Page 37

The question is simple, but my heartbeat changes. He turns back to me, waiting for an answer with the patience of a man who already has one.

“I came because Birdie didn’t want to attend alone.”

Birdie lowers her glass and looks at me. “I said no such thing.”

I stare at her. “Whose side are you on?”

“The side that doesn’t require me to lie badly in front of a frighteningly observant man.”

Andrei’s mouth moves again, and this time I’m almost certain he’s fighting a smile.

I turn back to him. “She came because I didn’t want to attend alone.”

“That’s closer to the truth,” Birdie says.

“Thank you for your contribution,” I tell her, giving her a pointed look.

“You’re welcome.” She accepts another glass from a passing server and steps toward Reid when he motions for her to join him, although the grin she sends me before leaving promises an unpleasant conversation later.

Andrei watches Birdie walk away before turning back to me. “Your cousin enjoys making you uncomfortable.”

“She considers it a sacred duty,” I reply, brushing a crumb from my thumb.

“And you still brought her.” He takes another drink of wine, the faint curve of his mouth betraying how much he enjoys our exchange.

“She knows where I hide the spare key to my apartment, so ending the friendship would require moving.” I glance after Birdie, who looks entirely too pleased with herself as she joins Reid.

Andrei lowers his glass. “You live above your bookstore.”

I lower the tartlet without taking a bite. “How do you know that?”

“Your website.” He delivers the answer as though looking me up before the event is perfectly ordinary.

I study his face, trying to decide what else he might know. “You looked at my website?”

“Tessa sent me the names on the revised reservation.” Andrei slips his free hand into his trouser pocket. “I prefer to know who enters my property.”

Before I can ask what else he learned, Tessa returns with a woman at her side. The woman’s hand rests lightly against Tessa’s back as they stop beside us.

“Andrei, the presentation begins in five minutes,” Tessa says. “Samantha offered to help me find you, although you haven’t been difficult to locate.”

“Sofia knows where I am.”

“Yes, which is why you have five minutes instead of three.” Tessa gives him an innocent smile as Samantha takes her hand. “Try not to make her use them.”

They disappear into the gathering crowd, leaving Andrei and me facing each other again.

Andrei could use his remaining five minutes to greet any of the wealthy distributors and restaurant owners waiting for him. Instead, he stays with me as though our conversation is the only one he intends to finish.

A group passes behind me, forcing me nearer to him. Andrei closes the remaining distance rather than stepping aside, bringing the clean scent of cedar and dark fruit with him. My body notices his nearness before my brain decides what it means.

His eyes move to the glass in my hand. “Do you always question your hosts before tasting their wine?”

I raise the glass and take a sip, refusing to let him make me feel as though I’ve failed some secret requirement. “Only the mysterious ones.”

“You find me mysterious?” Andrei asks, turning his glass once between his fingers.

“I find you difficult to read.” I lower my wine, resisting the urge to put more space between us. “I’m not sure whether you dislike questions or enjoy refusing to answer them.”