Russian Mobster's Secret (14 page)

Viktor was a good deal stronger than Katie. She almost protested when he drew back and let the thing fly as though it had been shot from a rocket launcher. But Max was in heaven. The dog sprinted off so quickly that he was nothing but a blue-and-white blur streaking through the grass. His hindquarters bunched and he leaped into the air to catch the Frisbee.

“Wow.” Viktor turned and smiled. The expression was so honest. It reminded her of the way he’d been
before
. Then he pointed to indicate Max. “Did you train him like this?”

“Actually, yes.” She swallowed uncomfortably. This was getting into territory she really didn’t care to discuss. “A friend of mine’s family raises these dogs for show. They gave Max to me as a gift and I spent a lot of time on obedience and agility training.”

“Dog shows?” Viktor’s tone was incredulous. “I would have never thought you could be into something like that.”

“They’re certainly not for everyone,” she said stiffly. “But they can be fun.”

Max trotted up and triumphantly put the Frisbee back in Viktor’s hand. Viktor held it up and Max’s butt dropped obediently to the ground as he waited. Then Viktor pretended to throw the Frisbee. He swung his arm out in a wide arc, but didn’t let go.

To Katie’s amusement, Max stayed put right where he was and continued to stare at Viktor. Katie poked Viktor in the arm. “He’s not stupid. But he is wondering why you would bother trying to play that trick since he can both hear and smell the thing behind your back.”

“Nice. So even the dog thinks I’m a moron.” Viktor threw the Frisbee and Max took off.

* * *

Viktor realized as soon as the words were out that he’d just started a conversation he didn’t want to have. Although, he kept getting the feeling that Katie had several of those as well. She had alluded to a friend, but never seemed to want to discuss it any further. Was this “friend” a guy?

“What?” she asked. “I can tell you’re gearing up to ask me something.”

He cocked his head, trying to get a better read on her facial expression. “Ah, but you already told me you don’t want to talk about it.”

“That doesn’t mean you can’t ask,” she reasoned. “You just might not get as comprehensive of an answer as you would like.”

“Comprehensive?” He sighed and gently nudged her with his shoulder. “Okay. You keep talking about a friend you had while you were away, but you never seem to want to say more. What gives?”

“You’re right. I don’t want to talk about it,” she said in a tight voice. “I thought he was a good guy. I was wrong. That’s pretty much all there is to it.”

Viktor’s gut clenched. He found he did
not
like the idea of some nameless, faceless jerk treating Katie badly. “Did he hurt you? Because I swear I will track him down and—”

She laid her hand very lightly on his forearm. The effect was instant and staggering. The tension seemed to leach right out of Viktor’s body. He felt soothed by her touch, as if nothing would ever anger him again.

Katie gazed up at him, meeting his eyes and holding him captive with hers. “He didn’t hurt me like that. Not physically. I promise. But he was a very selfish man.”

Max trotted up and sat down. Viktor took the Frisbee, but didn’t throw it. His mind was too full of other things. “Would you go to dinner with me tonight?”

“Oh Viktor, I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” The expression in her wide gray eyes suggested something completely different, but he let that go for the moment.

“Come on,” he coaxed. “It’s just dinner. We could even do something completely low-key like getting pizza at Franco’s.”

He had her there and she knew it. The woman had loved Franco’s since before he’d met her. She gave him a squinty-eyed glare. “That’s cheating and you know it!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just offered to buy you pizza at your very favorite restaurant.” He stuck his tongue out at her. “That makes me the nice guy here, not the villain.”

“I don’t know about that,” she groused. “I think you’ll always be the villain.”

“But will you go get pizza with me?”

She sighed and snatched her Frisbee out of his hand. “Yes. I’ll meet you there at seven.”

“Deal!” He couldn’t believe how eager he felt for something that should have been mundane.

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