The Baltimore Banners by Lisa B. Kamps

Author:Lisa B. Kamps
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: boxed set, hockey romance, sports, friends to lovers, secrets, series, family
Publisher: BimHaven Press
Published: 2016-04-25T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

Nikolai let out a heavy sigh, then stood and crossed to her. He knelt on one knee in front of her, taking the pen from her hand and placing it on the desk. Then he held both of her hands in each of his, and brought them to his lips.

"My beautiful one, you look so sad. Do not be. There are things you do not understand, things I cannot tell you, but trust that I know what I am doing. Trust that this is what must be done."

Bobbi's stomach dropped at his words, spoken in whispered Russian. She wanted to ask him what he meant, what it was that had to be done. But she couldn't. "I hate when you do that. You know that."

He laughed, a soft sound of genuine humor, and kissed the knuckles of her hands once more. "I know you do, moj dosadnyj malen'kij bich." His fingers tightened against hers, squeezing, then he brought her hands up and placed one on either side of his face. She felt his warm flesh against her palms, felt her skin tingle at the contact as he held her hands in place. He turned his head, kissing first one palm then the other, then slid her hands down to his chest, over his heart, and held them there. His eyes gazed deep into hers, searching.

"Do you trust me, my Bobbi?"

"Nikolai—"

"Do you trust me?" His quiet voice wrapped around her, soft, demanding. And seeking her assurance, so vulnerable that she had to blink back the watery film that suddenly appeared behind her eyes.

And God help her, she did trust him. She more than trusted him—she was falling in love with him. The realization slammed into her, made her breath catch. She nodded, unable to do more than that, unable to even speak.

He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers in a kiss so gentle, so caring and trusting that tears sprang to her eyes. Her breath hitched again when he pulled away, but only far enough that he could rest his forehead against hers. A small smile curved his mouth upward.

"Good. That is good."

He stood, taking his heat and reassurance with him, then grabbed the pen from the desk. A sad emptiness filled Bobbi as she watched him lean over and sign his name on the contract, the signature as strong and bold as the man himself.

And she couldn't help but feeling as if she had just let him down in the most basic of ways.

Nikolai grabbed her hand and pulled her from the chair, then led her across the office and opened the door. Walter Jacobs pressed a button on the cell phone that he had been talking on and dropped it into his pocket then looked up at them, a frown creasing his forehead as he glanced from one to the other.

"I have signed your papers, and now we leave," Nikolai's hearty voice boomed out so loudly that Bobbi actually winced. A smirk brightened the agent's face and she wished she had a harpoon so she could shoot the shark.

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