Only You (A Sweet Torment Novel) (10 page)

“Oh, I’m aware. But that’s the problem.” He tilted his chin in the direction of Colin, who was at the other side of the room, glancing in my direction. “You’re a chase, Red. And you’re in his sights now.”

I faced Leo fully with the intention to defend against that stupid notion. I also wanted to look somewhere other than at Colin.

“I’m not out to be chased.”

“Yes you are, and I’m not the only one who can sense that.” Leo leaned in closer. I could smell him and feel his heat. “You’re just not out to be caught.”

I swallowed hard and realized I was doing it again. Getting caught up. Inhaling deeply, I forced the tiny pricks of lust popping up on my skin away and kept my tone even.

“Is there something you wanted, Leo? Or were you just coming over to inquire about my dance card?”

“I just wanted to remind you that Davis is my competition.”

“I’m aware.”

He nodded. “Good. So I can expect your dance was nothing more than a friendly mingle?”

My glare hardened. I would never breach the professional trust Leo put in me. Not to mention the reason I’d danced with that A-hole in the first place was to keep him from talking to Harris about Davis stock. The fact that Leo questioned my integrity smarted something deep down. I was learning quickly that Leo was a master of give and take. He gave me a little, like trust in this slip deal, then he took. With a single comment, he took the warm fuzzy feeling away by poking holes in the very trust he’d bestowed on me. I couldn’t win.

Or perhaps there really was something about me that people couldn’t fully believe in. The thought made that ache in my stomach pulse.

“A friendly mingle,” I assured, and the words tasted sour.

Leo glanced over my shoulder and his face dropped. “Ah shit . . .” he mumbled lowly. “Stay close, Red. I think you’re my lucky charm.”

He spun me and we faced . . . I didn’t even know what to call her. Fashion Diva, maybe? With bleached-blonde hair, a good amount of plastic surgery, and heavy makeup, a dramatic woman walked our way. Her body said she was in her twenties, but her hands gave her away as late forties.

“Leandro Savas, it’s been ages!” the woman said.

When Harris kissed her cheek, I figured it must be his wife. The wife Leo put me on deflection duty for.

“Good to see you, Siobhan.”

When Siobhan leaned in and gave Leo a hug, I didn’t miss that her hands were a little south on his back. Looked like Leo wasn’t exaggerating.

Another man approached, with very similar build and looks to Leo.

“Kyros!” Leo said, and embraced the man.

“Cousin,” Kyros said back. The men patted each other’s backs. “Sorry I’m a little late.”

“It’s no problem.” Leo smiled.

Kyros’s flight got in earlier this morning. Though I’d coordinated with his assistant and made arrangements for his stay, I hadn’t had the chance to meet him or even lay eyes on him. When the day drew on with still no sign of him, I figured he’d been sleeping off his jetlag so I had arranged a second car to bring him to the event this evening.

“It’s going to be a good month,” Kyros said lowly, and smiled at Leo.

My thoughts exactly. He was here to get on board with purchasing the new slip in London and, standing in the middle of two Savas men, I could see how this force was something to be reckoned with.

Kyros’s eyes skated to me and he smiled. He had the same black hair and olive skin as Leo but his eyes were dark-blue instead of Leo’s powder-blue. His accent was also much heavier.

“Paige Levine, this is my cousin Kyros Savas. He heads up the shipping port in Greece. Paige is my new assistant.”

“So nice to you meet you.” I shook his hand.

“And you, Miss Levine. Thank you for all your help and arranging my stay. I understand you are running the show in Leandro’s world.”

I opened my mouth to reply but Leo cut me off. “Yes, she is.”

Siobhan came back into the mix, giving a pouty face and demanding Leo dance with her. He shot a glance at me and I knew he was silently telling me to step in and deflect. Unfortunately my mind was still churning around our previous conversation. I smiled at him, then Siobhan.

“A friendly dance is always nice,” I said, smiling at Siobhan’s efforts to get Leo in her grasp.

She tugged him onto the dance floor and he glared at me the entire time. The group dispersed and Kyros handed me a fresh flute of champagne from a passing tray as we stood and looked over the party.

“Do you visit the states often?” I asked.

