The Summer Deal (10 page)

“Oh well, the gyro seals the deal. So what if I don’t pass the bar—not a biggie.” Shrugging, she flipped her hair and skipped into her room for her bag. Hey, if he wanted to play, she was game.

It was casual. He was just being nice. She’d have some fun and be sociable. Save the raging hormones for the clubs and the tourists.

She returned to find Demo grinning and holding the door, ready to go.

“You surprise me,” she said. “I didn’t think you could leave the work behind like this. Not that I mind. I actually like the idea of going beyond the resort for an authentic Greek lunch and a swim.”

“That’s the attitude.” He said laying his arm on her shoulders. Leaning close, his tender and hot lips kissed her cheek.

“When in Greece, we do as the Greeks do. The afternoon is lazy time on the beach. And if you want real local food, I suggest you save your appetite for family dinners. You’ll like those too. Just don’t forget the earplugs. We talk very loud.”

“Yeah, I hear people think that you’re arguing, when all you’re doing is discussing what is for dinner tomorrow.”

“Exactly. Don’t let it scare you off, Sammy. It’s not a prim and proper meeting we’re going to experience in this place. Time to let go of all that.”

Whom was she hearing? Had he lost his mind? And who was she, the
don’t
have a good time police? She didn’t think so. Just because Demo worked hard all year, didn’t mean he didn’t deserve some fun. After all, wasn’t that her goal this summer?

She relaxed and consciously placed her inhibitions on the back burner for the time being.

*****

Despite the tub of sun block Sammy showed him during lunch, Demo insisted she needed a large hat. “Trust me. You’ll sizzle in this sun.”

“It’s almost five in the afternoon. I’ll be fine,” she said, waving a dismissive hand.

He laughed as if truly amused and turned his attention to the colorful display. Plopping a large, floppy brimmed, flower-patterned hat on her head, he spoke to the storeowner in Greek and paid for her new accessory.

She attempted to take it off but found he was holding it steady in the back. Trying to suppress her laughter, she shook her head in disbelief. “You’re just a little stubborn.”

She’d had a great time at lunch. It was so unusual to have him feeding her fries dipped in the creamy yogurt sauce, laughing and carrying on as if they were really together.

No. She had to remember: he was just being nice.

“And what are you? Acquiescent?” His laugh was a call of triumph pulling her out of her thoughts. “You’ll look like a sweet ripe berry tonight if you don’t learn to listen.” A big grin crossed his face and a sparkle filled his eyes. “Hm, on second thought, it might be interesting if you don’t wear the hat.”

The mischievous look on his handsome face sent a rush of heat through her body. She tried to justify it, but couldn’t.

His gaze dropped from her face to the length of her neck, and his lips followed, intimately searing the sensitive skin below her ear.

“Deliciously interesting.” His last words smothered her lips.

Her breasts swelled and her nipples strained against the thin fabric covering her suit. Affirming that her feelings for him had nothing to do with reason, her heart thudded noisily in her chest. She felt things a woman should not feel for her employer, and it appeared he did too.

Logic dictated she should run, run very far and very fast. But her feet did not move. Logic also dictated she shouldn’t be here, alone, with the man slated to marry Zoë Markos. And, she should definitely not kiss him back. Instead, parting her lips, she raised herself to meet his
kiss
.

Blood pounded in her brain, leapt from her heart, and made her legs tremble. A large hand settled on her back, and she steadied her spinning senses.

“It’s safer if you keep your hat on.” His husky whisper caressed her ear. He began to hum a sultry melody. “
You should keep your hat on
.”

She straightened, raised her hands to the sides of the cap, and pulled it tight over her head. Her eyes pierced into his, and her breath was sharp. “Step back, and let me see the key chains.”

She pushed her fingers against the hard wall of his chest and walked to a spinning souvenir rack. Hearing him behind her, she walked quickly into the next store. Confused and flustered, she didn’t want to confront him or her feelings for him.

Exiting the fourth store, she saw him leaning against the jeep, with his arms crossed on his chest, making no secret of the fact that he enjoyed watching her.

“Have I done something to offend you,
koukla mou
?” An arrogant smirk graced his face.

“Yes, you have.” She looked up into his eyes, daring him to speak and explain his actions. He didn’t. “Your behavior is inappropriate, Mr. Lakis. We’re in a public place, with dozens of people around us.”

The arrogant smirk grew. “I’m sorry, I don’t usually plan the time and place I find a beautiful woman irresistible. But if you prefer we go somewhere private, it will be my pleasure.”

“Private, huh? What would Zoë Markos think of that?” Her cheeks were getting hot and her insides twisted.

“Zoë would be happy.” He reached for her arm.

“Happy? That’s sick.” Pulling away, she walked towards the car door. “Please take me back to the resort.”

Knowledge registered on his face and he laughed. “Now, I understand. Get in and we’ll talk.”

Demo laughed at her! He was like the other men who had walked in and out of her life in the past. He lied, and no—he was not nice.

He drove in the opposite direction from the resort, but Sammy chose not to say a thing as she crossed her arms in front of her and stared out the passenger window. If she tried to make a sound, she was sure she would cry. She chose to pretend she didn’t realize which way he drove.

In the brief silence of the car ride, she reviewed the day’s events. There was a different element to Demo in Greece, and it had nothing to do with work. He wasn’t shy in showing his sexual interest in her.

She stole a look at his determined profile. His dark wavy hair was longer than usual. The strong and seductive lips, the perfectly crafted Grecian nose, the long dark lashes outlining his intense brown eyes, and the shade of stubble on the firm set of his jaw completed a striking image. He was devastatingly handsome and so attractive to her. She liked everything about him. But she could not lose sight of the fact that he was going to marry Zoë, and for the current time, he was her employer. And, most importantly, he was a man, just like all the others who’d betrayed her.

