The Russian's Secret Child (The Fedosov Family Series) (7 page)

The next day, Misha made good on his word and contacted the American PI, giving him all of the information Jasmine had obtained from her PI. After several minutes of discussion, the call had been disconnected and the man promised to get back to them in a few days with more information.

Jasmine couldn’t believe how fast everything was changing. No more wearing double and triple clothing to stay warm. Misha’s house was very cozy, and as the temperatures continued to drop outside, she knew she would soon be very thankful to be out of the Ligovo apartment.

After eating breakfast, Misha had suggested she take a bubble bath, remembering how much she used to enjoy lying in a tub full of warm water and just letting her mind float where it would.

The small apartment in Ligovo had only had a small shower, no tub. It had been more than eighteen months since she had enjoyed the luxuries of a bath. The lure was more than she could resist and she eagerly nodded, making sure Misha would be around to hear Mikhail if he awakened early.

“He’ll need to be changed when he first wakes up and then he’ll want to play for a few minutes before he eats.”

Misha physically walked her to the luxurious bathroom, pushing her inside and pulling the door shut as he told her, “I can handle it. Enjoy your bath. I don’t want to see you again until your skin is all pruny and at least an hour has passed.”

Jasmine smiled at the closed door and then turned to survey the bathroom. She felt like she had died and gone to heaven. The jetted tub was deep and the water was warm. She found some bath salts beneath the sink and added them, putting the scent of vanilla in the air as they dissolved.

She removed her clothing and sank into the water, moaning in delight as the water helped drain away the tension in her muscles.
How did I manage a year and a half without a bathtub?”

She relaxed back into the tub, letting her eyes close and her mind drift.

Misha cleared the breakfast dishes and was just about to knock on the bathroom door when Mikhail woke up. He changed his diaper and then played with him for several minutes. When the little boy started drooling and chewing on his fist, he decided that was his clue to get a bottle ready.

Mikhail drank the entire bottle down before deciding to play with his toes. Misha laughed as he struggled to grasp his toes. Glancing at the clock, he realized that over an hour had passed since Jasmine entered the bathroom.

He left Mikhail playing on the floor and knocked on the bathroom door, “Jasmine? Is everything okay in there?”

“Jasmine?” Misha knocked louder.

“Uhm… yes… I’m here.” Jasmine struggled to open her eyes. She was so tired! Pushing herself to a sitting position, she realized where she was and whom she was with. “I’m fine. I’m getting out right now.”
Please don’t come in!

“If you’re sure. I’ve already fed Mikhail, so there’s no reason for you to hurry.” Misha wanted her to rest so that the dark circles beneath her eyes would leave.

“No, I’m getting out right now.” Jasmine stood from the tub, the water running down her body as she began to dry off with a towel. “Misha?”

“Yes?”

He was standing outside the door! If only he would open the door and take me in his arms. Maybe then I could believe all of this is really happening.
“Nothing. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

Jasmine finished drying off and then cracked the bathroom door open, looking to see if Misha had left her alone to dress. Thankful that he had, she dressed in the same clothes she had arrived in. Her wardrobe was scarce and she didn’t have the luxury of changing clothes more than once a day.

When she exited the bedroom, Misha couldn’t help but ask her, “Didn’t you want to put some fresh clothes on?”

Jasmine tried to contain the blush that threatened and simply shook her head, “No. These weren’t dirty and they’ll be fine.”

Misha narrowed his eyes at her and then stalked into the bedroom, pulling open the duffel bag containing her clothing and dumping it out on the bed.

“Misha, what are you doing?” Jasmine tried to stuff the clothes back inside, but he grabbed her arms and pushed her away.

“I’m gaining some insight. Let’s see, we have three pair of jeans, counting the ones you’re wearing. All of which have holes in them. You have another pair of khaki green pants. I see five t-shirts, one sweater, two tank tops, a pair of boxer shorts, and a bomber jacket. Throw in a few pair of panties and two bras, and that’s it.”

