“I think maybe you had a right to react, though perhaps not quite so vehemently.”
There was amusement in his voice, which she found encouraging. She opened her eyes. “I regret the way we parted.”
Wimp.
“So do I.”
Lennie stared down into her mug. “I regret breaking up with you,” she said sheepishly.
“That made me sad too.”
Lennie’s head shot up. “Really?”
Sebastian laughed. “Why would I say it if it wasn’t true?”
Lennie put her cup down on the table, and reached out to take Sebastian’s hands in hers. “Can we give it another try? I know you might be leaving at the end of the season,” she said breathlessly before he could interrupt. “But I don’t care. When you love someone, you don’t let it slip from your fingers. You take it day by day. Maybe our time together is limited, but I’ll take it, because a finite amount of time with you is better than no time at all.”
“I agree,
milaya moya
,” Sebastian said softly.
“Oh, God.” Lennie put her hand on her chest and breathed a sigh of relief. “I was so afraid you’d tell me that you’d changed your mind.”
“You think I am someone who can fall out of love so easily?”
Lennie felt happy tears prick at the corners of eyes. “So you really—?”
“Yes. Yes.
Ya tebya lyublyu
—I love you.”
“I love you too,” said Lennie.
He rose, extending a hand to her, and together they went into his bedroom. She ached for him, but didn’t want to rush. Taking their time, drinking each other in, they undressed each other, making love with their eyes before their bodies came together to caress and explore. There was no need for words as their mouths fused and fingers glided over naked flesh. Secrets and whispers. Sighing and longing as desire slowly built, a flicker at first that turned to a flame burning higher and higher.
By the time they lay down on the bed, Lennie’s need had taken over.
Feel how much I want you,
she thought. She took his face in her hands, kissing him with an undeniable passion that could only inflame. Sebastian groaned into her mouth as he gently pushed her onto her back and climbed atop her. They locked hands, falling into each other’s gazes. He slipped inside her.
This is the world I want to live in, one where there is Sebastian and only Sebastian.
His loving gaze brought her to the edge of joyous tears as he slowly began to move inside her, Lennie savoring the feel of him against her, their bodies completely united. No thoughts of the past, no fears about the future. Just the two of them, together, now. Lennie felt as though she could touch the sky from his bed as the heat within her built. Finally it happened: the devastating, headlong rush into ultimate pleasure that she never wanted to end. But end it did, and she watched lovingly as he followed her into oblivion. When they both returned to their senses, he held her tight and secure in his arms.
Home
, she thought.
Home
.
Fourteen
“To Ivan the Terrible!”
Sebastian laughed heartily as his teammates hoisted their glasses in his honor at their usual table at the Wild Hart. Though they’d been knocked out of the second round of the play-offs two weeks earlier, they still had reason to celebrate: Sebastian had been offered a contract, and he had signed a three-year deal with the Blades.
“Glad to have you on board, you Commie bastard,” said Ulf.
“Glad to be on board,” said Sebastian, touching his whiskey glass to Ulf’s. He hadn’t yet told Lennie. She was on her way down to the pub, thinking she was just going to hang out with him and his friends the way she often did. He couldn’t wait to see her face when he gave her the news.
From the time they’d reunited, they’d both made an effort to ensure she didn’t get behind in her schoolwork. Her academic year was now over, as was his season. They’d have the whole summer to spend together, though Lennie would be working: Jimmy O’Brien couldn’t work behind the bar anymore, and she was replacing him, at least until school resumed in September. During the day she’d be designing and making clothing. Sinead had spread the word among some of her friends and colleagues about Lennie’s talents as a designer. She now had enough commissions to start saving money so she could look for her own place soon.
“Where’s the little woman?” asked Thad, already on his second whiskey.
“She’ll be here soon,” Sebastian said confidently. His eyes flew to the front door of the pub every time it opened. He couldn’t help it. He was jumping out of his skin with excitement.
Uncle Yuri had wept when Sebastian told him he’d be in New York three more years. Sebastian was trying to figure out a way to help out his uncle financially without insulting him. He knew he’d never leave Brighton Beach, but if Yuri was willing, Sebastian wanted to buy him an apartment outright. Why should his beloved relative pay rent when he didn’t have to? Sebastian was also intent on persuading his uncle to take a trip back to Russia with him this summer. Easier said than done; even though his uncle knew things had changed back home, he’d been deeply scarred by the prejudice he’d had to endure for years.
Jason Mitchell nudged Sebastian in the ribs. “Here’s your gal.” Sebastian’s heart gave a thud as his eyes turned to Lennie, who had walked over to the bar to say a quick hello to Christie, her aunt Mary, and Rudy II, who was wearing the Greek fisherman’s cap Lennie had made for him. Sebastian quelled his impatience, knowing he couldn’t expect her to just breeze past those close to her without saying hello.
She looked beautiful. She always looked beautiful. Her long hair was loosely pinned up, gentle tendrils falling around her face. Tight faded jeans and a tight long-sleeved purple T-shirt hugged her firm, curvy body. She’d wrapped a gold scarf around her neck. He liked that she took care with her appearance—just one of the many ways they were alike.
Thank you for lying,
he thought.
Thank you for pretending to be “New To New York.”
When she finally came toward him, it was with a smile that lit up the room. Gratitude again swelled in his heart. He couldn’t believe that she’d chosen him, she who was so beautiful and talented she could have any man she wanted.
“Hey, you,” she said, kissing him.
“Hey, you,” he returned with a big hug.
“Hey, guys.” Sebastian’s teammates greeted her, and he could see the undeniable glint of anticipation in their eyes, which was not lost on Lennie.
“What’s up?”
Sebastian broke into a slow grin. “Guess.”
