Page 28 of The Lies Between Lovers

“He’s fine.”

“He’s nosy.”

Vera suppressed a grin.

Barely.

“I like him—he taught me how to garden and makes sure no one’s bothering me when he sees strangers at my place.”

That statement made Vaslav’s scowl melt away, but his expression didn’t give away his feelings on the matter.

“I’m not very good at this,” he told her.

“At what?”

Gesturing between them, Vaslav said only, “This.”

“I don’t know what this is, Vas.”

That wasn’t the response he wanted if the way his teeth clenched were any indication. When his stare narrowed in on her again, Vera had to fight the urge to drop his gaze because holding it left her with a heat deep in her belly that she just couldn’t explain. The last time she’d felt that, he’d told her to crawl across the floor like a kitten would if she wanted him.

Even then, he hadn’t given her everything she wanted.

Not that it wasn’t worth it.

“Let me make it clear, then,” Vaslav said.

“And just what is that supposed to me—”

She didn’t even get the chance to finish the question before he closed the space between himself and her door. His hand wrapped around the edge, shoving the door out of her grip and open as he crowded her space. She didn’t even notice the way the door banged into the wall because the hand he used to shove it open had found the middle of her chest, clenching into the fabric of her sweater dress to keep her in place as he yanked her toward him.

Vera practically stumbled into Vaslav’s chest, his fist between them the only thing keeping them separated. By mere inches. She was stuck like that, in the entry of her villa with the door wide open for anyone to see them if they passed by her home, as she stared up at the dark eyes of a man who all but refused to look away.

“Vera,” he murmured, her name drawing slowly from his lips.

She sucked in a gulp of air, willing it to steady her when she replied, “Yes?”

“I made my intentions known—they won’t change, hmm? You know what they are.”

He couldn’t be serious.

This man.

She shouldn’t have laughed, but she did. At least, he didn’t seem offended.

“I’m not marrying you,” she told him.

He shook his head while a smirk formed on that sinful mouth of his. It was more tempting when he was this close; it took far more effort than she was willing to admit to stop from leaning up to kiss him. It would only take a second, less than a breath. She could already feel the tingling tease of his beard against her sensitive skin.

“That’s absurd,” she added. “Crazy.”

Although, quieter.

Vaslav’s hand let go of her dress but caught her under the chin with only his forefinger and thumb. “Silly girl. You still think you have a choice.”

She didn’t hear him, or maybe she just didn’t care to listen.

Not really.