I blush, and he chuckles. “That blush. Always means trouble.” He sits up straight and strokes my hair. “Why don’t you come and curl up on the sofa with me, and we’ll watch a funny movie while we eat snacks.”

“What about dinner?” I ask, rubbing my eyes a little.

“Snacks can be dinner tonight.” He stands up and offers me his hand, then leads me to the room with the projector.

He summons Mrs. Beth and explains that he wants all my favorite snacks prepared. I quickly butt in, “And can we have spaghetti and meatballs, please, with a lot of Parmesan.”

Mrs. Beth nods. “Of course. It will take me a while to whip everything up, but I will have some of the quicker snacks and drinks sent up right away.”

I smile and look around at the new features. A large day bed is in the center, facing the wall, and the projector has been mounted from the ceiling.

“I will,” he promises, as though I didn’t just ask for something lavish.

“You don’t have to,” I start to say, but he chuckles.

“I want to. It’s a good idea. Maybe one in the arcade as well.” He escorts me to the day bed, and I kick my shoes off to climb on top of it. “Do you want a comforter?”

“Maybe later to snuggle,” I admit. He goes to the other side, and we’re just getting settled and picking a movie when Maria walks in with a tea trolley filled with snacks and drinks. She sets it next to Kervyn’s side and hurries out.

I have a wonderful evening with Kervyn, including snuggling up to him and letting him gently stroke my back.

When I wake, it’s morning. I must have fallen asleep on the day bed because I’m covered with a comforter and tucked in. Despite his gruff outward appearance, he can be quite sweet.

I get up and go upstairs to shower, dressing in one of my new maternity dresses before I come downstairs to where Kervyn is having breakfast on the terrace. The weather is getting better and better each day, but today, the terrace is closed off by the special roller doors he had installed.

I sit down and smile at him. “Good morning.”

I reach for a plate and realize a copy of the newspaper is in front of me.

“There are some interesting stories in the stock section,” he says casually.

I narrow my eyes. “What did you do Kervyn Milov.”

“I technically didn’t physically do anything except make a phone call to my broker. I have to watch my investments and the kind of people that represent the companies I invest in. I hate that my broker is notorious for tipping off his other clients, though.” He looks at me. “Page six.”

I pick up the paper and go to the page. I don’t even have to scan the page because there’s a bold headline.

Major Corporation Stock Takes Nosedive after Investors Unexpectedly Pull.

I stare at him. “You did this?”

Kervyn flips his paper up as though he is busy reading it, but I can see his eyes aren’t scanning the page as usual.

“Is this what happens now? If someone upsets me?”

He doesn’t look at me, but he casually says. “If someone upsets my queen, I’m sure she can handle it herself, but sometimes I will step in when it’s for her and my company’s best interests.”

He lowers his paper to look at me. “There’s a beautiful boutique you go to that’s been dressing you. Nice girl, that. I have decided to invest in her a little more so she can open more stores for girls who don’t necessarily represent what that company is looking for.” He smirks.

I smile back. “I shouldn’t feel good about this. People will lose their jobs.”

“They will have to find jobs elsewhere. They certainly didn’t stick up for you when they knew you were the right one for the job.” He flicks his paper back up. “Also, when the baby is settled and the wedding is over, I thought you and I would take a nice holiday. I’m not fond of the Mediterranean islands, but the Caribbean holds a certain charm.”

“Can I plan a whole tour? Will you do everything I want?” I ask with a grin.

“I don’t like foot massages. People touching my feet is gross. Anything else, though, I might go for.”

I grin. “You really do know how to make a girl feel special.”

“You’re a woman, not a girl. And a damn sexy one at that.” He’s back to reading his paper, acting all casual. It’s kind of sexy the way he makes it so normal for me to be considered attractive.

I look at the paper once more. I don’t want to feel smug, but I do.

Chapter 19 - Kervyn

Nobody touches Penny.

What part of this are people not understanding? It’s not exactly a secret we’re engaged at this point, and it’s not like my family is not well-known in the area.

This Carmen bitch has another thing coming to her if she thinks that she can mess with Penny because Penny is a little insecure. I will spend my life building up her confidence until she mops the floor with them.

What I can’t handle, though, is Luka, Asher, and her talking all the time, so I go to the office during the day, even on days I’d typically stay home. I feel a bit like an intruder. My brother has always been social and easy to get along with, so I’m not surprised he’s been roped into what the girls are doing.

I arrive at the office and walk in, walking past the guards. The club is closed during the day, and my other offices are noisier, so I come here when I want peace. Besides, I can check in on my lone wolf brother Arseny when I’m here.

He’s handsome. He should be out and about far more than he is.

I sit at my desk and wait as Nat, one of my other bartenders, brings up some coffee. She’s on the dayshift at the moment while I work because I prefer her coffee.

I am pouring myself a steaming mug of coffee when Arseny comes in silently. I hate when he does that, but luckily, this time, I’m facing the door and see him coming.

“Sneaking around again?”

“I don’t sneak,” he mutters. “I simply like to be light on my feet.”

“If people only knew the scariest person in this family is neither myself nor Danil,” I say, smiling. “But my little brother.”

He pours himself some coffee with a smug smirk on his face. I watch him. He’s physically strong and well-chiseled like us, but he doesn’t go out as much as Luka and isn’t into strip clubs like Danil.

I go to sit in my chair and lean back. He sits in the armchair in front of my desk. “You look like you’re pondering something,” he states.

“I’m wondering what you think of Penny?” I tilt my head to the side.

“Your fiance? The queen you keep referring to?” He shrugs and sips his coffee. “She’s sweet, a kind girl. I don’t think she is suited to our lifestyle, though. A little mismatched to you.”

I frown. “Unless you’re born into our family, give me a person who is born suited to this lifestyle. Had we been born to different parents, we wouldn’t be doing what we do.”

“But we do,” he says. “You’re going to marry her regardless of what I think of her. But let’s discuss business. While Danil is lying low, I’ve been looking into who killed the guards at your house, and I have a suspicion it’s an inside job. I’m following up on some leads.”