Ash laughed ruefully, then kissed my neck. “Does that mean yes?”
His fingers swept up my side, sending sparks shooting along my spine and settling low in my belly. I reached up to kiss him, but accidentally swatted his chest with my cast, making both of us flinch.
“Maybe not,” I winced, holding my broken wrist.
His eyes flattened with disappointment, but he didn’t argue.
Then he reached out to hold my hand and kissed it gently, his soft lips lingering.
“Happy New Year, my love.”
New Year. I liked the sound of that.
Snow had fallen overnight, transforming the city into a winter wonderland. Only a few cars and trucks had driven along the powdery streets, and the sidewalks were still fresh and clean. The long decay into slush and dirt wasn’t far away, but for now, I could stand on our balcony and breathe in the sharp, cold air and feel like everything was reborn.
Ash had been happy when Gary had invited us to his home, and I saw something spark inside him. Then he told me what he wanted to do, the thoughts and plans whirring through his incredible mind, I was awed. And so proud. But he needed Gary. And Yveta.
We arrived a little late, and Gary must have been watching for us, because the second we pulled up, he ran out of the house to meet us wearing ridiculous bunny slippers. He grinned broadly and I tried not to wince as I saw the gap on one side of his mouth where several teeth were missing.
He yanked open the driver’s door and pulled Ash into a tight hug, whispering something that had Ash smiling at his friend.
“Welcome to my humble abode, lovely Novaks!” Gary sang. “Come in and meet the ‘rents.” He lowered his voice. “We saw the article in the newspaper.”
“What did you think?”
“It was fair. I don’t know if it will make any difference.”
“How’s Yveta?” asked Ash.
Gary sighed.
“Up and down. I think she needs some help, but no one wants to know. The Russian Embassy has offered to fly her home, but she doesn’t have any family or close friends once she’s there. I don’t know how long they’ll let her stay here . . .” He glanced at me. “Maybe I should marry her.”
Ash punched him in the shoulder and Gary laughed. Then he walked around the car to help me out, sliding his arm through mine as we made our way up the path to the front door.
It was an older style wooden farmhouse, although there were several other new-builds near it now.
Gary’s parents, Judith and Henry, were like something out of a Grant Wood painting, very upright, restrained, almost severe in their welcome. How they managed to have a son like Gary who was so flamboyant—that was anyone’s guess. I knew that Ash harbored a lot of resentment because of his father who’d thought dancing was effeminate, and I tried to imagine how it must have been for Gary growing up here.
But when we walked into the house, it was filled with a wonderful aroma of baking bread, taking me back to a simpler, less complicated time in my life.
Yveta was curled up in an armchair in the living room, the curtains drawn, the lighting dim.
“Oh my Go—good grief!” snapped Gary. “This is all too American Gothic. Open the damn—dang drapes!”
He yanked back the curtains, making us all blink, and I saw Yveta for the first time. My eyes were instantly drawn to the ugly puckered scar on her cheek, making it seem as if she was sneering at the world, and maybe she was.
She was tall and very thin, with thick blonde hair that hung across her face unstyled.
Ash simply walked up to her and kissed her on both cheeks, smiling down at her as he held her hands.
Yveta’s cold eyes turned glassy and she threw herself into his arms, her tears sudden and heart-breaking.
I watched in awkward silence, not knowing what to do or where to look, until Gary nudged my arm.
“Coffee?”
I nodded and followed him out to the kitchen where his parents stoically set the table with cloth napkins and silverware. They seemed to ignore his presence and he did the same.
“Yveta does that all the time,” he said sadly. “She’s better though, I think. Calmer. But long term . . .” he blew out a breath, then changed tack.
“So, tell me all about Mrs. Novak. I’m dying to hear about the woman who snapped up the hottest talent in town.”
“I’m sure Ash has told you how we met.”
Gary waved a hand. “He’s a guy. I need to hear some girl talk.”
I smiled. “You’d love my parents’ house—four daughters. Dad is completely outnumbered.”
“Sounds like heaven. Speaking of which, how have they taken to the exotic delights of your new hubby?”
“Surprised, but they’re getting used to the idea.” I shrugged. “My Dad is having a bromance with him ever since Ash saved my life.”
Gary’s face was serious.
“He must really love you.”
“It’s mutual.”
Then we heard the front door slam and two seconds later, Ash and Yveta were disappearing down the driveway, crunching through the snow, their heads bent low, his arm around her slim waist.