12. Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Rissa

There was only one patron when Anatoly came down at five in the evening. Instead of taking his normal spot, he swept behind the bar, took her hand, and led her away.

“Hey!” Zan protested with a grin. He moved fast and grabbed her other hand before Anatoly could reach the door to the bar. “Where do you think you’re going with my employee?!”

“You’ve been with her all day, now it’s my turn,” Anatoly answered. His voice was stern, but his lips twitched a little as if he was holding back a smile.

“That’s not fair,” Zan whined, his eyes sparkling with humor. “I didn’t get to do fun stuff with Rissa. We did serious and important things. We helped people.”

Rissa could hear the pride in Zan’s voice. To her surprise, not only had he not gotten bored, but he’d learned a lot in the hours they were there and actively started helping people by the end of their shift.

“I shouldn’t leave,” Rissa said, although she really wanted to spend time with Anatoly. “Zan needs me.”

“Zan and Sanguine survived years before you showed up,” he said. “They can manage for one evening.”

Then Anatoly tugged her close, pulling Zan with her. Predictably, Zan used this as an excuse to make her the filling of their sandwich hug!

“Good times should always be serious,” Zan agreed in a husky voice, then kissed Anatoly. Watching the two kiss would never get old, but she wanted to be part of it.

“Me too!” she demanded.

The men broke the kiss and leaned down as one. Zan captured her mouth, and Anatoly licked the shell of her ear. The bar around them disappeared as she lost herself to their touch. She whimpered and clutched Zan’s shirt with one hand and reached back to curl her other arm around Anatoly's head.

“If you three are going to go much further, you need to take it upstairs,” someone said, breaking the spell.

Ending the kiss, Rissa pulled back and gazed up at Zan. “I wanted a little affection, not a full-frontal assault.”

He was unrepentant. “You’ll be getting that frontal assault later,” he promised, then slid his gaze up to Anatoly. “There might be some rear-guard action going on too.”

“That was the cheesiest shit I’ve ever heard!” someone shouted. Rissa was forced to stifle a giggle.

“Shut up or you're cut off,” Zan threatened.

Anatoly tugged them both out of Zan’s hold. “Be a good bartender and take care of your patrons.”

For the first time, Zan really did look disappointed. “I could kick them all out and join you guys.” There were some clear sounds of distress from the patrons. Rissa knew Zan didn’t have the heart to break up their fun.

“We’ll be back before you know it,” she promised.

“At least bring me back something nice,” Zan said, backing up toward the bar.

“Like what?” she asked. “New shoes? A belt?”

He swept his gaze down to her crotch. “Something sweet.”

Rissa rolled her eyes and let Anatoly lead her out into the cool night air. The sun had only recently set and there was still faint light coming from the west. Last week, the temperatures had dipped dramatically. Although it wasn’t uncommon to have nice weather throughout winter, it looked like it was going to be surprisingly cold this December.

It might even rain in a few days! She loved the idea of snuggling up to the men with a hot drink in her hand and listening to the sound of the rain. That would be later. Right now, she had Anatoly walking her down the street and didn’t even know where they were going.

Before she could ask, he turned and led her into a parking garage. Pulling out a key fob from his pants pocket, he led her to a sleek, sporty sedan. This was not the nice, but older, truck Zan took her everywhere in. This thing screamed wealth.

“I wanted something smaller, but Zan couldn’t comfortably fit in it, so I had to get this,” he explained as he opened the passenger door for her.

“This is really nice,” Rissa assured him, not that she could really judge. She’d never been in a truly expensive car so she had nothing to compare it to. When she sank into the leather seat, she did have an honest response to give him. “Oh, I like this!”

“Good,” he said with a grin, and gently shut the door for her.

Now she wished he’d given her time to change her clothes. She should be wearing flashy heels with this car!

“Where are we going?” she asked once he’d climbed into the driver’s seat.

“Several places,” he answered. “I have the whole night planned.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Really? What if I didn’t want to go out tonight?”

He shifted into reverse and watched the dashboard screen as he backed out with an efficiency that spoke of familiarity with both the car and the parking space.

“Then I’d have taken you upstairs, stripped you, and edged you until Zan was finished at the bar,” he answered. He stopped the car short of the exit. “Do you want to change plans?”

Hot lust flashed through her, but she also didn’t want Anatoly edging her. The man had a preternatural ability to stop when she was on the brink of an orgasm. It was the most wonderful and horrible thing he did.

When she didn’t answer right away, he began to maneuver the car back into the parking spot. “The second option is making you flush with desire. I hope Zan is able to close the bar at a reasonable hour or you’re going to be very frustrated for a long time.”

“Let's go on the date!” she nearly screamed. Pulling in a deep breath, she tried for a more casual voice. “I mean, I’d like to know what you have planned for the evening. I like surprises.”

His smile was pure wickedness. “You hate surprises, but I promise that after tonight, you’ll warm to them. At least when they’re coming from me.”

“We’ll see,” she muttered, but watched with interest as he pulled out of the parking garage and onto the street.

