Van laughed and limped after her. Truth was, he hadn’t put his brace on because it was a huge chore, but also because his leg wasn’t bothering him this morning nearly as much. After last night’s activity, he’d expected serious pain today, but that wasn’t the case at all. Which told him that Lisa was right about exercising the leg.

Didn’t make him happy about letting her downstairs, but he trusted her. So far anyway. She seemed like a good person. Something about her told him that she was a fighter too. Someone who has dealing with her own obstacles in life. She was able to stand up to him, that was for sure. To him, that alone was a mark of a strong person.

And yes, she was an incredible kisser and smart and beautiful, and he liked her company. All of that made for a very appealing package. So much so that where he had once wanted to be left alone, now he just wanted to be left alone with Lisa.

It was funny how much things could change in just a couple days.

Grom walked along with Van to the door, then stopped at the first step. Van motioned for the dog to head down. “Go ahead, Grom.”

But the dog stayed at Van’s side.

Van lifted his gaze to Lisa. “Call him to you. I don’t want him underfoot when I’m on the steps.”

She patted her leg. “Come on, Grom. Good dog. Come here.”

“You have to say ko mne. It’s Russian for come.”

She repeated the word. “Ko mne, Grom.”

Her accent wasn’t quite right, but it wasn’t bad either. Grom’s ears perked up, and he trotted down the stairs. She scratched his ears. “Good boy.”

Her gaze shifted to Van. “Now you.” She patted her leg again, her voice low and saucy. “Ko mne, Van.”

He laughed and shook his head. “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.” But there was something oddly arousing about a woman who felt comfortable enough to talk to him that way. Again, he was reminded what rare company that put her in. Besides Pandora, and perhaps Norma to some extent, he couldn’t imagine another who would do that.

The stairs loomed before him. He wasn’t afraid of the steepness or the pain now so much as he hated looking weak in front of her. It was ridiculous, and he recognized that it was male ego more than anything else, but he knew himself well enough to know what else it meant.

He cared what Lisa thought, because he liked Lisa. In a way, that was very different than just being friends with someone. He could see the possibility of a future with her. Just in a daydream sort of way, but still…he’d given it more than a minute of thought. How about that? And two days ago, he’d been decided on turning his back to the world. He grunted out a little laugh.

“What was that?” she asked.

“Nothing. Coming.” He maneuvered himself carefully onto the first step. It was a balancing act with the crutches. Too far forward and he’d pitch down the stairs. Too far back and taking the next step became even more difficult. Right in the center, that was where he needed to be.

Step by step, with the speed of a geriatric snail, he progressed, until he finally joined Lisa where she stood. He commanded Grom to go lie down. This time, the dog listened to Van and trotted the rest of the way down the steps and into the gym.

Van faced Lisa. He wasn’t breathing hard or feeling it in his muscles, but he couldn’t deny he’d been too long away from his regular fitness routine. “Here I am.”

She smiled. “Here you are.”

She leaned up, kissed him on the mouth, then practically skipped the rest of the way to the bottom. “Again.”

He groaned and tipped his head back. “You’re playing games.”

“And you’re making progress.”

He leaned on the crutches. “Is there another kiss for me?”

Her smile was sly but sweet. “Do you want one?”

“Yes.” Very much he did. But this time, he wanted more than just a quick peck.

“Then get moving, comrade.”

He snorted at her sass, genuinely happy for the first time in many days. “Da, komandir.” He started moving again with the same care.

She leaned against the wall. “Can I ask you something sort of…personal?”

He kept his eyes on the steps. “Sure.” He’d seen her in her underwear. It seemed only fair to answer a question or two about himself.

“Are you working on getting rid of your accent?”

He looked up. “Why do you ask?”

“I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but I overheard you in your office yesterday, and that’s kind of what it sounded like.”

He worked down to the next step. “Da.” He sighed. “I mean yes, not da. But some habits are hard to break.”

“I think you should say whatever you want to.” She was quiet a moment. “Can I ask why you’re trying to get rid of it?”

He kept moving. “So I am easier to understand. So I fit in better. Because this is my country now.”

“I don’t think you’re hard to understand. In fact, I kind of like your accent.”

He glanced at her. Two more steps. “You do?”

“Yes.” She smiled. “It’s sort of sexy.”

The word sent a bolt of pleasure through him, and suddenly, the steps were taking way too long. He balanced on his good leg, leaned forward, planted his crutches on the bottom step, and swung down to join her in one fast movement, putting them face-to-face. In this light and at this distance, he realized there were flecks of gold in her eyes. How perfect. “I have been told that before.”