Saving Katya (6 page)

“How do you do that?” Serge approached the table and paused, crossing his arms against his chest.

“Do what?” Alexei finally looked at Serge.

“Know when I come in...without looking at me?” Serge slid his hands inside his trousers—a clear indication of his anxiety.

“You’re not exactly light-footed, Serge,” Alexei said to ease his friend’s mind. “So...did you find the husband?”

Serge slid a hand out of his pocket and leaned in to steal a roll. “Not yet.”

“Come on, Serge...how hard can it be to find a woman’s husband?”

“Pretty damned hard in this case.” Serge sank his teeth into the bread.

“Where has she been living?” Alexei snapped up the cloth napkin and wiped his hands.

“Prufrock. It’s a small town not far from here.”

“Send someone. I want to know if she and Keith Carlson are still together before the day’s out.” He rose, forcing the chair back.

“You’re joking, right?”

“Okay, tomorrow,” Alexei said just before disappearing into an inner room inside the suite.

Half an hour later Alexei emerged, having showered and dressed for the afternoon activities pertaining to the evening’s Opening Ceremonies. Serge was gone. Good. Alexei needed solid info on Kate, and he needed it soon. What he’d do with the information once he got it, he didn’t know. His course of action would probably depend on the content and whether or not she was still married.

Jealousy was an annoying trait; one he’d just as soon do without. If Carlson made her happy, then Alexei wished her well. Still, a piece of his heart would always belong to Kate. Who the hell was he kidding? She’d laid claim to an enormous
piece of him long ago. He’d just forgotten about it in her absence.

Alexei’s feelings were irrelevant. She’d made her choice the day she married Carlson and solidified it when she gave birth to his child. Alexei wondered how he’d react if he ever met Kate’s daughter.

He may be a lot of things, but home wrecker wasn’t one of them. If she was still married, Alexei would smile politely, tell her congratulations and move on. Unless she asked him not to. Could he “play” daddy to a child that wasn’t his? If that child was Kate’s—yes.

Hoping for the best, he grabbed his jacket and headed out.

Exiting the hotel, he waved his driver away, preferring to walk. The perfect exercise to work off some of his mounting envy toward a man he’d never met. People passed him by as he strolled along. Some acknowledged him with simple greetings. Others, mostly girls, graced him with come-hither looks. Any other time, he would’ve picked out the most attractive, let her have her way with him and then bid her adieu, well before the break of dawn.

Any other time, but not this time. This time, only one woman commanded his thoughts. And it was looking more and more like she wasn’t available.

Upon reaching his destination, not only was Alexei’s resentment still with him but it had amplified. He entered the Grand Exhibition Hall on the Central Fairway, trying to push all thoughts of Kate out of his head. For his own sanity’s sake, he’d better concentrate on the evening’s upcoming event instead.

Such a feat, Alexei knew, wouldn’t be easy.

K
ate glared at the microphone in her face. Damn it. Ritchley had caught up with her at the Grand Exhibition Hall. “What’s the dirt on you and Alexei Petrova?” His question fueled her disgust. It looked like he was done playing.

So was Kate. Her give-a-shit factor had fallen to zero. “There is no dirt.”

He gave her a quick inspection that ended in a high-flying smirk. “Just a friendly hug, huh?”

“Alexei Petrova and I are friends. We skated together briefly after the Olympics eight years ago.” Kate justified the newspaper photograph with an inconsequential tone.

“So I’ve heard.” He snickered. “I also heard
you
were the reason he was shipped back to Russia eight years ago. You two got a little too close.”

“What are you implying?”

“Yes.” Alexei’s voice snuck up behind her once again, but this time it wasn’t meant for her. “And what outlet of the media do you represent?” Alexei’s tone, targeted at the reporter, was hard and cold. He leaned in and read the man’s credentials hanging around his neck. “Mr. Ritchley.”

“
Modern Life
.” The reporter beamed.

“This is your unlucky day, Mr. Ritchley.” Alexei’s words echoed through Kate, scaring her even though she wasn’t the intended target.

