“Thanks. Maybe that will get you out of the basement more and into the sunlight.”

“You put me in the basement because you needed someone to do your dirty work for you,” he says. “I have a whole life you know nothing about, I assure you.”

I scoff. “Your drag races are nothing to brag about.” I pause. “Except to make us money gambling.”

He smiles.

“You are right. Penny will be my wife, whether anyone likes it or not. Make sure to impress that on people. Impress upon them that she’s not to be trifled with, or else.” I finish my coffee. “I have work to do. Then I need to stop at the butchery and the farmer’s market.”

“Oh, have we reached steak level?” He chuckles.

Steak level. That’s what my brothers call the two times I went out with a woman for longer than six months. It’s when I make us juicy steaks for dinner, and if they pass that, they get a hot bath with me where I give them the rub down of their lives. No woman has passed the steak level.

He gets up and sighs. “Enjoy your dinner tonight.”

“Arseny,” I call before he leaves.

He pauses and looks at me. I pull out a photo I stole from Penny. It’s of her, dressed up for a formal night out. “See this necklace. I want you to find it.”

“It doesn’t look like it’s worth much,” my brother says quietly, looking at me. “Is it for Penny?”

“It was stolen. To her, it means the world.”

He nods and turns to the door. I watch him leave before I start to work. I don’t stop until three, and then I shut down everything to drive myself down to a decent Russian butcher that I have on the books. He has the steaks I ordered ready and packaged, and I grab them and place them in the cooler box in my car before I stop at the farmer’s market for fresh vegetables, freshly baked bread, and salad ingredients.

By the time I get home, my stomach is growling. Thankfully, there’s no sign of Luka’s car when I get home, so I take everything to the kitchen, where Mrs. Beth is packing away dishes. “I’ve got dinner for tonight,” I say. “I’ll be cooking.”

She nods. “Thank you, sir. I’ll finish up and take my leave.”

I go hunting for Penny. She’s sitting in the library and smiles when she looks at me. I want her to always look at me with that smile. Beaming radiantly at me. My little investment revenge cheered her up, so it was worth it, and I lost nothing for it.

“Penny,” I say, leaning on the arms of the armchair so I’m above her. “Please, will you join me? I would like you to sit in the kitchen and drink non-alcoholic wine while I cook you a juicy steak for dinner.”

She licks her lips and then narrows her eyes. “Do you know how to cook?”

“Just because I hire a cook doesn’t mean I don’t know how to make a decent steak.” I stand up and offer her my hand. She sets her book down and takes my hand, getting up. For a moment, we stand there, looking into each other's eyes before I step back to let her walk ahead of me.

She’s a little flustered as she hurries past, and I smile. I like having an effect on her.

Once we’re in the kitchen and alone, I pull out a seat for her. “You should be comfy here, and let me get you a glass of wine.” I take out the non-alcoholic wine and pour us each a glass, passing one to her.

“The secret to a decent steak is not to overcook it,” I say, taking out the large meat packages.

“Those are huge,” she says, a little in awe.

“These are my favorite. This butcher specializes in bigger cuts of meat.” I smile. “Right, let’s get started.”

I make homemade french fries, juicy, flavorsome steaks, homemade garlic bread, sweet corn, and salad. Penny talks to me while I cook, asking me about Russia. I tell her about visiting and spending some of my childhood there to be educated in Russian politics and history.

“Luka never went because my mother couldn’t bear to send him.” I chuckle. “Spoiled brat from the day he was born.”

I plate the food and lead her to the dining room. “Here you go.” I set her plate down in front of her and sit beside her with mine. “Enjoy.”

We tuck into our food, and I smile as she closes her eyes. She swallows and turns me, “That is the best steak I have ever had.”

“Thank you.” I cut into mine again. “I thought after this we could take a bath together, maybe add some candles and some bath oil.”

“Are you trying to seduce me?” she asks with a blush.

“Don’t tempt me to, but no. I thought it would be nice if I could rub you down with some oil and get you to relax a little. It’ll be good for the baby.”

We talk while we eat, although I feel that I talk more than I usually do. Penny seems content to listen to my voice and eat her food. In fact, she even looks a little sleepy.

When we’re done, I take the plates to the kitchen and take her upstairs. I let her sit on the side of the bath with me while I run it and pour oils in.

“Have you done this with many women?” she asks. It’s curiosity, but I sense a hint of insecurity.

“I’ve had steak with two women, one of which left me and one which I left. I don’t make it a habit to bathe with random people, though, if that eases your mind.” I smile.

She smiles back and shrugs. “I just…you’re a good-looking man. I just imagine women would throw themselves at you a lot.”

I chuckle. “They do. Every day but in case you haven’t noticed, I’ve perfected my resting asshole face.”

She giggles, and it sounds like heaven. I stand up and start to undress. Once my shirt is off and I’m left in my pants, I look at her. “Are you joining me?”

She blushes again—that blush. I want to kiss it every time it happens, just kiss every inch of her that burns red.

She pulls her maternity dress off so she’s just in her underwear. She steps out of it and picks it up, hanging it over the basin.

I smile and step forward. “Let me.” I reach around her and deftly undo her bra. She swallows hard. I can see the lump in her throat as she slides her bra off and tosses it to the side. She doesn’t seem to want to break eye contact with me.

I undo my pants and slowly push them down. “I’m honestly not trying to seduce you. I just want to give you a full body massage.”

She slowly lowers her underwear and kicks them to the side. “Okay,” she says quietly. I pull my boxers off and toss them aside. I smile, climb into the bath, and rest back, my legs spread.

She takes the hand I’m holding up and steps into the bath. Her milky skin is beautiful but turns red with the hot water.

Just like her blush.

She lowers herself slowly so her back is against my chest. For a moment, I relax against the back of the bath, letting her settle. Feeling her skin against my skin makes me have to find my own feelings because I could take her right here. I don’t care about the mess.

But that’s not what tonight is about.

No, I have been thinking about how to give Penny something no one else has given her—a night of pleasure just for her, something to make her feel special.

I grab the oil and pour some into my hands. I rub them together before I start rubbing her shoulders. She tips her head forward and sighs. “That feels so good.”

“Lots of things can feel good,” I say quietly as I work her back.