Broken Wings (The Broken Series Book 3) (40 page)

I
studied his handsome face. Something had changed for Maxim, but I couldn’t
quite tell what it was. Slowly I nodded.

He
settled his hand on the small of my back as he steered me toward the center of
the dance floor. A string quartet was playing a soft, romantic tune. He placed my
left hand on his shoulder and held my right hand against his chest as he began
to sway. “You fit in so effortlessly,” he murmured in my ear. “Would you
consider it?”

I
glanced up at him, confused. “Consider what?”

His
eyes softened. “Stay here with me. Teach permanently at the university.”

My
mouth opened, but I couldn’t respond. I slowly shook my head. “I’m sorry,
Maxim, but I don’t think I would be happy here. I feel safer in the United States,
and I would miss my family and friends terribly.”

His
face fell, but he nodded in understanding. He gazed at me as he pulled me more
firmly against his chest.

I
sighed as I rested my head against his chest. “I’m flattered that you would ask
me, Maxim. I’m going to miss you when I leave.”

Maxim
caressed my back as we continued dancing. “Your skin feels so soft,” he
murmured into my hair.

I
looked up at him and smiled. “Nika and Oksana were amazing. The bath, the
massage, everything was such a treat, Maxim. Thank you.”

He
backed away from me as he spun me under his arm. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. You seem
considerably more relaxed.”

I
smiled sheepishly. “I hope we didn’t get any lotion on your bed.”

His
eyes heated as he held my gaze. “I really wanted you in my bed. I just wish I
had been there too.” He looked thoughtful as his eyes surveyed the room. “At
least my bed will smell like you.”

I
wrinkled my nose. “You should smell the bed at the hotel. It’s awful.”

He
shook his head as he spun me around again. “Sadly, that is considered our
finest hotel.”

I
shrugged. “I’ve slept in worse places.”

He
studied me with renewed interest. “Like where?”

A
number of images flashed through my mind, then flitted away. “I used to sleep
on the bathroom floor. A lot.”

He
stilled. “Why?”

I
tried to meet his piercing gaze but found I had to look away. “My ex-husband
used to beat me. The bathroom door was the only door in the house that locked, so
I felt safest sleeping in there.”

His
eyes darkened. “You were beat?”

I
nodded, then wondered whether it would make him think less of me. “For nine
years.”

Maxim’s
jaw clenched as he released me. “I assume this man is dead?”

I
glanced up at him in surprise. “No. He’s still alive.”

“He
should be dead,” he responded through gritted teeth.

I
moved closer to Maxim. My hand caressed his shoulder as I tried to entice him into
dancing again. “Let’s talk about something else. I don’t want to think about
him anymore.”

Maxim
tucked me back into his arms as we resumed dancing. “I know how I can take your
mind off of him.”

I
narrowed my eyes at him. “How?”

He
held my gaze as he lowered his lips to mine. “Like this…” he breathed. His lips
hovered over mine until my eyes fell closed. Then, like a thief, he stole every
last thought from my mind.

*
* * * * *

I
chatted excitedly about the ball while Shae and I got ready to leave for the
university. “Maxim gave a sizeable donation to the children’s hospital. They
brought some of the kids down from the cancer floor so they could speak at the
fundraiser. Some of them stopped by our table and gave me a hug. They
remembered the flowers!”

Shae
sighed. “That sounds wonderful. I really wish Konstantin and I could have joined
you.”

I
nodded. “Me too. I still can’t believe I met the prime minister. I was so
thankful that Sammi had briefed us on the NATO issue. He seemed pleased with my
response. He told Maxim to find me a permanent position at the university!”

Shae’s
eyes widened as we wheeled the training manuals out of our room. “You wouldn’t
move to the Ukraine, would you?”

I
smiled at Ethan. “Is Brady still sleeping?”

He
pushed off from the wall. “Yes. We’re switching off at ten. He’ll take my place
at the university so I can come back and get some rest.”

I
nodded. “Good. Thanks for coming last night. Maxim was much better behaved with
the two of you around.”

He
reached for my suitcase and carried it down the stairs. “Did you call Rafael
when you got in?”

I
nodded. “Yes. He’s still threatening to come.”

He
glanced at me as he opened the door to the lobby. “You do realize that he could
care less about Prince Harry. The only reason he isn’t here is because he’s trying
to respect your wishes.”

I
shook my head. “The guy has to work sometime. He can’t turn down important
assignments just so he can babysit me. Clients would stop coming to him, and I
think he really enjoys that line of work.”

Nonna
was standing in the lobby. “
Dobroe utro.
”

“
Dobryy
den'
,” Shae and I both responded.

Sammi
and Cory joined us in the lobby a few minutes later. Shae and I decided to ride
with Ethan, since there wasn’t enough room in Nonna’s car for all of us.

Within
minutes, we were pulling into a parking lot next to a very contemporary looking
building. We wheeled our training manuals across a red and white brick sidewalk
before entering the school. Ethan rammed into me when I froze just inside the
door. There were a number of young women openly primping in front of a rather
large mirror. Nonna had joined them.

Shae
and I exchanged glances. Ethan nudged me forward. “That’s interesting,” he
commented with a hint of amusement in his voice. “You sure you don’t want to
join them?”

I
shook my head. “No thanks.” I studied the women clustered around the mirror.
They were all wearing short skirts, tight shirts, and five inch stiletto heels.
Some of them were wearing fishnet stockings. Nonna greeted a number of people before
returning to our group.

