continued in a ramble of quick, stern, Greek sentences.
Demo listened while he watched Sammy collect her belongings and retreat to her bedroom. Things needed to change.
“How the hell could he vanish under surveillance? Are they blind or stupid?”
The security man shrugged and turned his palms up in dismay. “I don’t know, sir. We pulled our men off when Miss Mallone left the country. The report came in an hour ago.”
“Have the chopper on the roof at ten.”
Acknowledging his instructions, the other man left.
There were too many people and uncontrollable factors in Athens. Sammy was as susceptible to harm here as in New York. He couldn’t allow that. Demo ran his fingers through his hair and walked to her door. He knocked and she opened.
“Something’s come up. How about we reschedule the theatre and head for Crete in the morning?”
“That’s fine.”
“I’m sorry. I know you were looking forward to the performance, but I’ll make it up to you.”
Sammy wondered what kind of news had to be delivered at two in the morning. Demo kept running his hand through his hair. The tension in his eyes told her it wasn’t good, and his quick tone relayed his desire to get on it immediately.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Lakis. Business first.” After all, that was the true purpose of the trip. Just because he was nice enough to show her around on her first day in Athens, it didn’t mean he could waste all his time dilly-dallying with her and sightseeing.
“We’ll leave after breakfast. Will you be ready?”
She smiled and pointed to the set of designer suitcases at the foot of her bed. “It looks like there will be no problem.”
He stepped into her room, shaking his head. “Good. Elena did a nice job.”
“Yes, and thank you. When did you have the chance to tell her without me hearing?”
He laughed and the tension eased. “Ah, I guess you’ll require a Greek-English dictionary next. If I’m correct, what you need tonight should be in this case.”
He pointed to a small bag she’d already peeked into and she nodded in agreement. Then, wanting to show her appreciation, she leaned on his arm and rose to her toes. “Thank you,” she said and kissed his cheek.
“I think you’ll like Crete.” His hand rested on her hip and his gaze met hers. “We’ll have fun there. I promise.”
He bent and brushed his lips over the top of her head. She didn’t want to pull away; her body was comfortable against his. She felt him tighten his hold and questioned if there was a true possibility for a relationship with him. Demo couldn’t be that nice and considerate without having some sort of romantic feelings for her.
Without moving her feet, she looked up and asked, “What did he say to change your mood?”
His body went rigid, and he dropped his hand. Stepping away from her, he shrugged and turned his back to her. “It’s nothing to concern yourself with, Sammy. I’ll see you at breakfast. Goodnight and sweet dreams.”
He left the room before she could respond. She watched the door latch shut.
Rubbing her upper arms to ward off the sudden cold, Sammy cursed softly under her breath. “Stupid, you’re so stupid!”
It’s nothing. It’s private and doesn’t concern his personal assistant. Personal!
She flopped onto the bed and pounded the pillows. He was just being nice and considerate. His personal business was just that; she had no right to ask. They didn’t have the type of relationship in which he would share his own life.
Demo was the farthest thing from the type of men she’d known. Different and nice. There was that word again: nice. How unusual to have a man be nice to her. That’s what threw her off balance, and she’d let her imagination get the best of her. Samantha Mallone was Demosthenis Lakis’s personal assistant and business acquaintance.
She would no longer confuse his polite manner for desire.
*****
Once the helicopter landed, they transferred to a jeep. “It’s
Demo listened while he watched Sammy collect her belongings and retreat to her bedroom. Things needed to change.
“How the hell could he vanish under surveillance? Are they blind or stupid?”
The security man shrugged and turned his palms up in dismay. “I don’t know, sir. We pulled our men off when Miss Mallone left the country. The report came in an hour ago.”
“Have the chopper on the roof at ten.”
Acknowledging his instructions, the other man left.
There were too many people and uncontrollable factors in Athens. Sammy was as susceptible to harm here as in New York. He couldn’t allow that. Demo ran his fingers through his hair and walked to her door. He knocked and she opened.
“Something’s come up. How about we reschedule the theatre and head for Crete in the morning?”
“That’s fine.”
“I’m sorry. I know you were looking forward to the performance, but I’ll make it up to you.”
Sammy wondered what kind of news had to be delivered at two in the morning. Demo kept running his hand through his hair. The tension in his eyes told her it wasn’t good, and his quick tone relayed his desire to get on it immediately.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Lakis. Business first.” After all, that was the true purpose of the trip. Just because he was nice enough to show her around on her first day in Athens, it didn’t mean he could waste all his time dilly-dallying with her and sightseeing.
“We’ll leave after breakfast. Will you be ready?”
She smiled and pointed to the set of designer suitcases at the foot of her bed. “It looks like there will be no problem.”
He stepped into her room, shaking his head. “Good. Elena did a nice job.”
“Yes, and thank you. When did you have the chance to tell her without me hearing?”
He laughed and the tension eased. “Ah, I guess you’ll require a Greek-English dictionary next. If I’m correct, what you need tonight should be in this case.”
He pointed to a small bag she’d already peeked into and she nodded in agreement. Then, wanting to show her appreciation, she leaned on his arm and rose to her toes. “Thank you,” she said and kissed his cheek.
“I think you’ll like Crete.” His hand rested on her hip and his gaze met hers. “We’ll have fun there. I promise.”
He bent and brushed his lips over the top of her head. She didn’t want to pull away; her body was comfortable against his. She felt him tighten his hold and questioned if there was a true possibility for a relationship with him. Demo couldn’t be that nice and considerate without having some sort of romantic feelings for her.
Without moving her feet, she looked up and asked, “What did he say to change your mood?”
His body went rigid, and he dropped his hand. Stepping away from her, he shrugged and turned his back to her. “It’s nothing to concern yourself with, Sammy. I’ll see you at breakfast. Goodnight and sweet dreams.”
He left the room before she could respond. She watched the door latch shut.
Rubbing her upper arms to ward off the sudden cold, Sammy cursed softly under her breath. “Stupid, you’re so stupid!”
It’s nothing. It’s private and doesn’t concern his personal assistant. Personal!
She flopped onto the bed and pounded the pillows. He was just being nice and considerate. His personal business was just that; she had no right to ask. They didn’t have the type of relationship in which he would share his own life.
Demo was the farthest thing from the type of men she’d known. Different and nice. There was that word again: nice. How unusual to have a man be nice to her. That’s what threw her off balance, and she’d let her imagination get the best of her. Samantha Mallone was Demosthenis Lakis’s personal assistant and business acquaintance.
She would no longer confuse his polite manner for desire.
*****
Once the helicopter landed, they transferred to a jeep. “It’s
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