Page 11 of Tight Spaces

Chapter three

Danusia adjusted the hand towel on the rack after wiping down her brother’s marble countertops.

She’d insisted on cleaning the kitchen on her own, telling Max that it was only fair since he’d cooked. He’d looked like he was about to argue and she’d given him the look, the one she used on her big brothers and sister when she was absolutely adamant about getting her way.

Max took the hint and left.

Thank goodness for small favors. She couldn’t believe she’d set herself up for disappointment like that. He’d been right about one thing; she’d let her imagination run away with her.

Oh, not about her sibs, but about the connection she’d thought she’d made with Max. He might find her sexy; he didn’t have a reason to lie about it anyway. But they weren’t friends and even if they had sex, they weren’t about to become lovers.

Men like him did not have full-on relationships with women like her. The fact was she knew most people didn’t want to. No matter how hard she tried to fit in, her intelligence made most people give her a wide berth. It was hard to make friends, even in the academic community. She was lucky her roommate had stuck with her through college. Even though Rebekah was four years older than Danusia, she’d never let that get in the way of being the younger woman’s friend.

Rebekah was the only person in Danusia’s life that didn’t push her away, or treat her like she was different, or a freak. In fact, she treated Danusia more like a little sister than her own siblings. The main reason for not going to Rebekah when Danusia realized she didn’t want to stay in the apartment alone had been her fear of finally wearing out her welcome with the other woman.

So, she’d come to what she’d believed to be Roman’s empty apartment and ended up sharing with Max. The one man who she found more interesting than even her doctoral thesis.

Max was no more interested in being real with Danusia than her brothers and sister. So, what? She was used to being lied to and kept at a distance, wasn’t she?

If they weren’t smothering her with protectiveness, her family kept her as far away as possible. Even her parents and baba had insisted she attend a university too far away from them for her to live at home.

For her own benefit of course, the physics and chemistry departments were second to none. Thank God, she’d been placed in a room with Rebekah her first semester. Homesick and terrified by the campus living, Danusia had glommed onto a kind and extremely patient Rebekah, who helped the younger girl navigate her strange new world.

Rebekah had steered Danusia toward the lab when she was feeling out of place and taught her that no matter her age, sex, or circumstance, this was somewhere she would always belong.

So, Max wasn’t going to be her boyfriend? That wasn’t some big surprise, was it? And it didn’t mean Danusia had to abandon all the plans she’d been making since showing up in Roman’s apartment and discovering it wasn’t as empty as she’d expected it to be.

She’d never had good sex, much less any in the amazing category. She just knew Max would be amazing. Even if she wasn’t all that great at it. She could learn and a man like him, he could teach her.

She was tired of fantasies and loneliness. She didn’t know how long she had in the apartment with Max, but she was going to take advantage of whatever time she did have.

With that in mind, she went looking for her brother’s liquor supply. Not that he’d ever offered her a drink, though she’d been of legal age for more than three years now. Everyone in the family except her mom and baba treated Danusia like she was still a teenager. Mom and Baba? Wanted her married.

A harsh laugh sounded. Right.

She was better off married to her studies and, one day, to her own research.

She found Roman’s alcohol supply in a cabinet in the living room. She supposed it was considered a mini-bar, but all she knew was that he had a truly impressive array of alcohol from all over the world.

Even some good, old fashioned, Ukrainian potato vodka, distilled and bottled by an official distillery even. She was sure there was a bottle of her papa’s efforts in there somewhere too, but that was too special to drink on a whim. Or without permission. She pulled the vodka with the black label out of the cabinet and poured a finger each in two high ball glasses.

"Indulging in a nightcap, professor?" Max asked from behind her.

She hadn’t heard him come in, but this just meant she didn’t have to go looking for him. Turning, with a glass in each hand, she extended one toward him. "Join me."

"I don’t know if that’s such a good idea." He eyed the drink like a snake set to strike.

Interesting. What did he have to be wary about?

"Sure it is. How can you turn down vodka distilled in Ukraine?"

"Do you swear in Ukrainian like your brother?" he asked instead of answering.

"Sometimes." Worried, she asked. "Do you not drink? Should I have not offered this to you?"

"I can hold my liquor just fine, but every soldier knows better than to drink when they need to keep their head."

"Why do you need to keep your head?" Was he planning on going out?