When we get home, I note his car isn’t there, so he’s already left, and Leon is waiting.
“Are the teams in position?” I ask Leon as we walk in.
“Teams?” Penny asks curiously.
Leon smiles. “Perimeter is clear, sir. You’re good.”
I smile at Penny and cock my head to the side. “We can’t have a cozy night under the stars like I wanted to because it’s just too dangerous, but I have something almost as good.”
“You planned a cozy night under the stars? With me?” she asks, smiling brightly.
“Well…” I touch the small of her back and lead her toward the back of the house to a room Luka emptied for us. There’s a white wall and a projector in the room facing the wall. On the floor is a blanket, and there are snacks and drinks.
Another little star projector is to the side, projecting a fake night sky around the room.
“It’s so romantic,” she says quietly.
I shut the door behind us after nodding to Leon. “It’s all ours. I picked a particularly cheesy romcom for you.”
We settle down on the blankets after piling up some pillows to lean against. Penny curls up against me, and I put an arm around her. The movie is cheesy, but most importantly, Penny seriously enjoys it.
When we’re done, and I turn the lights on, Penny looks exhausted. I smile and scoop her into my arms.
“Kervyn!” she protests. “I’m way too big to carry.”
“Nonsense,” I say. “You’re the perfect size, baby bump and all.”
I carry her upstairs to my room and place her carefully on the bed. “I’m tired,” she says firmly.
“I know. Let’s get some sleep,” I say. “Your nightie is under your pillow.”
“Planning ahead, I see,” she says. “Clever plan, Mr. Milov.”
I can’t help myself. I lean down and kiss her softly. “Thank you, Miss Winters.”
She blushes. “I’m going to get changed.”
She takes her nightie and heads for the bathroom while I strip down to my boxer shorts. I’ll shower in the morning before I go to work.
We climb into bed, and I spoon her, holding her tightly. This has become a habit now—a must.
It is how things should be because she fits perfectly in my arms.
I doze off, snuggled against the person I love most, as I dream of her returning my love.
It’s my phone buzzing that wakes Penny, and she shakes me. “Kervyn. Your phone’s going off.”
I turn over and pick up my phone. I just missed the call from Luka, but there are several text messages for me to come downstairs. It’s five in the morning, so he better have a good reason for waking me.
I text that I’ll be right there and go to the bathroom to freshen up, throwing on some long tracksuit bottoms and a shirt before I go downstairs to my office.
“This better be good,” I say sleepily.
Maria comes in with some coffee. She was working at the club for a while, but I’m glad she’s back at the house. Mrs. Beth’s coffee is terrible.
Once she leaves the room, Luka looks at me seriously while I pour my coffee. “It’s Danil.”
“Danil? Is he alright?” I ask, gazing at my younger brother.