Want Me (Mess with Me 4)

ANYA

I step out onto the balcony and raise my face into the breeze. After being in the crush of people, the crisp air feels fantastic. Tonight is my parents’ thirtieth wedding anniversary and we are celebrating with all of their friends and even some extended family that came to visit from Russia.

It’s been a rough year but a beautiful one, too. We found a fantastic nurse for Pop. Now my mom has some help and has been able to keep him home longer. I’m under no illusions that this will last forever, but whatever comes next, we’ll handle it together. The way we always do.

A hand wraps around my waist and I melt back into the embrace. Law’s lips are warm against my chilled skin when he kisses my neck.

“Your dad just beat me at cards again.” His lips curl against my skin. “He seemed shocked at how bad I still am.”

“Who were you today?” I ask.

“Arty. Your mom said Artyom was his best friend at university. High praise, apparently.”

“It is. According to some of the stories I’ve heard, those two did everything together. Although I’m sure he would have never told those stories if he’d known I was listening.”

His arm tightens around my waist. “I wish I’d known him before.”

I turn around to face him. His vulnerability is touching. Over the last year he has come so far from the man who was afraid to trust or to love. Now his heart is wide open and I can feel his regret at the time we lost. Because if things had been different, maybe he could have spent time with my father before his condition deteriorated so much.

“Me too. He would have loved you. But I think on some level he knows you even now.”

“Really? Even though I’m someone different every time?”

“Yeah. Have you noticed that even though the name changes, it’s always someone he loved?”

A tender smile crosses his lips. “I hadn’t thought of it that way. I’m honored. I hope somewhere deep down he approves of me for his daughter.”

“I think my mother approves enough for the both of them. She is your biggest fan. After yours truly, of course.”

I look over my shoulder. Through the glass I can see into the living room where my mom has been perched

next to Pop all night. The only time she has left his side was for food. She is a living example of the excellent advice she gave me to cherish every moment.

Law’s phone dings and he pulls it out. Then he whistles softly. “Whoa. You are not going to believe this. I have the Lady Whistledown scoop of the season.”

I crack up. After convincing him to join me on my third Netflix binge of the Bridgerton series, he is now just as obsessed with the show as I am.

Even if he tries to pretend he hates it.

“What happened?”

He angles his phone so I can see the screen. I was expecting a trending topic on social media or a news headline. But it’s an email message from one of his friends.

“Sunfire filed for bankruptcy?”

He shakes his head. “I heard some whispers a few months ago that not only did she lose a bunch of clients when Gareth left, but that others had complained of being overcharged.”

I’m trying so hard to play surprised but I’ve never had much of a poker face.

Law narrows his eyes. “You already knew?”

I wince. “Maybe?”

He crosses his arms. “Spill.”

“Okay, you know how Liz claimed her employee was getting information from me. She wasn’t exactly wrong. Except for one little detail. I barely talked to Donna except for when she’d email asking for advice about how to bill clients.”

He covers his mouth with his hand but I can see that he’s smiling. “What did you do?”