Leopard's Wrath (Leopard People 11)

Ania nodded. “All my life. Three generations now. My grandparents, my parents and now me. I think they wanted a son, but alas, I’m an only.” She laughed softly because there was no way her parents would have traded her for a son, and she was very secure in that knowledge.

Ashe’s eyebrows shot up. “Really? Three generations, that’s awesome. I never had the chance to know my grandparents. What’s that like?”

“They were wonderful. Very loving. I have to admit, I was spoiled growing up. Our family is all about cars. Anything to do with cars. My grandfather had me working on cars when I was barely in preschool. I handed him all the tools and he’d have me name them. Name the various cars and all parts of the engines. My father was all about teaching me how to drive. I think that started at age three. I couldn’t reach the gas pedal, but I was expected to know how to drive a stick and an automatic by five.”

Ashe laughed. She definitely had relaxed a little. “I love that. I think Timur will be like that with any children we have. He’s a man who will want to be a huge part of our child’s life.”

“I haven’t met him. Does he come here often?”

Ashe nodded. “I met him here, actually. He’s Evangeline’s husband’s younger brother. Worked out for me. You said your date didn’t go well, so I’m assuming you don’t have a significant other in your life.”

“No. I have very poor taste in men. I think I’m doomed to be a cat lady.”

Ashe burst out laughing. Ania liked her laugh. It was inviting, and she noticed that both of the men she’d deemed bodyguards smiled. Neither looked their way, but they definitely heard Ashe laugh.

“I doubt that with your looks,” Ashe denied. “I’ve never seen anyone with skin like yours. I was going to ask you what products you use, but thought I’d better get to know you a little better or you’d think I was hitting on you.”

“Are you?” Ania tried a straight face.

Ashe laughed again. “I’m tempted. You’re so lucky.”

“Thank you. Seriously.” Ania touched her face. She wasn’t going to pretend she didn’t know she was beautiful. She’d been born with her looks. It wasn’t something she’d earned. “My grandmother and mother had gorgeous skin, and I was lucky enough to have those genetics passed on to me. I lost them a couple of years ago in a car accident, and every time I look in the mirror, I see both of them.”

“That’s beautiful,” Ashe said. “They must have been wonderful.”

“They were. They laughed all the time. My grandmother used to say, ‘Don’t frown, Ania, laughter is so much better for the world. Give your family and friends that gift always.’ She practiced what she preached. If I frowned, she kissed me over and over until I was laughing. Sometimes I frowned just to get her kisses. Momma did the same.”

Telling Ashe brought those memories close and she felt lighter for it, and yet tears were close for the need to see them both.

“I love that. I’m going to remember that, and if I ever have children, I’ll be quoting your grandmother. She sounds as if she was a very wise woman.”

“She was. She’d love knowing you were quoting her to your children.”

Evangeline slipped into the chair on the other side of Ania. “I need to get off my feet.”

“Should you be working?” Ania asked. “I heard a rumor that you’re pregnant.”

“That rumor is true, and I get very sick sometimes, so if you see me running to the back, you know why.”

“Fyodor doesn’t want her working at all,” Ashe supplied. “He’s all grumpy when he comes in to see her.”

“I banned him for at least a week,” Evangeline added.

“I tried taking over for her,” Ashe said piously.

Evangeline burst into laughter. “She nearly burned down the bakery. Don’t ever help me again, Ashe, as much as I love you, my beloved bakery wouldn’t survive.”

Ania raised an eyebrow.

Ashe shrugged. “Can’t cook. Can’t bake. Timur loves me anyway ’cuz I’m really, really good at other things.”

Ania found herself laughing with both women. It felt, for the first time in her life, like she had friends. As if she fit somewhere. She was all about family, and she stayed close to her father, especially now. It had been the two of them for a long time, and he needed her. His health was deteriorating rapidly, and more than ever, she didn’t like being away from him for too long.

She’d taken complete control of their business and hired nurses to help, but she oversaw every aspect of his care. She wasn’t leaving that in strangers’ hands. All of that took up time, leaving little for herself. She hadn’t had friends since she was a young girl in school.