Sasha: The Wallflower (The Wallflower Series Book 1) Read Free Page B

meant.” Before she could say anything else he pointed with his head at the door to their right. “Is this the bathroom?”
    Sasha nodded, still lost in his gaze.
    With nothing else said between them, Dmitri entered the bathroom and closed the door.

Chapter Three
    Sasha was still in the kitchen when Dmitri made his way back. She had already given Jaelynn the pitcher of lemonade but decided to stay in her hideaway in order to avoid the growing crowd outside. She sat peeling an orange when she felt his presence. She turned to him with a shy smile.
    “You found your way back, I see.”
    Dmitri walked towards her, his face neutral. “Why aren’t you outside with everyone else?” He leaned his forearms on the surface of the kitchen counter. Even with her sitting on a stool and him leaning over, she still had to look up at him. Her eyes caressed the five o’clock shadow that covered his chin and cheeks, leading to his short sideburns. Her fingers itched to touch the smooth skin of his face but she did not relent.
    Instead of answering his question, she said, “Teagan came in looking for you. I think she was worried you had gotten lost but I told her you would be out soon. She may be standing with Faye near the grill.” She laughed to herself. “That’s one thing about her: she is always eating!”
    Dmitri gave her a wry grin. “Good to know.”
    An awkward silence fell between them. Sasha busied her hands with peeling the orange. She nearly jumped off the stool when she felt his large hands tear the orange from her fingers. Sasha looked up at him questioningly.
    “You should come outside and enjoy the party. I’m sure your friend Jaelynn would be upset knowing that you are avoiding socializing with her guests.” He tossed the orange between both his hands.
    Sasha frowned. “Well, I know Jaelynn and, believe me, she won’t notice my absence.”
    He smiled slowly to himself, his gaze still resting on the orange in his hands. “I find it quite odd that you are friends with Teagan, Jaelynn, and Faye. You seem to belong to a completely different crowd.”
    His comment stung; he probably had no idea how close his statement was to the truth. Sasha automatically felt the need to lash out and wipe the smug smile from his beautiful lips. “Well, I’ll have you know that we are good friends. How can you come here and analyze our relationship when you hardly know anything about us?” She stood up and created distance between them. “I know I may not be as…beautiful as them but I am a person too.”
    Sasha watched as his eyes finally met hers in a disturbing glare. It was as if he saw right through her. She felt a shiver of awareness course through her body straight to her toes. Goosebumps formed on her arms.
    “You may not like me, Dmitri but if you want to keep seeing Teagan you should know that I am not going anywhere. So get used to my face.”
    She turned to leave but was stopped by a strong hand wrapped around her upper arm.
    “Wait,” she heard him say. Sasha reluctantly turned back to him.
    “I think you misunderstood me, Sasha. I was never implying anything about your looks.”
    She scoffed at this. “What am I supposed to think when the very first time you met me, you dismissed me as if I were less than my friends?”
    For the first time since she had met him, he seemed at a loss for words. She watched his Adam’s apple quiver before he said, “I am not seeing Teagan. A few dates do not make a relationship. Furthermore, she is not looking for any sort of a serious relationship.” As if it were an afterthought, he added, “And neither am I.”
    Sasha rolled her eyes. “Good for you. And how does that make you less of a superficial asshole?”
    His frown deepened and his hold on her arm tightened. His lips were obviously tense as he replied, “Like any man, I appreciate beautiful things. I don’t see how that makes me a superficial asshole when you have no idea what I consider attractive. I’ll have