it anyway. “Well, the thing is, that many of us have tried to get Helen to go out with us,” he started off, only to stop when he saw Dimitri’s eyes become even more forbidding. “She’s beautiful, Dimitri. And she’s a nice person inside. It’s no wonder those of us not married are interested in her,” he said, puffing up his chest with his resolution to finish. “And if you’re going to just play with her, well then I’ve got something to say about that.”
Dimitri watched the man squirm for a long time, admiring his spirit and respecting him even more now that he was willing to stand up for his Helen. But the fact was, Helen was going to be his, and no one else’s.
“Don’t hurt her, is all I’m trying to say,” Jim finally finished. “If she’s just another woman to you, then I’m going to step in and ask you to back off. Helen isn’t like all those other women you date.” He could no longer hold Dimitri’s gaze as he finished off, “She’s special.”
Dimitri cleared his throat and stood up. “I won’t hurt her. And you’re right. She’s special,” he said softly. “Trust me. I have only the noblest intentions.”
The two men stood facing each other, Jim clearly out classed by Dimitri’s superior height and breadth as well as that certain something that had women clamoring all over him to get into his bed. Finally, Jim accepted what Dimitri was saying and nodded. “Good enough. But if it doesn’t work out,” he started off, only to be interrupted by Dimitri’s angry gaze.
“It will work out.”
Jim sighed heavily. “That’s part of the problem,” he said. “Congratulations,” he said, his mouth forming a smile that Dimitri didn’t see reflected in the older man’s eyes.
“Thank you. What did you need to see me about?” Dimitri asked, changing the subject to something a little less volatile.
Jim’s mind shifted unwillingly to the papers he was holding in his hand and started explaining the issue. Once he’d received direction from Dimitri, he left, barely looking at Helen as he passed by her desk.
Dimitri watched him leave and wondered how many other men felt the same way about Helen as he did.
“What’s wrong with Jim?” Helen asked, clasping a file folder to her chest as she watched the man walk down the hallway. She was standing next to Dimitri, her body half turned toward him while she considered her friend’s strange behavior.
“Why do you ask?”
“Because he usually stops by my desk to talk, or to ask me out one more time,” she laughed up to Dimitri’s face. “But today, he was very business-like.”
Dimitri looked down into her lovely blue eyes, thinking about her soft, full lips and how perfectly he knew they were going to feel against his mouth, his skin….his…Dimitri stopped that train of thought, knowing it would lead to yet another cold shower. “He’s busy,” was all he would say. “Come on into my office,” he said.
Helen didn’t hesitate as she walked quickly behind him, eager to take on any task he handed her. “How many other men in this building ask you out regularly?” he asked, his voice calm but inside, he was furious. How could he have been so wrapped up in his own plans that he’d failed to notice other men’s interest?
“Oh, that,” she said waving her hand dismissively. “Jim’s never serious. Have you seen the women he dates?” she asked. “And his ex-wife, Louise is stunning. Jim and the others are just being nice,” she said, shrugging away the question as if Dimitri were only being silly.
“How many, Helen?” he demanded, hands on his hips and his teeth gritted angrily.
Helen looked up at him, yet another blush forming on her soft, creamy cheeks. “Oh, just a few.”
“Names, Helen. I want their names.” He would talk to each and every one of them to make sure those men understood the situation.
“Oh, Dimitri, please don’t worry about their comments and pointless flirtations. They aren’t serious. They are all just flattering me so they can get better access to you. You’re their boss, so it’s natural that they would want to butter me up.”
Dimitri sighed heavily. “Helen, you have no idea how beautiful you are, do you?” he asked harshly. This could be a problem. If she didn’t know people were hitting on her, how was she going to prevent it? “You’re going to have to understand that sooner or later, you know,” he growled out, not wanting to take