The Master (The Game Maker #2)(71)

Aleks gazed at his brother as if he didn’t recognize him. Then, weirdly, he shifted that dumbfounded expression—to me.

Natalie mouthed “Thank you” to Máxim. Turning to Aleks, she gave him an I told you so look.

To the crowd, Máxim called, “Vyp’em za lyubov’! Let’s drink to love.” This time he raised his glass only to me.

Jets. Overheating. Mal funcionamiento. My glass shook on the way to my lips.

He sat down nonchalantly, as if he hadn’t just made a roomful of people claw out their hearts in tribute to him. Myself included. “How did I do?”

His speech had left me speechless.

He curled his fingers, buffing his nails. “I know, baby girl, I’m that good.”





CHAPTER 29




As dinner wound down, Jess declared to the table, “Natalie, hot mamí, and I are late for the bar.”

“I’m not a big drinker,” I told her. “More accurately, I’m a very bad drinker.”

Máxim raised his brows: Understatement, then?

Jess said, “I scheduled the ceremony for tomorrow night, because I could, and because I’m f*cking brilliant like that. We’ll have all day to recover.” To Máxim, she said, “I’ll get Cat drunk for you, so maybe you can get to first base.”

As she dragged me and Natalie to the adjoining bar, I looked over my shoulder at Máxim. Help!

He held his palms up, a mischievous smile playing at his lips.

The barroom was as dark-paneled as the Grand Hall. Huskers memorabilia lined the walls. Top 40 country music played on a jukebox.

At the bar, Jess ordered a round of tequila shots. Natalie looked around. “Did you scare off Polly?”

Jess said, “She slipped out thirty minutes ago. One of the groomsmen slipped out thirty-four minutes ago. Polly ought to be choking on motherland tonsil right about now.”

How had Jess noticed them leaving? She’d always been engaged with our table’s conversation. Not for the first time tonight, I wondered if Jess’s carefree attitude masked a keen intellect.

The bartender served up shots, salt, and lemon wedges. “Are we really doing this?” I asked, though I already had the salt shaker in hand.

Jess cried, “Sí, sí, se?orita.”

Natalie added, “It’s futile to resist her. Trust me.”

Lick-shoot-suck-gasp.

Another round.

As the third round arrived, Máxim and his brother came over. Aleks wrapped his arms around Natalie, as if he’d missed her. She melted against him.

Máxim told me, “I’m going with my brother to smoke cigars. I’m supposed to separate him from the bride, right?”

“You are.”

“Tequila? Should I be worried?”

Under my breath, I said, “You left me to the wolves. Now I’m trapped in their den.”

“Take this.” He slipped bills into my clutch, what had to be a thousand dollars.

“Aww. Did you give me pin money?” I probably should’ve brought my own, but I hadn’t even thought about my purse in the guest bedroom closet—the one filled with ten grand.

“In case you leave the lodge and go into town. Call me if you need more, moyo solnyshko. Or anything at all.” He seemed as reluctant to part as Aleks obviously was. “And if you see those farmers, you text me immediately.”

I saluted him.

Jess told Máxim, “I’ll take real good care of our hot little mamí.” She raised two fingers in a V and wiggled her tongue between them.

He cast me a look: I can’t even with this one. He tugged me off the bar stool to pull me aside. “Is she hitting on you?”

“She’s just having fun with me. I think she’s got eyes for either the buxom barmaid or the burly bar-back, probably both. In any case, I would think a hobbyist like yourself would love to imagine me and—”

“Nyet. I—don’t—share.”

“Easy, Trigger. I wasn’t planning on it.”

Satisfied nod. “And I’m a former hobbyist.”

I wished it were that easy for an escort to say grandly, “I’m a former paid sex worker.” Life was so not fair. I canted my head at him and said, “You’re done with that, are you?” He’d racked up enough hours with escorts to earn a dozen college degrees. Could a PhD of hobbyism quit cold turkey?

“That’s in my past.” He brushed his knuckles over my jawline. “It’s my understanding that better things await me in the future.”

I needed to fan myself. All day he’d hinted at a relationship with me. Just when I decided I wasn’t imagining this, a stray thought arose: What if he’s only amusing himself—with me? Has he been broken of his scheming ways? My withered trust wanted to know. “Your brother looked astonished by your speech. He must be relieved that you’ve changed so much toward him.” Have you changed toward everyone?

Máxim nodded. “He feared I would go the route of Jessica, only not as well-meaning. Did you notice his apprehension growing? He suspected I was setting the room up, readying to deliver a blow.”

“But you’re not like that anymore?” As brilliant as Máxim was, I could see him getting bored without something to occupy his mind.