Her Russian Hero (International Romance Series) (24 page)

She felt the blood drain from her
face. She hadn’t told him the whole truth. How could she explain her dinner
with Roussov? Sergei would never understand. Something seemed to claw at her
chest. She swallowed hard.

Sergei kissed her forehead, then
inched away and scowled. “What’s wrong? You look pale and anxious.”

She stiffened in his arms, not
knowing what to say. “I…It’s about Roussov.”

“What about him?” He eyed her
intently, his hands still holding her face. “Did he talk to you?”

“He came to see me at the hotel
before I left for Boston.”

“What does he want from you? Why
didn’t you tell me before?”

The questions hammered her, each
one hitting a full blow. For the first time since she met him, the authoritative
commanding edge he used with his officers wiped away the gallant tone he
reserved for her.

“He said it was a simple courtesy
visit.”

Sergei dropped his hands and
sneered. “And you believed him?”

“Of course not.”

“What else did he say? Did he ask
you questions about us?”

“No, he didn’t ask any question
about you or about us. Although I had the feeling that he suspects something.
He insisted I would soon need him to get the permit. That night he invited me
for dinner and I refused.”

It was the strict truth about
that specific night. The tenseness of his features relaxed. He caressed her
hair gently. “I am sorry, my love. I have been rude with my questions. The
thought of this man coming close to you repulses me so much. I am glad you
turned him down.”

He smiled and brushed her lips
back and forth with a finger. “I appreciate this pretty mouth telling me the
complete truth. I value honesty above all else. You should have told me the
story right away.”

“Sergei, hearing about Roussov
upsets you so much. I don’t want to add to your burden.”

His eyes widened. “I am a soldier
by training and a general now and you are trying to protect me? I swear this is
the sweetest thing I ever heard. Please, humor my manly capability and let me
be the protector.” He kissed her soundly on the lips.

She hadn’t told him the rest of
her story, the dinner with Roussov, the picture taken, his icy farewell. If she
did now, it would spoil their relationship. She would wait until after the lab
was inaugurated and the contract finished. By then she would have to return to
Boston anyway.

Damn Roussov, he had almost
spoiled their train ride and the beautiful interlude in Sergei’s arms. “I’m
going to take a nap,” she said without looking at him.

“Good idea. We will have a long
day tomorrow. Come lie down in my arms.”

He yanked off his shirt and pants
and stretched on the couchette. She followed his example and snuggled against
him under the cover, enjoying the strong arms enfolding her and the hard frame
pressing against her. His breath fanned away the image of their nemesis. She
reached to kiss his lips. He chuckled. “Are you sure you want to sleep?”

“Yes, yes. I was saying good
night.”

His happy laughter filled the
compartment. “Why don’t we wish each other a thorough goodnight?” His hands
roamed all over her body and his tongue probed her mouth. “I am wide-awake and
I love you so much.”

She was wide-awake and enjoying
every second of their lovemaking. He invaded her intimate softness. They shuddered
together, collapsed and clung to each other.

* * * * *

Sergei was propelled right out of
his slumber by the chugging of the train and its complete stop. He eased out of
Cecile’s arms and donned his clothes. He bent to kiss her. “Cecilya, we’ve arrived.
I’ll help you.”

In less than two minutes, she was
dressed and wrapped up in her coat, scarf and
chapka
. Sergei grabbed the
big bag containing the dirty boxes and plates and handed her the vase still
enveloped in its plastic wrap. Holding her hand, he strolled along the corridor
and stepped onto the platform where only four people scrambled into the
pre-dawn darkness toward the exit door.

As he thought about his mother,
living here alone for so many years, a strong emotion tightened and clogged his
throat. He hadn’t been back for two years. It had been easier for her to come
to visit and stay with the Nicouvitch family. Three months ago, she started
complaining about pain in the abdomen. But she’d told him not to worry. She
would be fine soon.

He paused on the sidewalk to
reorient himself. Without loosening his grip on Cecile’s hand, he scurried
along the narrow road covered with muddy ice.

Lost in their thoughts, they
walked in silence until they reached the edge of the village. “It’s the third
house on the left. Nothing fancy as you can see.” His voice sounded strangely
guttural to his own ears.

