by Rose, Bella
“Agreed.” Ivan stood up, preparing to leave and feeling strangely like he had just been had in some way.
Chapter Four
Kaylee was going to vomit any second now. There weren’t even any guests at this farce of a wedding. The two of them were at the courthouse with two of his flunkies for witnesses. Apparently none of that mattered to her nervous stomach. About the only thing she was capable of was putting one foot in front of the other on the way up the wide stone steps. Fortunately that was the only thing that mattered. When they finally reached the office of the Justice of the Peace, she leaned against the wall and tried to breathe normally.
“Ms. Mulnix?” The rat-faced little lawyer with the bug-eyed glasses handed her a pen. “If you could just sign on the line here, that will take care of the prenuptial agreement.”
“I suppose I’d better, hmm?” Kaylee’s hand hovered, the pen nearly touching the paper. Was she really going through with this? Half a dozen paces away, Ivan stood watching her. Was he wondering as well? She kept waiting for someone to tell her this was all an elaborate hoax. Her best bet was to collect the promised money before Ivan dug up anything else about her background.
“Well, well, well,” a sarcastic male voice with a hard Boston accent drifted down the hallway. “I heard there was some broad stupid enough to marry your criminal ass, Krachenko. I just had to come up here and see who it was.”
That voice! It lit a fire in Kaylee’s gut that had her signing her name with a flourish and shoving the sheaf of paper back at the attorney’s chest. “There you go, Mr. Franklin. All set.”
“Kaylee?” Detective Lionel Pershing stared at her as though she’d grown a second head. “No fucking way!”
“Excuse me?” Kaylee straightened her spine. “Did you have something you wanted to say, or are you just going to stand there with your mouth open catching flies?”
Ivan approached on silent feet. He slipped one arm around Kaylee’s midsection. She knew it was for show, but the gesture was oddly comforting. Ivan leveled a cold glare at Detective Pershing. “I believe this sort of behavior falls under the heading of harassment, Detective. Don’t you?”
Pershing ignored Ivan for the moment. “Mulnix, what the hell do you think you’re doing? This guy is bad news.”
“I have to say that I think you’re probably far worse than Ivan, if we’re talking about the problem factor anyway. As I recall, you’re the one who wouldn’t take no for an answer, and then practically destroyed the bar throwing a tantrum about it.” Kaylee knew it was foolish to rub the detective’s nose in his past sins, but his macho bullshit was annoying as hell.
Beside her, Kaylee sensed Ivan evaluating the possible connections between her and Pershing. His speculative gaze made her want to squirm, which was stupid because she hadn’t done anything wrong.
“Detective Pershing and I have a rather convoluted history,” Kaylee finally offered. “He is one of those irrational alpha male types who cannot grasp the notion that a woman would ever not find him attractive.”
“You better watch yourself,” Pershing snarled. “If you’re shacking up with this guy you’re going to wind up in jail.”
Ivan smoothly turned his back on Pershing. “I hardly think this is necessary, and we have an appointment with the judge.”
Pershing pointed at Kaylee. “I’ll be seeing you around, Mulnix.”
“Sure thing, Detective, but the last name will be Krachenko by then,” Kaylee said sweetly.
Kaylee and Ivan stepped through the door into the little office where the judge performed marriage ceremonies. There were half a dozen other couples waiting their turn. Kaylee was glad that Ivan was likely keeping tabs on their spot in line, because she was in no fit state to think about anything.
Ivan led her to a chair in the back of the double grouping of six rows. She sat beside him and tried not to fidget. She had to settle for picking lint off her black dress slacks instead.
“Is there anything else I should know before we finalize our agreement?” Ivan murmured.
Kaylee shrugged. “I’ve lived in Boston my whole life. For a big town, it’s a pretty damn small town. I’m bound to know some people you don’t like.”
“That’s fair.” Ivan ran his fingers through his pale-blond hair. She wondered if that meant he was agitated or just distracted. His expression was completely neutral.
“Fair?” she prompted.
“It doesn’t seem as if you and the good detective are very fond of each other,” Ivan commented.
