Free The Russian's Secret Baby (The Tonov Triplets Series Book 3) by Ivy Iverson Page B

and bored.”
    Carmine looked down at James, who was constructing a city out of Legos. For some reason the thought of going back to DC so soon made her stomach churn so she agreed to have James continue his treatment as an inpatient at Eastern Maine even though she discharged herself as soon as the doctors reluctantly agreed to it.
    For the last two days, she had been sleeping in the visitor’s chair in his room and she was starting to feel the strain from it but she wasn’t about to ask Dimitri if she could spend a night in his guest room. And he hadn’t offered it, which she was relieved about. “It’s been four days,” she said. “And it doesn’t seem like he’s been getting restless.”
    “That’s a good sign,” Rae said. “He’s a ridiculous workaholic, so four days of rest is probably the biggest hiatus he’s taken.”
    “It is,” Courtney said. “Nik told me that the former record was two days and three hours before calling off his vacation.” 
    “I don’t doubt it,” Carmine said. “He barely made time to sleep with me three years ago.” But he had been more than reluctant to part with her to deal with one problem or another. She sighed. “I just don’t know what to do. I mean, he seems serious. He’s been here with James for the better part of the last two days and they work so well together. James already loves him but I’m just not sure if I can trust him. It’s really hard to change who you are.”
    “Yes,” Rae said. “But does he need to change so drastically for him to be a good father and partner? He has always been loyal to Val and Nik, even after they got out of the business. I don’t even think he counts favors with them. If he really loves you, then he will be completely devoted to you, even if he does start craving a life of crime again.”
    “He has never physically hurt me, and I don’t think he ever will. But it’s his criminal activities that I’m worried about.”
     
    ***
     
    That evening, after James was asleep, Dimitri put on his jacket and got ready to leave. Carmine curled up in the chair, her eyelids so heavy that it took a considerable amount of effort to keep them open.
    Her neck felt cramped and try as she might, she couldn’t get comfortable. Dimitri frowned when he looked at her, and paused in the doorway. “You know,” he said. “You are always welcome at my house. I know you want to stay with James, but if you ever want to have a bed and a shower for a night, then I can get you back here before he even wakes up.”
    Carmine hesitated. It wouldn’t be the first time she had left James in the hospital overnight by himself, but she still wasn’t sure about Dimitri. “I’m not sure if that’s a good idea,” she said hesitantly. 
    “It’s up to you,” Dimitri said quickly. “But just know the offer is there.”
    “Thank you.” 
    He inclined his head. “Have a good night.” 
    “You too.” 
    He walked out the door and Carmine made one last attempt at getting comfortable before looking at her son, fast asleep. A bed and a shower really did sound good. She stood up, grabbed her bag with her clothes and her jacket before running out as quietly as she could. Dimitri was just reaching the elevators when she caught up with him. “I changed my mind,” she said. “A shower and a bed do sound nice.”
    He smiled at her. “Excellent.” 
    “But I’m not sleeping with you. I still haven’t made up my mind on anything yet.”
    “Completely understandable,” Dimitri said, smiling. “My offer was never a ruse to get you into bed with me. In fact it hardly crossed my mind.”
    “Oh,” Carmine said, her cheeks heating up. “Well, that works out well.”
    He smirked as the elevator doors opened and the two of them got in. “I said ‘hardly’,” he said. “Not ‘never’.” 
     

Chapter Twenty
     
    Actually, it had crossed Dimitri’s mind more than once or twice. But he wasn’t about to tell her that, not when she was actually