He knocked on the door of the
small house and threw a lopsided glance at Cecile, wondering about her
reaction. Would she be shocked or repulsed by the humble place? She had refused
to marry him. Maybe now she would stop seeing him.

Sergei hunched his big frame
ready to enter through the door. “As you see, it is small and poor and…”

“Sergei, this is your mother’s
house. I didn’t come to judge or be impressed. I came to meet her. I don’t care
about the house.” Cecile leveled a serious look at him, showing him she
resented being cast as a snob.

A middle-aged woman opened the
door. Her eyes rounded in recognition. She threw her arms around Sergei’s neck
and kissed him on both cheeks while talking volubly.

“Cecile, this is Olga, the
neighbor’s daughter and a distant relative. We used to play together when we
were small. She helps take care of my mother. She doesn’t speak English. My
mother is resting in her room. Can you wait here, please?” He showed her to a
chair.

“Don’t worry about me. Please,
give her the flowers.” She handed him the vase and settled in the chair.

He tiptoed into the room. The
wooden floor creaked as he approached the big bed where his mother’s pale face
rested on upraised pillows. She opened her sunken eyes. He bent over her to
kiss the hollow cheek. “
Mamoushka
, it’s me. I came as soon as I received
your message.”

She raised a trembling hand and
touched his face “Sergei, you are here,” she said, her voice a whimpering cry.

“What happened, Mama, you were so
healthy three months ago?” He gently rubbed her hand and kissed it.

“The doctor said it is a cancer
of the liver. I didn’t want to worry you. I was still on my feet a few days
ago…but now…” She panted and closed her eyes. “I had to see you before I go.”

He sobered up. Cancer was taking
away all the people he loved.

“Don’t be upset, Sergei. My time
has come. I am ready. If I could only see you happily married, with a good
woman to take care of you.”

“Wait a minute,
Mamoushka
.
I will bring her.”

He stepped out of the room and
went to crouch in front of Cecile’s chair. “Come. My mother and I speak in
Russian but she knows English. Speak slowly. And please, I beg you, do not
contradict her. These are probably her last moments. I want her to go in
peace.”

Cecile nodded. He tugged at her
hand and walked her to his mother’s side.

“
Mamoushka
, this is
Cecilya, the woman I love,” he said in English, uttering every word slowly. “We
will be married soon. I want you to make an effort to live and attend our
wedding.” He saw Cecile stiffen and he squeezed her hand.

His mother turned her face with
effort and smiled. “Cecilya, I am happy to meet you. Sergei, put the light on.
I want to see my new daughter.” He tightened his grip on Cecile’s hand, then
left her to switch on the light.

She threw him an odd look and
bent over the old woman. “
Mamoushka
, I love your son. I’ll do everything
in my power to make him happy.”

He came close to her and wrapped
an arm around her back. Knowing his mother would enjoy seeing his display of
affection, he turned Cecile’s face toward him and kissed her lips. As expected,
his mother giggled weakly. “Oh Sergei, this is wonderful.”

“It is our tradition to kiss an
older person’s hand,” he whispered in Cecile’s ear. “Would you please make an
extra effort?”

Her eyebrow arched in protest.
“This is not an effort.”

She knelt next to the bed. Her
lips touched the emaciated hand lying on the cover. “
Mamoushka
, you have
a wonderful son. I don’t think I’ll be able to live without him.” She kissed
his mother on both cheeks.

The note of sincerity in Cecile’s
voice rang true. He came to kneel beside her. The old woman’s face wrinkled
with pain. Her breathing sounded labored and ragged. They hardly heard her
feeble voice. “Sergei…Cecilya…happy…thank you.”

Her eyes closed. Sergei bent over
her hand and kissed it one last time. It was limp. He stood up and stared at
the woman who’d raised him with love and taught him the meaning of honor and
duty.

He looked at Cecile. Her eyes
were wet with tears. He held her hand and led her out of the room. “Thank you.
You gave her a last joy, Cecile. I will never forget it.” His old
Mamoushka
had met Cecile and blessed her as Sergei’s future wife and then died happy.

