Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
K ara
Surprises happened often in my line of work and usually they weren’t pleasant ones. To find myself having flown halfway across the country for a single interview only to be turned down at the airport upon landing topped the list.
And moving in with an asshole who’d stolen my notes and made a name for himself was a great reminder of how conniving men could be. Was there any difference between Havros and my asshole ex? I honestly didn’t know the answer, but the handsome Greek would not pull the wool over my eyes. It wasn’t happening.
I’d suffered through backlash from articles written that hadn’t seemed controversial at the time. That one had almost cost me my job. The insults I’d endured while interviewing a boxing champion had forced me to retaliate in a not-so-nice way. I’d hurled some fairly nasty accusations at the man and it had been caught on camera.
That was the one where I had lost my job. I’d thought my career was in the toilet at that point. Yet when I turned freelance and decided to capture the truth about criminals? That was when my career had zoomed up a notch or five.
The surprise Havros had instigated was so unexpected, I wasn’t certain how I felt or how to react.
“A scuba shop?” I asked as I stared out the windshield. If the man expected me to go diving with him, he was out of his mind. I wasn’t going ten feet under, let alone any deeper. For all I knew, he was finished with the interview and was planning on disposing my body on the ocean floor. Perhaps I was being somewhat dramatic, but the moment of shock and excitement was quickly wearing off.
But the terrible fear won out and I was immediately perspiring all over. It was close to impossible to keep from whimpering like a child. I’d prided myself that I’d gotten over the fear, but that obviously wasn’t the case.
“We do have them in Kolonaki.”
“I can’t go diving with you. I mean I won’t. Do you understand me?”
He obviously wasn’t listening since he’d already stopped the engine and had opened his door. We were parked directly in front of the quaint-looking store and I was hesitant to climb out, clutching my purse like it would help me get out of this mess.
I was also almost certain I was going to faint.
You can do this. It’s safe. It’s normal to be apprehensive.
The pep talk wasn’t one I’d been prepared for or accepted.
When he opened my door, I cringed deep inside. He was making some point and while a small part of me believed him when he said he wasn’t into hurting women, I was a cautious woman. My ex had taught me that valuable lesson.
“Come, Kara. This isn’t going to be tough.”
“I’m not going diving.” Why was he staring at me like something was wrong?
“Something happened on a dive.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It does to me.”
He sounded so sincere. “I just can’t do it. I’m sorry. If that makes you think less of me, then so be it.”
Only because I was about ready to have a panic attack. Oh, good going. I was trying my best to act tough and self-preserving and I might faint at his feet.
“I would never think less of you and I never said we were.” He held out his hand in such a way I knew he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. I finally accepted it, hating myself for doing so almost immediately.
“Then what are we doing?”
“We’re going night snorkeling.”
“What?” While he had a tight grip on my hand, I still managed to yank it free. “I’ve never done that.”
“Night diving?”
“For my advanced certification, but that was different. It was dark and cold and honestly, I didn’t like it very much.”
“This is entirely different. But you’ll need to trust me. Do you think you can?” He pressed his hand on the small of my back, refusing to allow me to get out of this.
“Trust you? I’d need to have my head examined.” Why, oh why did he have to laugh in the sultry tone that sent shivers down my spine? I licked my lips, my mouth completely dry.
He managed to push me inside and I was immediately taken back to the early days, the very first time I’d gone resort diving. I’d been completely green, learning to breathe through old traditional tanks in the Bahamas before being taken on a forty-foot dive for the first time.
Yes, the situation was controlled and I’d loved every minute of it, but this was different.
“I don’t have a swimsuit.”
“Neither do I,” he said. “We’ll take care of that here.”
“Where will we change? I’m not doing it in the car.” No siree. Not with him looking on and anyone who walked by the fancy vehicle he was driving.
“They have changing rooms.”
“In here?” The man had an answer for everything.
He grinned in his knowing, almost mischievous way as he conversed with the woman behind the counter in Greek. I stood right where I was, the anxiousness creating major butterflies in my stomach. I’d been surprised and impressed by his impressive dinner skills. I’d mostly enjoyed our conversation, but this was another situation.
