Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 63786 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63786 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
I grin. How appropriate. “I couldn’t think of anything more perfect.”
Back in Igor’s room with the book, I get comfy and start reading.
The first chapter flies by, then the second, and the third, and then I’m so engrossed I’m a third of the way through the book before I even realize.
I don’t hear Lev until he speaks. “Are you seriously reading him a romance novel?”
At the sound of the grumpy pakhan’s voice, I almost jump out of my skin. I turn to see him standing in the doorway. Fresh suit. Hair perfect. Looking like a boss.
“Yes, I told him if he didn’t get better then I was going to read it to him. It was only a threat. I was only going to subject him to the first chapter, but damn, this book has sucked me in. It’s a mafia romance so you’d probably like it.”
He cocks an eyebrow at me as he looks at the title. “The Devil’s Den.”
“It’s about a ruthless mafia don. You should read it. Who knows, you might pick up some tips.”
“Nice cover.”
“It’s spicy too.”
“I’m sure Igor is thrilled,” he drawls.
He turns his attention to Igor and his jaw tightens. I see the flash of pain in his expression, and I know it hurts him to see his friend so unwell.
I don’t know what to say to him, and the silence is deafening, so after a while I pick up the book and start reading to Igor again.
I expect Lev to leave. But he doesn’t. He sits down, and it’s confusing because I don’t know how I fit into this scenario. What I should do, if I should leave. But I get the feeling he doesn’t want me to leave, that right now this is what he needs, to be with his friend. And if I am really honest, I don’t want to leave. It’s nice to be in the same room as him without all the tension and frosty silence. It’s like Igor’s room has become neutral territory where we can co-exist without arguing.
So I keep reading, and Lev listens, and before too long he’s giving a running commentary.
“Yes, that is exactly what I would do.”
“What does she expect, he’s mafia, of course he’s going to do that.”
“Yes, I would shoot him for touching her too.”
And it’s so surreal because he’s giving me a glimpse of the man he was before I ran away. The man he’s kept hidden from me since I returned. The man I fell in love with.
When I get to a part where the hero is keeping the heroine locked in a bedroom and her sassy reaction to it, he cocks and eyebrow and mutters, “Oh, how I can relate, my friend.”
But it’s all too much when I get to a spicy scene. Lev stands and moves toward the door.
“But we’re just getting to the good bits,” I say.
He shakes his head. “No, the good bits were in the beginning before he fucked up and fell in love with her.”
Two days later, summer turns up with vengeance. It’s like God turned up the heat overnight which is a stark contrast to the frostiness that still exists between Lev and I. Despite the mild thaw that happened after we spoke at the hospital, for the last couple of days we’ve done a superb job of avoiding one another.
Which is fine by me.
If he’s determined to think I’m some kind of rat, then I’m determined to stay out of his way until he’s ready to see sense and apologize for being a dick.
But today the sun is bright, the sky is blue, and I refuse to let Lev’s bad attitude ruin my mood. I decide to head down to the humongous pool to enjoy the sunshine. It’s the perfect opportunity to try out the new bikini I bought online after Lev told me he didn’t want me asking him permission every time I want to make a purchase.
Buy what you need, Miss Masters. I don’t want to hear about it.
I slip on the bikini. I’ve always been curvy, but standing in front of the mirror, I can’t help but admire the way my body is getting curvier with the pregnancy. Full breasts. Soft thighs. A growing belly.
I twist and turn in front of the mirror, and my new bikini shimmers with a hundred different shades of aqua.
I glide my palm over my round tummy. It’s not big yet. But it is rounder. And there’s something magical about knowing there is a tiny life growing in there.
Today marks the beginning of my second trimester, according to the checkup I had yesterday. Thankfully my morning sickness is gone, along with the persistent fatigue. In fact, I feel amazing.
I can’t help but grin at my reflection. I’m so in love with the baby inside. I can’t wait to be his or her mama. I can’t wait to hold him or her in my arms, and sing to them, soothe them, and let them know how loved they are.