“Oh, God.” Lennie’s hands flew to cover her mouth for a moment. “You’re staying, aren’t you?”
“Yes!” He picked her up and twirled her around. “Three years!”
Lennie let out a whoop so loud other diners turned to look at her.
“Sorry,” she apologized to the dining room, cringing a little but still exuberant. “I just found out my boyfriend is going to be in town for three more years!” She turned to Sebastian, touching him all over, as if she couldn’t quite believe he was flesh and blood. “I’ve been praying every night, I swear to God. I even had my aunt and Mrs. O’Brien light candles at church.”
“Well, it looks like it worked.”
Sebastian pulled up an empty chair from the table across from them. “Come, sit down,” he said to Lennie.
“Not yet,” she said, taking his hand. “We’ve got to tell Christie and Aunt Mary the good news.” Lennie was certain she was smiling like an idiot as she and Sebastian headed to the bar, but she didn’t care. She was euphoric. Even though she’d been trying to take each day as it came since she and Sebastian had reunited, there had always been the nagging fear in the back of her mind that when the hockey season ended, he’d be leaving New York—and her.
She excitedly pulled Sebastian to the lip of the bar, the two of them squeezing in between The Mouth and PJ Leary, who claimed he’d found a publisher for his Celtic magnum opus.
“Hey, everyone, listen up.”
The regulars quieted.
“An announcement from our comely young maiden here,” said The Mouth delightedly. “It’s not often—”
“Close your gob and let her talk, eh?” Mr. O’Brien’s voice was chiding but affectionate. He smiled at Lennie. “Go on, love.”
“Sebastian has been signed to the Blades for three more years!”
A cheer went up. “Fantastic!” said Mr. O’Brien. “Here, come round the bar, let me give you a hug.”
Lennie scooted behind the bar, giddy as the old Irishman folded her in a soft embrace. “I hope this doesn’t mean you’re going to put off making that jacket for me, now,” he teased, wagging a finger at her.
“Of course not. I’ll have it to you at the end of the summer, as promised.”
Mr. O’Brien leaned over the bar to shake Sebastian’s hand. “Congrats. Drinks for you and your teammates are on the house tonight.”
“Thank you,” said Sebastian. “That’s very kind of you.”
“I told you he’d be here longer than a year,” Christie whispered smugly in Lennie’s ear.
“You did not!”
Christie chuckled. “Okay, I didn’t, but aren’t you glad you decided to chance it with him?”
“Yes—and I suppose in a way I do owe it all to you,” Lennie admitted thoughtfully.
“You do. Which means you owe me. Which means I decide how you repay me.”
“I’ll make you any item of clothing you want.”
Christie snorted. “Screw that! I want your boyfriend to introduce me to one of his teammates.”
“Well, we’ll see what we can do.”
Lennie rejoined Sebastian on the other side of the bar. “Look at your aunt,” he whispered, tilting his head in her direction. “She’s beaming.”
Lennie took Sebastian’s hand and went to join her aunt, putting her arms around her neck and kissing her cheek. “I’m so happy!”
“Happy! Happy Happy!” Rudy crowed.
“How do you say ‘Congratulations’ in Russian?” Aunt Mary asked Sebastian.
“Pazdravlyayoo
.
”
Aunt Mary looked crestfallen. “I think that might be too much of a mouthful for Rudy to learn.”
“Nonsense.” Sebastian held out his arm so Rudy could perch there. Within five minutes, Rudy was squawking
“Pazdravlyayoo!”
repeatedly.
“Thanks a lot,” Mr. O’Brien lamented playfully. “Now I’m gonna have to teach him some Gaelic to balance it all out. Can’t have him spouting off in Russian in an Irish bar, can we?”
Sebastian returned Rudy to Aunt Mary, then took Lennie’s hand, squeezing it. “Look,” he said, pointing at the table where they’d had their first conversation. The couple sitting there were getting up to leave.
“Fate,” Lennie declared as she quickly pulled him over to it before anyone else had a chance to nab it. She went to sit in the chair opposite Sebastian, but he was having none of it as he pulled her down onto his lap.
“So, are you new to New York?” Sebastian murmured seductively in her ear.
Lennie laughed delightedly as she twined her arms around his neck. “Why, yes, I am,” she played along.
“Very nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
He kissed her shoulder. “Perhaps we might go out sometime.”
“That would be wonderful,” Lennie enthused, cupping his cheek. “Any idea on what you might like to do?”
Sebastian’s eyes glinted with love. “Anything is fine as long as I get to do it with you,
milaya moya
.”
Lennie wrapped her arms tighter around him.
“I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
Double Booked
Elizabeth Bevarly
One
Amanda Bingham climbed atop her canvas carry-on and bore down with all her weight, struggling to zip the damned thing shut before it sprang open and sent her newly purchased—and not even worn yet—vacation wardrobe flying. After four minutes, three changes of position, two puffs of chestnut curls from her eyes, and one
very
bad word, she managed—barely—to succeed. Then she carefully climbed down and held her breath, waiting to make sure it would stay that way.
She wasn’t a fan of flying in the first place, and not just because her luggage was always, without fail, the last to arrive on the carousel. She’d learned a long time ago how to pack efficiently, but normally when she traveled, it was for only a few days, and she never had to take more than a garment bag. Packing for a vacation instead of business, she was discovering for the first time in her adult working life, was a whole ’nother ball game.
One week, she reminded herself. She would be gone for only a week. Some people could go away for that amount of time with a suitcase the size of an electron and do quite nicely. And it wasn’t like she was going to Outer Boondoggle, where there wouldn’t be any creature comforts. She’d be on Captiva Island off the Gulf coast of Florida, in a luxury condo her friends Kate and Marshall had been trying to convince her to take advantage of since they bought it five years ago.