Traffic was heavy, but Anatoly handled it like a pro without uttering a single cuss word. Soon they were pulling into Balboa Park, a large area containing hiking trails, museums, gardens, and an amphitheater. Some of the museums and events were free, so it was a fun place to take a kid if you didn’t have much money. Rissa had a lot of fond memories of the place.

“What are we doing?” she asked as he pulled up to a man in a polo shirt and khaki pants holding a sign with their names on it. “Is there a concert at the amphitheater? Oh, is there a concert at the organ? Have you seen it? The organ is the size of a building. Mom and I went to a holiday concert where there were carolers and the organ playing. It was magical!”

The memory was so vivid, she could still taste the hot chocolate her mom had bought them as an added treat to sip while they watched the free show. That had been the best Christmas they had together. There was even a good sized artificial Christmas tree her mom had found at a thrift store. As long as it was against a wall, the missing branches weren’t noticeable. There had been a few presents to open Christmas day and plenty of food in the kitchen. It’d been magical.

“You mentioned that concert to Zan,” Anatoly said as he pulled up and parked in the spot next to the man holding the sign. “I’ve already made arrangements for all of us to attend this year's December festivities at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. It won’t be carolers, but there will be a choir singing accompanied by the organ.”

“That sounds perfect,” she agreed, suddenly excited about Christmas. Most years, she worked hard on not succumbing to depression around the holiday, but this year, she was actually looking forward to spending time with Zan and Anatoly.

“Stay there,” he ordered after shutting down the car.

“Sure, okay,” she agreed, curious to see what was going on. She watched him get out, briefly talk to the man holding the sign, then circled the car to open her door.

“Good girl,” he said, holding out a hand to help her out. He reminded her of Zan, always insisting she wait for him to come around and help her out of his truck. It was such an old-world thing to do. He must’ve gotten it from Anatoly because it fit the distinguished and cultured man better than her flirty, informal Zan.

“What’s going on?” she asked again.

“You’ll see,” he promised.

The air felt cold compared to the warmth of the car, making her shiver. Anatoly frowned and hugged her closer to him.

“This way,” he said, turning them to walk toward the back of the car. A large golf cart appeared, driven by a petite woman with a big smile.

“Hi! I’m Pam, and I’ll be your race car driver,” she chirped. “Please climb aboard and keep all hands and feet inside until the ride comes to a complete stop.”

Rissa snorted at the women's humor, but Anatoly took her comment seriously.

“You’ll drive slowly, yes? No racing around corners? This vehicle isn’t meant for such things,” he said while helping Rissa into the back seat.

“No, sir,” Pam agreed, her expression turning solemn. “You’re getting the VIP treatment, so that means I won’t try to catch air even once.”

This time, Rissa laughed, and Anatoly grumbled something about insolence as he climbed in next to her.

“Here, you might want this,” Pam said, handing them a blanket from a box in the front seat. “We set up heaters at the site, but the ride there will be a little chilly.”

Anatoly grabbed the blanket before she could and wrapped it around her, then tucked her close against his side. Between the soft, thick fleece blanket and Anatoly’s warm bulk, Rissa felt perfect, even when the cart picked up speed and a cold breeze hit them.

Pam drove the cart along the winding pedestrian paths that covered Balboa Park. Many of the attractions were closing for the day, and people were starting to leave, so there were several spots where Pam had to slow down and let traffic move before she could start up again.

Then she turned off the main path and into the area for the Japanese Friendship Garden and Tea house. They were clearly closed, but Pam ignored that and drove off to the side, where someone else wearing a matching polo was holding a gate wide open for her. She waved as she drove through.

The path through the garden was just barely big enough to accommodate the cart, but Pam showed some serious skill by maneuvering down the winding trail without disturbing a single leaf. When they got to a wide section, she pulled up and parked.

“Here we are,” she announced, pointing to a small set of stairs. “It’s right up there.”

Anatoly was quick to get out and then lift her from the cart. She thought he’d put her down, but he didn’t. Instead, he walked the short distance to the flight of stairs and started climbing.

“Damn, that’s swoon,” Pam mumbled, then Rissa heard the cart turn around and head back up the path.

“You don’t have to carry me,” Rissa said, even as she snuggled into Anatoly’s arms. The greenery around them was so thick that she couldn’t see what was ahead, but she was content to let things unfold.

“I do as I please,” he answered with his familiar arrogance. “And you’ll let me.”

“As long as it’s something I want,” she answered.

He stopped in his tracks. She looked up, but he didn’t meet her gaze. He was staring ahead, his expression intense. “I can’t guarantee that it will always be what you want, but I swear it’ll be what’s in your best interest.”

That seemed like a strange distinction to make. “Aren’t those the same things?”

“Not always,” he answered, then rushed up the remaining few steps.

Her response died in her throat as he crested the stairs, and she could see what was waiting for them.

It was a small grassy space surrounded and shaded by trees with a burbling waterfall mostly hidden at one end. The place was almost entirely illuminated by fairy lights strung from tree to tree. There were candles on the small round table at the center and candles on tall, enclosed holders almost all the way around the space.

