Faye

 

The shower did do wonders for me.

Rejuvenated, I stepped out, wrapped myself in a towel and squeezed out my hair. Ulma had offered to style it, but I usually just let it air dry – my mother had always been opposed to using heat on my precious locks. After running a comb through it, I slid open the door and peeked out.

Ulma was nowhere to be seen and I wasn’t sure where the clothes Andrei had told me about might be. Trying the door next to the bathroom, I slipped into a bedroom and started at a tall figure unfolding in the corner.

“Andrei!” I said with a squeak, clutching the towel closer.

“Oh, I didn’t realize you’d finished – I was not trying to…" A dull red flush had appeared on his tanned face and I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing. “I was here – the clothes...”

Tucking my hair behind my ears, I nodded and said, “I see that. Thank you.”

“Um, could I get by?” Andrei asked gruffly and I stepped back, realizing he’d been trapped between the bed and the armoire built into the wall. “Thanks. And my apologies for that.”

A little laugh escaped me as the door closed. Turning, I eyed the clothes he’d laid out. A rose-gold sheath dress and sweater. Too preppy, but I supposed I'd defer to his judgment.

Not just saying that to make me drop my guard? Andrei’s question darted through my head.

He was good. That had been my intention when I first woke but now I wasn’t so sure. While some part of me was keeping my guard up, I couldn’t argue Andrei had saved my life.

Nor did I think someone like Ulma – who told me all about how she and her husband had lost everything after a political upheaval in their country, only to be taken in by the Zimas and employed by Andrei – would tolerate any traitorous bullshit. According to her, Andrei taught her husband how to fly and then gave him a job so they could see the world.

“Last year ve vere in Paris and last month in Boston!” she’d told me enthusiastically. “Imagine that! Now Tahiti. All over the globe!”

Or was all of this, including Ulma, a ploy to get me to drop my guard? Or was I crossing into paranoia? I couldn’t tell anymore – I was so damn tired.

Opening a drawer in search of underwear, I was surprised at the sheer number and sizes. My lip curled. Ugh, did Andrei entertain that many women?

The bras were the same way and I finally found a lacy one in my size. Once I was dressed, I shook out my hair and looked at myself in the mirror. I was surprised at how well the sheath dress fit. Andrei had a good eye.

A little nervous, I picked up the heels and sweater, wondering if I should put makeup on. Deciding against it, I headed into the main cabin barefoot and found Andrei.

He was in the seat across from mine, dozing, although he sat up straighter and gave me a sleepy smile as I sat down. “Don’t you look nice and refreshed.”

“Yes, a shower wasn't the worst idea,” I replied.

Andrei yawned, covering his mouth and stretching out. “I cannot wait till we land. I booked the biggest and nicest suite you can imagine. The beds are bits of heaven.”

“I see,” I said, then I blurted out, “Why do you have so much lingerie?”

He’d been dozing again and his head flew back so fast it hit the seat. “Vat?”

“Entertainment? Pleasure?” I pressed. “Both?”

Swallowing, Andrei gave me a hilarious look. “What the hell – no. That was all for you. While I could figure out your dress size, with some help from Ulma, she said panties and bras were more difficult.” Andrei glanced away, slouching in his seat. “My God, I’m not some international lothario. You think I’d bring women onto this plane with Ulma, Hubert and Imogen around?”

“Imogen?” I asked.

“The co-pilot,” he said, shaking his head at me. “You have a wild imagination.”

“You have a lot of panties,” I said.

“They’re not mine, they’re yours!” he said in exasperation.

“Well, how am I supposed to know what you get up to on this secret plane?” I asked.

“This plane is purely for work,” Andrei said with a scowl.

“Alright, alright, touchy subject,” I muttered. “So, what does dushechka mean, exactly?”

“Eh? Why are you asking that?” Andrei asked blankly, gazing over at me. He looked like he wanted nothing more than a nap, but I was starting to feel more awake.

“You called me it once or twice,” I said, agog with curiosity. “Is it a bad word?”

Andrei was gaping at me. “I did not,” he said, almost to himself. “I wouldn’t.”

Suddenly Ulma appeared with a pitcher of water and handed me a glass. “It means darling.” I looked from her to Andrei, who went very still. She put the other glass and pitcher in front of him. “Very sweet thing to call someone.” She smiled. “That’s our Andrei.”

Ulma walked away, then, leaving a flustered silence in her wake.

Andrei’s voice in my ear kept repeating over and over.

Don’t move, dushechka.

The look on his face and the tension in his body. Suddenly, I remembered what it felt like to have that broad and muscular form pressed up against mine. My cheeks heated up.

“What time will we land?” I asked faintly, staring out the window.

“In about an hour,” Andrei answered. “Um, also there are some wigs for you.”

There was a moment of silence, then I spoke.

“I couldn’t cut it,” I admitted suddenly, curling my feet up next to me. “My hair, I mean.”

“Why not?” Andrei asked, and I looked over at him.

“My mom always loved my hair,” I explained, a wistful note in my voice. “Pretty dumb, huh?”

“That is not dumb,” Andrei said. “To want to keep a memory of your family alive in yourself – that is a beautiful thing. Brave, too.”

I looked over at him. “How did you find me?”

With a sigh, Andrei tipped his head back. “So many questions.”

“I know you hate them, but I’m dying to know. I’m holding back over here.”

“It involved some hacking done by my good friend Keon Graves and some investigating on my part,” Andrei answered. “Also, I broke into your apartment and went through your things. I knew you were a surfer and Tahiti was on your wish list of places to see. From there, it was easy.”

“You what?” I asked. “Wait, my apartment – my stuff is still intact?”

“Yes, Soraya and Piper haven’t been there yet. It was dusty.”

My heart squeezed in my chest. “Oh,” I said softly.

Closing his eyes, Andrei let out a long sigh. “That is enough for now. I’m tired, too.”

I watched his face fall into still lines. He didn’t give much away, but God, he was gorgeous. Soraya had never mentioned that and I’d somehow never seen a picture of him. (Probably because he was a spy.) That jawline alone would haunt a girl’s dreams. And those lips…

“Mm, yes, I know, you’re welcome,” Andrei said, smirking as he slouched lower.

“For what?” I asked, mentally slapping myself for those thoughts.

Green appeared through his dark lashes. “Being so good-looking. Stare all you want.” His eyes closed again. “I do not mind at all.”

Augh! Came the mental scream and I quickly said, “Actually, I was wondering how Ivan could possibly be better looking than you.”

Outrage crossed Andrei’s face as his eyes snapped open. “Ivan? That troll?” I couldn’t help myself and I laughed. He shook his head at me. “I heard you were a lot nicer.”

“Fine,” I huffed. “You’re good looking for a troll.”

At that, Andrei laughed, a rich and mirthful sound that was completely different from the chuckle he’d aped as Dean. “And you are impossible, Miss Knight.”

“You tied me up,” I shot at him. I was still smarting about that.

“You didn’t give me a choice,” he said flatly. “What would you have done in my shoes?”

I opened and closed my mouth. He had a point.

Closing his eyes again, Andrei settled back and nodded at me. “Exactly. Now, we will be there soon and I’d like at least a twenty-minute nap. Then we can pick out your wig, although it will be a shame to cover up your beautiful hair.” He sounded sleepy. “Like a cloud over the sun.”

I was staring at him again, but Andrei seemed to have nodded off. Reaching up, I twirled my fingers through my hair and smiled a little. Well, that was pretty nice.

Looking at him closely again, I bit my lip.

Maybe I can trust you.