Jasmine bit her lip and struggled not to let his harsh examination of her failure bring tears to her eyes.
Haven’t I already cried enough today! God, I’m turning into a water faucet!

“Well? I know you had more clothing that this when we were together. Where are your clothes?”

Jasmine shrugged.

“Jasmine? Tell me,” he asked, softening his tone and sitting on the edge of the bed.

Jasmine looked at him and then away, saying softly, “I sold them.”

“Why would you sell all of your clothes? Please help me understand.”

“They didn’t fit anyway. I needed maternity clothes and the only way the lady at the second hand place could help me was if we traded clothing.  I gave her my clothes, and she gave me bigger ones. After I had Mikhail, she did the same thing for me to get normal fitting clothes again.”

Misha was shocked at the lengths to which she had been forced to go. “Why didn’t you go to the American Embassy and ask for help? Or call back to the states for help?”

“I already told you what the people at the Embassy told me. And who would I call back in the states? My dead mother? The brother I can’t find? Tell me, Misha, who would I call?”

Seeing this conversation agitating her again, he sighed, “I’m sorry. I seem to be harping around the same topic and it’s getting us nowhere.  One more question and then we’ll speak no more of this today.”

Jasmine nodded, tired again even though it was only mid-morning.

“Why didn’t you leave word at the university where you’d gone?”

Jasmine laughed hysterically, “Really? As if they care. After I started feeling better, Dasha took me over to the university where they presented me with a large bill and no certificate of completion. It seems my federal grants were contingent upon me completing my program of study. Since I didn’t finish, the final allotment of money wasn’t paid. I probably have to pay them back the first three installments as well.”

“So, you didn’t tell them where you were going because then they couldn’t hound you to pay the bill. I understand now.”

Jasmine nodded, “I’m sorry.”

“What for?” Misha asked.

“For everything I guess. For not trying harder to find you. For not telling Dasha who Mikhail’s father was. She probably would have recognized the name.”

“Possibly. I know Tomas would have.”

“How do you know Tomas?” It had not alluded her notice that he and Tomas seemed to be on very friendly terms.

“Well, let’s just say that he and I have fought alongside each other many times. We respect each other and that says a lot.”

“When I saw Sergei standing outside with Tomas’s men talking to him, I thought there were going to be problems.”

“No. Tomas and I go way back.”

“How exactly does one go way back when they’re only twenty-six?” Jasmine asked curiously.

“Why, to elementary school. Tomas was in the fifth grade when I was in second, yet together we ruled the school.”

Jasmine started laughing, “What, were you rising up against the teachers to make sure they didn’t steal anyone’s milk money?”

“Something like that.” Misha looked at her smiling face and grinned. He liked seeing her happy. “I have a few phone calls to make. What would you like to do while I make them?”

“Honestly?” Jasmine inquired.

“Of course.”

“Sleep. I didn’t get that much the night before last, and last night I was too anxious to get much sleep.”

“I concur. That is an excellent idea. I do not like to see dark circles beneath your gorgeous eyes. You sleep. When you awaken, we will talk more about Saturday.”

Chapter 14

Friday morning passed in a flurry of activity. Misha spent time with his son, getting to know him and his wonderful personality while Jasmine walked around his house on eggshells, waiting for disaster to strike.

Never having had a family of her own, she was used to making all of the decisions, and she and Misha had butted heads more than once since he was very much an alpha male and used to being in charge.

Jasmine was trying to control her temper, but she was having trouble just sitting back and letting Misha take over her life. She held her tongue, biting back hurtful words that were only fueled by her frustration.

The explosion came on Friday afternoon when Julia and Desi arrived to take her shopping. Misha insisted she go shopping and purchase a new wardrobe for both herself and their son. Jasmine was floored and embarrassed that he didn’t trust her to the task by herself and felt like she had been assigned two babysitters.

When she told him as much, he simply laughed at her, “Jasmine, I know you are capable of choosing your own clothing. I just thought you might enjoy some company. They are going to be your family in a few weeks after all.”