The woman pointed toward a wall at the back of the store. In front of various snorkels and masks were racks of women’s swimsuits. I hadn’t thought about packing a swimsuit for the trip. Why would I?
Kolonaki was only close to paradise. Why should I have even considered taking any time for myself? As Jacob had reminded me, this wasn’t a vacation.
The man was such a hard-ass.
“Select anything you want,” Havros said from behind me. “My treat. Oh, and so there’s no misunderstanding. There is no backing out. You are mine for the night.”
While he walked away, leaving me standing in the middle of racks of neon yellow, fuchsia, and saga blue, I could still feel his presence almost a full minute later. His for the night. The thoughts running through my mind were horrendous.
They also reeked of passion.
I closed my eyes, forced to try to regroup. How was that possible around the man? He was completely disarming. I glanced over my shoulder, watching as he picked through men’s swim trunks. For some crazy, treasonous reason, I couldn’t wait to see what he picked out. Did swim trunks suddenly say a lot about the man wearing them?
“Okay,” I whispered to myself. Snorkeling I could do. The surface was right there. No worry about getting the bends or deep-sea monsters feasting on my flesh. I only had to worry about surface monsters. Thankfully, my intimate and very personal quips allowed me a smile.
Evidently my stereotype of mafia leaders, which up until this point I’d thought was based in fact, was completely wrong. He was sexy and exciting, giving and enticing, dangerously alluring, and could cook one mean marinara sauce. Let alone just how adorable he’d looked in an apron.
What other crime syndicate leader of the pack, huge he-man alpha wolf wore an apron? Damn it. If only I’d gotten a picture. No, he would have pooh-poohed that right away. Not good for his barbarian image.
But good for the ladies. He could become the world’s hottest bachelor.
A strange pang swept through me. Jealousy? Not a chance. I wasn’t that into him.
Then why are you sneaking another look in his direction?
I concentrated on selecting a swimsuit that wouldn’t make me look frumpy instead of chasing my tail trying to see through his clothes. I found one that might work, holding it up in the better light yet groaning inwardly. It was bright pink. Not my color. But the style was lovely. Maybe I could pull it off.
“ Teleiótita se roz .”
How did he manage to end up directly behind me? Electrodes exploded in my body and my brain. “What did you say?
“I said perfection in pink. You’re the kind of woman who could wear anything or nothing and still remain absolutely perfect in my eyes. But the color will bring out the stunning blush on your cheeks, the vivid color in your eyes.”
I couldn’t remember the last time a man had complimented me, let alone sounded as I he’d pulled the words straight from a sonnet. “And what did you select? Bully black?”
When I swung around as if with purpose in mind, he was not only grinning, his eyes flashing, but he was holding up the most incredible emerald green pair of swim trunks I’d ever seen in my life. They highlighted his eyes like nobody’s business. They also were sensual instead of being either gawdy or repulsive.
There was nothing worse in my eyes than any man, even well-toned, who wore little more than butt floss on the beach. The same held for women, which is why the suit I’d chosen had a full bottom.
Hell, just like me.
I sucked in my breath and nodded as if some stupid little doll in a window. Why did this man have such a powerful effect on me? “Did you try it on?” And my voice was squeaking.
“No need. I know exactly what suits me best.” His voice held the same dark and dangerous tone as the night before and during the morning meeting, but there was more depth to it. More need.
I was reading way too much into this. “I, um…”
“That will fit exquisitely. Let’s select snorkels and masks. Pink to match?”
“Over my dead body.”
He laughed and we headed toward the wall, the man forcing me to try on mask after mask until he determined one fit snugly enough.
“These are perfect. I’ll go pay for them while you change.”
“Shit. I left my purse in the car.”
“My treat,” he insisted.
“Oh, no. I pay my way. I make sure I’m not beholden to anyone.”
