In Nas style, she flung open the door, her face blotchy and her eyes a nice shade of red, and uttered angrily, “Makes sense for men to have cocks since they’re all dicks.”

Chapter Twelve

Mina

Our bartending lesson had concluded with the arrival of Philippe Neige. I was curious about the man who could bring a woman like Nas to tears. On the way home, I asked carefully, “So, I’m guessing Philippe is an ex-boyfriend?”

Nas tried to ignore me, but the silence was too thick to overlook. “We were engaged for a short time. It was a whirlwind romance. It was over before it even began.”

“What happened?” I queried in my most sympathetic tone.

She sighed, aggravated. “He did what all men do eventually.” She paused to add quietly, “He disappointed me.”

“Did you love him?”

Nas went quiet. She breathed in slowly and replied on an exhale, “I’ve only ever loved one man. And Philippe wasn’t him.” Quickly changing the subject, she asked, “What about you, Mina? Have you ever been in love?”

“Yes,” I responded easily. I side-eyed her, itching to spot her reaction. “I fell in love with my brother.”

She did not disappoint.

“Ewwwww,” was out of her mouth before I’d even finished. “Please tell me you’re joking. If you’re not, I’m going to pull over and ralph, because that’s fucking nasty.”

I leaned back in my seat, laughing. “He was my foster brother. No relation.” I grinned. “God, you’re good value.”

She smiled then, reluctantly. “Bitch.” She shook her head. “Tell me about mister brother man, then.”

“I was twelve when I first got put into foster care. I was one of the lucky ones. The first family I was placed with was the one I stayed with till I took to the streets.” My brow furrowed. I hadn’t thought about Maggie and John Peterson for a long time. “Maggie was everything I needed at a time I’d lost it all. She was wonderful. John, her husband, was just as good. He included me in everything, made it like we were a real family. They had a pair of twins, five-year-olds, who adored me. Ben and Chris.” I smiled. “I taught them how to ride a bike.” I sighed.

“Uh oh,” Nas began. “Something big is coming. I can feel it.”

“When I was sixteen, Maggie came into my room. She looked kind of worried. That was when she explained that her son from her first marriage was going to come live with us after his father had a run-in with the law. I didn’t know what the big deal was. This was her child. I mean, why was she even explaining this to me? I told her it was okay. I even told her he could have my room if he needed it, that I’d sleep on the couch.” My voice turned soft. “His name was James. He was almost eighteen, a star football player and absolutely gorgeous.”

“Boom. And there’s the kicker.”

I grinned. “He was sweet, and funny, and a total flirt. He was also the first guy to have the guts to kiss me, right in the backyard, under the noses of Maggie and John. I fell in love with him so effortlessly.” I chuckled at the memory. “Before long, we were sneaking kisses all over the place, and he would slip into my room at night after everyone else had fallen asleep.” I sighed dreamily. “We’d talk all night long until talk got in the way of kissing. And then I turned seventeen. One thing lead to another, and soon we were doing a lot more than talking and kissing, if you know what I mean.”

Nas grinned. “I do. I really do.”

“The story ends with us being careless and getting caught, Maggie blaming me for leading on her son and calling me a little tramp. Me realizing that no matter how much I loved Maggie, she was not my mother. And I was gone the next day.”

“She called you a tramp?” Nas uttered, appalled.

I nodded. “A little tramp.”

“And then you disappeared on ‘em.” Nas paused and added thoughtfully, “I’ll bet she’s thought about you every day since you’ve been gone.”

Her statement made my heart stutter. “You think?”

“Um, yeah. She called a seventeen-year-old girl a nasty name in anger and that girl took off, never to be seen again.” She snorted. “I’d say she’s paying every single day for what she did, just by the memory of you. Serves her right, stupid bitch.”

I didn’t want to believe Maggie could have been suffering from guilt this entire time. Sure, she’d called me a bad name, but it didn’t compare to the fact she’d taken me into her home and made me part of a family for close to five years. She deserved more than to live like that.

As soon as Nas dropped me off at home, I searched the house for Lev, finding him downstairs, sitting in a rocking chair, cradling a sleeping Lidiya, and speaking soft words into her curly hair.

I stood in the doorway unnoticed for a long while, watching this man be a father to his daughter. My throat thickened with emotion. Lev was proving to be more than I originally thought him to be.

With a soft clearing of my throat, Lev turned and caught my eye. I lifted my hand in a gentle wave and he lifted the little girl, carrying her across the room and tucking her into her toddler bed. He picked up the baby monitor, stepped out the room, and turned the device on. I backed away from the door as he closed it carefully.

My expression was tender when he approached. I’d forgotten my purpose momentarily. Placing a hand on his forearm, I squeezed gently and whispered, “You’re a good daddy, Lev.”

Looking mildly embarrassed, he ignored my compliment, but didn’t step away from my closeness. “How did you do today? When Nastasia is determined to see something happen, she can be overassertive.”

Linking my arm through his, we walked down the hall together. “You know, your sister might be a badass, but she knows how to motivate a person.” I smiled up at him. “I didn’t drop a single glass. Not one. And I now know how to make about ten different mixers. So I’m ready for tonight. Bring it on.”

He stilled, pulling me to a stop, searching my face. “You look to be in better spirits today. I’m glad.”

My face became void of expression. “Four days ago, you took me off the streets, fed me, gave me a place to sleep, and offered me a job.” Slowly, so there was no mistaking my intentions, I stepped forward, slid my arms around his waist, and pressed myself into him, squeezing gently, resting my head between his pecks. “Thank you is not enough of a phrase to express how grateful I am that I met you, Lev Leokov.” I breathed in the sandalwood cologne he wore. “You saved my life.”

He didn’t hug me back, but he reached up and stroked my hair kindly. “I would do it all over again, mouse.”

I pulled away an inch, my arms still around him, to look up into his face. “It can only get better from here, right?”

His expression glum, he cupped my cheek with a warm palm. “Of course.”

It was then I remembered my initial reason for interrupting him. Stepping back, I linked my arm through his once more. “I need your help.”

He didn’t ask what for; he simply responded a determined, “Anything.”

And I knew—I just knew—he wouldn’t let me down.

***

Mina

From the moment I stepped inside Bleeding Hearts, I knew my anxiety had returned with a vengeance. I wasn’t sure what had brought it on, but I was definitely feeling the pressure after the fourth glass had slipped from my hand and shattered as it hit the floor.

Nastasia pulled me aside. “What gives, dude? You were doing so well today!”

I sputtered angrily, “I don’t know! Jesus.”

Anika came over, looking somewhat sympathetic. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we’ve got a bachelor party coming in. They’ll be here in ten and I’m their server.” She looked at Nas, her striking blue eyes concerned. “What are we going to do? I don’t think I can leave Mina behind the bar tonight, not without someone to help.”