Playing by the Greek's Rules (Puffin Island 0.50)

CHAPTER TWO

NIK LOUNGED IN his seat while the car negotiated heavy evening traffic. Beside him Lily was wriggling like a fish dropped onto the deck of a boat.

‘Mr Zervakis? This dress is far more revealing than anything I would normally wear. And I’ve had a horrible thought.’ Her voice was breathy and distracting and Nik turned his head to look at her, trying to remind himself that girls with sweet smiles who were self-confessed members of Loveaholics Anonymous were definitely off his list.

‘Call me Nik.’

‘I can’t call you Nik. It would feel wrong while I’m working in your company. You pay my salary.’

‘I pay you? I thought you said you were an intern.’

‘I am. You pay your interns far more than most companies, but that’s a different conversation. I’m still having that horrible thought by the way.’

Nik dragged his eyes from her mouth and tried to wipe his brain of X-rated thoughts. ‘What horrible thought is that?’

‘The one where your girlfriend finds out you took me as your date tonight.’

‘She will find out.’

‘And that doesn’t bother you?’

‘Why would it?’

‘Isn’t it obvious? Because she didn’t believe I was the cleaner. She thought you and I—well...’ she turned scarlet ‘...if she finds out we were together tonight then it will look as if she was right and we were lying, even though if people used their brains they could work out that if she’s your type then I couldn’t possibly be.’

Nik tried to decipher that tumbled speech. ‘You’re concerned she will think we’re having sex? Why is that a horrible thought? You find me unattractive?’

‘That’s a ridiculous question.’ Lily’s eyes flew to his and then away again. ‘Sorry, but that’s like asking a woman if she likes chocolate.’

‘There are women who don’t like chocolate.’

‘They’re lying. They might not eat it, but that doesn’t mean they don’t like it.’

‘So I’m chocolate?’ Nik tried to remember the last time he’d been this entertained by anyone.

‘If you’re asking if I think you’re very tempting and definitely bad for me, the answer is yes. But apart from the fact we’re totally unsuited, I wouldn’t be able to relax enough to have sex with you.’

Nik, who had never had trouble helping a woman relax, rose to the challenge. ‘I’m happy to—’

‘No.’ She gave him a stern look. ‘I know you’re competitive, but forget it. I saw that photo of you in the swimming pool. No way could I ever be naked in front of a man with a body like yours. I’d have to suck everything

in and make sure you only saw my good side. The stress would kill any passion.’

‘I’ve already seen you in your underwear.’

‘Don’t remind me.’

Nik caught his driver’s amused gaze in the mirror and gave him a steady stare. Vassilis had been with him for over a decade and had a tendency to voice his opinions on Nik’s love life. It was obvious he thoroughly approved of Lily.

‘It’s true that if you turn up as my guest tonight there will be people who assume we are having sex.’ Nik returned his attention to the conversation. ‘I can’t claim to be intimately acquainted with the guest list, but I’m assuming a few of the people there will be your colleagues. Does that bother you?’

‘No. It will send a message that I’m not broken-hearted, which is good for my pride. In fact the timing is perfect. Just this morning I embarked on a new project. Operation Ice Maiden. You’re probably wondering what that is.’

Nik opened his mouth to comment but she carried on without pausing.

‘I am going to have sex with no emotion. That’s right.’ She nodded at him. ‘You heard me correctly. Rebound sex. I am going to climb into bed with some guy and I’m not going to feel a thing.’

Hearing a sound from the front of the car, Nik pressed a button and closed the screen between him and Vassilis, giving them privacy.