She locks eyes with me. “All you just managed to do was issue a dare. Don’t complain about my response.”
Before I can say a word, she signals the waiter over. “I want three whole lobsters, plus beef wellington and two steaks, everything packaged to leave, please and thank you.”
The server hesitates. “We don’t usually do takeout…”
“Just find a way to give the woman her meal to go,” I interrupt. “I’ll pay for it.”
The waiter nods quickly and disappears. She smiles sweetly in my direction. “You’re a gem, love.”
After twenty minutes, she’s on the sidewalk holding five bags of expensive food in fancy packaging, and based on the strange looks directed at her, everyone’s confused about this place suddenly doing takeout.
“I’ll drive you home,” I say, gesturing to the Bentley.
“No thanks.” She’s already pulling out her phone. “I’ll take a cab.”
A cab appears within seconds, which is suspiciously fast.
She approaches the cab with all her takeout, but I spot my operative in the passenger seat giving the driver a signal, who takes the cue and drives off quickly.
Zoya stops mid-step, staring after the departing cab.
“Are you kidding me…?”
Another taxi gets close, and my man in the passenger seat nods at the driver, who speeds past us. A third one reduces speed, spots us, and quickly drives off. Zoya turns around slowly, her eyes narrowing at me. “What did you do?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Alexei.”
“Yes, beautiful?”
“Did you pay off every taxi driver in Moscow?”
I shrug. “Not everyone. That would be excessive.”
“You’re such a control freak.”
I open the door to the Bentley. “Get in the car, Zoya.”
She fixes me with an angry expression, maintains it, and then surveys the quiet road, absent of any vehicles. “I can’t stand you,” she grumbles as she approaches the vehicle.
“You wouldn’t be the first who couldn’t.” I collect the takeout from her hands and place it beside the presents. “I have a reputation to uphold here.”
She slides into the passenger seat with her arms crossed again, and I get behind the wheel and start driving.
She breaks the quiet eventually. “You can’t manipulate every single thing, you realize that?”
“Want to test that theory?”
She turns to glare at me, but I catch the tiniest hint of a smile pulling at her lips before she looks away. Fifteen minutes later, we arrive at her place, and her hand goes straight to the door.
“Appreciate the lift. Let me grab my food…”
“I’m accompanying you inside.”
“No chance.”
“Already decided.” I leave my seat and access the trunk, loading my arms with food containers, the box holding the designer bag, both sets of flowers, and the enormous bear.