Page 75 of Fractured Empire

His lips twitch. “He’d be happy to hear you say that.”

Are you happy to hear me say it?

“I should shower before they wake up. Leo will tell me I’m stinky if I don’t.”

Are you sure I can’t just stare at you like this for a little bit longer?

“Okay.” I blink, stepping back before I say something horribly awkward. “I’ll go upstairs and wait to hear them in case they wake up before you’re done.”

“Thank you, Katya.”

My arms flare with goose bumps and it takes all of my willpower not to thank him in return for saying my name like that.

“You’re welcome, Leon.”

Chapter Thirty-One

Leon

Katya took my breath away the moment she stepped out of her bedroom, dressed and ready for dinner. Her looks are something that can’t really be hidden or understated. Even in her everyday clothes to run around with the kids, and the light makeup or lack of makeup all together, she could never be mistaken for anything other than a worldly beauty. But somehow, when she gets all dolled up like this, it’s even harder to deny or ignore.

Leo was the first one to gasp and compliment her of course, wasting no time to shout about how pretty she looks before Bastian and I could even form words. Our compliments came soon after of course—softer, and more controlled. My sons knew how to compliment women and girls, mostly due to learning by example from their uncles praising their aunts.

And Katya in return, was quick to call us all her handsome boys—me included. I probably swelled with confidence just as dramatically as my children, but we were in too much of a hurry for anyone to dwell on it. Dinner wasn’t a far away drive, but taking young kids to a fancy restaurant opening is a delicate process, and both Katya and I wanted to get there as soon as possible, hoping to leave little room for frustration on the kids’ part.

We arrived only a few minutes ago, and my wife still has my eye. Her long blonde hair is practically glowing under the restaurant’s warm radiant lighting, and her tight black dress is somehow sophisticated and sexy. It’s not too short or too low cut, but it’s molded to her body and her small curves so perfectly that I can almost picture how she would look underneath it.

Our table is round, and in the private dining area meant for family and VIPs. Tonight, that consists of only us, and Gino with his wife and their kids. The main part of the restaurant is open for our business associates and their families, a test run before our official grand opening tomorrow night. The food is Italian and French fusion, upscale but not too highbrow. It’s meant to be appealing to foodies, but also to the general public that feels drawn to upscale dining.

Small talk has already begun in full swing, mostly reintroductions with Katya, and first introductions to Gino’s children. Bastian and Leo have met them, of course, but everyone is still basically new to my wife.

“I heard a funny story about you last week,” Katya comments, her eyes finding Gino across the table.

Leo starts giggling immediately and Katya grins, poking his side.

It’s my first dinner out of the house with her, and my sons have both decided it’s more important for them to sit with her than for me to be by my wife’s side. If it wasn’t so cute, I would find myself being grumpier about it.

Gino sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose, realizing what she means immediately. “It truly wasn’t that funny.”

Leo disagrees, laughing harder. His little shoulders shake, and Katya’s eyes sparkle as she watches him crack up.

“I don’t know, it seems to amuse this little one to no end. It’s one way to make a lasting memory, that’s for sure.”

“Ugh, his laugh is just precious, isn’t it?” Maria asks, patting her husband’s arm on the table. “Imagine if you fell tonight? He might make himself sick.”

“Thank you, amate,” Gino drawls, shaking his head. There’s still a loving look in his eyes, despite his wife enjoying his misery.

“You’re welcome, my love,” she replies sweetly. “Katya, you must tell me where you bought that dress. You look gorgeous, as usual.”

My wife’s cheeks flush pink and she smiles at the comment. “My mother bought this one. I’ll have to ask her and get back to you. She always finds the best clothes. My little sister is even more into fashion than she is, actually.”

“Love that,” Maria says, grinning and looking toward her daughters. “My Lily and Rose are obsessed with shopping just like their mama.”

“Rose is only two,” Gino tells his wife, nodding down to the small brunette girl in his lap. “She’s obsessed with everything that you tell her to be.”

Rose looks exactly like Gino, but in tiny girlish form. Her big features are all his, but her cute brown curls and princess dress are all her mom. Lily on the other hand, could be her mother’s twin. Her softer eyes, smaller nose, lips, and chin, are far too subtle to be from Gino’s side of the family.

“I don’t know,” Katya muses, looking between the happy couple. “My little sister Gaia started gaining her fashion opinions pretty early on. She would refuse to wear graphic T-shirts and plain white socks, and she would pout if she couldn’t wear a pretty dress.”