“Sure it was,” he uttered conversationally. “And I accepted.” He looked around the table. “We’re getting married.”
Nastasia chuckled, and that chuckle turned into a laugh. Viktor grinned, and soon, he was chuckling too. Sasha looked to Anika, and Anika looked as though her world was ending. I hated that for her, but she needed to understand Lev and I were together. That we loved each other. And that I was not going anywhere.
I turned to him, a smile spreading across my lips, but I did this shaking my head.
He winked at me.
I drew my face toward his shoulder, resting my lips there. “You know, we probably should have done this in private.”
He kissed the tip of my nose. “Nonsense. Like Anika said, we’re all friends here.”
I grinned. “So we’re getting married?” He nodded, smiling down at me, his tender expression softening his hard face. I asked on a surprised laugh, “And when will this wedding of ours take place?”
He shrugged lightly, looking all too pleased with himself. “I’ll leave that up to you, mouse. A day from now, a week from now, a year from now, I don’t care. As long as you wear my ring and promise to one day be my wife, I’ll be a happy man.”
His lips came down to kiss mine in a slow, warm kiss. When we separated, I looked around the table and announced with a smile and a shrug. “Looks like we’re getting married.” I finished by putting a hand over my mouth and laughing out loud, my disbelief evident.
It was surreal.
Three months ago, I was living in an alley, my alley, and struggling to keep myself alive. Today I was engaged to be married to the most handsome, thoughtful, kind man in the world. A man who saved my life. A man I loved with every beat of my aching heart.
It was finally happening for me.
Life was happening.
And I loved it. Every hard, trying, demanding second of it.
Right now, life was good. And although I wanted more out of it, I didn’t need it. My happiness was restored by the faith of one man.
One imperfectly perfect man.
My smile was bursting to show itself, but I had told myself that I needed to be cool. “Birdie?” I called. When she turned, I motioned with my fingers for her to come to me. She looked worried when I told her, “Sasha wants to see you in his office.”
“Is everything all right?” she asked slowly, carefully.
I forced a sigh and gave her a grave look. “Not really. Come on. We’ll talk about it.”
Down the hall, she paused before we went into the office. “Have I done something?”
I threw her a sad smile, opening the door, and she went inside. I followed and closed the door behind us. While Birdie moved to sit opposite Sasha, I stayed by the door, hiding my giddiness.
Sasha sat back in his chair. “How you doing, pretty bird?”
Birdie frowned. “F-fine, I guess.”
“Good.” He sat forward. “I’ve noticed you working with the girls. And after today’s rehearsal, I gotta tell you…” He paused for effect. “…I’m wondering why you never gave me an opportunity to give you a management position. Because I gotta say, Birdie…I need you.”
“Wha…?” She turned to look at me before facing Sasha. “What is this?”
Sasha grinned then. “This is you getting a promotion. A well-deserved promotion, if you want it.”
Her eyes bugged out. “Are you playin’, baby? Because that ain’t funny. I got two babies to feed and I need the money. So if…”
Sasha slid over a piece of paper. Birdie picked it up with shaking hands and she whispered, “What’s this?”
Sasha smiled softly. “That’s your base wage. Underneath that is the bonus you’ll be getting for last week’s overtime.”
Birdie stuttered, “But…but…but…” Then rasped, “But that’s double what I’m getting now.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “You saying you’re not worth that? Because I can adjust it to—”
She cut him off with a firm, “Don’t you dare! You hush now.”
And Sasha laughed. “Does this mean you’ll accept my offer?”
She raised a brow. “Slow down, sugar. You haven’t even told me what it is I’m gonna be doing. How about you start with that?”
I stepped forward, moving to stand by Sasha’s desk. I smiled down at my friend and told her, “Sasha was hoping you’d be the stage manager. Which puts you in charge of the girls, ordering new costumes, helping to choreograph their dance routines, setting up nightly rosters…that sort of stuff.”
Sasha nodded in agreement. “It also means you’ll have to work longer hours. Not too many, but at least another five hours a week.”
