Authors: Aliyah Burke
He smiled wanly. Only here in Greece was he called Dima. “I hurt her. I haven’t spoken to her in over a year, until today.”
His aunt knelt beside him, her hand rested on his leg. “You must give her time. She will see what is meant to be.”
Touching one wrinkle-free cheek, Dimitri kissed the other one.
“If only you weren’t married or family. You are a woman like no other.”
She blushed. “You Melonakos men, always with the smooth tongues.”
“Love you, Auntie Luz.”
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“And I you, Dima. Don’t worry about AJ; he will soon realize she is not the one for him.”
Dimitri nodded. He planned on being there to make sure it didn’t happen. “I should get back to helping out.” Standing, he reached out a hand to assist her up as well.
“Such a wonderful boy, Dima. You are such a wonderful boy.”
With another kiss, he held the door open for his aunt to precede him back into the busy kitchen. He watched her head for the office and disappear inside of it before he joined in the organized chaos that reigned.
AJ didn’t say another word as they continued to work through the rest of the afternoon. At least not about Landi. And Dimitri did his best not to picture the date they would be sharing.
He cried off early and went to his hotel. Dimitri knew he always had a room at AJ’s or his Aunt and Uncle’s, but he felt like having his own space. He was antsy and had been so for a long time now.
Closing the door behind him, he headed to his bed. Flopping down with a grunt, Dimitri pulled out his wallet and took out a photo strip. It was snapshots of him and Landi. They had taken it one afternoon while walking along the boardwalk.
Most were of them laughing and smiling for the camera, but in the final one she was watching him. Her big brown eyes were full of tenderness as they stared at him. One finger touched her image gently before he roughly shoved it back in his wallet and lay there while looking up at the ceiling.
His skin still burned from where he’d touched her earlier. His lips wanted hers pressed against them.
“Damn it, Landi!” he swore. “Why’d you come to Greece?”
He knew the answer. Landi was a fashion designer and traveled all over the world. But what he didn’t know was the relationship of the man to her. At least if she had agreed to go on a date with AJ, then she was most likely not in a romantic one with that Mr. Erickson.
Dimitri had one more night in Greece before he flew back to the States. He was going to California to see his parents and then it was back to work. And yet, all of that was second to the need to be near Landi.
Pushing up from the bed, Dimitri took a shower. Perhaps a cold dousing would cure him of his ails.
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Aliyah Burke
Landi stepped out of the elevator and headed for the front desk where her dinner date waited for her. As she walked around the corner, her breath caught in her throat. AJ stood leaning against a pillar, a bouquet of vibrantly colored flowers in one tanned hand. He wore a dark gray suit that accented the green of his eyes.
“Good evening, Landi Nycks,” he said in a low tone. “These are for you.”
“They are absolutely beautiful,” she breathed, accepting the bunch and inhaling the fragrant smell they gave. “Thank you.”
“They pale beside your beauty,” he told her. His eyes moved over her and she waited for him to be done with his perusal. “You look incredible.”
Landi wore a crinkled, pale-gray chiffon cocktail dress. It was strapless with a pink Empire waist tie that wrapped around her back before ending in a soft front bow. Her wavy hair was gathered in a sophisticated upstyle, showing off her elegant neck, and some extra curls cascaded down in the back. A few wisps framed her face, softening her appearance even more. Three-inch heels finished off her look.
“Thank you, AJ.”
He offered his arm, smiling down at her when she took it without hesitation. She tucked the flowers in her other arm and looked up at him as they walked into the warm night. A breeze had picked up and gently caressed her skin. “Where are we going?”
“My restaurant. I’m a bit partial to the food there.”
Her heart began beating hard in her chest. Would Dimitri be there? With a mental reprimand, she reminded herself of the hurt he had caused her by disappearing without a word. The tears she had cried over him. She refused to focus on what it had been like to be in his arms.
Determined not to let Dimitri’s memory ruin her evening, she said, “Sounds wonderful.”
AJ held open the door of a black car for her and closed it gently after she was inside it. She watched him as he slid in behind the wheel and started the engine.
