The Greek Tycoon's Lover (7 page)

Helen shook her head nervously. “You don’t have to do that,” she instantly replied.

“Of course I do. How are you going to know what your responsibilities are going to be if I don’t tell you more about the job? But right now, I’m hungry and you haven’t eaten since that half sandwich you ate for lunch so we’re going out. Get your purse and shut down your computer. Don’t bring anything home to work on either,” he warned.

Helen nodded her head efficiently and walked out to shut everything down. She picked up a notebook despite his claim that she shouldn’t bring any work home with her. She’d just take notes during dinner, she thought, and then tonight she could mull over her new duties and figure out how to get them organized in her mind.

Dinner that evening was delicious but they didn’t talk about her job at all. Instead, he made her laugh by telling her silly stories about the people in the Athens office. She ate more than she needed to and by the time the raspberry tort with thick cream was devoured, she was feeling very content.

“Thank you very much for dinner,” she said softly as he walked her to her door.

Dimitri stared down into her soft, smiling features and wished he could bend down and kiss her full lips that were sweetly parted. She wanted him to kiss her. He could sense it just as thoroughly as he knew that he was a male and she a female. It was in the air and the tense moment spread out. Somehow, Dimitri wasn’t sure where he found the energy, but he managed to resist the temptation. That would be bad, he reminded himself. Because once he started kissing her, he didn’t intend to stop. And knowing that her pretty bed in the soft yellow room was only a few feet away, he had to step back quickly or be tempted to pull her into his arms.

“I’ll see you in the morning, Helen. We’ll celebrate your last day in London with a shopping spree, okay?”

“Oh, no need!” she said quickly, forcing her mind to back away from the fantasy of having this gorgeous man kiss her and show her what sex was all about. For a moment, she’d forgotten that he was her boss and she would be starting a new job with bigger responsibilities in just a few hours. It was humiliating to think that he might be able to see the desire on her face but she was grateful for the dim light overhead. “I’ve already purchased everything I’ll need for Greece. Besides, I have to go over the details of my job to my replacement who is arriving tomorrow morning. I hope you’ll like her,” she said as professionally as she could.

Dimitri sighed. One more day, he reminded himself. There would be no more work she could hide behind and she’d just have to face up to what she felt for him and let him show her what he felt in return.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said but couldn’t resist reaching out to touch her soft cheek gently.

Helen didn’t think she’d be able to sleep that night. Her skin was still tingling from where he’d casually touched her face and she was so excited about the move and being in the bright sunshine. But as soon as her head hit the pillow, she was fast asleep.

Chapter 5

The next morning was frantic as she showed her replacement the ropes and still answered all of Dimitri’s requests.

It was late afternoon and Helen finally had a moment to breathe as she briefed Dimitri on her progress. When she was finished, she lowered her notepad and looked across the desk at him, eagerly waiting for the next round of instructions for the day.

Dimitri watched her, and counted the hours. Fifteen. “I like the outfit, by the way,” he said, and enjoyed the soft blush that came over her features. This particular skirt was a soft blue paired with a blue silk shirt that exactly matched her eyes. He had noticed her lipstick as well. Today’s was a pretty pink that only highlighted the full lips that he’d been aching to taste for more months than he wanted to think about.

And her eyes! Good grief! She was wearing mascara now that darkened the lashes, making her beautiful blue eyes stand out. She looked like a soft, pretty kitten that blinked curiously in his direction.

“Thank you,” she said softly, unable to look him in the eye as she smoothed the flattering fabric over her knees as she sat primly on the edge of her chair. Dimitri was glad she’d forgotten about the instructions for the rest of the day. He wanted her to go home and relax, enjoy her last night in town. Would she do it?

They were suddenly interrupted by Jim Miller, his financial expert in the London office who immediately stopped and took in Helen’s new attire. The man whistled and smiled broadly. “Helen! I like it. Great new look.”

