Whiskey Sharp: Unraveled by Lauren Dane

Author:Lauren Dane [Dane, Lauren]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2018-02-01T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

MAYBE CARRIED A bunch of stuff up the back steps into Irena’s kitchen. The woman in question stood in the middle of the room and pointed, giving orders to people about what went where like an awesome little general.

“Love the new hair, Mrs. Orlova,” Maybe said as she began to unload the fruit and vegetables she’d brought in.

She touched it with a smile. “Thank you.”

The older woman had her hair done once every few weeks in what Maybe thought was a cool girls’ day out with her buddies who also got their hair done at the same time. Vic called them the babushkas, old ladies, but it wasn’t an insult. The older women seemed to have a pretty strong hand in the direction of the family and the community and they rarely got messed with.

Irena always seemed so hard but she loved certain self-care things. The closer Maybe got to her, the more she realized just how many layers Alexsei’s aunt had.

And then she’d felt even more special as Irena had made the room for Maybe in their family.

These people knew her worth. They judged her good enough to be there in the heart of their family life. That meant the world to her and also enabled her to remember she was more than her father made her out to be.

That acceptance from his family felt nearly as heady as being with Alexsei did.

Etta James’s version of “Stormy Weather” came from the other room. Speaking of layers. Pasha—what everyone called Alexsei’s uncle, Pavel—Orlov had them in spades. The man absolutely adored music from the ’40s through the ’70s.

Every time Maybe had been there for dinner or some sort of social event, music had played. Which, being a music lover herself, had ended up leaving her feeling more connected to them.

She liked them both a great deal and she really liked that they’d stepped in and had given Alexsei and his brother, Cristian, a family when they’d come to the United States in their teens.

“Rada’s here,” Rachel said in an undertone as she walked past Maybe.

Alexsei must have known she’d be there and he hadn’t even warned her? Ugh. They needed to talk about that sort of thing.

“It’s a good thing there’ll be drinking,” Maybe replied.

Rachel snickered and Vic looked up as if she’d said his name.

“Dude, come on. He’s so adorable. And he has such a crush on you,” Maybe told her sister quietly.

“He’s very adorable. I’m not unaware of that.”

“So what’s stopping you from giving him the look back so he knows he can make a move?”

“It’s not...” Rachel shook her head. “We’ll talk later.”

“You bet we will, sister.”

Alexsei strolled in, saw her and moved in her direction. “Evening to you, beautiful.” He brushed a kiss against her temple.

“Hey there.” He made her all warm and gooey inside.

He took her hand and tugged. “Come with me.”

“I’m helping your aunt.”

“You’re under my feet now. Go.” Irena waved them out of the room.

“She’s so dainty,” Maybe mumbled. Alexsei’s chuckle told her he’d overheard.

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