The man had many similarities to his cousin, Dimitri, but there were also differences. The main one was that although extremely handsome, he didn’t seem to set her heart to a breakneck pace. He wasn’t quite as powerful looking as Dimitri and there was definitely a softer look to him, as opposed to the hardness she had seen in Dimitri.
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Whoever snagged this one was going to be one lucky woman.
She knew she would have gone after him herself if not for the untimely arrival of Dimitri Melonakos. That man had ruined her for all others and all it had taken was just to see him again for her to have no desire for anyone else. Even the taste of him still lingered on her mouth after that explosive kiss he’d planted on her this afternoon. She bit back a whimper as longing shot through her.
“You okay, Landi?” AJ asked.
“Fine. So you own this restaurant we’re going to?”
“It is the family business, yes.” AJ pulled off the street and parked the car before walking around to her side and opening her door.
“Ready to eat?”
Putting her hand in his, she smiled. He really was devilishly charming. “Yes. Yes, I am.”
He flashed a grin she was sure melted the hearts of many women. “Wonderful.” His deep voice caressed her skin, heating it up even despite the cool breeze.
They walked into the establishment arm in arm. This time the place was much more packed, the lights were lower, and gentle music played throughout. Landi noticed that although she was again under scrutiny of the patrons, this time it was friendlier and it more curious as opposed to distrustful. The streets had quieted down much since the earlier ruckus.
AJ spoke to people as he led her to a table in a secluded corner.
He held her chair for her and whispered in her ear as he slid her in,
“They are all envious of me because of the lovely woman with me.”
Landi chuckled as she set her flowers on the table beside her. “Is that so?”
“Oh, yes.” He sat opposite her. “You think I’m jesting?”
“I think you are a smooth talker. I haven’t forgotten what you said this afternoon.”
He flashed a brilliant smile. “Good. I was hoping you hadn’t.”
Landi wasn’t quite sure what to make of him. He was so charming and flirtatious. “Trust me; I don’t get offers like that a lot. It stuck out.”
“Men must be blind then.”
Landi took a drink of water and listened in silence as he ordered for them. “So,” she said once they were alone again, “am I going to like what you ordered for me?”
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His eyes darkened. “Most definitely.” He gestured to the wine bottle. “Would you care for some?”
“No, thank you. I don’t drink.”
“Then I shall not as well.” With a wave of his hand the bottle was removed. He handed her the basket of bread and she took a roll.
AJ scooted closer to the table, reached across it and took Landi’s hand. His thumb skimmed across the back of it. “Tell me about you.”
Dimitri rolled his shoulders to alleviate the tension in his body.
He sat across the restaurant in a dark corner, all alone. His back was to the wall and his eyes were glued to the couple on the other side. AJ and Landi.
He shifted his butt on the seat as he stared at Landi. No, that wasn’t right; he ogled her. Courtesy of AJ, Dimitri had known they were going to be here for their date and had arrived early to find a place to sit.
His breath had left his body in a rush when she’d entered. All his primitive and primal instincts had blasted to the surface. She looked scrumptious. He knew her hair was like silk and she smelled like lavender, peppermint, and lemon.
Dimitri narrowed his eyes when AJ touched her. She carried a bouquet of flowers and a growl of displeasure rose from within him, his fingers tightened around the glass.
He watched AJ order for her; and when he picked up her hand, Dimitri swore. “She isn’t yours, cousin. Make no mistake about that.”
Anatole sat down at his table. “What’s wrong? You’ve been surly all afternoon.”
“Go away, Anatole,” Dimitri grumbled.
His cousin didn’t heed his warning. “Are you upset because he’s dating that sexy American?”
He looked at his cousin. “Go. Away.”
“No. I want to watch her as well. I know you haven’t taken your eyes off her since she walked in. She looks good with AJ, don’t you think?”
“No!” he snapped. Swallowing back his rage at those words, he just shook his head. “Leave me alone, Anatole!”
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There must have been something in his tone, for his cousin left without saying another word. Drinking the rest of his beer, Dimitri continued to watch AJ’s date.