Helen’s reaction to this man immediately soothed the rage that filled Dimitri after that effusive compliment. Helen’s blush didn’t appear and she was not flustered in any way. She simply looked the man professionally in the eye and said a polite thank you, turning on her heel and walking out of the office. Her head was high and shoulders back, ignoring the man’s rude behavior completely.

When Jim turned to watch Helen walk out of the office, blatantly ignoring Dimitri, his temper flared once again. “Watch it,” Dimitri growled. “She’s not for public consumption.”

Jim’s eyes snapped back to Dimitri’s and blinked, as if he were unaware of how inappropriate his actions were. “Sorry, Helen’s always been a knockout but now…Wow!” he exclaimed. “I’ve been asking her out to dinner or lunch for months but with no luck.” He looked back at the now empty door where Helen had just disappeared and shook his head. “I might just ramp up my efforts now.”

Dimitri’s eyes sliced the man. “Forget her. As I said, she’s not available,” Dimitri said coldly.

Jim’s face flushed with color as he finally received the intended message. “Oh.. Umm….I see,” he said. “Is that why she’s leaving for Greece Saturday?” he said, finally putting two and two together. He smiled a little forlornly. “Are you sure she’s interested?” he asked bravely.

Dimitri raised one eyebrow at the man’s audacity but since he wasn’t being malicious about it, he decided to answer his question. “Yes.” Was all he said, keeping the fact that he’d have to convince Helen that she was allowed to be interested to himself. For some reason, Helen didn’t think she could be the type of woman Dimitri was interested in. He had solid plans to disabuse her of that ridiculous notion as soon as he could get her alone with him and away from the office. Helen tended to hide behind work when she got nervous instead of confronting the reason for that anxiety.

He’d take it slow, Dimitri told himself. He’d make sure she understood how long he’d been thinking about her, tell her how gorgeous and sexy she was down underneath all that professionalism. But now that the plan was in action, there was no stopping it. He was going to have her.

“Well…” Jim started off after a prolonged wait for more information. “I guess that says it all, doesn’t it?” he stammered out. “But…” he took a deep breath, obviously nervous about what he was about to say but determined to say it anyway. “Well, the thing is, that many of us have tried to get Helen to go out with us,” he started off, only to stop when he saw Dimitri’s eyes become even more forbidding. “She’s beautiful, Dimitri. And she’s a nice person inside. It’s no wonder those of us not married are interested in her,” he said, puffing up his chest with his resolution to finish. “And if you’re going to just play with her, well then I’ve got something to say about that.”

Dimitri watched the man squirm for a long time, admiring his spirit and respecting him even more now that he was willing to stand up for his Helen. But the fact was, Helen was going to be his, and no one else’s.

“Don’t hurt her, is all I’m trying to say,” Jim finally finished. “If she’s just another woman to you, then I’m going to step in and ask you to back off. Helen isn’t like all those other women you date.” He could no longer hold Dimitri’s gaze as he finished off, “She’s special.”

Dimitri cleared his throat and stood up. “I won’t hurt her. And you’re right. She’s special,” he said softly. “Trust me. I have only the noblest intentions.”

The two men stood facing each other, Jim clearly out classed by Dimitri’s superior height and breadth as well as that certain something that had women clamoring all over him to get into his bed. Finally, Jim accepted what Dimitri was saying and nodded. “Good enough. But if it doesn’t work out,” he started off, only to be interrupted by Dimitri’s angry gaze.

“It will work out.”

Jim sighed heavily. “That’s part of the problem,” he said. “Congratulations,” he said, his mouth forming a smile that Dimitri didn’t see reflected in the older man’s eyes.

“Thank you. What did you need to see me about?” Dimitri asked, changing the subject to something a little less volatile.

Jim’s mind shifted unwillingly to the papers he was holding in his hand and started explaining the issue. Once he’d received direction from Dimitri, he left, barely looking at Helen as he passed by her desk.

Dimitri watched him leave and wondered how many other men felt the same way about Helen as he did.

