“Never bet against me, baby brother. Now, if you don’t mind, this beautiful woman has promised me a dance,” Alek said, putting his hand on my elbow. I shivered at his touch and boldly took his arm with one last look at Nik and Ivan.
“I don’t recall promising you that, Mr. King. However, you did come through for me with the tape. So I’ll consider it. But only after you’ve fed me.” I lowered my voice and smiled seductively at him as desire filled his eyes.
“I’ll never leave you hungry, kotyonok. Come,” Alek responded, and his words were like an intimate caress.
Somewhere from Seattle to Portland, high in the clouds, I’d found myself transforming. I’d recognized I was tapping into my training and let it happen. Fragmented memories of seeing X entertain men in a dating capacity, how to be charming and attentive, intertwined with the present, offering me a unique perspective and strength.
In my desire to overcome my past, Owen helped me realize that, while it would always be a part of me, it gave me a level of resilience and made me powerful. It might be a risky decision, but I had to start somewhere. It was all about trusting my intuition and unearthing an authentic version of myself. I wasn’t a shattered little girl anymore.
I was a thriver, ready to rewrite my narrative and create my own future. The wine helped, and having Aleksandr look at me the way he was made me feel bold and alive. If this was what dating felt like, I had been doing myself a disservice by avoiding it.
I knew I could be as sophisticated as the woman hanging off Nik’s arm or anyone else we’d meet tonight. The surprise of Sarah being here only helped me relax. It was a sweet gesture, and I would show him that I appreciated it by enjoying myself.
Each of the King brothers wore designer tuxedos, cut to precision. Black and bold across their wide shoulders, with gentle lines around the waist and tucked-in crisp white shirts—they were magazine ready. The sharp creases in their slacks and shiny shoes completed the ensemble.
I looked around the room and noticed several tall banners next to tables. Each one showcased some of the work the various foundations were doing in the Pacific Northwest communities.
“Aleksandr King, will wonders never cease? Do you have a date with you this evening? My girls will be devastated.” An elderly woman strolled up to him, smiling warmly. She studied me closely, and I flushed from the scrutiny.
Who is she to Alek?
“Madame Pierce, this is Kinsley. If you only knew the struggle it took to get her to agree to accompany me. Be kind, and don’t go tattling.” He hugged her.
“Ahh, do you have stories that you can share about Alek? I think Madame Pierce and I should have a sit-down,” I teased as a look of horror crossed his face.
“Maybe another time. There’s someone else I’d like you to meet.” He bid Madame Pierce a farewell and steered me toward a handsome older gentleman and a dark-haired woman whose backs were to us.
The closer we got, the harder it was to breathe. They both turned from who they were talking to, and I stopped dead in my tracks. This was not happening.
“Father, Mother, you look amazing tonight. I’d like you to meet a friend of mine, Kinsley. Kinsley, these are my parents, Christopher and Sophia.”
“Daddy Diplomat,” I whispered stupidly. Thank god only Alek heard me, but his ensuing laughter turned my face a bright red.
“You said you weren’t coming,” his mother said, looking at me with a shocked expression.
“That was because I was waiting for her to answer me. I didn’t want to get your hopes up.” Alek brought my hand up to kiss it, and I shooed him away.
“He’s not lying. I only just said yes a few days ago. I mean, it’s not like I said ‘yes to the dress,’ in that sense. Well, technically, I did say yes to the dress—this one, anyway. But I did say no to the lingerie. It’s just dinner and one dance, that’s it,” I rambled.
I wanted to crawl under a rock. There went every bit of training I’d ever received. Awkward could not even begin to describe how badly I messed up my introduction. Dealing with parents hadn’t been on the list of potentials we’d been taught.
“Well, you look lovely in the dress, so here’s to that,” his father finally said after a few moments, but it felt like a lifetime to me. He smiled at Aleksandr and stopped a waiter who was carrying around flutes filled with wine.
Thankfully, Nik and Ivan arrived a second later with their dates, and I was saved from any other embarrassing moments.
Leaning over and pulling on Alek’s coat, damn him for being so tall, I hissed, “You’re in so much trouble.”
“You babble when you’re nervous. I love it.”
Jenna, Nik’s date, seemed to have met his parents before, from the level of comfort between them. They also seemed warm to Sarah. I couldn’t help feeling like I’d upset his mother by showing up.
“Mr. and Mrs. King, we need you for a photo shoot,” a man with a camera interrupted.
“We’ll all chat later. It was nice seeing you again, Jenna, and a pleasure meeting you Sarah, Kinsley.”
As they walked away, I could see his mother whispering to Christopher. The resounding chuckle from their father was embarrassing, and I downed the glass of wine.
Scratch dating from the to-do list. I’ve changed my mind.