His gut clenched each time she smiled. It dropped when she laughed. She was so beautiful, it hurt.
What had he done? Would he ever get another chance?
When AJ reached across the table and stroked her cheek, Dimitri jumped up from the table, rattling it as he hit it. Many eyes swept to him, but he didn’t notice. His gaze was on the light-brown one of Landi as she met his stare.
She held it and then looked back to AJ as if dismissing him. He knew her impersonal glance—he’d gotten it from her at Kacy and Ernst’s wedding. Then, he’d told himself it was for the best; now he wasn’t so sure.
Especially when his cousin made her smile like she was.
Dimitri turned away and strode out of the restaurant, knowing full well if he stayed, he
would
do bodily harm to AJ. He had to force himself not to go to Landi and drag her off.
Shoving his hands deep into his pockets, Dimitri began walking, the scowl on his face more than enough to keep people out of his way.
With no place in particular in mind, he wandered along the streets.
Landi stood with AJ in the lobby of her hotel. “Thank you for such a wonderful evening.”
“It was entirely my pleasure, my dear. Thank you, for being such a lovely companion.”
She smiled. “Thank you again for saving me.”
He wrapped his arms around her. “No need to thank me for that. I just wish I truly was the one who you longed for.”
She pulled back and looked up at him. “What are you talking about?”
A kind expression crossed his handsome face. “I’m talking about how your eyes filled with an emotion I hadn’t seen in them the whole evening until my cousin made an ass of himself.”
“He does that very well,” she said. “And I have no emotion for him.”
AJ chuckled and pressed a kiss to her forehead. One hand tipped up her chin and his eyes met hers. “You have plenty of fire for 32
Aliyah Burke
him. And if I didn’t see it, I would be after you myself. Unfortunately, it is not I you desire.”
Landi sighed and rested her head against his chest. “Walk me to my door?”
“Of course.”
They moved toward the elevator close together. AJ walked her to her door and took her keycard from her to open it.
“Here you are,” he murmured in a low voice.
“Thank you again, for everything.”
AJ lowered his head to her ear and whispered, “Let’s make him jealous, shall we?”
Delightful shivers skated along her spine. She didn’t need to know who he talked about. “That’s sweet AJ, but Dimitri isn’t jealous with anything that has to do with me.”
Using his large body, AJ covered her smaller frame and made it look like they were sharing an intimate moment. “My dear,” he said,
“that man is so jealous he can’t see straight.” He placed his hand at her waist.
“You must be crazy, AJ,” she muttered lightly. “And even if you weren’t, what good is doing this now? He’s not here.”
AJ chuckled a deep throaty sound and nuzzled her behind the ear. “I know he is. Wanna invite me in?”
Landi was quiet for a moment. “I don’t think I should. I don’t want to be part of whatever game you are playing with your cousin.”
Her hand drifted along his cheek. “But thank you for a lovely evening.
It was greatly appreciated.”
Placing his nose opposite hers, he nodded. “I haven’t had more fun in a long time. Thank you for spending the evening with me, Ms.
Nycks. Especially given your earlier scare.”
“Well, you protected me so well the first time, how could I not go with you a second time?” She wrinkled her nose. “But, I have a busy day tomorrow, so I should go.”
He sighed and brushed his lips over hers. Swinging open her door, he nodded his head at her. “It’s been a privilege and an honor to meet you.”
She blushed and nodded once before slipping into her hotel room and closing the door on AJ’s handsome face. Landi sagged against the door and released a heavy sigh. The day had taken a toll on her emotions and she needed a second to regain her control.
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Heading to the bathroom, she got into something a bit more comfortable before sitting down at the desk in the room and opening her portfolio. She groaned as her pencil made some marks on the dress she was working on.
Was this really what she needed right now?
Leaning back in the chair, Landi tucked a pencil behind her ear and put another one in her mouth, worrying it as she stared at the image before her. There was just something off about the design.
A knock sounded and absently she pushed back from the desk and took the paper with her. “Hang on.” She opened it, figuring it was Jason stopping by to work on tomorrow’s presentation.