Page 13 of Scarred Ruin

“Again, while I appreciate your wish to undertake such an elaborate project, I can’t in good faith be the lead architect.”

I sensed she was prepared to try to escape when we were interrupted.

“There you are.” The man’s deep voice caused her to cinch her eyes closed, also fisting one hand while white knuckling her other around her glass.

“John,” she managed.

“I was worried something happened to you,” he continued, joining us as if perfectly acceptable to do so.

Meanwhile, I was irritated as fuck at being interrupted. I recognized him from the meeting when the contracts had been signed.

He held out his hand while Isabel pressed hers against her forehead in frustration.

“Mr. Aristov. Thank you for coming.” John Taylor smiled and was genuinely happy to see me. Either he didn’t know anything about me or my reputation or was simply willing to overlook the rumors so his company’s bank account could become heavily padded.

“Mr. Taylor,” I said more in passing while studying the fury on her face.

“Mr. Aristov, I’d like you to meet your lead architect and one of the team members on the project, Isabel Dayne.”

He took a step away, thrilled in believing he was introducing us.

She took a deep breath, scanning the length of me once again. “We’ve already met. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need some air.” There was no sense in trying to stop her. She was dead set on closing the chapter.

At this point, I’d let her think there was a possibility.

John visibly sagged. “I apologize for her irritation. She’s not usually so rude.”

“I assure you that wasn’t being rude. We were simply having a discussion she didn’t approve of. Besides, if there’s anything I can’t tolerate, it’s anyone who plies me with false compliments and bullshit. I have time for neither. One word of business, Mr. Taylor. I will deal with Ms. Dayne exclusively. Is that understood?”

He was decidedly uncomfortable. As he should be given who I was.

“Absolutely. I’ll make certain you have everything you need.”

Everything I needed at this point involved getting to know the lovely Isabel much better.

That started now. I didn’t respond, backing away and going on a hunt.

Sergei caught my eye before I’d reached one of the two exits, nodding in the direction of the quartet. He lifted his eyebrows, allowing himself a hint of amusement.

My Brigadier, mentor, and friend had earned the right given how long he’d been with the family.

I owed him my life for a single occasion before.

Now I owed the beautiful woman as much for both mine and my daughter’s. We were still dancing around the reason for the tension between us. However, her determination to block me completely out of her life had me curious alongside being completely unacceptable.

In seeing she’d remained, I gathered she was aware I wasn’t the kind of man to allow anyone of interest to simply walk away.

Or perhaps I was reading too much into her surprising behavior and while the reason for our connection might be a catalyst, it was sheer chemistry that had prevented her from leaving.

Whatever the case, she tensed even as I was several feet away from her.

I took her flute from her hand, which afforded me a nasty glare, and found a place for both our glasses. When I took her into my arms, she didn’t squirm or demand I let her go. She was a woman full of surprises. She allowed me to take one hand into mine, tipping her head toward the side when I slipped my arm around her waist.

With her grip on my fingers firm, she finally lifted her chin. “I assume this is the part where you tell me you’re the kind of man who takes what he wants and that there’s no sense in bothering to resist.”

“Is that what you assume?” I moved around the dance floor, the music, Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune by Debussy the perfect backdrop.

“I don’t need to assume anything, Mr. Aristov, as I’m a very good judge of character.”