Нина Сингх – The Marriage Of Inconvenience (страница 8)

“I know, it’s just—I’d almost forgotten what nice people they were.” She wrung her hands. “I wish it hadn’t come to this.”

He dropped his arm. A sudden sense of loss hit him as soon as he did so. She felt so right near him, up against him. She always had.

“You’ll tell them the truth soon enough. For now, let’s go take care of business, all right?” He gave her a small nudge forward and followed her in.

Angel composed herself enough to start serving the hors d’oeuvres.

“Tavov, Mila,” she began. “It’s so lovely to have you here finally. How was your trip?” she asked over her shoulder as she held the tray out to R.J. He shook his head to decline. Somehow he couldn’t quite summon up an appetite.

“Oh, it was pretty uneventful,” Mila answered. “But it’s always so exciting when we come to the States. So much changes, yet it’s always the same. The energy level you Americans have, it’s just harrowing.”

“We should all slow down a little bit. It can get a little tiring to be on the go all the time.”

“Yes, my goodness, dear. I can imagine it can be exhausting,” Mila agreed.

“What we could use is that soothing herbal tea in this part of the world,” Angel said as she set the tray down and sat. He had to hand it to her. She knew how to segue.

“I can’t argue with you there, young lady,” Tavov stated. “That’s why we’re here.”

“Well, I’m anxious to start talking about it myself. How is the latest crop of Mila’s Bloom faring?”

“She hasn’t stopped talking about it since she got back,” R.J. added. He was pretty certain it was true enough.

She looked up and sent him a smile. A jolt of pleasure shot through clear to his toes. How adolescent of him, he thought.

“Well, it is turning into a pretty impressive crop.” Tavov nodded.

Angel jumped up in her seat. “Excellent. So we’ll be ready to start shipping when I come down for the harvest?”

Mila squinted her eyes and smiled. “That’s what I love about you, Angeline. Always assuming the sale.”

Angel had the decency to look sheepish. Then she lifted her head and gave R.J. a pointed look full of meaning. “I’ve managed to acquire some invaluable things that way.”

For an instant, silence took over the small room as the two of them just stared at each other. R.J. couldn’t seem to pull his eyes away. When he finally did, he watched as Mila’s smile turned into a wide grin.

“How romantic.” Mila laughed. “And to think, you gave us the impression originally that you were a staunch businesswoman with no mind for family or roots. And it’s so confusing that your last names aren’t the same.”

“That’s not uncommon in the States, Mila,” R.J. responded. “A lot of women prefer to keep their birth names for professional reasons.”

Tavov swallowed the last bit of his shrimp cocktail. “Well, we make it a point to deal only with family-run operations. We’ve found things are much more stable that way. Remember the last fiasco with that European businessman?” he asked his wife as he patted her knee.

Mila nodded. “Oh, it was awful. That man was much more concerned with turning a fast profit than nurturing a business. All the more resources to buy his bachelor toys. We swore we wouldn’t make that mistake again.”

“That’s why we’re so glad to see how happy the two of you are together,” Tavov said. R.J. noticed Angel’s slight cringe.

“You know, dear, they remind me of another young couple,” Mila spoke to her husband.

“They do.” Tavov beamed as he turned back to her and R.J. “We happen to have a major event to look forward to. Our groundskeeper’s son is marrying our cropper’s daughter. Two of the sweetest kids. So in love. We’re holding the ceremony right on our estate.”

“That’s quite generous of you,” Angel said.

“Nonsense,” Tavov retorted. “We’re almost more excited than they are about it. The ceremony will fall right on the week that you’re visiting us, Angel. I’m sure they’d love it if you could join us. Practically the whole town will be there.”

Angel’s expression became wistful, but it disappeared an instant later. “I would be honored. And I wish them every happiness together,” she said.

Mila nodded. “They seem very happy to have found each other. Those two are very committed, as if they just know they were meant for each other.”

Then they’d be rare exceptions, R.J. thought. A sudden flash of lightning tore through the sky in the window behind the Bays. The storm was going to be a furious one.

Mila leaned closer to him. “So tell me, R.J., what’s your secret?”

“Uh, secret?”

She smiled. “Yes, how did you know that Angeline was the one for you?”

* * *

Angel prayed for a strong gust of wind to tear the roof off and suck her right out of the apartment. This was excruciating. Mila Bay was actually asking R.J. about their relationship. R.J., the same man who hadn’t even held on to his wedding band.

She stood up quickly, sparing him the discomfort of having to answer.

“What’s wrong with me? You two must be starving after such a long journey. Let’s get started with dinner. R.J., would you show our guests to the table?”

He moved toward the dining table and pulled out Mila’s chair. Then he motioned for Tavov to sit down. Just as if he was the true man of the house.

“Excuse me while I start to serve.”

R.J. cleared his throat behind her. “I’ll help you.”

They both moved into the kitchen. Angeline couldn’t get to the sink fast enough. Splashing water on her face, she turned to catch R.J. watching her, his arms crossed in front of his chest.

“What?”

“Why are you getting so nervous? It’s going great.”

“Great? You think this is going great? Our guest just asked you to tell her what makes us such a great couple.”

He grinned. “I could have come up with something.”

She walked over to him, entranced by the way his smile transformed his face. “Oh? And what would you have said?”

“I would have said that you fell madly in love with me on sight and I couldn’t get rid of you for anything.”

Angel opened her mouth wide in shock, then saw his mischievous grin. She poked his chest with her index finger. “You wouldn’t have dared.”

He grabbed her wrist playfully and pulled her toward him. “Wouldn’t I?”

“R.J., if you had said something ridiculous like that, I’d, I’d—”

He pulled her closer, an amused glint dancing in his eyes. “You’d what?”

“I’d have laughed in your face.”

He gave an exaggerated shudder. “Ooh, violent.”

His sarcasm was not lost on her. “Then, I would have pretended to accidentally spill hot soup into your lap.”

The grin faded. “You wouldn’t.”

She shrugged. “You sure about that?”

“That would hurt.”

“That’s the point.”

He seemed to contemplate that for a moment, then let go of her hand. “All right, I’ll try not to make any snide comments.”

She laughed when he gave her a painfully put-upon look. “Why, thank you.”

He returned the smile, and it was so easy to remember all the reasons she’d fallen so hard for him. Nothing she’d experienced before or since had even come close to what they’d shared.

“Just be careful with that soup.” R.J.’s mock reprimand pulled her back into the present. “Actually,” he said as he moved toward the stove, “I think I’ll serve it.”

Angel watched him walk back out to the dining area carrying the serving dish. Still giggling, she was only vaguely aware that their little exchange had lessened her anxiety.

Minutes later they were all seated around the table, the aroma of cream of asparagus wafting up from the plates.

“Angel mentioned that you own a corporate security firm,” Mila directed to R.J., then blew on her spoonful of hot soup.