The Summer Deal (12 page)

Demo’s body relaxed and he playfully ran his fingers over Sammy’s back. Shivers traveled along her spine, and she inwardly admitted she’d missed him. She had called him not for a ride home, but because she wanted to spend the evening with him.

“They offered us the car, but neither one of us drives st
andard
. Kathy suggested they drop us off here so we could enjoy the view while we waited for them to return. We were about to leave and take a taxi back when we realized we had no cash, only credit cards. So I decided to call you instead of asking a driver to detour to an ATM.”

“I’m glad you did.” Then Demo spoke against her ear, echoing her sentiments. “I missed you, and I’ll take any excuse to spend time with you.”

She gloried briefly in the shared private moment when he placed his lips just below her ear, knowing it would all end in six weeks. He had said he was only looking for fun, to enjoy the summer, just as she had planned when she’d left New York. Sammy settled against him and decided to think about the consequences later.

*****

They dropped Kathy off first, and Sammy was next. “I’ll take Tony and Zoë to their bungalow and unload. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

She said good night to the couple snuggled in the back of the jeep and let herself in. Checking the clock in the kitchen, she decided to call her mother. It was almost dinnertime back home.

“Greece is gorgeous. You’d love it here, Mom.”

“Make sure you take some time to see the sights. Don’t bury your nose in work the whole time. You don’t know if you’ll ever have a chance to see such things again. Make this a summer to remember, honey.”

“I don’t have much choice. Demo is very happy to play host.”

“Demo?” Her mother’s voice displayed a disapproving concern. “Honey, don’t refer to your boss casually. You might offend him.”

“He insists on it, Mom. He’s really nice and very attentive. I’m having a hard time regulating my feelings for him. I don’t want to make a mistake and walk away with my tail between my legs and my head hung low.”

“Listen to me, Samantha Mallone. You’ve worked too hard to throw it all away on a handsome body and a good-looking face. Concentrate on your work and your studies. You don’t need a man in your life to mess up your dreams.”

“Mom, Demo isn’t like that. He’s very supportive, and he’s even offered to help me study for the bar.”

“And his motives?” her mother prompted.

It hurt to hear her mother’s words, but Samantha knew she had called for exactly that reason. It was time for a reality check, and the woman who loved her and whose life had been torn apart by a jealous and abusive husband was the one to give it to her.

“Honey, even if his intentions are not to hurt you, he will. You’ll lose sight of yourself, and you’ll pin your hopes on a future with him.”

“No, Mom. I’ll never do that again. I won’t let a man determine who I am, nor will I place my happiness in his hands. The lesson was hard, but I’ve learned to listen to my needs and desires.” The problem was, it was Demo she desired, and it was Demo she needed.

“Good, baby. Don’t forget that you are important and you deserve the best. I love you so much and don’t think I could stand it if a man broke your heart again.”

“I know. I love you too.” Sammy heard the jeep in the drive. “I’ll call you in a few days. Need to go.”

“Okay, sleep well.”

Sammy hung up the phone and went into her room, closing the door as Demo entered the bungalow. She was not in any state to talk with him.

She heard footsteps coming towards her door, and then his deep voice filled her ears and weakened her resistance. “Sammy, are you in bed?”

“Almost sleeping,” she said, adding a yawn for effect. “Good night.”

“
Kalinihta, koukla mou.”

She then heard him arm the security system and walk to his room.

Undressing in the dark, she washed up for bed quietly and didn’t bother looking for nightclothes. She pulled back the crisp covers and sank into the softness of the bed. She stared at the crescent moon outside her window, and her eyes closed.

*****

Demo grabbed a towel and tried to rub warmth into his skin. He’d stayed under the shower’s frigid water until his thoughts calmed. After he’d dried off, he lay down to sleep.

Staring at the moon outside his window, he wondered how the bed he slept on diagonally so that his feet wouldn’t hang, felt so big and empty. He wanted Sammy sleeping beside him. He wanted to feel her breath tickle his chest and the silkiness of her hair on his arm.

There was something about the woman that had captivated him from the first moment he’d met her. He’d battled his feelings for her and kept them hidden long enough. What had surprised him the most was the degree of difficulty that came with those acts of suppression. Never before had he worked so hard on something.

But he wasn’t a fool to believe in love at first sight. And in all honesty, there couldn’t be much of a future between them. So why did he bring her to Greece?

Because he had no choice. It was a necessity. She needed to be away from New York and out of Daniel’s reach.

Good rationalizing, Demo. You just want her near.
At least be honest with yourself.

He would. He wasn’t going to deny his feelings any longer. Even though Sammy wasn’t the wife he’d pictured for himself since they were from different backgrounds, religions, and nationalities, he had to have her. His feelings weren’t rational, and that was a new experience for him. However, he would be sure to give her the proper way to leave him when the time came for them to go their separate way. She needed to walk away and not be hurt.

Why had he chosen Christmas—correction, after Christmas—as the time to end their relationship? Was it because she’d be leaving anyway and he wouldn’t have to see her every morning? He could get on with his life—back to the community functions and the church events.

There must be something significant about Christmas.

Sleep didn’t claim him until the sun rose.

Restless and unable to remain in bed any longer, Sammy pulled back the covers and got up. She dressed in a pair of denim shorts and a cotton tank top and went to sit on the veranda with one of her textbooks.

The morning air filled her lungs, and she enjoyed watching the seagulls swoop into the water for their breakfast. She even thought she saw dolphins feeding a hundred meters off shore. Would they bring her luck?