That was her greatest problem. She had major baggage from her past and it seemed impossible to get over it. In the office, there was no past to contend with and she was able to successfully pave a new, brave path to travel on. She appeared and was strong. But at home, she had all these skeletons in the closet and they weighed her down. She was two different people: one assured and confident, the other self-conscious and weary. The pull in the opposing directions was taking its toll and she was tired of putting up such a strong front—tired of questioning every motive.

Demo cleared his throat, and when he spoke again his voice was very calm. “I don’t owe Zoë an explanation on my behavior or feelings. I enjoy being with you. I want to be with you. And, I believe the feeling is mutual.”

Calculating her words carefully to minimize the emotion in her voice, she rubbed her knuckles and twisted her hands in her lap. “There are rumors that you’re engaged to Miss Markos.”

“No.” He was firm, leaving no room for doubt. “I’m not engaged, or married. Sammy, you know that I take my word and responsibilities very seriously. I would never do that to a woman, and I wouldn’t subject you to such insult.”

Her fingers were red from the pressure, but she couldn’t stop. She bit on her lower lip trying to think logically about what Demo was saying. Taking a deep breath, she attempted to slow her racing heart.

Could it be true? If he wasn’t engaged, then he wasn’t betraying Zoë. If he wasn’t engaged, maybe he kissed her because he desired her. If he wasn’t engaged, maybe she could allow herself to feel for him the way she did.

“Sammy, it’s not in my nature to lie. I just want to have fun. To do things that make me happy, with people that I chose. In short, I want to enjoy my summer with you.”

The irony of it all swarmed her mind. Here was the man of her dreams, telling her he wanted to enjoy her company, at the precise moment in time she had vowed to have
fun
. She wanted fun, he wanted fun, she wanted him, and he wanted her, but could she leave it at that?

“Demo, you’re my boss, and I feel weird about—”

“If it was anyone else, I would never act on these emotions. You’re different,
koukla mou
. We’re different. There’s something here, something we need to address. If you disagree, I’ll back off.”

“You’re my boss.”

“I won’t stop because we work together. That’s irrelevant. Between the two of us, I trust we can separate business. The true question is: what do you want between us personally?”

She wanted to scream “everything.” Instead, she considered telling him her summer plans. Maybe it was her turn to open up and be a little honest.

He stopped the car in a small field with a path running into some trees. Behind the tree line, she could see the beach. Ignoring her request to go home, he had brought her to the beach.

Resting her chin on her hand, and slowly turning to face him, a bemused smile formed on her face. He was so domineering. Sweet, but overbearing, and he needed to be brought down a notch or two.

Well, she wasn’t a doormat, and she would make him see he couldn’t have her at his disposal just for the heck of it. She valued herself, and it had taken her a while to figure it out. Sammy wasn’t about to lose this new independence and confidence, which had been so hard for her to cultivate.

“I need some time to answer that,” she said matter-of-factly.

“That’s fair.” Demo accepted her response with only slight impatience. “Are you still angry?”

She shook her head no, and he gently placed his palm against her cheek. “Good.”

*****

Walking out of the water, he saw her lying on the straw beach mat they had bought an hour earlier. She was on her stomach, a pink towel serving as a pillow, and she was sleeping in the shade of a tall tree.

Her new hat sat on the back of her head, and the sun block was on top of her bag. He smiled, confident her delicate skin was protected.

He dried off
, lay
beside her,
and
closed his eyes.

A small arm feathered across his chest, and Demo opened his eyes as Sammy curled her soft body against him. For fear of waking her, he tried not to breathe loud, but couldn’t resist wrapping his arm around her and pulling her closer.

Her curves fit perfectly against his torso, as if she was made for him. Lifting a strand of hair to reflect the sun, guilt tugged at his gut. Demo wanted her and he knew he’d do anything to get her. The most pressing thing was to find a way for her to leave him when things were done. A way for him to take the fall and let her walk away with her pride when things would need to end between them.

I don’t want to hurt you, koukla mou. But I have to have you. Once we’ve satisfied each other, you can go. Not a moment before that.

He could tell her the truth, and she’d be angry enough to break it off before their personal and physical relationship began. Knowing exactly how she’d react, he pictured her with hands on her hips, lecturing him that he had no right to make decisions for her.

No right to get her out of New York and away from Daniels. No right to have a team on her around the clock since that night she’d spent in the penthouse. No right to install bodyguards she had no idea about in an apartment within her building. Technically, Demo knew didn’t have any right or privilege to protect her, but he also knew he couldn’t live with himself if he didn’t.

She wanted to make her own way, with her own choices. He had learned that about her. Still, he couldn’t help but intervene. She would have never accepted his help if she’d been aware of it.

That was how it would end. Yes. He’d be the heel. Maybe he’d spend Christmas away and let her discover all his interfering, as she would put it, in anger.

Christmas! What was he thinking? The holiday was months away, and not one of his sexual relationships had made it a full moon cycle. What was this hold this bewitching muse had on him?

Sammy exhaled, tickling his chest, and when he groaned, she opened her eyes. He held her to him, bending his arm to stroke her hair gently.

“You’re warm,” he said growing concerned. “You did use the sun block, didn’t you?” He sat up to look at her. The backs of her legs were a little pink, but he didn’t think she had burned.

“I slathered it on while you were swimming. I’m fine.” She stretched her limbs and began to rise. “It’s getting late. We need to get back.”

“What for?”