got anything done with all that testosterone clouding their heads.
Because they have fools like you doing their work for them.
“And what was Colm doing here this early in the first place? Before we are even open.” Aleksandr stressed his name as though he hadn’t realized they were friends. He didn’t fool her. Her cousin knew everything.
Well, almost everything.
She tugged at her sleeve, immediately wishing she hadn’t as she drew Colm’s suspicious gaze.
“Actually, I’m not sure. What are you doing here?” she asked Colm.
Hey, she wasn’t above taking the pressure off herself when needed.
Besides, she was kind of curious, too.
Colm glanced over at Aleksandr. “Boss sent me over with something for you. It’s in the car.”
She waved her hands. “By all means, both of you go take care of business. I’ve got to open up in an hour anyway.”
Aleksandr frowned and didn’t move. “And why are you opening up? Or unloading things, for that matter? Where is Oleg? You’re not supposed to be lifting anything with your back.”
“My back is fine.” She glared at her cousin for letting that piece of information slip. It was something she kept deliberately quiet. Sofia hated being treated differently just because she got the occasional ache and pain.
“And it has a better chance of staying that way if you follow the doctors’ orders,” Aleksandr preached. “No heavy lifting and no standing for long periods. That was the agreement when we opened this place. You’re only supposed to be supervising. You’re the owner. So tell me again, where the fuck is Oleg? Or Boris? And why aren’t they doing their fucking job?”
Her cousin was generally calm and collected. But when his temper let loose, it was a sight to be seen. And not something you wanted to be around.
“Do not talk to her like that,” Colm said, suddenly stepping between them.
Wait. Was he . . . was he protecting her?
From Sacha?
3
That was so sweet but completely unnecessary. Sacha would never hurt her.
“It’s okay, Colm.” She tried to step around him, but he threw an arm out, keeping her behind him.
“No, it’s not,” he replied without looking at her.
“Are you protecting my cousin from me?” Aleksandr asked incredulously.
“You do not speak to her that way,” Colm warned again.
Sofia wasn’t even sure why he was so upset. Sacha wasn’t saying anything that she didn’t know. She wasn’t supposed to lift anything really heavy.
Or be on her feet all day.
Oleg had forced her to give him a job. Something Sacha hadn’t been happy about. But she’d managed to convince him that Oleg would do a good job.
Which was complete and utter bullshit, of course. Oleg was useless.
So she found herself constantly covering for him. Which is why she was here, opening up and trying to put away the supplies that had just been dropped off.
Jobs that he should be doing.
All so Aleksandr didn’t get angry and fire him.
Aleksandr grew quiet, just watching Colm with an assessing gaze.