For the first time, Kate saw the potential of Alexei’s ruthlessness. But since it was directed at the reporter, a man who was trying to pick her apart, she overlooked it. Relished in it, even.

Dude, you are so in trouble
. She chuckled in silent triumph.

“How so?” Countering words, probably meant to project confidence in Ritchley’s shaky voice, failed miserably.

Do yourself a favor and pipe down
. Kate surmised that Alexei had an inside contact at the well-known magazine. One he had considerable influence over.

“You will receive a call from Stan Weston shortly.” Alexei flashed a dominant grin, reached into his pocket and slipped a business card into Ritchley’s hand. Kate tried to sneak a peek and failed. She glanced at Alexei curiously. “In the meantime—” He continued to issue instructions to Ritchley. “You should go pack.”

“Pack?” Kate muttered.

The color drained from the reporter’s face as he examined the business card. “Mr. Petrova.” He glanced back up at Alexei. “I-I’m sorry if I’ve offended you in any way.”

Offended him
? Kate questioned that logic.

“The offense is not mine. You owe Ms. Peterson an apology.”

Ritchley’s tone changed in an instant, groveling. “I meant no harm. I was just looking for the story...” his voice trailed off.

That’s it?
Ran through Kate’s thoughts.
That’s all you’ve got?

“If that’s the best you can do...” Alexei practically snarled at Ritchley and then dismissed him with an insignificant wave.

Ritchley scrambled away like a wounded puppy.

Kate looked at Alexei, really looked at him this time. Her unlikely savior. Their thoughts so in sync, but would he so willingly protect her once he found out about Katya?

He turned to her, and a pleasurable smile crossed his face. “Digging up dirt on your employer is...how do the Americans say...?” Laughter danced in his tawny eyes a split-second before escaping and filling the air. “A surefire way to get
canned
.”

Alexei clutched her elbow. “Huh?” she murmured, letting him led her away. “Are you telling me that you own Modern Life?” she asked, just above a whisper.

“That would be correct,” he said, staring straight ahead.

Kate was starting to see a side of Alexei that she didn’t find flattering. Sure, she liked seeing the reporter put in his place, but firing him? Did his actions deserve such extreme consequences? Was Alexei trying to protect Kate, or was he just on a power trip?

“Did he really need to be fired?”

Alexei halted and stared at her, annoyance ruffling his brow. His eyes darkened, searching her face. “Sweet, little Katya...” A soothing, expressive piece of a smile curled on one edge of his lips. “Still so thoughtful and forgiving of others.”

“A trait you seem to have forgotten.” She wanted him to know she wouldn’t succumb to his bullying. If Alexei was on a power trip, what did that mean for Katya?

He tightened his grip on her elbow and began moving again. She went willingly. Refusing to let him intimidate her was one thing, but pissing him off wasn’t smart.

Kate glanced over her shoulder, looking for Debra. Seeing her hurrying up behind them, she barely mouthed the word, “
What?
” With Debra nearly at her side, she began to feel better. She turned back to Alexei. “Where are we going?” she asked, noticing the door ahead.

“I’ve arranged a private conference room for my interviews.”

Of course you have
. The almighty Alexei Petrova had to be singled out from the minions. Kate wouldn’t be a bit surprised if he ended up leading the way to the torch tonight with everybody else having to follow three steps behind.

“It’s probably best if you interview in there too.” He opened the door and gave her a little shove inside.

“What?” She failed to contain her irritation over his self-imposed superiority. “You afraid I can’t keep my mouth shut?”

Debra stepped inside the room and Alexei closed the door, before saying, “Whatever happened in the past should stay there.”

CHAPTER 5

ALEXEI HATED SAYING
that to Kate, but if she turned out to be married it was true. Dredging up the past wouldn’t do anybody any good, and it could possibly shatter her marriage.

He didn’t care about her marriage, per se. But he did care about her happiness. Alexei would like to think she still felt something for him, but he didn’t want to be known as a home wrecker who rolled into town and took what he wanted without regard for the lives he’d destroyed in the process. Plain and simple, if she was married, she was off limits.

