Page 55 of Bedazzled
So, something had to go wrong.
The Formal Dutch Garden outside the palace was lush, with perfectly spaced circles of green, hedges trimmed to a precise geometric edge, and trees that were still flowering, even in late summer. I could smell the crisp scent of freshly cut grass and traces of lavender on the breeze as I breathed in happily… which were then obliterated by the tang of men’s cologne. Creed Spice & Wood, in fact. I knew because Ezio used to drench himself in the stuff before coming into the office.
However, this wasn’t my old boss.
“Ah, lovely to see you again, darling. Are you still deep in wedded bliss?” Nolan O’Rourke moved into my personal space, smiling with his shiny white teeth all on display.
“Life is good,” I said, noticing with rising anxiety that Gavrill was stepping up behind him, and the man following O’Rourke - who looked like a bull moose who had learned to walk on his hind legs - was sliding his hand into his jacket.
“Hey, Gavrill, stand down.” I could feel sweat beading on my forehead, even in the cool night air.There really have to be guns waved, even at the goddamn Imperial Ball?
“Nolan, you want to tell your man this is not a ‘shoot ‘em up’ situation?”
He gave a faint nod, and the hairy giant stood still with his hands folded politely. “You must forgive him,” O’Rourke said, “he is understandably concerned with my continued good health. It has been a dramatic few weeks.”
“You’re not getting any blowback from standing up for me at the wedding, are you?” I felt guilty. Really? Guilty about this handsome sociopath getting heat because of me? “Although, that can’t be. The wedding was only a flyspeck on the Lamborghini windshield of your life, right?”
Naturally, he laughed. “Oh dear, no. No… blowback.” Eyeing me in all my ball-gowned glory, he said, “But if you wish to thank me above and beyond the favor you owe me, a kiss would do.”
I really, really should have pinned him down about that mysterious favor right there at the Cathedral instead of letting it hang over my head,I thought gloomily.Thank you, hindsight.
“Kiss you? Yeah, I already know what disappointment tastes like.”
Nolan O’Rourke was too rich and good-looking to be offended, so he just chuckled indulgently.
“Tell me, Nolan, what’s been happening these last few weeks that has your guy there so trigger-happy?”
Now he sobered up. “Ah, plans are in play. People, businesses, goods, and services traded and sold. It can be a delicate balance.”
“Yeah, I can imagine world domination is a tad time-consuming,” I said, watching him with a frown. “What particular part of the planet are you conquering right now?”
“One that might interest you and your husband,” he said, enjoying my reluctant curiosity. “Ireland, to be specific.”
“With the O’Connell mob, by any chance?” I snarled.
“One must have connections everywhere, my dear Tania. But not necessarily allies.” His eyes narrowed, looking at something over my shoulder. Leaning quickly to kiss my cheek, he whispered, “I have always wanted to be a master distiller.” He slid into the pathway by the hedges, his tuxedo helping him blend in with the night.
“Was that O’Rourke?” Yuri said sharply.
I yelped, “Will you stop sneaking up on me like that? God, make some noise like a normal human!”
“I’m sorry, darling,” he soothed, “I didn’t mean to startle you.” He put a possessive arm around my waist, an action I noticed with a great deal of satisfaction.
“Yes, it was Nolan. God, he’s so irritating!He must have that silver spoon jammed so far up his ass that it’s a miracle he can sit down,” I said crossly.“He was infuriatingly inscrutable. Which is getting annoying.”
“What did he say to you?” Yuri’s calloused fingertips slid up my bare arm, making me shiver.
“Um…” that touch felt so good… “He did all this rich bastard mumbo jumbo about putting plans into action and moving people and around and how he was trading and selling goods and services. So, nothing that made any sense of course.” My eyes fluttered shut for a moment as his fingertips made their way across my collarbones, delicately tracing one and then the other.
Regretfully, I held his wrist still. “But then he dropped this nugget of information. He’s planning something in Ireland. He said that he could associate with the O’Connell’s without becoming allies.”
“Really,” Yuri’s expression was hard as stone. “What else did he share with you?”
“He said…” my brows furrowed, “he said he always wanted to be a master distiller. Is that some pompous way of saying he wants to be king of the planet or something?”
He was staring at me in a mix of admiration and deep frustration. “That son of a bitch just gave you more information in your garden chat than we have gotten out of him in months. My clever, delightful wife.”
Yuri’s hand went to my throat, his thumb pushing my chin up. His mouth landed on mine and his full lips pushed mine apart as his tongue slid between them, delicately sucking on mine as his other hand moved to my ass and pressed me against him. Hard.