“Fairly. Leandro and I are close but his domain is here and mine is in Greece, so we travel more for personal time than business. Though even when we’re trying to relax, business is still typically conducted.”

“Of course.” I smiled. Kyros gave off the same easygoing vibe Leo did. It was nice chatting with someone who didn’t seem to have an agenda, and maybe I could learn something from him since he was a key player in the shipping business. “May I ask how you two decided who would work in which country?”

“When our fathers passed on the business to us, it was split down the middle. Since we have a heavy presence in both Greece and the US, Leandro and I discussed which we’d prefer. I wanted to stay in Greece, Leandro wanted to leave, so the decision was simple.”

“I can’t imagine anyone wanting to leave Greece,” I said. “It must be magical.”

He smiled. “It can be. But for some, it is anything but.” Kyros’s eyes landed on Leo and pity flashed over his face. Had something happened to make Leo want to leave Greece?

“Our family is quite large and most are here in the US. He is the favorite uncle after all.”

“No,” I gasped with exaggeration, and Kyros laughed. Leo had mentioned family being important the day I moved in, but never any details since.

“Oh yes. We both are the only boys amongst many sisters. His little nieces and nephews idolize him.”

I looked at Leo. I could see how he could be idolized. Between that contagious laugh and good-natured ease about him, he’d probably be the best uncle ever, spoiling with candy and everything a mother never would allow.

“Family is important,” I said, not because I knew what that felt like, but because it seemed like the right thing to say. The only snip of family I could relate to were Amy and Hazel and yes, they were important. Which was a big reason I wanted to stay in New York and close to them.

“Yes, very. Especially when so much has been built.”

I nodded and understood, once again recalling what Leo had said when we talked in my doorway when I first moved here. The Savas men were part of a shipping empire. An empire that would likely continue to get passed down for generations. Their devotion made sense. Though I couldn’t exactly relate. My mother probably wouldn’t even leave me her Elvis Presley plate collection, much less a legacy.

“It’s a shame you live so far away.”

“Yes, but his sisters are here in the US, and Leo’s been living permanently here for”—Kyros looked at the ceiling—“six years now. Ever since . . .”

He trailed off as if remembering who he was talking to.

“Ever since?” I pressed.

“Forgive me,” Kyros said, “I got caught up.” He smiled. “So you are Leo’s new assistant. Are you enjoying the position so far?”

I recognized a change of subject anywhere. But it wasn’t my place to press Kyros. I did, however, want to know what had happened to make Leo leave Greece.

As far as enjoying my position? I glanced at Leo and was about to reply when the song ended and Leo all but sprinted back toward me.

“Miss Levine,” he growled, obviously mad I’d enabled his dance with Siobhan where he likely had his ass pinched the whole time.

“Did you enjoy your
friendly mingle
?” I said with exaggerated innocence in my voice. Judging by the scowl on his face, he didn’t miss my point.

“Would you like to get some air on the back terrace?” he said. I could definitely tell that was code for: I’m going to chew your ass out for this.

“Sure,” I said, then turned to Kyros. “It was nice to meet you.”

“You as well. I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.”

That was true. Though he was living on the opposite end of the property, we would work under the same roof often.

He said something to Leo in Greek and Leo responded. The way he spoke made tingles rush up my spine, and the need to jump and grab every word with my mouth skyrocketed. But Leo didn’t seem thrilled by the conversation they were having.

“Let’s go over that tomorrow,” Leo said and Kyros nodded.

With a hand planted firmly on my lower back, Leo steered me to the back terrace. His every muscle was tense and his long legs ate up the distance between the main ballroom and back doors in milliseconds.

Once we were outside, I took a deep breath of spring air wafting off the water and ruffling a few waves at the lake below. The view was incredible. Paired with the dim lights along the deck, the flecks of yellow gave a soft glow to the entire terrace. A terrace on which we were alone.

“You dropped the ball on the whole deflect thing there, Red,” he said, taking my champagne glass and draining the contents.

“Poor Leo, getting hit on all the time. Must be rough.”

