It wasn’t a problem for Bethany’s family. Why should it be any different for Nikolai’s?
He shrugs.
“Don’t they want you to be a hero one day?”
Now that I think about it, that was the first time I got the inkling that my family wasn’t like the typical family—beyond the obvious part where I didn’t have a father anymore.
“Are you okay?” Landon settles his hand on my knee. There’s something grounding about his touch.
I smile softly at him, threading my fingers with his. “I’m fine. It’s been a while since I’ve been part of a holiday celebration. I’d forgotten how much fun it can be.”
“More fun than having those men at the seniors’ home grill me about why I think I’m worthy enough to be your boyfriend?”
I laugh, a little drunk on my overwhelming happiness and the momentary wistful nostalgia. “I’ll admit that was one highlight of this afternoon.”
“They really care about you. It’s obvious you’re like a granddaughter to them.”
The smile on my face shifts to a full out beam. “I guess that makes me luckier than most people. Forget about having only one or two or four grandfathers, I have a busload of them.”
After dessert,Josephine insists we return to the living room, where we can be more comfortable. It’s fun watching her tease her future grandson-in-law.
“Since you’re going be a married man next year,” Liza says to him from her armchair. “I vote you spend the rest of the evening shirtless.” She winks at him.
And Isabelle groans. “Haven’t we had this discussion before? He took off his shirt that one time because the sprinkler started up while he was walking to the door, and he got soaked. It wasn’t to turn you on.” She narrows her eyes at Liza and Josephine. “You two didn’t have anything to do with that, did you?”
“Who, us?” they chorus, their innocent expressions as real as Henri’s teeth.
Isabelle rolls her eyes. “I should have known better. So much for the temporary malfunction you claimed to be the culprit.”
The two women laugh, as do the rest of us.
A few guests leave, but no one else seems to be in a rush to go anywhere. Josephine gestures for Landon and me to sit on an empty chair. “Don’t be shy. I’m sure you sit on his lap all the time,” she says at my hesitation.
Landon doesn’t seem to have any qualms about this cozy arrangement. He pulls me over to the empty armchair and tugs me onto his lap. Jayden and Isabelle aren’t sitting any differently than we are, but she looks more at ease than I feel.
But for different reasons—and possibly for the same ones.
I’m becoming more and more aware of Landon, and I was pretty damn aware of him before. Add the kiss from earlier, and my body is buzzing from pent-up desire, pent-up need.
Landon’s thumb caresses the spot above the waistband of my panties. That almost does me in. I squirm slightly, trying to relieve the building heat between my legs and low in my belly, while at the same time, attempting to look cool as an English cucumber.
Yep, no problem what-so-ever.
The conversation turns to how things were different in the olden days of Hollywood, but don’t quiz me on what was said.
I’m too focused on the way Landon’s thumb is lazily tracing circles against my hip. And with each caress of his thumb, my body temperature climbs a degree. There’s something sweet and tender about the move.
If I stay here any longer, I’ll combust.
I make a move to shift off his lap. His hold on me tightens.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell him.
He releases me.
I head toward where the washroom is located and spot the door to the balcony. Through the French doors, thousands of tiny dots of lights are visible across the bay.
I open the door and step outside.