“That’s a massive understatement.” Kaylee thought for a moment. “Is he one of the law enforcement individuals who pokes his nose into your business dealings?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm.”
“I’m going to think you know more than you’re telling.” Ivan did not sound pleased by this notion.
“Considering we’re both in this relationship because we need something from the other, I suppose mistrust is inevitable don’t you think?” Kaylee snorted. “And the answer is, I might know something.”
“And if you did know something, would you tell me?” Ivan asked with deliberate casualness.
“Perhaps.”
“Or perhaps not?”
Kaylee needed him to understand that she was not going to be a passive elbow trophy, no matter what she was getting paid to be there. “That’s going to depend on your attitude actually. I refuse to aid and abet an asshole. And I’m not going to enable one either.”
IVAN HAD THE most insane urge to laugh out loud at her boast. He had never been subject to this sort of insubordination in his life. Yet he’d never been married either. Shouldn’t a man want a wife with some spice?
Ivan reconsidered his approach to this topic. “So, if I was to ask you nicely whether or not you might have information that would help me in my constant effort to remain several steps ahead of men like Detective Pershing, would you tell me?”
“Why yes, Ivan,” Kaylee said with exaggerated sweetness. “I believe I would.”
“I think I can live with that,” Ivan decided.
“Be still my beating heart.” Kaylee pressed her palm to her chest.
Ivan noticed for the second time how nice she looked in her casual slacks and silky blouse. The blue color brought out a deep tone in her skin and made her eyes look just that much warmer. Her hair was down. He found himself strangely fascinated by the waist length mass. It was straight and thick. A vision of what that hair might look like spread across his belly as she applied her full lips to his cock came to mind.
“What?” she whispered.
“Hmm?”
Kaylee raised one elegant brow. “You’re looking at me as though you’re trying to undress me in your mind.”
“Perhaps I am.”
“Then could you stop? It’s distracting.” She reached over to poke his leg.
“Krachenko and Mulnix?” The court clerk’s nasally voice droned through the room, dragging Ivan’s attention away from the pleasant thought of his wedding night.
“Our turn.” Ivan took Kaylee’s hand and pulled her to her feet.
They walked to the front of the room and Ivan presented the marriage license. His lawyer and his accountant stood by to act as witnesses. It was all very legal. A fact not missed by the judge, who was already glowering at them.
“Ma’am,” Judge Stevens said to Kaylee. His stone faced countenance never wavered. “Are you certain you are entering into this agreement of your own free will?”
“Oh yes.” Kaylee’s tone was firm and her expression certain. “He’s not what you think, Your Honor.”
The judge made a harrumphing sound, but began droning on through the legalese required by law to marry Ivan to Kaylee. Ivan checked out, mostly because the sterile ceremony was so different from the Russian Orthodox weddings he was accustomed to in St. Petersburg.
“Mr. Krachenko?” The judge’s tone suggested he had been trying to get Ivan’s attention for several moments. “Do you h
ave a ring?”
“Of course.” Ivan held out his hand and Jonathan put a simple gold wedding band in his palm. Ivan turned back to the judge expectantly.
Judge Stevens looked as if he’d swallowed something sour. “Place the ring on Kaylee’s finger and repeat after me.”
Ivan swallowed. He was actually nervous. How odd. “I, Ivan Krachenko, do take Kaylee Mulnix to be my lawfully wedded wife. Until death do us part.”
Judge Stevens looked at Kaylee. “Do you have a ring?”
She raised her brows at him and Ivan jerked his chin at Jonathan. A quick fumble had the accountant placing a ring in Kaylee’s open palm. Then she spoke the same words. “I, Kaylee Mulnix, do take Ivan Krachenko to be my lawfully wedded husband. Until death do us part.”
“By the power vested in me by the state of Massachusetts, I hereby pronounce you man and wife.” Judge Stevens definitely did not look happy for them. “You may now kiss the bride.”
Ivan slipped his arms around Kaylee, surprised at how natural it felt to do so. She melted against him. Her hands automatically wound about his neck, her fingers tangling in the hair at his nape. Then Ivan lowered his mouth to hers and pressed their lips together. The chaste kiss quickly turned carnal when she slid her tongue into his mouth. Desire ran hot and Ivan couldn’t help but deepen the kiss.
