Read The Russian's Assertive Lover (The Tonov Triplets Series Book 2) for Free Online Page A

picture is next to your byline all the time.”
    Janet grinned. “Yes, and if I'm not mistaken, you’re the criminal psychology journalist for Bangor Daily News?”
    While Janet and Rae started talking about working in the newspaper business, Valov smiled cordially at Courtney. “How's work?” he asked. “Is my brother treating you well?”
    “As well as can be expected,” Courtney replied, smiling. “I have nothing to complain about. How is your non-profit running?”
    “Well,” he said, giving a wide grin. “The last game of the year is being played at Cameron Stadium next weekend. Hey, you should come.”
    “I'll definitely try,” she said. “What are you planning on doing after the football season?”
    “Possibly hockey, or swimming,” he said. “We are expanding into the fine arts as well. It won't be long before there will be theater performances and concerts in addition to games.”
    “That's exciting!” Courtney grinned.
    “Hardly exciting,” Dimitri said. “There's no profit in non-profit. It's counter-intuitive to go into the industry.”
    “Sometimes there are better rewards than money,” Rae replied. “Helping people, saving their lives, has its own rewards.”
    “Of course you would believe that,” he scoffed, and then focused his gaze on Courtney. “And I suppose after medical school you are going to join a free clinic instead of doing something worthwhile.”
    She glanced at Nikolay, who flushed. How did he know that she was planning on going to medical school?
    As if reading her mind, he said, sheepishly, “Scarlett might have mentioned something to me about medical school for you,” he said. “In front of Dimitri,” he added quickly.
    “I see,” she said. “And what would be so wrong if I decided to work at a free clinic?”
    “It makes no sense,” he snarled. “All you would be doing is making it harder for those who work hard to earn a buck.”
    Rae stopped her conversation with Janet long enough to stare coldly at Dimitri. “Why do you insist on being a grouch during dinner?” she said, her tone light despite her expression. “Maybe we'll stop inviting you to these dinners.”
    “You can hardly keep me from my brothers, even if you are sleeping with one.”
    “Dimitri!” Valov shouted. He said something sharply in Russian to him and Dimitri sat back, his expression sullen.
    “Forgive me,” he said to no one in specific. “That was out of line.”
    “Damn right,” Nikolay growled. “I'll kick you out myself if you are that rude again.”
    There was a moment of awkward silence before Janet struck up a conversation about the blizzard that they were going to be getting next week with exaggerated cheeriness and everyone slowly relaxed.
    “So you really do not drink, do you?” Nikolay said, looking down at Courtney's tea.
    “Nope,” she said. “And neither do you, from the looks of it.” She nodded pointedly at his own tea.
    “I prefer to be in control of all of my senses,” he said.
    “You don't like alcohol, you help homeless people off the street, and you don't like tattoos. I believe you are quickly ruining your bad reputation.”
    “It seems as if I'm not the only one who detests tattoos,” he said, looking down at the bandage wrapped around her hand where her tattoo was. “Why did you get it when you obviously hate it?”
    Like I had a choice. “It was a long time ago,” Courtney muttered, looking down at her plate of food. Suddenly she wasn't hungry, even though the bar food was the closest thing she had gotten to real food in days.
     
    *****
     
    After dinner, Valov pulled Courtney back a little from the small crowd going to their cars. “I must apologize for my brother's manners,” he said. “He can be good at business but not always good on a purely social level.”
    “Dimitri might have the manners of a monkey, but it is refreshing after some of the men I deal with at Suds,” Courtney replied with a tight smile. “No need for you to