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The deli isbusy when I finally arrive. It took some doing to find her phone. She hadn’t left it on the charging station in the bedroom. I had to keep calling the damn thing until the ringing finally led me to the powder room just off the foyer. Teetering off the edge of the countertop.
She has three other staff members working with her today, which is good since the customers are lined up waiting to give their orders. Almost every booth in the place is taken.
Charlotte’s carrying an order to the booth in the far corner of the deli when I see her. She slides the tray between the two people sitting across from each other with a smile. After wiping her hands on the black apron she has tied around her waist, she hustles back behind the counter to take the next order.
I want to interrupt her. I want to walk behind the counter and wrap my arms around her waist and kiss the little spot behind her ear that gets her to make the sexiest mewling sound I’ve ever heard. Instead, I stand against the far wall, watching her work.
It takes almost an hour for the rush to die down. There are several empty booths now and there’s only two people waiting to put their order in.
Charlotte lets out a long breath and looks over the counter. A delicate blush touches her cheeks when our eyes meet. I won’t lie to myself and pretend it doesn’t boost my ego to see her reaction.
Sliding out of the booth I parked myself in, I point toward the kitchen. She gives a curt nod, then whispers something to Joey before meeting me at the swinging door.
“What are you doing here?” she asks, but it’s laced with curiosity, unlike the other times she’s asked.
“You left this at home.” I pull her phone from my back pocket and offer it to her.
Her gaze shifts down to the phone cradled in my palm and visible relief covers her features.
“Thank you. I thought I lost it on the way back from the coffee shop when I was putting my wallet back in my purse.” She takes the phone and quickly swipes it to life. Notifications are lined up on the screen, but she quickly swipes through them before shoving it in the back pocket of her jeans.
“You came all the way over here just to drop off my phone?” She folds her arms over her chest. “How did you know I didn’t have it anyway? I didn’t see a missed text.”
“The tracker showed you were still at home, but Viktor said he’d dropped you off this morning.”
Her eyes widen; apparently it hadn’t occurred to her I would do something like that. “You have a tracking device on my phone?” She yanks it back out and quickly swipes through the screens.
“It’s an app, Charlotte, not a bug. I can’t see your texts or your calls, just where you are.” I gently take the phone from her and open the tracker for her.
Her jaw tightens as she scrolls through the location list. “I can’t believe you put a tracker on my phone.”
“Why would you think I wouldn’t?” I tilt my head.
“Because maybe you trust me?” She says it like an accusation. “I haven’t given you any reason to think I was going to run off. I’ve done everything you’ve said. I moved into your damn condo. I’ve let Viktor drive me to and from work.”
“You have been more cooperative this past week,” I nod. “I downloaded the tracker on the first night you were with me. You hadn’t given me reason to trust you at that point.”
“And now?” She frowns. “Do you think I’ll run off now and break off the deal?”
The deal.
It’s always about that, isn’t it?
“No,” I answer simply. “I don’t. The tracker is also a way for me keep you safe. I’ll always know where you are, so if something bad happens, I can get to you.” It occurs to me whoever might be starting up their own distribution line with our product might have the balls to try to use Charlotte against me. If it means saving their ass, anyway.
“Why would something bad happen to me, Nikolai?” she asks with narrowed eyes. This is a test; will I tell her the truth or not.
“Because my family has enemies.” It’s the simple answer. It’s also the only answer I’m going to offer.
She shakes her head. “You’re impossible.”
“Not always,” I promise her.
“Hey, Charlie, mind if I go down the street for a coffee run?” Joey pokes his head into the kitchen.