Dimitri's Moon (9 page)

Her arms wrapped around his neck, his damp hair teasing her skin. A satisfied groan left her as her silk robe opened. Closing her eyes, Landi just enjoyed his touch. Breakfast was forgotten as Dimitri made love to her against the pantry door.

Landi moved through her apartment, alone for the moment.

Dimitri had left to go meet AJ who was flying back to Greece. He promised her he’d be back just as soon as he could.

Landi had taken a long shower and put on some comfortable sweats and tee shirt from her own line. Then she began organizing the multitudes of flowers he’d brought her. He must have spent a fortune on these arrangements. She smiled and shook her head. Wiping the cleaning cloth over the now empty counter, she sighed.

“What am I doing?” she asked the air.

Just last night she had told him she hated him. But did she really? He had explained what had taken him away from her on that day.

Would she be able to let this go and give them another shot?

Kacy always told her she had a vicious tongue and even Jason had mentioned it recently. Would Dimitri prefer her if she were meek and quiet? Landi snorted. “Moot point, it ain’t gonna happen.”

She rested her elbows on the sparkling countertop and sighed again. Here she was, New Year’s Day, and she was wondering if the
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man who’d made love to her all night and this morning would prefer her a different way.

“I’m going insane. I just have to find a way to trust him again.”

Washing her hands, Landi plucked a moth orchid bloom and put it in her hair, then sat down at her workstation. There was a new line she was working on, a maternity line. Kacy had revealed she and Ernst were talking about having children. Landi wanted to make sure her friend could have something comfortable to wear.

Time flew by as she sketched. She took a short break, calling Jason to wish him a Happy New Year, and then got back to work. When her doorbell rang, Landi ignored it for a moment as she stared at her paper. With a few quick strokes, she got the image she wanted. Then she got up to answer the door.

A devilishly charming man stood on the other side. Dimitri leaned against the wall, his golden eyes heating her up from the soles of her feet to the top of her head. There was a black duffle bag over one shoulder and his gaze never wavered from hers. A sexy half smile was on his face.

“Hello, beautiful,” he said in a silvery tone.

Landi couldn’t stop her smile. “You are the devil in disguise, Dimitri Melonakos. Handsome, smooth talking, and very, very charming.” Her body responded to him, just as it always did.

Straightening, he took his free hand and touched the tip of her nose. “Working hard?”

“Why?”

He shrugged. “You have pencils behind both ears, and one in your hand. Just curious.”

Landi flushed as she removed them. “I tend to do that when I get into a project. Coming in?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Dimitri flowed past her, flooding her senses with the amazing smell of the ocean he always seemed to have.

Closing the door behind her, Landi stared at the man in her apartment. She could watch him for hours. He placed his bag down by the beginning of the hall that led to her bedroom and then turned and looked at her. His eyes traveled over her lazily as if he had all the time in the world to stare.

“What are you working on?” he asked, breaking the silence.

“Maternity clothes.”

Dimitri’s eyes grew wide as he tipped his head to the side. “Can I see?” Landi smiled. Leading the way to her desk, she stood by her 62

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work as he looked at it. “She seems familiar in some way,” he commented.

“I’m basing it on Kacy. She told me she and Ernst have been talking more and more about starting their family. I don’t live next door to her and can’t help out that way if she does get pregnant, but I
can
make sure the clothes she wears will be comfortable and functional.”

“Ernst a father?” Dimitri nodded. “He’ll make a great one.”

Landi stole a sideways glance at the man beside her.
I bet you’d
make one hell of a father yourself, Dimitri Melonakos.
Images of him with a boy and a girl flashed through her mind, startling her. He looked at her and smiled another heart-melting grin.

“She’s lucky to have you as a friend, Landi.” His deep voice wound around her like velvet. Tearing her gaze from his, she focused back on the sketches before her. Her heart pounded loudly and her palms sweat. “Look at me, Landi,” he ordered.

Landi did as he commanded. His eyes were darker than normal as they held her gaze. “I have work to do, Dimitri. What do you want?”

“It’s New Year’s Day, Landi. You can take some time off.”

