‘When Kostya is settled I will need to go. It would be disastrous for him if he were to begin to think of us both as his parents—which is what would happen if … if I was in your life.’ Maisy knew she was being sensible. She knew she was putting the interests of the child above her own, and she knew he couldn’t argue with her on this. But, oh, she wished he would.
Alexei was silent. The playfulness had evaporated.
‘He can’t see us being … affectionate together in front of him,’ she elaborated.
‘Affectionate?’
‘I know it’s not really affection, I know it’s just … sex. But he’s so little he’ll just see it as grown-ups showing love to each other, as we love him, and he’ll think we all belong together.’
Alexei swore in Russian. Maisy blinked. His anger was evident, but it wasn’t directed towards her. It was strange, but she sensed he was looking inward.
‘I’m not an idiot, Alexei, I know how the world works. It’s bizarre that we even met, let alone that I’m here. I think what’s happened has happened because of the Kulikovs. We’re both grieving and it gives us a bond. We’ve been thrown together, and it was … inevitable.’
‘It was inevitable—I’ll agree with that,’ he replied, looking at her oddly. ‘So what are your terms, Maisy?’
The question was blunt and to the point, and it hurt.
Terms? She had no idea. ‘What—what usually happens when you’re with a woman? I mean, how does it work?’
‘I put her on the payroll and give her bonuses when she really performs.’
Maisy blinked again, and for an aching moment Alexei realised she wasn’t sure if he was joking or not.
‘Do you really think I’d do that? Listen.’ He stood in front of her and tugged on her hands. ‘That bed upstairs. It’s mine. I don’t bring women here. At all. Ever. This is my sanctuary.’
‘No “female guests”?’
‘Only a few, very firmly attached to their husbands. This is where I bring family.’
For a moment Maisy experienced an overwhelming explosion of belonging, even as common sense told her he was referring to Kostya. She was here because of Kostya. She wasn’t a part of this family of his. But she was his first woman here.
‘So what am I supposed to do?’ She aimed for casual, but it came out needy.
Unexpectedly his thumb pressed against the frown line between her winged brows.
‘Don’t fret, Maisy. I’ll make it easy for you. You live with me, you travel with me, you dodge the paparazzi with me. You’ll be written up as “a mysterious redhead” until they dig out your details—and they will dig them up, dirt and all. Anything you want to keep hidden you can forget about. So, any bank robberies I need to know about?’
Maisy stared at him. Surely he was joking? No, not joking. ‘Nobody will be interested in me. I’m not anybody.’
‘Everything I do seems to attract some sort of interest. I’m hoping because you don’t have a profile it will blow over.’
He’d thought about it. The realisation zoomed through Maisy’s faltering confidence and made her feel a little stronger. Alexei had considered how she would fit into his life before now. Then she remembered all the security: in London, at the airport. Only here it seemed to have evaporated. It hadn’t occurred to her before, but Alexei led a somewhat high-octane lifestyle.
What was that going to mean for her? More importantly, what would it mean for Kostya when she was gone? And she would go. She had told Alexei that much and he hadn’t argued with her.
It made it easier for him. It made it terrifying for her.
He slid his big hands around her waist, sitting on the rim of the fountain and drawing her between his legs so that they were on eye level.
‘Kostya is severely going to cramp our style,’ he said, with a smile in his voice.
‘No, he’s a wonderful little boy,’ protested Maisy loyally. ‘And he’s so taken with you.’
‘I agree wholeheartedly he’s a great kid. But this “no affection” rule is going to be a bore.’
‘There’s no choice,’ she said solemnly.
‘There are always choices, dushka. You’ve exercised yours. Can you live by it?’
Maisy swayed into him. In his world there were choices—rich men always had choices. Unless by some miracle a leopard changed his spots and he fell head over heels in love with her … no, she didn’t have a choice. She only had an inevitable outcome.
Alexei’s arms came around her and he laid his head on the soft warm curve of her breasts. He released a lovely, deep, satisfied groan.