Prince Voronov's Virgin by Lynn Raye Harris Read Free Book Online Page A

wasn’t the problem at all.
    No, it was Prince Voronov who spiked her anxiety. Because she’d realized in the car, when he’d seen through her masks, that he was a very dangerous man.
    And not just to Russell Tech, but to her. In spite of her wish it were otherwise, her veins already bubbled in anticipation of seeing him again. The best thing he could do would be to ignore her.
    But she knew he wouldn’t do so. What she didn’t know was why that knowledge made her happy.

CHAPTER FOUR
    T HE TENSION IN THE conference room wasn’t surprising. But the tension coming from Paige Barnes was. Alexei watched her while Chad Russell spewed on and on in near flawless Russian. Since Paige didn’t understand a word that was said until Chad turned and told her to write something down in English, she spent a lot of time staring at her lap.
    Alexei willed her to look at him, but she did not. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her since she’d dashed from his car this morning. She was an odd woman; beautiful, but completely unaware of her beauty.
    And innocent. That’s what compelled him. She reminded him of Katerina in a way. Katerina had only been seventeen when she’d died, and to the last she’d had that sweet air of innocence. Cancer and poverty had not been able to take it away.
    Thinking of Katerina brought his gaze back to Chad Russell. It had been nearly fifteen years since Katerina’s death. Chad could not be blamed for his father’s cruelty, true, but Chad seemed to have shouldered the mantle of dislike his father’d had for the Voronov family. Alexei hadn’t understood until that single moment so many years ago when he’d stood before Tim Russell why the man had hated them. And though he’d known it was likely Russell’s son would follow in his father’s footsteps, Alexei still found it difficult to believe.
    Chad Russell was half Voronov, after all.
    Still, it made what Alexei had to do that much easier. If Chad had been likable, or friendly in any way, Alexei might have let it color his desire to destroy Russell Tech. He glanced at Paige again. Regrettable that he would need to use her in his quest, but he would make sure she was handsomely rewarded in the end. He shoved away the twinge of conscience that threatened to badger him and focused on the discussion.
    Alexei watched his first cousin gesticulate in an attempt to impress Valishnikov with his plans and ideas for the Siberian land and Baltic oil wells. Chad might be half Russian, but that wouldn’t be enough to convince the old man sitting so stoically across the table. Though Chad’s mother—Alexei’s Aunt Elena—had clearly taught him the language, Chad’s father had made certain his son was one hundred percent American.
    And Pyotr Valishnikov was old enough to remember what it was like to hate and distrust Americans.
    Worse, Chad looked every bit the American oilman stereotype. While he’d worn a dark suit, he also sported cowboy boots and a white Stetson that now sat on the table beside him. It was the wrong impression to make on this man.
    Valishnikov raised his hand suddenly to indicate he wanted silence. Chad sputtered to a halt.
    “I will consider your proposals,” the old man said.
“Both
of your proposals. Now if you will excuse me, I have another meeting to attend.”
    He levered his bulk out of the chair and, followed by his contingent of managers and accountants, he exited the room.
    Alexei noted Chad’s reaction with interest. He seemed to fold in on himself, just for a moment, before shooting a glare at Alexei and squaring his jaw in a belligerent gesture.
    “It seems as if you will be spending more time than youbargained for in our fair country,” Alexei said in English as he rose from his seat. “Perhaps you should take some time to sightsee. St. Petersburg is particularly lovely this time of year.”
    Just as he’d hoped, Paige’s head snapped up. Her smoky eyes were huge in her face. Her glasses had fallen down