The allure in his voice poured over her like a heavy syrup. She longed to do what he suggested. Putting the pencils down, she nodded and licked her lips. “Okay, then, Dimitri Melonakos. What did you have in mind?”

The sparkle in his eyes should have told her exactly what he had planned for her.

Seven

Los Angeles, California

“Looking great, Landi!” Jason hollered across the room to her.

She waved back at him. They had just gotten a new buyer con-tract and were wrapping up the presentation. It had been a long week, although, southern California in winter wasn’t a bad place to be.

Honestly, Landi had expected this presentation to take a bit longer, so now she had some free time on her hands.

Nodding to herself, Landi scanned over some documents in her hands. This was excellent; her line was exploding. A new year and a fresh start. She smiled as she thought of Dimitri. They’d spent an amazing two days together in New York City. Dimitri had done what she’d sworn he would never have the chance to do again: get under her skin and make her love him even more. He wanted to try again. Landi longed for this to work, but she was leery. At the moment, they were giving the dating thing a go. She was determined to move slowly.

Dimitri seemed to have other ideas. He called her daily, sent her numerous e-mails, and never let her head hit the pillow at night without telling her how much he loved her.

As the last rack of her clothing rolled out to the truck, her phone rang. “Nycks.”

“
Empros
, gorgeous.” Dimitri’s voice rolled over her.

“Hey, stranger. What are you doing?” She sent a small nod to one of the workers as they handed her a clipboard for her to sign. She read quickly through it before signing the paper with a flourish and handing it back. She walked to the doorway and stared at the vehicle taking the items back to her hotel room. She’d pack them for the trip back to New York. Landi was very picky about how her clothing was secured.

“I miss you,” he said.

“Right. That doesn’t answer my question.”

“Where are you?”

“LA. Just got done with a sales pitch. Packing up the stuff to get back to the hotel. What about you? Out in some exotic locale? Skimpily dressed women and unlimited Mai Tai’s?”

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He chuckled. “Not really. Well, not unless you call warm bottled water, a gym, and sweaty men an exotic locale.”

Landi smiled. “I would.” His grumble of displeasure crossed the line and she couldn’t help laughing.

“Not funny, Landi.”

“I thought it was. Seriously, where are you?”

“Looking out over the Pacific. How long are you remaining in LA?”

“We’re here for another two days. The pitch went a lot smoother than we thought, so Jason and I have some extra time.”

“Jason’s with you?”

“Of course he is. He always comes with me. Besides, he loves it out here in California.” A low muttered sentence reached her and she laughed again. “I don’t want him to stay out here permanently, Dimitri.”

“Wouldn’t bother me a bit,” he mumbled. “I want to see you.”

She frowned as she climbed in the back of the black town car that waited for her. “You said you were overlooking the Pacific. Where are you?”

“Coronado.”

Taking the drink Jason offered her; she took a sip and said,

“What are you doing there?”

“Training. But I can get away.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want you to get in any trouble.”

“Baby, don’t worry about that. I want to see you. In fact I want to take you to dinner.”

Landi looked at Jason and placed her hand over her phone. “Jason, will you be okay if I go down to Coronado for the next two days?”

He gave her a thumbs up sign. “How about I come down to you?” she suggested to Dimitri.

“You’d do that?”

“Sure. I can get a hotel down there and that way you won’t get into trouble. Unless you can’t leave wherever you are.”

“I can leave. I’ll get you a hotel room.”

“No. I’ll have it set up. I’ll call you just as soon as my plans are finalized and I’m on my way.” Landi had very specific tastes about her accommodations.

“I love you, Landi,” he said before she disconnected the call.

Jason stared at her with amusement in his gaze. “So,” he drew out, “going on a rendezvous with the old man, are we?”

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“Shut up, Jason. I’m just meeting him down in Coronado.” A shiver of anticipation washed over her.

“Well, start making your plans. I’ll get a rental car for you,” he told her as he flipped out his phone and dialed a number.

She sent him a smile. Jason honestly was the best friend in the world. He may tease her unmercifully; but when push came to shove, he always had her back.