Birdie thought about it for a long moment then smiled up at Sasha. “I’ll make it work.” She held up the paper that Sasha had scribbled down her management wages on and waved it around. “For this, I’ll make it work, baby. You got yourself a stage manager.”
She squeaked excitedly as she stood and hugged the both of us, leaving Sasha and me for a moment alone. I smiled after her, clapping my hands together at the feeling you got from seeing someone you cared about succeed in a way they never thought possible.
I took a seat in the chair that Birdie had vacated and sighed lightly, “That was awesome.”
Sasha’s eyes narrowed at me.
My eyes widened. “What?”
He searched my face before muttering, “Who the fuck are you, Mina Harris?”
I rolled my eyes at him and his goddamn dramatics. “You know who I am, Sasha.” I mumbled, “I’m just a girl.”
He shook his head. “No. You’re not.”
I wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but he said it softly, and there was less acid in that statement than I had ever heard from Sasha. My brows bunched. “Hey. Are you okay?”
He ran a hand down his face. “No. Not really.” I wasn’t prepared for that admission, nor when he, suddenly looking weary, confessed, “If this doesn’t work, we’re going to have to shut down. We’re losing too much money.”
I knew this. It hadn’t been said, but we all knew it. It was one of the reasons the girls were working as hard as they were, and when Sasha surprised us all with an all-new interior, our excitement for opening night doubled.
The club looked classier than ever. While the stage remained the same, new flooring had been put down, and gone were the red velvet drapes, replaced with heavy black curtains that looked elegant and stylish. Most tables were replaced with booths with black leather seats and white pins. The bar stools were exchanged for high-back chairs. The walls had been painted black, and Sasha had paid a man an exorbitant amount of money to have the photographs I took of the girls in playful and provocative positions spray-painted every few feet.
Our flyers were a hit. Lev, Vik, Nas, Anika, and I made our way all over, posting posters on the walls of popular hangouts and handing out flyers. It had been a long few days, but the hype was showing. Our social media page—which was Nas’ idea, God bless her—skyrocketed overnight, with people tagging their friends in interest. Women who wanted to dance for the club had contacted us via email and expressed how thrilling it was to have a local burlesque act.
The current reaction was a positive one. Now we had to wait and see if our hard work had paid off.
“It’s all going to work out,” I told him, my confidence flaring.
He reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose, shutting his eyes tightly. “If it doesn’t, we’re fucked. We invested everything into this place.”
I stood, walking out the door. “Ugh. No negative Nancy’s allowed.” I called back, “We’re going to make it work, dammit.”
As God was my witness, we were going to make it work.
When I got home that night, I told Lev I would be up to bed in a minute, wanting a moment alone before I picked up my cell and dialed the number.
I was calling in a favor.
Chapter Forty-Four
Mina
I sat on the sofa
, my legs curled up under me, sipping my coffee while watching Lidi dance to one of the many catchy Wiggles songs that was playing on the TV. She put her hands in the air, clapped when prompted, stomped her little chubby feet, and sang along, although I wasn’t really sure what language Lidi thought The Wiggles sang in. It sounded like she was going with Swahili.
Lev walked in, coffee mug in hand, looked at his little girl, and smiled, shaking his head. I grinned, and my shoulders shook in silent laughter. He was in the middle of getting ready for his workout, checking his watch, walking around in sweat pants and no tee, and my gut clenched at the sight of his bare torso.
Those broad shoulders just did it for me. And when we had our time alone, I held onto them, hanging on for the ride like nobody’s business.
The faint red mark on the left shoulder had me flushing hard. I might have used that shoulder to ground me after my orgasm by biting into it and clutching at him, my nails embedded in his upper arms as I moaned through my release.
The front door opened quietly and Sasha let himself in, still looking sleep-mussed in his blue jeans and black tee, making his way right for the little girl dancing in front of the television. He didn’t bother with hellos. He snatched Lidiya up and she squealed excitedly, “Asha, putta down. Putta down.”