“Well I suppose I’ll have to tell immigration that the two of you seem pretty hot to trot,” Judge Stevens said grudgingly. “I still don’t like it.”
Ivan regretfully broke away from Kaylee’s sweet mouth. Glancing at the judge, he couldn’t help but give the man a snarky smile. “Duly noted, Your Honor.”
“Now get out of my courtroom before I find something else to hold you in contempt for.” Stevens waved them off.
Ivan took Kaylee’s hand and tugged her out of the courtroom. He didn’t stop until they hit the front steps of the courthouse. The unseasonably warm fall afternoon breeze lifted the loose hair around Kaylee’s shoulders and flung it back away from her face. He paused at the bottom of the stairs, unable to read her expression.
“So.” She tugged her hand free of his. “Can I expect a wire transfer of the money by Monday then?”
Ivan blinked. She was tackling business first, of course. He supposed that made sense. “Yes. Jonathan has your account number and knows exactly what to do.”
“Excellent.” Kaylee turned to walk away.
Ivan grabbed her shoulder at the last second. “Excuse me, where are you going?”
“Work.” She raised her eyebrows as if she couldn’t understand his confusion. “I have a shift at the bar tonight.”
“It’s our wedding night.” Ivan felt as though that should have been obvious.
“So come in later and I’ll give you a free drink.”
Ivan started laughing and couldn’t stop. He watched Kaylee walk toward the bus stop. The lumbering vehicle was already pulling up to the curb when she got there. Casting a look over her shoulder, she gave him a pretty little wave before disappearing from sight.
“Mr. Krachenko?” Jonathan said hesitantly from just behind his left shoulder. “Should we send someone after her?”
“No.” Ivan scratched his chin, already warming to the challenge. “I believe that would have the opposite result of the one I want.”
“Then what?” Jonathan demanded, sounding panicked.
Ivan clapped his hands together. “We get some work done so the day is not a total loss. I’ll deal with Mrs. Krachenko later tonight.”
Chapter Five
The ring on Kaylee’s finger felt strange as she went about her usual routine tending bar. Saturday nights were always busier at the pub. She kept waiting for someone to notice her new jewelry. Surely some of the regulars would pick up on the gold band encircling her ring finger, but they laughed and joked with her as if nothing had changed. And perhaps nothing really had. Did nobody pay attention to things anymore?
“Pull me a Samuel Adams, Mulnix!”
The voice with its distinctive hard Boston accent drifted down the length of the bar. Kaylee purposefully ignored it. In her experience, that was about the only way to deal with a man like Detective Pershing. He was pushy and with a penchant for being the center of attention.
Kaylee continued pulling beers for a group of MIT students who were apparently on a field trip down in this part of the South End, probably on the hunt for a club. They had clustered at the far end of the bar and were discussing a flyer one of them had found on campus.
“Mulnix!” Pershing shouted, this time pounding the bar with the flat of his hand. “Don’t ignore me, it’s damn rude.”
“I’m sorry,” Kaylee said sweetly. “Were you talking to me?”
He rolled his eyes expressively. “Obviously.”
“Not obviously, my last name is Krachenko. Not Mulnix.” She may have enjoyed that just a little too much.
“That’s right,” Pershing murmured thoughtfully. Then he turned around and gave a sharp whistle that drew every eye in the room. “Hey! Did you guys hear our Kaylee’s big news?”
Tyrese glowered at Pershing. “I wouldn’t be calling her your Kaylee. I think she made it pretty clear where she stood on that topic months ago, you pushy bastard.”
“Thank you, Tyrese,” Kaylee said honestly.
Tyrese gave her a hard nod.
“Yeah?” Pershing was losing the room and he knew it. So he cleared his throat and tried again. “Kaylee’s married now!”
Kaylee tried not to cringe as she saw the round looks of shock on everyone’s faces. Their gazes immediately dropped to her left hand and she struggled not to give into the urge to jam it in her pocket. It wasn’t like she could hide her new marital status forever. She just hadn’t give much thought to what she was going to tell people.
