I pass him into the bedroom.
“Who lives here?” I breathe my question. His condo is beautiful, but this place, it’s something out of literature.
“A business partner.” Nikolai shuts the door and flips the lock, so we won’t be disturbed. “The bathroom’s through that door.”
I start heading that way, but stop and turn around.
“Are you upset with me because I worked late or are you mad at the world in general?” I ask and he stares at me with a blank expression. I hate when I can’t read him. “Just so I know if I should push my luck with the panty situation in this bag.” I lift up the bag.
“There aren’t any panties in that bag.” He raises that dark eyebrow of his again.
“I know.”
His steps are silent as he moves across the carpeting. Reaching up, he tugs on my hair tie until my hair falls loose around my shoulders. It’s a mess, I’m sure, and there’s probably a big dent in it from the hair tie, but he brushes his hands through it like he’s been waiting all day to do just this.
“I’m not mad at you,” he says quietly. “But if you push the panty situation, I’ll be disappointed.”
His eyes line up with mine, and for that moment, that brief second that passes between us, I know I’m not going to do anything to disappoint him tonight. There’s a tension to him I don’t understand the cause of, but I know the feeling. Whatever battle he’s fighting, it’s going uphill. And I won’t add to it.
Not tonight at least.
“Good to know,” I smile, then take a step backward. “I’m going to wash off this vinegar smell and be right out.” Then I hurry into the bathroom.
* * *
“You’re not goingto tell me whose house this is?” I whisper to Nikolai as we walk down the hall toward the room where music plays.
“I would if I knew,” he says, squeezing my hand playfully. “It’s a rental property. My father’s friend has it rented out to celebrate his daughter’s birthday.”
“Another birthday party.” I shake my head. “This place is gorgeous.”
“I thought you might like it.” He smiles. “You’ve been reading theArchitectural Digestmagazines.”
“I was just flipping through them.” There’s been a stack of them on the coffee table in the living room for the past week.
“Ever think about pursuing that interest?” he asks.
“I like to look at the pictures. I have no idea how architecture actually works,” I say. “Besides, I have Dad’s deli to run.”
He pauses at the double doors at the end of the long foyer and looks down at me. “Is it your dad’s or is it yours?”
“What?”
“Your dad isn’t around anymore, Charlotte. But you refer to it as his deli,” he points out.
“I don’t know, it’s just been Dad’s deli for so long, I just… it doesn’t mean anything. I like running the deli.” I grew up in that deli. My entire future has been anchored by it.
He raises an eyebrow but stays quiet. “One more question. What’s the panty situation like?”
My cheeks heat instantly. The man just likes doing this to me.
“Nikolai.” I look at the doors. We’re alone in the hallway, but that doesn’t mean someone won’t step out at any moment.
“Charlotte?” He mocks my tone. He’s teasing me.
I sigh. “I didn’t disappoint you,” I respond.
“Show me.” He flips his chin up, a signal to turn around and flip my skirt.