The whole effect was magical!

“Good evening,” a man said, appearing at their side. “I’m Mark, and I’ll be your server this evening.”

He led them to the small table and pulled out a chair for Anatoly to set her down. He then moved the space heater a little closer. Between the heater and the blanket, she didn’t feel the chill at all, but she was feeling a little dazed.

“You set this all up?” she asked as Anatoly took the seat next to her. “I didn’t even know you could do something like this.”

“I wanted to reserve the entire Spreckels Organ Pavilion and provide you with a private concert, but they couldn’t do that quickly, so I settled for this. We’re next to the amphitheater, and they’ll start performing soon. I’ve been assured we’ll be able to hear the music here but still have privacy.”

“You’ll be able to hear everything perfectly,” Mark said as he picked up Rissa’s napkin, snapped it open, and laid it across her lap. She’d never seen anyone do that outside of movies. “Chef Bradley prepared your meal and gave me strict instructions on how I should serve it. Shall we begin?”

“You may,” Anatoly answered. Mark gave him a nod and disappeared past a nearby tree. That’s when she noticed the narrow footpath. They must have the food prep/staging area hidden over there.

“Chef Bradley,” she whispered. “He can’t mean the chef at Addison’s.”

“He does,” Anatoly responded with a little smirk. “He’s the only chef in San Diego to have three Michelin stars, and I wanted the best for you.”

She blinked, unable to find any words. Rissa loved all types of food. Although she rarely spent money on a fancy meal, she’d splurged occasionally over the years. But even the biggest indulgence never allowed for her to dine at any restaurant with a single Michelin star.

Now, here she was, about to be served food from one of the most elite restaurants in San Diego in one of the most romantic settings she’d ever experienced.

“Zan should be here.”

She gasped and slapped both hands over her mouth. Why had she said that? Anatoly had spent a ton of money on this evening for the two of them and all she could say was she missed Zan? She’d be so pissed if the situation was reversed.

“I’m sorry, that—”

Anatoly put a finger to her lips and made a shushing noise. “I’m not upset. It’s good that you want Zan here. Our plan was for you to get to know both of us better but not feel overwhelmed. If you’re sitting here entranced, but your first thought is missing Zan, then I’m happy.”

He removed his finger and leaned over to brush his lips over hers.

“Are you sure you’re not upset? Now that I think about it, Zan and I have been spending more time together than you and I.”

“That doesn’t matter. When you’re with one of us, you're with both of us. Of course, I always wish to be with you, but Zan does better during the day than I do, so it’s natural you’ll spend more time with him. I like knowing he’s taking care of you when I can’t.”

Her guilt and worry receded. “Could Zan come with us next time?”

“Absolutely,” Anatoly agreed with a pleased expression. “From now on, I’ll plan all our adventures for the three of us. It only means we’ll have to close the bar more often, but Zan will have to learn that you come first, not Sanguine.”

“I shouldn’t come before Sanguine,” she argued. “That’s your business! I’m only me.”

“You come before everything,” he growled, putting a hand on the back of her neck. The hold wasn’t painful but comforting, and his warm hand felt good on her skin. “You certainly are more important than a building. I can also buy more buildings and build Zan another bar. I could never replace you. If you ever need me to prove how vital you are, then you can stand outside while I set the entire thing ablaze. I’ll hold you as we watch it all go up in flames. Do you understand me now?”

His eyes were so intense they almost looked like they had a red tint to them, matching his violent words. She couldn’t do anything but believe him. She’d never had anyone willing to destroy their livelihood for her. Well, Sanguine probably wasn’t their livelihood. Both Anatoly and Zan casually spoke of other places they owned and would sometimes stay at. Although she didn’t know how much, it was obvious they had wealth.

Still, obliterating an expensive piece of property just to prove it wasn’t as valuable as her was the most romantic shit she’d ever heard.

“I think I might lo—”

This time, his entire hand covered her mouth. “No, my sweet,” he said, a soft smile curving his lips. “The first time you say that should be when all three of us are together. Save your admission for Zan to hear as well. He’d be heartbroken if he missed it.”

She nodded her head, and he dropped his hand. Mark stepped in front of them with two plates. “Tonight’s theme is Wild America,” Mark explained as he placed large plates in front of both of them. “This evening's appetizer is porcini mushrooms stuffed with northern wild rice and covered by a slice of avocado.”

With the plates down, a second person swept in holding a glass of wine. “I’m Lani, and I’m your sommelier this evening. All the food you’ll be served tonight is native to the Americas and will be paired with a California wine that Chef Bradley and I agreed on.”

Before Rissa could respond to any of it, music started playing. She didn’t know much about classical, but whatever the orchestra was playing was soft and a perfect accompaniment to the food and ambience.

“I’m a princess,” she whispered. She pointed a finger at Anatoly. “Next time, I better be dressed like a princess, got it? Surprises are great, but a girl wants to look her best when she gets to experience something like this.”

Anatoly looked surprised for a moment, then chuckled. “There will be many next times , and I’ll buy you a gown and jewels for each.”