Read Online Dimitri by Roxie Rivera - Free Book Online

a
split-second decision. "I'm going to make Johnny an offer on his
half of the business."
    She reeled back in surprise. "What? No!
Dimitri, you can't."
    He snorted softly. "I can do whatever I want,
Benny. It's my money."
    "But, Dimitri, if the business fails, you'll
lose your money. Let's not kid ourselves, okay? I'm one bad month
away from having to close the doors." She put her hands on his
chest and shoved just hard enough to free herself from his embrace.
"No."
    He snatched her wrist and dragged her back.
"You're not going to shut me out, Benny."
    "Dimitri, please…"
    He tried to understand her reticence but
couldn't. Trailing his fingers down her cheek, he asked, "What is
so wrong with me helping you?"
    Her eyes closed for the briefest of moments.
When they opened, they were filled with such fear. "Because it
changes things, Dimitri."
    "Sometimes change is good." He brushed his
mouth against hers. "Last night was very, very good,
yes?"
    "Yes." She ran her hands up his arms. "Last
night was amazing, but if we put money between us, it's going to
get complicated very fast—and then what?"
    Finally, he understood. "Benny, it wouldn't be
complicated. We could make it work."
    "You say that now…"
    Dimitri tipped her chin and teased his lips
across hers. He eased into the kiss and waited for her to press up
against him, deepening the gentle mating of their mouths. Tongues
touching now, they clutched at one another. When Dimitri pulled
back, he peered down at her for a moment before speaking. "I want
to be your partner, Benny."
    She swallowed. "In business?"
    He realized this was one of those moments where
their relationship could surge forward and grow or retreat and
fester. "No, not just in business, Benny. I want you
as—"
    "Benny, you already in the kitchen?" Adam
announced his presence mere seconds before stepping into the view.
"There was a nasty wreck on the loop and…"
    The older man's eyes widened as he caught sight
of them embracing. Dimitri could only imagine what Adam was
thinking. Naked from the waist up and with his hair still wet,
Dimitri looked anything but innocent right now.
    But Dimitri wasn't about to let go of Benny. He
refused to let anyone make him feel shame for comforting the woman
he cared for so deeply. To his surprise, Benny didn't try to jump
away in embarrassment. She stepped into his embrace.
    Finally, Adam laughed. "Hey, don't let me
interrupt you two kids." He winked at Dimitri as he headed for the
employee's locker room. "I was young once. I know how this game is
played."
    Benny rolled her eyes. "Adam!"
    Still chuckling, Adam paused in the doorway and
glanced back at them. "And about damn time too!"
    "God," she said with a groan. "The whole bakery
will be talking about us before we even have our first
customer."
    Chest constricting, he studied her face. "Does
that bother you?"
    She put her hand over his heart. "Not for the
reason you're probably thinking, Dimitri. I spend so much time here
with my bakery family that nothing is ever private." She bit her
lower lip. "I wanted this to be something special, something just
for me."
    Feeling a bit playful, he lowered his head
until his breath tickled her ear. "I've got something just for you
and I promise it's very, very special."
    "Dimitri!" She hissed with mock outrage but she
couldn't stop smiling. "Will you get out of here?" Blushing, she
glanced at the doorway leading to the locker room. "Adam will hear
you and then I'll really get it from Lupe and Celia!"
    He kissed her cheek and reluctantly backed away
from her. "I'm going to get that breakfast I promised
you."
    She nodded and got back to work. They still had
so much to discuss but it could wait. After he got her breakfast
squared away, he was going to dig up some information on UpStreet
Properties. If they chose to play dirty with Benny, he was ready to
drag them right into the mud. The kind of information he wanted
wouldn't be easy to find but he knew just where