“What’s wrong with Jim?” Helen asked, clasping a file folder to her chest as she watched the man walk down the hallway. She was standing next to Dimitri, her body half turned toward him while she considered her friend’s strange behavior.

“Why do you ask?”

“Because he usually stops by my desk to talk, or to ask me out one more time,” she laughed up to Dimitri’s face. “But today, he was very business-like.”

Dimitri looked down into her lovely blue eyes, thinking about her soft, full lips and how perfectly he knew they were going to feel against his mouth, his skin….his…Dimitri stopped that train of thought, knowing it would lead to yet another cold shower. “He’s busy,” was all he would say. “Come on into my office,” he said.

Helen didn’t hesitate as she walked quickly behind him, eager to take on any task he handed her. “How many other men in this building ask you out regularly?” he asked, his voice calm but inside, he was furious. How could he have been so wrapped up in his own plans that he’d failed to notice other men’s interest?

“Oh, that,” she said waving her hand dismissively. “Jim’s never serious. Have you seen the women he dates?” she asked. “And his ex-wife, Louise is stunning. Jim and the others are just being nice,” she said, shrugging away the question as if Dimitri were only being silly.

“How many, Helen?” he demanded, hands on his hips and his teeth gritted angrily.

Helen looked up at him, yet another blush forming on her soft, creamy cheeks. “Oh, just a few.”

“Names, Helen. I want their names.” He would talk to each and every one of them to make sure those men understood the situation.

“Oh, Dimitri, please don’t worry about their comments and pointless flirtations. They aren’t serious. They are all just flattering me so they can get better access to you. You’re their boss, so it’s natural that they would want to butter me up.”

Dimitri sighed heavily. “Helen, you have no idea how beautiful you are, do you?” he asked harshly. This could be a problem. If she didn’t know people were hitting on her, how was she going to prevent it? “You’re going to have to understand that sooner or later, you know,” he growled out, not wanting to take a single step backwards now that he felt as if he’d made some progress with her.

Helen’s blush intensified and she laughed nervously. “Really, Dimitri, you don’t have to say things like that,” she whispered, remembering the words of her ex-boyfriend who had said she was just a plain Jane that would never amount to much. Which was the truth, she thought. She would never be what she truly wanted. Looking at Dimitri, she thought about all her fantasies and dreams and could only sigh in response.

Dimitri shook his head. “Helen…” he started off, only to stop himself from saying anything. Why convince her that she was the sexiest woman he’d ever run into? He should wait, show her once he finally got her alone.

“What about the travel arrangements?” Helen asked, changing the subject when she saw him rub his hand along his neck. “This Alessandra? Is there a problem with my move?” she asked anxiously. She tried to keep the worry out of her tone but thought she might have failed when he turned and smiled down at her. Was he only patronizing her because he didn’t think she could do the job? “I mean, if you are having second thoughts, then all you have to do is say so. I will understand.”

He looked down into her eyes. Her whole body was tense as if bracing for the bad news that he’d changed his mind. The woman would really need to get more confidence. And he’d do all he could to help her in that area as well.

Of course, he’d had second thoughts all right, Dimitri thought. He’d had so many thoughts he could barely sleep, needing her in his bed and her soft body wrapped around his. He wanted to hear her soft moans as he brought her to a climax time and again. He didn’t think those were the kinds of thoughts she was talking about so he refocused on her face and smiled. “Absolutely not. The position is all yours. You just have a different capacity. I’ll talk you through it starting on Saturday,” he said, his fatigue instantly evaporating as he thought about all he was going to tell her. “But it will be difficult for you to change into it so you’ll have to learn to follow my directions carefully,” he explained.

“I understand,” she replied seriously. “I’m eager to learn and I promise I won’t let you down.” Helen squared her shoulders and her pretty eyes glowed with determination.

Dimitri had to stifle a bark of laughter. They were obviously talking about two different things and he couldn’t wait to reveal his plans for her. “Good. So let Alessandra deal with the travel arrangements. I’ll pick you up on Saturday morning at eight o’clock. Okay? Are you all packed?”