When you fall in love with a woman who has children, you have to at least tolerate them. Even better is liking them. Best choice of all is if you love the child(ren) as well.
When Ivan, ex KGB agent, now American citizen who owns a small resort up in Grand Marais, Minnesota, befriends some Hollywood movie stars, he has no idea how that will change his life. Kelly Sheridan, Oscar-winning actress, is a child of divorce. She and her younger brother thought their mother left them when they were young because her exciting career as a CIA agent was more interesting. Over the years she rebuffed any attempts by her mother to have a relationship. But she’s in her 30s now and wants to change that, so she invites her mother to spend 2 weeks with her staying at Ivan’s resort. Her mother, Stella, jumps at the chance. But she also worries that her problems will follow her. Someone has been sending people to kill her since her retirement. She thought she was out of “the game”, and now it won’t leave her alone. Can she stay alive long enough to earn her daughter’s love? Will she learn to accept help from Ivan, once he learns what’s going on? And is it possible for 2 lonely people in their 50s to find what they’ve been missing all of their lives?
Set-up: Stella and her daughter Kelly have spent the day visiting with Kelly’s co-star Raul and his family. When they get back to the resort they’re staying at, owned by Kelly’s friend Ivan, they sit on the deck over-looking the lake. so Stella and Ivan can smoke. They fill Ivan in on their visit, then he offers to walk them back to their cabin.
They ended up enjoying three drunken coffees each, sitting and talking about their visit with Raul and Veronica until the dining room had emptied and even the bar crowd was getting sparse.
Ivan insisted on walking them to their cabin again.
“But we won’t need a flashlight tonight because the moon is so full.”
He stood and watched as Stella opened their door, then Kelly shot her a quick sideways glance before she pushed past her mother.
“Good-night Ivan. Thanks for everything, as usual. I’m going to hit the shower then get into bed.”
Once Kelly had pushed past them she slammed the bathroom door loudly.
Stella’s lips twitched as she turned to Ivan, “She’s giving us privacy on purpose.”
“Oh? Why?”
Stella’s body was tingling from how close he was standing, as well as the effects of the multiple alcohols in the coffees. She shrugged extravagantly.
“I don’t know. Maybe she thinks you’ll try to kiss me good-night or something.”
He reached a hand forward and used his finger to tip her face up to look into her eyes in the moonlight.
“Would you allow me to do that?” His voice was husky and gentle.
“Have you been flirting with me, or have I been imagining things?” Stella asked, meeting his eyes tentatively.
“Am I so out-of-practice that you have to ask?”
Stella smiled shyly at him, “I’m out-of-practice too. It’s been a long time since anyone made me feel the way being around you does.”
“Then may I take that as a ‘yes’?”
She nodded slowly and Ivan bent his head down to cover her lips with his. It was a gentle pressure, but Stella leaned into it, wanting more.
Ivan pulled back, shaking his head.
“Moja dorogaya. Not here, not now. But soon.”
Stella had closed her eyes for the kiss and opened them now to see Ivan’s eyes had turned into twin blue flames of fire, reflecting his passion. She nodded.
“Da, moja dorogoy. Soon.”
The bathroom door was thrown open and Kelly did an exaggerated yawn.
“Boy, am I tired! I think I’ll get into bed right now! Just ignore me, you crazy kids.”
Stella and Ivan smiled at each other, with a promise implicit in their eyes.
“Good-night, Ivan.”
“Will I see you on the hill in the morning?”
“Yes.”
“Good-night to you also, Stella.”
She turned and walked through the door and locked it behind her. Ivan watched until the door was locked then he walked back to his own cabin.
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