When he’d brushed hair from my eyes before, I’d been stunned at the tenderness he used. This time, the same action indicated possession. “You will never be beholden to anyone, especially me. However, you can make it up to me at some point.” I must have opened my mouth to object because he planted his index finger over my lips. “Tsk. Tsk. Be a good girl and don’t object.”
A good girl. The little words make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. This was getting out of hand. He was a client, a man I should keep my distance from and I was acting like some lap dog. When had my personality changed so much from being ballsy to melting to his touch?
Frustrated, I backed away, asking the woman behind the counter where I could change. When I walked inside the tiny space, the size no larger than an airplane lavatory, I rolled my eyes. But I admitted something else to myself.
This was kind of fun, more spontaneous than I’d been in a very long time. I don’t know when the idea of picking up and going to a club or to see a movie, or perhaps meeting friends for brunch on a whim had changed. But I’d been nothing but a homebody. Well, when I wasn’t traveling the world. I wanted this life. I’d worked my butt off to get to where I was.
Why did it feel like I was homesick?
This wasn’t my home, but I felt good here. Comfortable. As if I was meant to live in Greece.
With no mirror, I closed my eyes, shoving the ridiculous thoughts aside while fighting the space and my mind to change. All I could do was drop my head, making sure all the naughty bits were covered. Thankfully, they were. I couldn’t stand to parade around in front of him in almost nothing.
Like I was just getting ready to do. I couldn’t put my dress on over this. And heels? Oh, God. I’d look ridiculous. This hadn’t been a well thought out plan.
I was frustrated, hemming and hawing for at least three minutes before accepting there was no getting out of this. After gathering my things, I walked out to the store, holding my breath the entire time.
What I hadn’t expected was to find him standing in flipflops and his swim trunks. Holy hell, his butt looked so good in them. He was leaning over the counter, casually chatting with the store clerk in Greek. They acted almost as if they were best friends. Whatever he was saying to her had already made her blush.
Was I shocked? I doubted much about the man could do that any longer. But I was a little miffed. Was he openly flirting with her? I padded forward and his incredible physique held my rapt attention. He was gorgeous from the back, every muscle sculpted to perfection. How was it even possible a man could look so good in shorts?
I was very quiet, yet he knew the moment I approached, turning so slowly, it was as if in slow motion. His eyes reflected his thoughts and I was floored. His expression was genuine and appreciative, so much so I noticed the bulge between his long legs had thickened.
Now I was the one embarrassed. No man had openly shown me this level of attraction before. As I walked closer, the clerk finally started bagging up the items he’d purchased, including two flashlights and what appeared to be two hunting-style knives in vibrant colors.
“What are the knives for?” I asked, selecting one and grimacing at the color matching my suit. In diving, they were a necessity in case you were tangled in a fishing line. But for snorkeling?
“In case we run into any predators along the way.”
“Aren’t you the predator I should be worried about?”
“Always, but there are different types, some with sharp teeth.” Havros moved closer. “Don’t worry. I will protect you.”
“With your big fat gun or are you also skilled in the use of knives?” Being this close to a half-naked man had its pitfalls since he was my client. But it also had its perks. If I wasn’t careful, I’d start swooning from the warmth and his intoxicating scent. The tattoo on his forearm was in full display, the beautiful creation a work of art.
“Do you really want me to answer?” He slowly dropped his gaze to his arm, flexing his muscles. “A family crest. Until death we prevail.”
I pulled the knife from the plastic sheath, twisting and turning the blade. “I’m curious about your family motto. Aren’t you afraid I’ll use this on you?” Maybe I was feeling my oats or pushing my luck, but I walked closer, pressing the tip of the blade against his neck.
He didn’t flinch, his only reaction yet another bright smile. “Go for it. That might make an interesting addition to your article.” He lifted his head, his actions making a proclamation. He was challenging me.
When he took the knife from my hand, I didn’t try to resist. There was no use in doing so.
Maybe that was the moment I knew without a doubt that I’d end up in the man’s bed.
Even if that were true, I made a promise to myself that he would never, ever be able to capture my will.
Or my heart.