Page 89 of Scarred Ruin

Although I would never let my guard down under any circumstances.

Not until the person responsible was discovered and neutralized.

What I also realized was that I couldn’t remember the last time I’d enjoyed an evening out. Other than in taking my daughter to dinner every so often. That was before when I hadn’t felt as if I needed to surround her with men holding weapons.

At least I was trying to do as my lovely companion had requested and relax. I’d yet to remove my jacket, carried a Sig Sauer in the interior pocket and had my handy dandy hunting knife in my jeans pocket. I wasn’t exactly a reflection of tranquility.

At least I hadn’t found the need to threaten anyone thus far.

But the night was young.

I chuckled from my ridiculous private joke while watching her interact with her friend. She’d been appalled that I’d checked on Hope as I’d done with her assistant and everyone else on the team. From what I could see, she very much lived that normal life she’d mentioned.

A part of me wondered what that would be like.

In enjoying spending time with her, I found myself relaxing more than I should. I also realized she was much livelier than I’d seen her including being in my house. Perhaps she was right after all.

“I hate to do this, but I need to go. I have an early shift. We’re talking five a.m.” Hope had moved closer to her friend, squeezing her hand.

“I understand. I’m so glad you decided to come with me. Maybe you made a new friend.” Isabel offered Sergei a daring look, which I’d come to adore.

He chose to frown.

Hope tutted. “Between you and me, he’s a stick in the mud, but I’m not giving up on him.”

Isabel pulled her into a brief hug. “I know you won’t. Get home safely.”

“Don’t worry.” Hope shifted her attention toward me. “Don’t be a stick in the mud, Mr. Aristov. Women don’t like that.”

“Duly noted,” I growled.

Isabel flipped her hair in my direction while laughing as Hope disappeared into the crowd.

“You can go after her to ensure her safety if you’d like, Sergei.”

He hadn’t been expecting my comment, rolling his eyes, which was very rare for the man. “I don’t think so.”

As I moved closer to Isabel, she offered me an adorable expression.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong. Should there be?” I feigned surprise.

“You’ve been staring at me the entire night.”

“I am a man in case you haven’t noticed.”

She dared move closer and so no one else could see what she was doing, she slipped her hand between my legs. “Oh, that’s right. You are.”

“What am I going to do with you?”

“I have an idea.”

I nodded to Sergei. “Then why don’t we go?”

“I could live with that.”

My cock immediately twitched. In my mind, the moment in the bathroom was nothing but a precursor to something much more intense. After the bill was paid, I kept my band on the small of her back as I led her to the exit. Two of my men went first, which in turn caused her to offer the same chastising glare as before.