This was not how I’d typically talk to my boss, but nothing about Leo or tonight felt like a boss or job. It felt . . . nice. Just being in his company. Having his eyes on me. Watching his smile light up when he spoke. It was enthralling.

He smirked and set the flute down. “My ass feels like a pin cushion.”

I laughed. “I’m sorry, but it was one dance and you survived just fine.”

“A lot can change in one dance,” he said, his voice a little gravelly and I knew he was talking about my dance with Colin again.

“I work for you, Leo.”

“Temporarily.”

His remark made a shot of anger and sadness flare through my veins. Two conflicting emotions I had no business feeling in the first place. I knew I was temporary. But throwing it in my face—pointing out my weakness or why I may be less trustworthy—was not going to happen. Temporary didn’t mean dishonest. And it sure as hell didn’t mean I would give anything less than all I was to Leo in my job.

I wouldn’t stand there and take the back and forth anymore. I was tired of the give and take. Mostly because when he had given me his faith in the slip purchase overseas, I felt truly whole for the first time in . . . ever. Like for once, someone believed in me. Then tonight, to have him take pieces of it away by questioning my loyalty? No. I couldn’t handle it. Because it made the empty ache in my gut redouble.

“If you have such a problem trusting me with your interests, perhaps you shouldn’t have hired me. Temporarily or not.”

The moment I said it, I regretted it. I was in a position where a bold statement like that could easily get me canned. Stupid pride had taken over once more and I let it control my words. But the truth was, I was tired. Tired of being a person who was doubted when all I wanted was the opposite. To gain trust. Earn respect.

He looked at me for a long moment as if trying to read my face. It was the same way he looked at me the night at the bar. Like he could tell I was struggling, and part of me hated that. The other part wanted to do what I had done that night. Reach out. Take some of that warmth that radiated from him, and get lost in it.

“You’re right,” he said, and my heart stopped. I’d let my mouth get the better of me and now I was going to get fired. “You deserve more credit. I do have trust in you.”

His words hit something straight through my chest. And it was more than the words. It was the way he said them. Could he really have trust in me?

“Don’t say that if you don’t mean it,” I whispered. Because I didn’t want to do this anymore. Didn’t want to think one thing, feel like I was making progress with him, then have it snatched away with one questioning glare or insinuating tone.

“I mean it.” He stepped closer.

“Thank you,” I said a little softer than I meant to.

“Did you enjoy talking to Kyros?”

“Yes, he’s very nice. Told me about your sisters and family.”

Leo smiled and his gaze locked on something in the distance as if pulling from happy memories. “I have a wonderful family. Four sisters and thirteen nieces and nephews.”

“Whoa,” I said. “Big.”

The smile was still on his face when he shrugged. “We’re Greek.”

“So you want a large family?” The moment I asked that, I wished I could take it back. It wasn’t a question for an employee to ask her boss. Nor was it a question I should have asked at all. It also tapped on the earlier conversation we’d had about children and family. It was after that discussion that Leo had seemed a bit colder toward me.

Something sad, then angry shot across Leo’s face, then he was back to his relaxed facade.

“Yes, I want a large family.” He tilted his head and examined me. “What is your family situation? Any siblings?”

I should have known the questions would get turned around on me. Now I really wanted a drink. “Hazel and Amy are the closest things to siblings I have.”

“You never said much about your parents. Only that your mother would never have grandkids.”

It was one of those things I knew deep down since I was a teenager: I wasn’t the mothering type. Mostly because I was terrified I’d mess up. If I ever hurt a kid—my kid—the way my mother hurt me? Abandon her. Turn her away, not believe her, leave her to deal with things alone . . . No. I couldn’t. Wouldn’t run the risk.

Not to mention, I wasn’t marriage material, much less mother material. I tended to only attract assholes or men who saw me for one thing.

“My mom lives in Indiana. Dad left when I was a teenager.”

“I’m sorry,” Leo said with all sincerity.

I shrugged. “Things happen.”

He looked at me again. “You’re not much of an emotional shower are you?”

“Why did you leave Greece?” I asked, hoping to God the subject change would get back to him and away from me.

His face went hard. I’d never seen him show this kind of stern anger other than when he mentioned my leaving him in the bar at our interview.

“Personal reasons.”