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A couple taps, a beat, a couple more taps, two beats and then one tap He repeated the motion over and over I wondered if he even realized he was doing it

"Long day?" I asked softly

I fully expected hinore ain when he said, "Not long enough"

“Things going okay with the deal?" I asked

Jude straightened his head and opened his eyes to look at enuinely interested or not I reaze

"Last-otiations," he h theh," he admitted

"I bet," I responded

I fully expected hiain, but he kept his eyes on me, at least for a few moments, and then he looked out theThen his eyes were back on ure me out

“Why did you leave the military?" he suddenly asked He seemed to realize the personal nature of his question because he quickly tore his eyes from mine and said, "Sorry, it's none of my business Never mind"

It was on the tip of ue to point out that not only had he said ized, but I kept that thought to ht it would be"

"What did you think it would be?" Jude asked

I shrugged, ready to pass the whole conversation off with some flippant response, but whenout "That my heart would matter more than my name"

This ti out the aited for Jude to ask ely disappointed at his lack of interest But then he said, "Your loyalty was questioned because you’re Russian"

My eyes pinned his before I gave him a brief nod

"Fuck," Jude muttered to himself "Nikolai, I'm sorry When I said what I did the other day about this not being your country—"