Page 78 of Scarred Ruin

“What’s wrong with it?” I’d purposedly selected the she-devil outfit to annoy him.

“Men are looking at you and they shouldn’t be.”

Mina skipped beside us, lifting her trick or treat bag. “Look. It’s almost filled.” She’d managed to keep a tight hold on Shadow’s leash and to my shock, the pup was well behaved in a crowd already revved beyond what adults should be around children.

“Yes, it is. Look at how much candy you have.” I took her bag, oohing and ahhing while her father was busy scanning the street on a constant basis.

“Papa. Would you like a piece?”

“No, baby girl. I’m fine. Just a little while longer. Okay?”

She frowned, taking the bag from my hand, but nothing had deterred her from enjoying the moment. “I’m going in there.” She pointed to a bookstore and before she could scramble inside, Maxsim moved beside her.

With the noise from the music and the crowd, I wasn’t able to hear what he’d told her, but she continually nodded. Immediately afterwards, he gave a slight shift of his head toward Sergei, who dutifully followed her inside.

Hope moved closer, her grin indicating she’d noticed the exchange. “I think I notice a wicked book I’d like to purchase. I’ll be right back.”

“You’re incorrigible,” I yelled after her. When she’d heard about the trick or treating event, she’d invited herself. Honestly, I didn’t mind her being with us.

Maxsim noticed the exchange and narrowed his eyes. “My man is on duty.”

“Your man. You mean Sergei? And yes, I know all the names of the people you insist follow me.”

“Protecting you.”

“Such a huge difference. It would seem my best friend has a crush on your brute of a protective soldier. Is that allowed or should I warn her that you’ll be checking her background and bank account status?” Why had I honestly believed the man could actually relax even for a couple of hours?

He didn’t answer, moving closer to the bookshop’s door to wait.

“Please do not tell me you had my best friend checked out.” He had.

“Just enough to learn she likely is your friend and not trying to use you to get to me.”

Now I coughed on purpose. “I’ve known her for years, Maxsim. A thousand years longer than I’ve known you. I trust her implicitly. If I can trust you remains to be seen. You’re still arrogant, always grumpy, intolerable with your decisions, and have no idea how to let go and enjoy yourself. You’re a stick in the mud.”

He did nothing but tip his head down in my direction.

“Alright. I guess I’m going to need to go try and find some fun on my own.” Yes, I was goading him because he’d been acting strangely all night. When I dared walked away, he grabbed my arm within seconds, yanking me back with enough force I gasped.

“You should know better than to try and get away from me.”

He had me pinned against the shop’s glass window, now planting both hands on either side of me.

“Then don’t give me a reason to,” I shot back. “Try and enjoy tonight. You have enough men walking the street to make it seem as if dressing up as the mafia is all about Halloween.”

“Bratva.” At least the corner of his mouth twitched, almost as if he was going to smile.

“Right. Big strong Russians with attitudes?” I rose onto my toes, feeling the butterflies that occurred so often when I was with him.

Other than him coming into the office, I hadn’t seen him since the night we rescued Shadow, but I’d felt his presence. Almost as if he’d been following me himself. “Remember what I said about how quickly time passes.”

A giggle from his precious daughter meant we’d been caught. “Kiss her, Papa.”

He studied me for a few seconds before pulling away. “My sweet princess. You wouldn’t happen to have a chocolate bar you could share with your papa. I’m famished.”

“You should have eaten your green beans at dinner.” She shoved her hand into her bag while I bit my lip to keep from laughing. How many times had that occurred around him?

Hope was already standing in the doorway, catching the exchange. She’d managed to snag a candy bar from the bookshop, grinning as she peeled the paper away.