Read Brie's Russian Fantasy (After Graduation, #3) for Free Online Page B

“Regardless of whether I agree with you or not, I wish you both safe travels. Miss Bennett, I hope you will visit again soon. I am sure my sub will enjoy your tales of Russia.”
    “Thank you, Marquis Gray. Please tell Celestia how happy I am to see her looking so well.”
    “I shall. The same can be said for us. It is good to see you thriving, Miss Bennett.”
    The drive home was agreeably quiet. Sir seemed as satisfied by the night’s events as she was. It pleased Brie that he had openly acknowledged his feelings for her in front of Marquis. Although Sir hadn’t used the L word, the meaning was the same. She assumed it was a big step for him.
    The night still had one pleasant surprise left. After they returned to the apartment, Sir told her to work on editing her film while he polished a presentation he was to give the next day.
    They sat on the couch beside each other with their computers. It was so pleasant and sweet that Brie decided to google something she’d been curious about. Sir had once told her that he was a condor, and said it with such tenderness that she knew it held significance to him. She typed in the word ‘condor’.
    Brie glanced over the stats of the bird, noting that she had been right. They were a type of vulture—not sexy in the least. However, the California condor was the largest bird in North America. It wasn’t until she got to the behavior of the creature that she finally grasped Sir’s meaning. She was surprised to learn the birds lived to be incredibly old—like fifty to sixty years—and the males waited until they were sexually mature before picking a female. Her heart skipped a beat when she read the words, ‘condors mate for life’. That was what he’d meant!
    ‘I’m a condor’ had to be the most romantic thing she’d ever heard.
    She glanced at Sir, hardly able to contain her joy.
    He looked up from his screen and smiled. “What?”
    “You’re a condor, Sir.”
    He raised his eyebrow. “Yes, I am.”
    She smiled shyly. “I’m a condor, too.”

Her Parents

    B rie was grateful to finish out her last day at the tobacco shop. Her boss had given the two new employees the day off so that it was just like old times—just the two of them. Although it was bittersweet to leave Mr. Reynolds behind, she couldn’t wait to be free of the place. It was so mind-numbingly boring compared to the life she was leading now.
    At the end of the day, Mr. Reynolds handed her a small gift.
    “What’s this?” she asked, both surprised and touched.
    “A little remembrance. It has been a pleasure working with you, Brie. You will be sorely missed around here. My only consolation is that I will see you on an odd holiday or two.”
    “What? Don’t you get together with your nephew more often than that?”
    “No. He’s a busy man. I understand.”
    She smiled brightly. “I’ll see if I can change that.”
    “Open it,” Mr. Reynolds encouraged.
    Brie carefully unwrapped the pretty paper. She lifted the lid and smiled as she took the gift out of the box. It was a keychain with a tiny pack of Treasurer cigarettes hanging from it. The very cigarettes Sir had asked for the first night they’d met in the shop. “Mr. Reynolds, how did you know?”
    “Thane was surprisingly open when he asked about the cute little cashier at my shop. He knew very well we don’t carry those pricey cigarettes here.”
    Brie held it up to admire. “I will treasure this always,” she said with a giggle, giving him a hug. “Truly, it means a lot to me. This little shop is where Sir and I met, where my life really began. Every time I look at it I will smile and think of you.”
    “I’m glad you like it, Brie.” He discreetly wiped a tear from his eye, shaking his head. “This shop won’t be the same without you.”
    She gave Mr. Reynolds another hug. It was hard saying goodbye to the man who’d been a father figure to her since she’d moved to California. She smiled at him sadly, knowing she