Chapter 4: Saturday: Pre-Glitz event

After a restless night, I awoke full of nervous excitement.

All day yesterday, I replayed every part of my interaction with Romi, especially the part where we touched again for the first time in so long. Of course, we’d touched when I’d jumped on him, true, but I was holding his jacket, and his arms around my waist were on top of my clothes, so there was no skin-on-skin contact. When there was, it had been literally electrifying, sending a jolt of fire straight to my core.

All I could think of at the time was Oh my god! What just happened? I knew Romi had felt it, too. That was evident by the way our eyes snapped to one another’s and held in shock. I finally understood the phrase love struck. Every nerve ending in my body seemed to have come alive with that simple touch of his. Oh my! If he could do that with just the brush of his hand on mine, what was it going to be like when we took things further? And, after that touch, I knew it was only a matter of time.

Romi Romivik was mine! Even if he didn’t know it yet, I was determined that he soon would. I jumped up and down on the spot, clapping my hands together and squealing, unable to keep my excitement locked inside any longer.

Just before Nonna shouted my name, interrupting our moment, I was about to ask Romi to meet me later so we could talk more about his projects. I loved hearing all about them, but they also made the perfect excuse to get some alone time with him.

Unfortunately, while Nonna was embracing me, Romi slipped away into the house with my suitcase. I found it in my room later with no sign of the man himself. In fact, he was suspiciously missing for the rest of the evening, and I couldn’t help feeling disappointed about that.

However, I knew he probably had things to do, so I tried hard not to let it affect me too much. After all, the chemistry between us had been undeniable, and it made me think that he might actually be as attracted to me as I was to him. I giggled, feeling elated. I’d thought our reunion had been a complete bust at first, but once Romi started opening up to me about his secret passion, he relaxed, and things took a turn for the better. Then, with that touch, well, I had to admit, that was like the icing on the cake. In retrospect, things couldn’t have gone better. Perhaps seducing Romi wouldn’t be so difficult after all.

Giddy with joy at the prospect of seeing him again, I practically danced my way downstairs to breakfast, only to be disappointed when Romi wasn’t there. So, I concentrated on catching up with my brothers and Nonna, trying to keep my mind from constantly wondering what Romi was doing, where he was, and if he was thinking about me. It was a losing battle, but I tried, and Nonna’s gossiping about the ladies from the bridge club and the knitting bee she was in helped. That woman could tell a story. She had me in stitches with her impressions of each of the ladies, which, despite her thick Italian accent, she managed incredibly well. She was a hoot.

Nonna’s real name was Maria, but none of us called her that. To us, she was Nonna, which is Italian for grandmother. She wasn’t our real grandmother. However, she had been part of our family for so long that we treated her as if she were, and she returned the favour.

My mother had been Italian, too, and Nonna had been her nanny in Italy. When my mum grew up and married my dad, Nonna travelled to Russia with her. She had become their housekeeper and then followed our family to the UK when we moved here. Nonna acted like our housekeeper here, too. She didn’t have to; she was part of the family, so Nonna wasn’t expected to work for us at all, especially after recently undergoing a hip replacement, but she wanted to. Nonna liked to be kept busy and feel useful. So, she refused to retire, although these days she only worked a few days a week.

She was also the best cook and cooked all of the meals on the days she was working. Whenever that was, we all tried to be at home as much as possible to partake of her many fantastic dishes. So, when Romi still hadn’t shown up by lunchtime, I was getting worried. Romi was a foodie, like me. Yet another thing we had in common. So, he always did his best to be at Nonna’s meals.

When he didn’t show up for lunch, although everyone else managed to, I began to wonder if he was truly busy or if he was deliberately avoiding me. Surely not? Yet a nagging voice in the back of my head kept telling me he was.

Eventually, I subtly asked Ash where Romi was and was told he was out on Bratva business but would be shadowing me tonight at the opening of our club, Glitz.

Relief flooded me that my paranoia was just that, and I headed back to my room with a spring in my step again. I spent the rest of the day pampering myself and getting my game face on. I needed to be at my best tonight. This was my chance to spend time with Romi, let him see me as the woman I had become, and ensure he had no doubt about my own interest in him. I planned on flirting and dancing with him and generally making the most of the evening.

Checking myself in the mirror yet again, I paced the room, waiting for my brother Ash to come to get me when he was ready. I was plucked, primped, preened, and nervous as hell. I sucked my bottom lip, tasting lipstick as I contemplated changing my outfit for the millionth time.

Nope, I shook my head to rid myself of the thought once more. I refused to be swayed by nerves. I’d picked my clothes for tonight very carefully. I’d been planning this outfit for weeks. The short, bronze-coloured, sparkly dress complimented my chocolate-brown hair and tanned legs. I wore matching bronze sparkly heeled sandals which had cute diamanté chain ankle straps. I knew I looked good, but was it good enough?

I sighed as my insecurities reared their ugly head again. I had already changed three times, trying out another three dresses, but I hadn’t felt right in them and went back to my original outfit. I was just so bloody nervous and desperate to look perfect tonight.