In less than two hours, she was driving south toward Coronado.

The top of her Mustang was down and she thoroughly enjoyed the warm air flowing over her. A smile was on her face as she drove, listening to Mary J. Blige. Shifting on the leather seat, she thought about Dimitri. She hadn’t seen him since the New Year. She missed him.

She downshifted as she entered San Diego. Following the directions she’d been given, Landi stayed alert and was soon pulling into her hotel. She grinned with joy as her gaze landed not only on Dimitri, but also Ernst and Osten. The three of them were leaning casually against a black Dodge Charger parked near the rear of the lot, talking and laughing amongst themselves.

Damn, damn, and double damn! That is one hell of a good-looking
group of men!

Landi scanned over them as she drove toward them. Ernst, the tallest, wore khaki shorts and a white shirt with sunglasses. His light-blond hair looked almost white in the sun. He stood between the other two. Osten wore a baseball cap backward, a sleeveless gray shirt, and black shorts. She swallowed as her eyes traveled over the muscles in his arms. Osten also wore sunglasses, as was Dimitri. Her gaze settled on him and she groaned. He had on a tight black shirt and loose blue shorts with flip-flops.

She parked next to them, loving the grin that filled Dimitri’s face as she did. He moved toward her, the others remaining against the car.

“Hey, beautiful,” he said as he leaned over the door and kissed her.

“Wow, three men to meet and greet me.” She shut off the engine and climbed out when he opened the door. “Hi, guys,” she said with a wave.

“Hey, Landi,” Osten greeted.

Ernst walked over and hugged her, kissing her cheek. “Hey, yourself, stranger. You know Kacy is going to kill me for being able to see you while she can’t.”

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“Well, I’ll tell her I didn’t expect to get to see you. It was just a bonus.” She walked to the trunk and pulled out two bags. “I have to get checked in. Are you two joining us for something to eat?”

“We’d love to,” Osten said. “We’ll be here waiting.”

“Come, Landi,” Dimitri told her, grabbing her bags and heading for the entrance.

She smiled at his back. She could tell he didn’t want to share her.

It warmed her. Dimitri didn’t say anything else as she got checked in; but when the door of her room closed behind them, he dropped her bags, pulled her in close, and kissed her.

It was powerful, intense. Her knees were weak when he released her mouth. “I’ve missed you,” he said.

Landi tasted as delicious as she always did, crème de menthe.

Then there was the scent of lemon, lavender, and peppermint that surrounded her, putting Dimitri’s senses on overdrive. A purr vibrated up from her throat as she leaned into him and kissed him back before she ended it.

“We have to go, they’re waiting on us.”

“Who cares,” he rumbled, pulling her tighter against him.

“Come on, Dimitri. Let’s go eat.”

He looked at her. She wore a white and pink shirt with tight, white capris. One her feet were cute little sandals that showed off her pink toenails. “You look good enough to eat.” His skin prickled as he scanned her again. “Are you sure we have to go with them?”

“Yes, now, come on.”

Damn, I hate it when she’s right.
Dimitri sighed and walked to the door, knowing full well if he touched her again, dinner would not be happening. They headed outside in a companionable silence to find Ernst and Osten waiting.

“Where to?” Landi asked.

“I’m up for anything,” Ernst replied.

“Your choice, Landi,” Osten insisted.

“You two follow; we’ll pick somewhere.” Dimitri opened her car door and fought down the urge to toss her over his shoulder and disappear back into the hotel.

A bit later the four of them were sitting at an outdoor table overlooking the Pacific. A large plate of appetizers sat between them and Dimitri listened as Landi chatted with Ernst, getting caught up on Kacy.

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His gaze moved over her smooth, dark skin. Her beauty made him ache.

Dinner was lighthearted and fun; yet as she waved goodbye to Ernst and Osten, he was more than ready to have her to himself. Settling against the side of her rental, he draped an arm around her and pulled her to him.

“Up for a walk?”

“I think that would be a great idea.” Landi leaned against him briefly before pushing away from the Mustang and his touch.