His voice croaky, he told her, “Ada made pancakes. You want pancakes, princess?” She stopped fighting and cinched her arms around his neck. He cocked her high on his hip and, with a jerk of his chin, strode out the door.
This happened more often that not. I was wrong when I suggested that Sasha and Nastasia fighting for Lidiya’s attention was just a phase. Truth was, they treated Lidi as if she was the daughter neither had, and they loved her to pieces.
Lev checked his watch again, and I knew it was time for him to go. As soon as we woke, I made him his tasteless oatmeal and he ate it in silence. I mean, how else would you eat oatmeal that possibly tasted like cardboard? There were no ‘mmmm’s and ‘yum’s to be had. Let’s be honest. It tasted like trash. I wasn’t sure how he could stomach it.
Correction. I’d eaten trash that tasted better than unsweetened oatmeal.
Blech.
He came forward, his eyes soft, and towered his large body over me, reaching down to grip my chin as he planted warm, gentle kisses to my lips. “I have to go.”
He went to move back, but I snagged him, my fingers dipping into the waist of his pants. “You can play hooky. We can go back to bed and play patty cake.” I bit the inside of my cheek. “We’ve got at least half an hour before Sasha brings Lidi home.”
“But I always work out between ten and twelve.”
I nodded. “I know. But one day off won’t kill you, right?”
He looked confused. “But I always work out between ten and twelve.”
My eyes rolled a little, but I straightened quickly with a smile. “I know, but—”
He cut me off, his voice quiet, anxious almost. “I always work out between ten and twelve.”
This was one of those moments. One of those moments where your head tells you not to push, but you’re not sure if you hold back. I came to realize rather quickly that messing with Lev’s routine was a big no-no. Nothing made my man more irritated than someone screwing with his schedule.
I understood the underlining issues. He craved a semblance of normal in a world where he felt different. His childhood had done things to him that made him the way he was today.
Did that frustrate me? At times, yes.
Lev could not be fixed. And I didn’t want to repair the broken part of him. He was perfectly imperfect, and I was his in heart and soul.
More importantly, he was mine. And that was a big deal. Lev did not give himself to people. They merely borrowed his time. And here I was, his attention given fully to a person who probably didn’t deserve it. I was grateful though, and I often reminded myself that he had compromised a lot of himself for me and I needed to do the same.
Releasing the elastic at his pants, I reached up to finger the swinging anchor pendant he had bought me and I smiled gently, knowing I’d have to pick my battles. “Okay, sweetie. Have fun.”
His shoulders slumped in the immense relief I imagined he felt at my quick out. His hands came up and he laid them on my cheeks in gratitude. When his lips descended, I found myself leaned up, into him, needing his lips on me. He kissed me softly once, twice, three times, then whispered against my lips, “I love you, Mina.”
It was the first time he had said the words. I felt his love, but hearing the words…wow. It was breathtaking. I’d come to realize the saying was true. Patience was a virtue.
I kissed him again. And again. And before I could drag him down onto the sofa with me, I pushed him away gently. “Go. Now. Or I’ll tackle you to the ground.”
His eyes smiled and he chuckled lightly. He threw me a wink before he left, and I threw myself back on the couch and blew out a long breath. “Have mercy.”
My man was a serious case of sexy.
The front door opened again, and just as my excitement flared at the thought of Lev disregarding his routine and spending the morning in bed with me, Nas stuck her head through the crack and called out, “Pancakes at Sasha’s. Move your ass, kukla. I’m starved.”
I rose of the sofa with a sigh. “Yeah, yeah. I’m coming.”
I’d rather have been doing a different type of coming, but pancakes were still pretty awesome.
Nas and I walked side-by-side, taking in the morning sun. I couldn’t help but ask, “Where’s Vik?”
Nas slipped on her giant sunglasses and shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s not like we spend every waking moment with each other.”
I frowned. “Uh, yeah you do.”