That didn’t mean he couldn’t defend her though. She might be forgiving, but he didn’t have to be. Alexei was infuriated with Ritchley and he was in a position to do something about it—unlike before, when his coaches dragged him out of her hotel room.

The door opened and Alexei’s head shot like a bullet in that direction. Serge. What the hell was he doing here? Alexei needed answers. “Back already?”

“I sent Benny.”

“Hey, look,” Kate interrupted, moving toward the door. “I appreciate your thoughtfulness, Alexei, but I’ve got to go.”

“You’re safer in here.”

“Thanks, but I’ll be fine out there.” She reached for the door and opened it. Her friend was all but pushing her out now. The woman clearly was looking after Kate’s marriage, and she was right to do so. Nobody wanted Kate seen in a bad light—especially Alexei.

He waited until the door closed between them before he turned back to Serge. “Why did you send Benny? I wanted you to handle this directly.”

“And I would have, had you not alienated a US senator.”

Oh her
. Alexei rolled his eyes and groaned.

“Look...” Serge said in an upbeat tone. “If you want to know about her marriage, why don’t you just ask her?”

“What would you have me do, Serge?” Alexei voice remained low, but full of intensity. “
Are you married
, is the question of a desperate man.” And he’d vowed a long time ago to never again appear desperate.

“You want me to ask her?”

Alexei ignored him. “What does the Senator want?”

“To have you deported.”

Alexei chuckled.

“Laugh all you want.” Serge paused, rocking back and forth on his heels. “A judge friend of hers has promised to sign the order...tomorrow.”

“You’re kidding!” Alexei cursed his luck and tried to hide his misfortune behind an aggressive scowl. “Right?”

“We will of course attempt to delay the inevitable. I’m sure Immigration will agree to wait until the Olympics are over to enforce the order.”

“What?” The confidence drained from Alexei’s voice.

“Deporting you in the midst of the Olympics would make the United States seem rather like sore losers.” Serge’s biting laughter brought back memories that Alexei would just as soon forget.

His last Gold Medal had been awarded amid controversy. His contender, American James Barker, was favored to win the Gold. Some say he should have. Others supported the judges’ decision to give Alexei the higher score.

The hullabaloo would rise again in light of the media’s desire to dig up dirt. No doubt, Andrew Ritchley would have a chip on his shoulder and spearhead the campaign.

Oh well, Alexei loved a good challenge. And in light of Kate’s current situation, he needed something to distract him and keep his mind off the one thing he wanted but couldn’t have. No matter what her marital status turned out to be, he couldn’t—wouldn’t involve her in his war with the Senator.

T
he bright lights of the Opening Ceremonies swathed Kate in apprehension that swallowed her up. Fear set in. What if her vision faded? The whole world would discover her secret.

She glimpsed at Alexei—half surprised, half elated that he’d chosen to hide alongside her inside the crowd of skaters. She almost felt bad for tagging him as having a superiority complex. There was plenty of time for that later. Right now, she needed to get through the Torch Lighting Ceremony without busting her ass. To be on the safe side she laced her fingers around Alexei’s upper arm, just in case. If her sight took a hike, he could unknowingly lead the way.

Alexei looked at her hand on his arm and stiffened. Now she felt justified about not having found sympathy for him moments ago. Her instincts begged her to pull away, but her better judgment told her otherwise. For the time being, she’d endure Alexei’s distaste for her touch. He’d get over it much quicker than she’d recover from falling on her face. Besides, it was just until the ceremony had concluded. After that, he could take his pompous butt and go bully whoever he wanted. She was done giving him the benefit of a doubt.

Still, she was thankful they were well-hidden among the medalists from days gone by as they paraded down the fairway. At the end of the path, select members of the group—those gregarious extroverts in pursuit of the limelight—battled for control of the torch as it ignited the Olympic Flame. The spectators cheered.

Alexei leaned toward Kate and whispered, “Are you okay, Katya? You look a bit pale.”

She scanned the magnitude of the crowded stadium. “The reporters are freaking me out,” she murmured half her fears. The other half—the way Alexei was making her feel—wasn’t something she’d ever admit. Not in a million years.