The Russian's Furious Fiancee Read Free Page B

doors to the patio, along with coffee and tea service. There was even brandy and other after dinner cocktails available, but Eva’s only goal was to move as far away from the party as possible. She didn’t doubt that her father was still trying to introduce her and she simply didn’t want to deal with that man right now.
    It was a gorgeous night and Eva walked slowly towards the patio along with one of the dinner guests who was talking about her latest dog she’d rescued. She had no idea how she’d gotten into this conversation with her mother’s friend, nor was she sure how to extricate herself from the woman’s verbal grasp, but she knew she had to do something quickly or she’d be cornered by either her father or the tall stranger.
    Eva handed the woman a cup of aromatic tea and poured one for herself, grateful when an older gentleman arrived and distracted the woman with tales of his own litter of puppies who had recently been born. Eva quickly stepped out onto the patio, balancing her cup of tea in one hand while she pretended to casually stroll along the walkway but she intentionally headed for the shadows, vowing to hide herself from further conversations.
    With a pounding heart, she walked deeper and deeper into the shadows and with each step, she was able to relax a bit more. Her goal was a group of chairs sheltered from view by low hanging trees that were off to the right. She knew no one else would be able to find her there because the trees hid the little group of chairs well with their low hanging branches. When she thought she was out of sight, she picked up her speed and aimed directly for her private sanctuary.
    She was just about to breathe a sigh of relief and take a seat when a deep voice came out of the darkness, startling her. “I believe your plan to avoid me tonight has finally come to an end,” he said and Eva jumped, her arm shooting forward and the tea splattering onto the ground.
    If it weren’t for the stranger’s quick reflexes, which allowed him to reach out and catch the delicate china cup before it too fell to the ground, she would be stepping over shattered porcelain as well as being embarrassed. “Saved,” he said softly and looked down into her moonlit features.
    The man she’d been doing so well to avoid, who had made her stomach tighten with nerves and her hands shake, was now standing less than an inch from her, their toes almost touching and his breath warm on her cheek.
    “Where did you come from?” she gasped and tried to step back, but the chair she’d been intending to sit down into was right behind her and she almost fell. Again, the man’s quick reflexes saved the night and instead of falling down, she felt herself pulled forward by a strong arm wrapped around her waist, the arm pulling her up against his hard body and Eva gasped, surprised at how strong he was. This wasn’t a man with just a good tailor, she realized. This was a man with a good gym. A well used gym, she noted as her hands reached out to steady herself by placing her hands on his arms, her fingers automatically flexing against the muscles under the expensive tuxedo material.
    “I’m fine now,” she said softly and tried to step back, but his arm wouldn’t release her.
    “I know you are,” he replied, just as softly.
    She waited a tense moment, but when she felt his arm tighten instead of release, she became worried. “Please let me go,” she whispered.
    “And if I don’t?” he asked with amusement.
    “I’ll….” She couldn’t think of a good enough threat. Or even a lame one that might make him release her. All she wanted was some privacy and his invasion was throwing her off, both physically and mentally.
    “Will you scream?” he teased.
    She thought about it for a moment but couldn’t think of a better idea. “I might.”
    He instantly chuckled. “You won’t.”
    She bristled at his confident tone, irritated that he thought he knew her so well when he didn’t even know