Closing my eyes, I willed the sick feeling in my stomach to abate. I was not going to let my nerves get the better of me. I was just being silly.

Taking some deep, steadying breaths, I recited my affirmations until I felt calm again.

Just as my nerves finally settled, Ash knocked.

“Time to go,” he called.

As I opened the door, Ash turned to me and stared.

My heart sunk at the look of despair in his eyes before his expression blanked. It was not unusual these days for Ash to zone out or to spiral at times when he was thinking his dark thoughts, either about Krissa or avenging her. He blamed himself for Krissa’s death because he had been late picking her up the night it happened. No matter how many times he was told it wasn’t his fault, Ash couldn’t seem to accept that. He had become increasingly dour and almost emotionless at times since her murder.

I understood he was still grieving; we all were, but the blame wasn’t his. He needed to get past that in order to have a life again. I hoped he could find a way to make that happen. I would need to talk to him again soon about that. Tonight was not the time to broach the subject again, however.

Instead, I tried to keep things light by snapping my fingers in his face and laughing, “Hey, bro, are you in there?” Thankfully, that brought him out of his trance.

“Yeah, sorry, I was just thinking about security for tonight,” he said. I didn’t believe him, but I let it go.

“Are there likely to be any issues?” I asked. I wasn’t overly concerned. I knew my brothers and Romi would have everything under control, but I needed to pull him out of his musings.

“I don’t anticipate any, but we still need to be cautious, especially with the recent threats. We cannot afford for any of our issues to draw unwanted attention to Glitz from the law. You just make sure one of us knows where you are at all times tonight, Sonia.”

“Yes, Ash, I will. I always do,” I sighed, rolling my eyes at him.

“Your safety is important. Nothing can happen to you,” Ash said, and I immediately felt bad.

“I know,” I patted his arm and gave him an apologetic smile.

“I will be careful and will keep by your side or Romi’s all night. I promise,” I reassured him, and he nodded.

“Unless I see a gorgeous male specimen who sweeps me off my feet, of course,” I said mischievously with a wink, laughing at his scowl.

“Come on,” I chuckled and took his arm.

“I promise to be good. I bet you can’t say the same!” I said, attempting to lighten his mood.

“Probably not,” he grinned.

As soon as we walked out the front door, I saw Romi waiting for us beside the car. My heart skipped a beat before slamming against my chest so loudly that I was sure both he and Ash could hear it. He was devastating, dressed in a black suit and matching shirt.

My body trembled, and my legs shook. I was thankful for Ash’s arm to lean on, and we walked down the stone steps towards him as I tried to get my unruly legs to maintain my weight. Once again, they seemed to want to crumble me to my knees in front of the Adonis that was Romi. Yeah, I was definitely going to have to explore this fetish of submitting myself to my man as soon as possible. However, now was so not the time nor place for any of that.

Keep it together, I told myself sternly. Luckily, Ash didn’t appear to notice my sudden weakness. If he did, I would need to blame my shaky gait on my new shoes. Thank god I was wearing stilettos because that excuse wouldn’t hold water if I was in my running shoes.

Romi had been staring at his phone, but when he heard us approaching, he looked up and took a step forward, seemingly unwittingly, before he stopped dead in his tracks and stared at me. He looked awestruck, and butterflies erupted in my stomach.

Come on, girl, devastate him. You can do this!I gave myself a quick pep talk before smiling brightly and saying, “Hey, Romi.”

He blinked slowly and gave me an awkward-looking smile before jumping into the driver’s seat as Ash opened the back door for me. I was barely able to contain my grin as I climbed inside, thankful that Ash appeared preoccupied and hadn’t noticed the look that Romi had given me. There was no mistaking what it meant. Things had definitely changed between Romi and me. Last night’s touch had certainly shaken him up if his reaction just now was anything to go by, and I intended to ensure that spending time with me tonight would shake him up even more.

My stomach fluttered wildly like a thousand butterflies were trapped inside and desperately trying to escape. We drove in silence for a while as Ash checked something on his phone. I was glad because it gave me time to sneak glances at Romi through the rear-view mirror. In fact, I couldn’t seem to stop looking at him. It was as if his gaze drew me to him like a magnet. He seemed to be having the same issue because every now and then, our eyes met, and my breath hitched each time.

“You look beautiful, by the way,” I heard Ash saying before Romi glanced back at me in the mirror again and said,

“You certainly do!”

Oh, dear god!I gulped. The way he looked at me was panty melting. There was definitely chemistry between us. There was no way either of us could deny that now. I squirmed in delight as my core clenched with need. Whether he realised it or not, my man was projecting his interest loud and clear. Now, I needed to let him be in no doubt that it was not only reciprocated but that I wanted him to act upon it.

“Well, hopefully, that tall, dark, and droolificent male specimen I am hoping will sweep me off my feet and carry me off over his shoulder might actually notice me then!” I laughed and winked quickly at Ash but then more seductively, I hoped, at Romi.

He noticeably gulped, and I grinned. He was definitely catching on. Yeh! I gave myself an inner high five and smirked. Operation Seduce Romi was right on track!