* * * * *

For the past twenty-four hours,
Cecile had put her daily routine on hold and acted as Sergei’s bride. It was a
landmark in her life.

They buried Sergei’s mother the
same day. A dozen people from the village attended. For them Sergei was only
Natalia Fedorin’s boy, the good son from the city who came back with his bride
to attend his mother’s last moments. At the cemetery, the villagers kissed them
on both cheeks and went their on their way. Sergei lingered for another hour to
settle a few things.

They took the overnight train and
ordered dinner to be brought to their compartment. He sat next to her on the
bench and peered into her eyes. “Cecile, why did you tell my mother you
couldn’t live without me?”

He was a man of duty, an officer
with honor. Cecile’s heart filled with love. She didn’t have the right to take
him away from his mission but she couldn’t let him go. Suddenly, her ambition
and career shrank to minimal importance.

Choose, Cecile
. The
straight boring path as Laboratory Director and Program Manager, or the love of
her hero and nights of passion in his arms?
You can’t have it all
.

She’d already tasted the dry
glory, sterile honor and vain congratulations on a job well done.

I want to be loved. I want to
love this hero.

She let him see deep into her
soul where sweet and sour feelings mingled. “Because it’s the truth. I wouldn’t
lie to a dying woman.”

He raised an eyebrow. “And how do
you plan to accomplish that, if I may ask?”

“I don’t know yet.” She sighed
and tried to turn her head away. His palm cradled her cheek forcing her to face
him. Her gaze captured by the deep blue eyes staring at her, she sighed. “I’m
not opposed anymore to staying in Minsk. Just give me time to think about it.
Tomorrow we will resume our normal routine. I want you to know, it will never
be the same for me.”

A gleam of love glittered in his
eyes. “Before we arrive, I would like you back in my arms where you belong.” He
kissed her, a soft and light kiss that turned hard and demanding.

The train sped on, taking them
back to their hectic lives and stressful duties.

Chapter Nineteen

John Gordon and Paul Miller each
hidden behind a copy of USA Today dropped their newspapers to welcome Cecile at
the breakfast table.

The Contract Director, who never
saw far beyond his nose, greeted her with his jovial smile. “Well, well, you
look radiant, my dear. Your day of rest has done wonders for you. I’d never
believe someone could sleep for twenty-four hours but apparently you did. And
it helped.”

Paul focused his gaze on her eyes
and smiled ironically. “I’m sure Cecile must have basked in beautiful dreams,
forgetting the contract and her staff.” He readjusted his gold-rimmed glasses
on his nose. “John is right. You’re glowing with…rest.”

As usual it was better to ignore
Paul’s remarks before they became too specific. Cecile changed the subject. “I
read your e-mails. Our chemists have arrived safe and sound.”

“I expect them to join us for breakfast
as soon as they wake up,” Paul assured her. “Nicolai will come to pick us up.
We can’t all fit in Tania’s van. Later on, she’ll pick up Rob who’s arriving
today.”

“Already? He didn’t waste any
time.”

“He said he was eager to help.”

Cecile shrugged. She didn’t mind
Rob’s help now since it was for a good cause. To enhance Sergei’s mission and
the cleanup.

“Here’s the good colonel.” John
extended a hand and gripped Nicolai’s.

“
Dobroye outroh
, good
morning, Cecile, gentlemen. Before I drive you to the lab I would like to stop
at the Ministry of Defense and check on my general. Nobody has seen him in the
last twenty-four hours.” He surreptitiously glanced at Cecile.

“Amazing. Cecile also was out of
reach yesterday.” John chose the wrong moment to add his two cents. “Could you
believe she slept the whole day?”

Both Paul and Nicolai raised
their eyebrows in unison and mumbled a dubious, “Oh.”

Cecile poured herself a cup of
coffee and ignored them. The boisterous arrival of her chemists distracted Paul
Miller and saved her from his inquisitive comments. The chemists, all talking
at the same time, treated her to a full report of their previous night’s
travel.

“The flight was smooth without
delay.”

“Seeing Paul and Jeffrey at the
airport has greatly relieved my nervous tension.”

“The colonel was so nice.”

“Tania has promised to introduce
me to one of her girlfriends.”