Shae
nudged me. “I can’t tell the difference between the female faculty and the
students… they’re all dressed so provocatively.”

I
nodded.

Nonna
eyed us curiously. “Don’t you want to freshen up?”

Sammi
gave her an odd look. “For what? We just came from the hotel.”

Nonna
shrugged. “Okay. Follow me.”

Cory
reached for my suitcase as Ethan began lugging it up the stairs. “Here, let me
carry that. It’s the least I can do, considering those are our training manuals.”

I
wrote our names and the agenda on half of the chalkboard while the rest of the
team set chocolates and the training materials on top of the students’ desks. Sammi
set up a large Post-it board and easel, so we could take notes and stick them
around the room during the simulations.

Nonna
ushered us out of the classroom as soon as we finished setting up. She introduced
us to a number of other faculty members and took us to see Dean Bykov before
walking us back to our classroom.

The
room was filled with students when we returned. The students immediately
stopped talking and rose from their seats when we entered the room.

Shae,
Sammi, and I exchanged glances.

Nonna
made introductions in Russian, then repeated them in English. “This is the
perfect opportunity for you to practice your English, so I’d like everyone to
speak English during this seminar. Please treat our guests with the utmost
respect.” She nodded at us before turning toward the door. Her heels clicked
across the floor as she walked out of the room.

I
stared at her in shock. I couldn’t believe she wasn’t staying to observe.

The
entire classroom remained standing.

Cory
addressed the class first. “Please make yourselves comfortable.”

No
one moved.

Sammi
looked at Cory and shrugged.

I
looked at Oni, who was standing next to a desk in the front row. “Why is
everyone still standing?”

“Because
you are,” she responded with a curious smile.

My
eyes widened. “You won’t sit unless we do?”

She
shook her head. “It is considered disrespectful to sit when your professor is
standing.”

Shae
edged toward Oni. “Do all of your professors sit during their lectures?”

She
nodded.

Shae,
Cory, Sammi and I perched on the front edge of the teacher’s desk.

The
students exchanged curious glances, but they all sat.

Sammi
smiled. “We would like to get to know you before we review the materials. I’d
like everyone to introduce himself. State your name, identify your area of
study, and share something we might find surprising to know about you. I’ll
begin. I’m Samantha Roberts. You can call me Sammi. I have a master’s degree in
international peacekeeping. I have worked for Seeds for Peace for three years.
You might find it surprising to know that I once competed in figure skating.” Sammi
looked at me and smiled.

I
cleared my throat. “I’m Kristine Stone.” There was a smattering of noise around
the classroom, so I glanced nervously at Oni.

She
bit her bottom lip as she nudged a newspaper across her desk. I got the
distinct impression that she was trying not to laugh.

I
reached over and picked up the newspaper. The front page sported a large
photograph of Maxim kissing me at the ball.

Heat
flooded my cheeks as I handed the paper to Shae. I tried to pull myself
together as I finished my introduction. “I’m currently in graduate school
working on a degree in conflict analysis and resolution. I’ve been working for
Seeds for Peace for six weeks.” I pulled the paper from Shae’s hand and waved
it in the air. “I can see you won’t be surprised to hear that I’m dating Maxim
Markov, but you might be surprised to know that I used to host my own
television show.”

A
number of students chuckled.

Shae
began her introduction. “I’m Shae Garlington. I’m attending graduate school
with Kristine. I just started working with Seeds for Peace two months ago. You
might be surprised to learn that I’m terrified to speak in front of people.”

A
few of the students looked surprised. I gave her an incredulous look. “I never
would have guessed that about you.”

Cory
stood, then froze when the entire class jumped to their feet.

He
sighed as he sat back on the desk.

The
students slowly dropped into their seats.

Cory
cleared his throat. “I’m Cory Davis. I have a degree in International
Relations. I have worked for Seeds for Peace for five years now. You might be
surprised to learn that I’m madly in love with this woman.” He nudged Sammi in
the shoulder.

Sammi
gasped. “That’s a little personal don’t you think?”

Cory
grinned as Shae and I laughed. “Everyone might as well get used to it, because
we’re all going to share something personal over the next few days.”

Sammi
turned toward the students. “Okay, who wants to go next?”

No
one said a word.

“No
one?” she asked.

I
glanced at Oni again.

She
shook her head. “Students are not allowed to speak in class.”

My
mouth fell open. “You don’t speak at all, not even to ask questions?”

She
shook her head again. “If we ask a question or voice an opinion, we will be
kicked out of class and quite possibly expelled from the program.”

My
eyes raked over the students. Quite a few of them nodded their heads. I leaned toward
Cory. “We need to get rid of the desks, or we’ll never get past these rules.”

Cory
nodded. All four of us stood.

The
entire class rose to their feet.

Cory
glanced at Sammi. “Will you track down Nonna and see if she can line up some
more comfortable chairs? Maybe some recliners from the student and teacher
lounges?”

Sammi
nodded. “Sure.” She disappeared into the hallway.

“Okay,”
Cory warned, “I’d like all of the desks moved against the back wall.”

The
students’ jaws fell open. They just stood there gaping at us, so Shae, Cory,
and I began pushing desks against the wall. A couple of students eventually helped
move the desks.

Oni
looked somewhat distraught as she approached me. “You can’t do this.”

I
glanced at her as I shoved another desk against the wall. “Why not?”

“We
will get into trouble.”

I
shook my head. “We can’t teach like this. We need to make sure people feel
comfortable enough to talk, to join in the dialogue, and to participate in the
simulations. The standard rules don’t apply to our classes.”