“Yes, there are things I want to discuss with you,” Danil says, pouring us a mug of coffee each. “Things I think are best discussed between the two eldest sons.”

“You refer to me as a son still, but I’m going to be a father soon,” I comment, taking the coffee. “What is it?”

“I’m concerned about your fiance and the wedding she’s planning. Luka had a copy of the guest list for the invitations, and that’s a lot of people.”

“They’re mostly our family, Danil.” I shrug. “And people that we know. Penny has Asher and a few old work friends she’s inviting. It’s not her that’s got the big family. It’s us.”

Danil purses his lips. “We don’t have to invite every single person we’re related to.”

“She wants a big wedding. It’s what she’s always wanted,” I say. “Let her have it.”

“It could bring unwanted attention to us and the family in general, the other side of the family that we don’t want regular people talking about.” Danil sips his coffee and looks at me seriously. “You don’t need all this fanfare.”

“Danil, don’t stress so much,” I brush him off. “Penny wants a lavish wedding, and I’ve promised her she can have whatever she wants. That’s the end of the discussion. You should be more concerned about finding out who killed all my guards. Is there any news?”

Danil sighs and shakes his head. “No, there isn’t. I have some leads, but so far, no one has said anything.”

“Well, focus on that instead of my impending nuptials. Okay?” I say. “Let’s not argue over something like this. It’s one special day, that’s all.”

Danil opens his mouth to say something else, but Penny walks in. I smile. She’s dressed in dungarees and a shirt underneath. She’s wearing trainers today instead of sandals and has a bandanna on her head.

“Morning, Danil,” she says with a smile. “It’s nice to see you.”

Danil stands and gives a strained smile. “Good morning, Miss Winters. Kervyn, have a good day. I’ll see you at the office.”

He walks out, and Penny watches him for a moment before she turns to me. “Did I do something wrong?” she asks.

“He’s just moody,” I say, motioning to her seat. When she doesn’t reach for any food, I look at her curiously. “Not feeling well?”

“Actually.” She gives me a shy smile. I love that shy smile. “I wanted you to spend the day with me, taste-testing cakes and trying on your tuxedo.”

I bite my lip and close my eyes briefly before gently looking at her and lowering my voice. “Penny, I have to work. I’m needed in the office.”

She gives a playful pout. “You’re the boss. You can do whatever it is that you feel like doing, surely? And you said no holding back, right?”

I raise an eyebrow as she gives a rue little smile. I smirk. “You’re learning bad habits from Luka.”

“He is an excellent teacher,” she says.

I take out my phone and text Danil that I’m taking the day off. I know he’s going to be pissed, but Penny is right, I’m the boss. I don’t have to go in if I don’t want to.

“Where is the tasting?” I ask curiously.

“Downtown. Leon has gone ahead to have the staff taste-test the cakes to ensure they’re not poisoned.” She smiles. “That was my idea.”

“It’s a good idea. Paranoia looks good on you.” I stand and offer her my hand.

“Am I driving?” I ask.

“No, Currie will take us,” she says. Just before we reach the door, before we’re in view of the guards, she drops my hand, and instead, I place it on the small of her back. It’s our symbol. Our sign of affection without letting on that we’re being affectionate. If I could be honest, I would declare my love for Penny a hundred times over, but I can’t show weakness, not even to her.

I know I love her. I love her more than anything, and perhaps Danil is right. Maybe that is making me choose foolish things. Play stupid games and claim silly prizes. Isn’t that what they said?

I dress down for the day, not wanting to draw attention to myself in my work suit. I opt for slacks, a golf shirt, and a jumper.

I meet Penny at the car, and it’s a short drive to the bakery that Penny has picked to make our wedding cake.

There’s a table laid out with all these little cakes. Each has a perfect spoon-sized portion missing from the taste test. Penny sits down and looks around. “What’s your favorite cake?” she asks.

“I don’t actually know,” I say honestly. “I like a lot of different types of cakes.”

“This is Blue Velvet with vanilla cream cheese icing,” she says, using a spoon to scoop up a little and pass it to me. I eat it, and I moan a little.

“Okay, that’s pretty good,” I say. “Blue Velvet. Does our wedding have a theme?”

“I’m going for a blue, gray, and lilac motif,” she says. “Here, this is a rich chocolate mousse cake.”

We both eat it, and I smile. “I could smoosh your face in the cake.”

“Don’t you dare,” she says with a smile. “My makeup is going to be flawless, and that almost never happens.”

I smile and point to another cake, “What’s that one?”

“Er…” She picks up the card. “Carrot cake made with brandy and covered in cream cheese icing.”

I try that one. “None for you because it’s alcohol.”

“Actually, I can have a little. Alcohol bakes out of the food.” She tries it but spits it into a napkin. “Nope. Not that one.”

I chuckle and point to the blue velvet. “I really think that’s our winner.”

She smiles. “I’m glad we agree on something already.”

She pulls out a picture to show me a five-tier cake. “It’s going to be five tiers big, obviously, with each tier slightly smaller. Decorated with blue and Lilac flowers and accentuated with silver for the stems and leaves.”

I take the picture and look at it. “It’s beautiful. What about the topper?”

“Well, I wanted something from Russian, so I wanted a man and woman in the form of those Russian dolls.” She grins. “Cheesy, I know.”

“Very cheesy, but my mother will love it,” I say.

“What’s she like?” she asks.

“My mother? She’s a bitch to anyone who isn’t blood-related, so you have to hold your own with her. But that’s still a while away from happening,” I say.

“Why haven’t I met her?” She asks.

“I didn’t think she minded at first, but Danil tells me she’s a little upset that I got you pregnant before the wedding. While it might not bother me, my very catholic mother finds this… sinful.” I shrug. “I’m just giving her time to cool off and get used to the idea before I take you over there.”