Basking in the morning sun, the worries of last night took flight. Her mother’s warning was not lost, but she put it into a different perspective. She did not intend to abandon the dreams she had worked so hard to accomplish. Samantha Mallone, Esquire, would be a reality soon enough. If Sammy chose to spend time with Demo, it would have no affect on her professional goals.

He’d never been anything but supportive. Her boss was not like her father, he was not like Brad, and he did not need to beat a woman down to make himself appear superior.

She would let the situation unfold, and stop running from it. He had not promised her the moon. Demo had stated he wanted to enjoy her company. And what was wrong with that? She didn’t have to attach high emotional price tags to her every action.

Being an adult woman with an adult man was legitimate. There was nothing wrong with indulging in each other. No need for pretense of a great love when they both knew the score. They were physically attracted to one another and a consensual summer relationship was not taboo.

Her heart would be quiet and accept what he offered: a summer of fun—exactly what she had decided on herself.

Taking a deep breath, she flipped open the textbook and immersed herself in tax law. Completing two sections, she proudly lifted her head and decided to reward herself with some much-needed coffee. The summer sun called for her to make it iced.

Sammy walked into the kitchen, determined to master her first
frappé
. She had watched them make it many times at her café in Astoria, and she was confident she could duplicate the process. She pulled out the can of Nescafé and three sugar packets, then set to search for a blender.

No luck in the bottom cupboards, so she used the kitchen chair to reach the top ones. She was on the tips of her toes, stretching over the refrigerator when he wrapped his arm around her and reached over her head for the hand-held frother she had located.

“
Kalimera, koukla mou.
”

His deep voice jump-started her heart, and she turned to admire his tousled morning look.

Kissing her shoulder, he wrapped her in his arms and pulled her off the chair. Her body burned as he slowly lowered her, in full contact, against his bare chest, to bring her feet to the floor. Her hands rested on his broad shoulders, and she looked into his enthralling eyes.

“
Kalimera
,
Demo”.

He didn’t release her. Rather he swayed side to side as if slow dancing to a silent song only they could hear. Sammy didn’t want to break the contact, and she skimmed her fingers over the dark softness covering his chest. Laying her palm over his heart, she felt it keeping rhythm with hers and smiled at the coincidence. Or was it more magical than that? Happenstance?

“Did you sleep well?” His voice was husky and his gaze heavy.

She weighed her response carefully. Nodding her head, she wondered if she should admit she could have slept better, if only she had been completely honest with herself and him.

“I hope your dreams were sweet.” His eyes did not hide the double meaning, but his lips asked anyway. “Did you dream of me?”

“I plead the fifth, on the basis that my answer might incriminate me.” This line of talk was new to her, but the truth was, she enjoyed flirting with him.

Interlacing his fingers with hers, and holding them against the strong plains of his chest, he grinned. “Is there anything you would like to enter into evidence?”

“Not before I’ve had my
frappé.
” She tried to keep a straight face and not smile. But when he waggled his eyebrows and kissed her nose, a small chuckle escaped the back of her throat.

Dropping her hands, he picked up the frother with surgical precision and turned to where the coffee supplies sat on the counter. “I guess I should expedite your request then.”

“Wow, a man with brains who can make my coffee too. A girl could get used to this.”

“I’m betting on it,” he said, brushing his mouth over hers. She parted her lips to welcome him and his tongue caressed hers, shooting warmth through her body, her soul, and her core. His chocolate-colored eyes shone and he repeated, “Good morning, beautiful Sammy.”

She managed a soft moan and floated toward the bar stool, enjoying the morning greeting more than she had imagined. Propping her elbows on the counter, she put her chin between her hands and watched the man who played the starring role in her dreams create the creamy sweet concoction for her.

In an exaggerated and grandiose gesture, Demo placed the tall glass in front of her and dropped a bent straw into it. Then he lowered his head and met her at eye level. “This doesn’t get you out of breakfast with me.”

“Oh no, Demo, not today. We can’t go out again.” She had regained control of her faculties and wanted to finish what she had been working on before the
frappé
expedition.

“Why not?”

“I need to finish the third taxation section. I did the first two while you were sleeping.”

“Okay, we’ll order room service.”

“No need.” She stood and walked to the refrigerator taking out two yogurt containers, a peach and two apples. “Voila! Breakfast is served.”

“Come on. You can’t be serious. I want a real breakfast. I’ll just order some eggs.” He picked up the phone to dial room service, but in a surprising move, she took it from him.

“It won’t hurt you not to clog your arteries for one morning,” she said seriously.

“I didn’t know you cared.” Spreading his legs as he sat on a stool and reached for her. Smiling, he settled her in front of him.

“Perhaps I do, but—”

“I know. You take the fifth.” Demo laughed and then brought his lips to hers. His hands cupped her bottom, and she felt herself falling against him.

Surprising herself, she found the strength to end the kiss and remind him of the bar exam.

“Fine,” he agreed. “We have the whole summer ahead of us. I can be patient for now. So, let’s hit those books and lunch will be my choice.”

Making good on his original promise, Demo helped her review the thick textbook, marking the pertinent sections and asking questions on the topics he had seen repeatedly on the exam. He was a good tutor, and she was grateful that he kept on task. In fact, he insisted the next section should be finished to complete her comprehension on the subject.

Their heads bent over the table, they concentrated on the review questions as Demo’s cell phone chirped. He reached for it, but continued searching with a scanning finger for an example to support his explanation.