4
JULIANA
Max has to go, I watch him leave and a part of me worries about him. If the sniper saw his car, he could be going after Max. Konstantin sits with me, sees how unfocused I am, probably clocks how hard it is for me to breathe.
I feel like my heart is going to lurch out of my chest. Knowing and experiencing are two different things. Being shot at is something I never wanted to experience. It’s something ...
“I’ll make you a drink.”
I watch as he does just that. It’s not a crazy alcohol beverage, but I can definitely taste the tequila. It warms and cools me at the same time. I nibble my bottom lip after drinking. “Are you waiting for me to fall apart?”
“I’m not sure.” He says. “Maybe I’m waiting for you to try to raid the fridge just to discover there’s nothing at all there.”
“Then let’s take care of that first. Is it safe for us to go to the grocery store?”
“With me, yes.”
I believe it. He gets dressed and we head to the grocery store. I get a little bit of everything, determined to be able to cook a decent meal. Once we get back to the house, I throw myself into cooking. It’s something to do where I have total control.
Konstantin hugs me from behind when I yell at the meat. I take a slow breath, then turn and melt into his arms. He rubs my back and kisses the top of my head. “You’re okay, angel. I promise you’re going to be just fine.”
“How can you promise that?”
“Because I know what I’m capable of.” He says in my ear. “And I will take out anyone who threatens your life.”
I tremble. “Violence is only half-sexy on you.”
He helps me with dinner, taking every order and every suggestion to heart. We laugh and for a few precious minutes, I’m normal. I’m not some heiress or rich girl. I don’t have a hit on me. I’m just with my boyfriend cooking dinner.
But as soon as that thought rolls into my brain I come to a stop. I see Konstantin piling his plate high with a warm smile and my heart studders. I can’t think of him as my boyfriend. Not with everything going on, not with Gio and Max existing too. I mean, that’s crazy.
Because if I call Konstantin my boyfriend then I have to drop Gio and Max and how could I possibly do that. Max and I have so much fun and we match so well and then Gio, wonderful amazing Gio who I’ve connected with for years and am finally getting to enjoy without anything between us. Konstantin is amazing, sweet, determined, sexy, good with me and my dogs and a breath of fresh air, but ...
“No pouting.” Konstantin kisses me softly. “Just us tonight.”
“Almost feels like a date.”
“Good.” He beams.
We eat together and he distracts me by getting me talking about Charlie and Nolan, how long I’ve had them, how I trained them. Then he asks about what I want to do with my life.
“I’d really like to support artists. It sounds silly, but I remember in college I had friends that loved art, they wanted to make a career in it, but it’s so difficult to get into. If I could create some kind of middle man to connect the artist to the businesses or charities that need someone, it could help. Plus, I could send their work to galleries so they could focus more on what they’re doing instead of the process.”
He rubs my knee. “That would make a lot more people happy.”
“Of course, I’d have to charge something, but if I do a percentage of what the artist makes and charge the businesses, it would still be affordable.”
“I have a feeling Patricia inspired this.”
“She did.” I nod. “My best friend is forced to work in a call center because she can’t get her photography off the ground. She does weddings and stuff on the side, but even that’s hard.”
“What’s stopping you?” He leans forward, giving me his full attention.
I open my mouth to tell him I have to make my own bills and remember my father gives me an allowance every month on top of my income. I’ve saved up more than enough to purchase a building and I could even get a business loan. I don’t need to work for my father, he’s said that constantly.
“I ... I don’t know.”
“Dive into it. If it’s your passion, you’re only hurting yourself by putting it off, Juliana.”