She scoffed. “No. We don’t.”
It sounded like there was trouble in paradise.
We walked on a while, and she asked quietly, “If Lev wasn’t committed to you, but you loved him, what would you do?”
My haunches rose. “I would kindly tell him to fuck a duck.” She sighed softly and I stopped in my tracks. “What’s going on, Nas? What happened?”
She paused a moment before she threw her arms up and rushed out, “I don’t know. You and Lev are getting married.” I threw her a look that said ‘yeah, so?’ and she shook her head gently. “I want that. And I’m not going to get that with Vik.”
My brow furrowed. “Who said? He loves you, Nas. Anyone can see it. He loves you.”
Her lip trembled. “No. He doesn’t.” She took in a deep breath and let out a long exhale. “He sleeps around, you know.” My face must have conveyed that I did not know this, because her eyes widened and she nodded. “Yeah. And then he comes to me at two, sometimes three in the morning, and sleeps in my bed. Because I let him.” She let out a humorless laugh. “He doesn’t love me, Mina. He loves that I’m a willing booty call, that I’m a sure thing. That’s all I’ll ever be to him.” Her eyes watered and she whispered a broken, “I can’t do it anymore. It hurts too much.”
“Okay, so he has commitment issues,” I started, but she shook her head.
“Don’t make excuses for him, Mina. Please,” she begged then pleaded, “I need you on my side for this one. I need a friend who gets it. Okay?”
She sounded beaten and desperate. I found myself offering her what she needed. “Okay, Nas,” I told her. “I get it.”
Her face dejected, she nodded lightly. “Thanks, shorty.”
I smiled. “Anytime.” Then I hooked my arm through hers and pulled her along. “C’mon. It’s too early for this crap. I need pancakes.”
We arrived at Sasha’s not a minute later and murdered those freaking pancakes.
Opening night arrived quicker than any of us expected, and I glanced around the room, taking in the new sights and familiarizing myself with the new layout. Everything was different. It was exciting.
Birdie helped the girls prepare, giving last-minute instruction and helping with their costumes, hair, and makeup. I was a little s
urprised when Sasha instructed Nas, Anika, and me to change when we got there. Apparently, it had been decided that bar staff would dress like the dancers, but at a subdued level. When I alerted Sasha to the fact that heels and I were not friends, he told me Birdie had taken care of it. I was pleasantly surprised by the low-heeled peep-toes she got for me.
We changed into our new uniforms that consisted of thigh-high fishnets, garters, black and red corset-busted one-pieces, and frilled micro skirts. One of the girls lent me a long pair of satin, fingerless gloves, and they were just gorgeous. I thought it would feel weird. It didn’t. It felt sexy. I felt sexy, and I was dying to see what Lev thought.
Once dressed, Anika, Nas, and I made our way out of the stage area, only to be howled and wolf-whistled at. I covered my face with my hands, blushing furiously, but laughing hard. Before I even had time to recover, I felt a warm, hard body crash into mine. I wrapped my arms around him with an oomph and blinked up at him. “Lev? What’s wrong, sweetie?”
He glared down at my pushed-up breasts. “What the hell are you wearing?”
A smile formed. “Didn’t you get the memo?” I waved my arm back to Anika and Nas. “These are the new bar uniforms.”
He shook his head profusely and made small grunting noises that said ‘no’ then a growl escaped him that said ‘oh, hell no’.
I placed a hand over his shirt-covered taut stomach and reasoned with him. “This is all part and parcel of changing things up. We want the experience to be genuine. Do you understand?”
His jaw tight, he growled out, “I don’t like this.” He snuffled an annoyed, “Everyone can see your goodies.”
I grinned up at him. “And only you get to unwrap me later.” I went up on my tiptoes to nip his chin. “Isn’t that just wicked?”
I heard the girls walk away and I was glad for it. When Lev reached down to palm my ass through my new costume, he took my earlobe into his mouth and sucked then whispered into my ear, “You’re naughty. And naughty girls get punished.”