Jasmine had felt the heat rush to her cheeks, shamed that she had once again jumped to conclusions. “Mikhail isn’t well enough to go out…”

“Don’t worry about Mikhail. He and I will have a wonderful time here by ourselves.”

“But…”

“No more arguments. Jasmine, please quit fighting me on every little thing. I realize that it’s going to take some time for us to get used to living with each other, but you need to try.”

“I’m afraid to,” she cried out, the emotions that had been plaguing her the last two days rushing forth. “What if this doesn’t work? What am I supposed to do then? If I start leaning on you, and this doesn’t work out, I don’t know that I could find the strength to pick myself back up again.”

Misha was floored at the depth of her fears. Striding to where she was, he pulled her against his chest, soothing her with words of love and affection. “Jasmine,
milaya moya
, you worry too much. I want this to work out very badly. I let you slip through my fingers once before, but I have you now and I’m not going to let you go. You have to trust that what is happening between us is real.”

“How can I?” she cried, tears leaking from her eyes and making damp circles on his shirt. “All of my life I’ve wanted to belong to someone. To have another person on this planet to call mine. I’ve been so afraid that Mikhail would be taken from me and that I would lose him too.”

Misha closed his eyes, wishing there was some way he could take the hurt from her, “Jasmine. No one is going to take Mikhail from you. And you’re not alone in this world. You had a mother who died. I’m sorry she wasn’t there to help you grow up and tell you what a wonderful person you’ve become. I’m sorry that the American authorities didn’t try to keep you and your brother together. But, we will find him. You’re not alone. You’ve never been alone.

“And now you have a wonderful little boy who obviously adores you, just like his father does. I want to build a life with you, but I can’t do it alone. I need you to try to put aside your fears of what might happen, and trust in me. Trust in us.”

Jasmine nodded against his chest, feeling safe in his arms like always and wishing he would never let her go.
Maybe if he held her for the rest of her life she’d start believing him!
“I’ll try. I really will.”

“Good,” Misha said, dropping a kiss on the top of her head before stepping away. What he wanted to do was carry her up to his bed and spend the rest of the afternoon showing her with his body all of the reasons they were made for each other, but that was not to be.

By tacit agreement, he had kept their physical interaction to hugs and tender kisses. His libido was taking a beating and growing more insistent with each passing day, but he wanted their first joining since finding each other again to be special, and the bridal house at the back of the Fedosov estate was just the place to make that happen.

He had spoken with Dmitry about it yesterday, and even now, plans were being put in motion for tomorrow night.  He knew that Jasmine would not willingly leave their son in the care of strangers, even though they were to be her family after tomorrow. He had arranged for a crib to be installed in the bridal house, as well as anything else he might require the two days they were to stay there.

He hoped that come Monday morning, Jasmine would have no doubts in her mind that he cared for her and she belonged with him.

When a knock sounded on the door a moment later, he gently pushed her away and suggested she wipe her face off before joining him downstairs.

Jasmine watched him go and pushed her doubts to the back of her mind. She owed it to herself and her son to see if Misha’s vision of the future could happen.

Chapter 15

She entered the front room, carrying Mikhail in her arms, moments later. She was immediately surrounded by Julia and Desi. They cooed and played with her smiling son, telling him how handsome he was. His ear was feeling much better and he had returned to the happy baby she loved.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” she asked Misha, referring to leaving him alone with his son.

“We’ll be fine. Now go. Ladies, see that she spends a large portion of my money.”

Jasmine gasped but Julia and Desi simply nodded and each grabbed her by an elbow, pulling her from the house before she could protest.

They explained to her as Sergei drove them to the shopping district, that they loved to shop, but had found it difficult since they didn’t speak Russian yet. They were going to do their own shopping and expected her to turn the afternoon into an impromptu Russian lesson.

Their enthusiasm was contagious and before long, Jasmine found herself laughing and teasing them. By the time they returned Jasmine to Misha’s home, the three women had bonded at a deep level and were the best of friends.