Chapter Seven

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!”

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 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.

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.

She was wrong.

Dimitri Melonakos stood there, hands in the pockets of his dark-gray slacks, watching her. A black shirt was stretched tautly across his torso. His thick hair was almost shaggy; but on him, it looked so damn good.

“What the fuck do you want?” she snapped.

“We need to talk.” He held her gaze and her breath hitched as his golden orbs seemed to peer into her soul.

“No. We don’t.” Landi began closing the door when one of his hands landed on it.

“Yes. We do.” Dimitri stepped closer and swamped her with the fresh, crisp smell of the ocean that surrounded him.

She arched a brow. “No, we do not! You made sure of that, Mr. Melonakos, the day you walked off without a word to me! You have no claim over any second of my time!” Landi pushed against the door.

“Let me explain…” he tried.

“I don’t care to hear anything you have to say! Our time is over. Now leave me alone before I call security!”

“Landi—”

“No!” she yelled. “You are nothing to me now!” With a hard shove, she shut her door and locked it immediately.

Damn you, Dimitri! Damn you!

Landi stomped back over to her desk and flopped down. Her pencil made fast, angry strokes as she worked on the dress design.

A few moments later, another knock came on the door. Slapping the pencil down, she stood and headed back to the door, yanking it open snarling, “Get lost, D—!”

Jason. One black brow rose as he stared at her. “Everything okay, Landi?”

She sagged against the doorframe. “Fine,” she muttered. “Just peachy. Get in here.”

She pulled Jason in her room and her eyes darted to the sides, but she could see no sign of Dimitri. Closing the door, she could still feel the air hum with the energy that came when Dimitri was around.