The tall stranger clearly has other ideas.
At my cautious retreat, he narrows his eyes, his gaze becoming sharper, more focused. Then he comes toward me, his stride graceful for such a large man. There’s something panther-like in his leisurely movements, and for a second, I feel like a mouse getting stalked by a big cat. Instinctively, I take another step back, and his hard mouth tightens with displeasure.
Dammit, I’m acting like a coward.
I stop backing away and stand my ground instead, straightening to my full five-foot-seven height. I’m always the calm and capable one, handling high-stress situations with ease, yet I’m behaving like a schoolgirl confronted with her first crush. Yes, the man makes me uncomfortable, but there’s nothing to be afraid of. What’s the worst he can do? Ask me out on a date?
Nevertheless, my hands shake slightly as he approaches, stopping less than two feet away. This close, he’s even taller than I thought, a few inches over six feet. I’m not a short woman, but I feel tiny standing in front of him. It’s not a feeling I enjoy.
“You’re very good at your job.” His voice is deep and a little rough, tinged with some Eastern European accent. Just hearing it makes my insides shiver in a strangely pleasurable way.
“Thank you,” I say, a bit uncertainly. I am good at my job, but I didn’t expect a compliment from this stranger.
“You took care of Igor well. Thank you for that.”
Igor must be the gunshot patient. It’s a foreign-sounding name. Russian, perhaps? That would explain the stranger’s accent. Although he speaks English fluently, he’s not a native speaker.
“Of course.” I’m proud of the steadiness of my tone. Hopefully, the man won’t realize how he affects me. “I hope he recovers quickly. Is he a relative?”
“My bodyguard.”
Wow. I was right. This man is a big fish. Does that mean—
“Was he shot in the course of duty?” I ask, holding my breath.
“He took a bullet meant for me, yes.” His tone is matter-of-fact, but I get a sense of suppressed rage underneath those words.
I swallow hard. “Did you already speak to the police?”
“I gave them a brief statement. I will talk to them in more detail once Igor is stabilized and regains consciousness.”
I nod, not knowing what to say to that. The man standing in front of me was nearly assassinated today. What is he? Some mafia boss? A political figure?
If I had any doubts about the wisdom of exploring this strange attraction between us, they’re gone. This stranger is bad news, and I need to stay as far away from him as possible.
“I wish your bodyguard a speedy recovery,” I say in a falsely cheerful tone. “Barring any complications, he should be fine.”
“Thanks to you.”
I give him a half-smile and take a step to the side, hoping to walk around the man and go to my next patient.
He shifts his stance, blocking my way. “I’m Alex Volkov,” he says quietly. “And you are?”
My pulse picks up. The male intent in his question makes me nervous. Hoping he’ll get the hint, I say, “Just a nurse working here.”
He doesn’t catch on, or he pretends not to. “What’s your name?”
He’s certainly persistent. I take a deep breath. “I’m Katherine Morrell. If you’ll excuse me—”
“Katherine,” he repeats, his accent lending the familiar syllables an exotic edge. His hard mouth softens a bit. “Katerina. It’s a beautiful name.”
“Thank you. I really have to go.”
I’m increasingly anxious to get away. He’s too large, too potently male. I need space and some room to breathe. His nearness is overpowering, making me edgy and restless, leaving me craving something that I know will be bad for me.
“You have your job to do. I understand,” he says, looking vaguely amused.
Still, he doesn’t move out of my way. Instead, as I watch in shock, he raises one large hand and brushes his knuckles over my cheek.
I freeze as a wave of heat zaps through my body. His touch is light, but I feel branded by it, shaken to the core.
“I would like to see you again, Katerina,” he says softly, dropping his hand. “When does your shift end tonight?”
I stare at him, feeling like I’m losing control of the situation. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?” His blue eyes narrow. “Are you married?”
I’m tempted to lie, but honesty wins out. “No, but I’m not interested in dating right now.”
“Who said anything about dating?”
I blink. I assumed—
He lifts his hand again, stopping me mid-thought. This time, he picks up a strand of my hair, rubbing it between his fingers.
“I don’t date, Katerina,” he murmurs, his accented voice oddly mesmerizing. “But I would like to take you to bed. And I think you’d like that too.”
The White Nights Duet
Pre-order White Nights (Book 1) – Release Date, 14 September 2021
Pre-order Midnight Days (Book 2) – Release Date, 16 November 2021
Also by Charmaine Pauls
Diamond Magnate Novels
(Dark Romance)
Standalone Novel
(Dark Forced Marriage Romance)
Beauty in the Broken
Diamonds are Forever Trilogy
(Dark Mafia Romance)
Diamonds in the Dust
Diamonds in the Rough
Diamonds are Forever
Box Set
Beauty in the Stolen Trilogy
(Dark Romance)
Stolen Lust
Stolen Life
Stolen Love
The White Nights Duet
(Contemporary Romance)
White Nights
Midnight Days
The Loan Shark Duet
(Dark Mafia Romance)
Dubious
Consent
Box Set
The Age Between Us Duet
(Older Woman Younger Man Romance)
Old Enough
Young Enough
Box Set
Standalone Novels
(Enemies-to-Lovers Dark Romance)
Darker Than Love
(Second Chance Romance)
Catch Me Twice
Krinar World Novels
(Futuristic Romance)
The Krinar Experiment
The Krinar’s Informant
7 Forbidden Arts Series
(Fated Mates Paranormal Romance)
Pyromancist (Fire)
Aeromancist, The Beginning (Prequel)
Aeromancist (Air)
Hydromancist (Water)
Audiobooks
Standalone Novels
(Enemies-to-Lovers Dark Romance)
Darker Than Love
Diamond Magnate Novels
Standalone Novel
(Dark Forced Marriage Romance)
Beauty in the Broken
Diamonds are Forever Trilogy
(Dark Mafia Romance)
Diamonds in the Dust
Diamonds in the Rough
Diamonds are Forever
Box Set
Beauty in the Stolen Trilogy
(Dark Romance)