“Kaylee?” Tyrese’s lips pulled up into a smile. “Girl, that’s great! I didn’t even know you were dating anyone.”
“It was a surprise,” she admitted with a chuckle. Grabbing a pint glass, she pulled another beer for Tyrese and handed it over the counter. “But he treats me good and he’s loaded.”
Tyrese had grown up like Kaylee, with next to nothing and scrabbling for every dime like he was fighting a death match. In fact, everyone who spent much time in her pub had that in common. With the exception of Pershing of course. The jackass had grown up in the Back Bay going to a private school. It was luck of the draw that had landed him on a beat in Southie.
“Raise your drinks to Kaylee!” Tyrese shouted. “Girl got herself a good husband with some green to spare!”
Kaylee could barely hide her glee as Pershing pouted while the entire pub gave her a round of cheers and well wishes. So maybe this was going to go better than she’d thought.
“Just wait until they find out you’re dating the king of the Krachenko crime syndicate.” Pershing curled his lip with disdain. “They won’t be so supportive then.”
“Actually,” she began, sarcastically gesturing to his person in general. “They’re likely to support Ivan way before they get behind some asshole from Back Bay who’s still busy trying to pull the silver spoon out of his ass.”
“You better watch it,” Pershing snarled. “I’ve had just about all I can take of your lip.”
“Hmm, I thought it was my lips you were particularly interested in.” She didn’t bother to hide the mockery in her tone. “At least that’s what you said that night I told you I’d rather fuck a dumpster than go out with you.”
Pershing started forward, actually bumping into the bar as if he’d forgotten the monstrous hunk of mahogany sat between them like a lifesaving barrier. He grabbed his pint glass instead and sucked down the remaining half of his beer in one pull. Then he glared at her as if she were somehow responsible for all of his problems.
“You’re a Krachenko now,” Pershing said in a menacing voice. “I could drag you down to the station and lock you in an interrogation room until you sing and nobody would bat an eye.”
“I would.�
�� Ivan’s accented voice had a hard edge to it that Kaylee had never heard before.
The relief Kaylee experienced was so intense, she felt the pressure of actual tears. She took more than a few deep breaths to bring her emotions under control. It felt so good to have someone in her corner for once. It had always been Kaylee against the world. Now she had a big, bad bully on her side.
Take that Pershing!
THE COLD RAGE Ivan felt thrumming in his veins was not helped by the expression on Kaylee’s beautiful face. It was obvious that Pershing had been bullying her for the better part of the evening. If Ivan had anything to say about it, that bullshit was going to stop. Now.
Ivan leaned against the bar, only a few feet from Pershing. He made it clear with his body language that he was not intimidated by the detective’s law enforcement status in the least. “Pershing, I think I’m going to have to request that you find someplace else to—” He searched for the correct American term and came up blank.
“Hang out?” Kaylee supplied.
“Yes. Exactly.” Ivan winked at her. “Thank you, sweetheart.”
“Sweetheart?” Pershing made a gagging noise. “Give me a break.”
“Jealousy is such an ugly thing.” Ivan examined his phone. “But I would be happy to contact my attorney and file harassment charges on behalf of my wife.”
Tyrese had just clued in to what was happening. “Yo, Kaylee?”
“Yeah, Ty?”
“Is that your guy?” Tyrese asked with interest.
“Yes, this is my husband, Ivan.” Kaylee smiled because it was the correct thing to do. The fact that she was beaming without even trying was a little overwhelming. Ivan was her husband and whatever her reasoning, that fact made her happy.
“Hey, man.” Tyrese held his hand out to Ivan. “Congratulations. Our Kaylee is a real kick-ass woman.”
“I would most certainly agree.” Ivan kept himself from bursting into laughter at the terminology used by this hulking black man. It was obvious the guy respected Kaylee and liked her as far more than just the bartender in his neighborhood pub. “And I’d like to thank you for standing up for Kaylee when I’m not here to do it,” Ivan told Tyrese.