received over the past several months. But his yacht? This was too much. She didn’t feel right traveling with him like this.
“What?” he prompted when she didn’t continue.
“Well, your yacht…I read about it in one of the society columns one day.”
Dimitri smiled, the amusement showing in his eyes. “Are you reading about me other Sundays?” he asked, already knowing the answer by the blush on her cheeks.
Helen flushed, afraid she might have revealed too much about her feelings for the man. She quickly tried to back track. “You’re in the society and business columns often,” she admitted honestly. “The women you date are very lovely,” she whispered, almost ashamed that she’d peeked into his life in such a voyeuristic way.
Dimitri could not have asked for a better opening. “And how do you think you compare to them?” he asked.
Helen shrugged and looked out the window so he couldn’t see her face. “Oh, I know I don’t even rank in their world.”
“And what would you say if I told you that you are ten times more beautiful than they are?” he asked. “You wouldn’t believe me would you?”
Helen laughed nervously. “I’d think you are just being kind like all the other men in the office.”
He didn’t grit his teeth or growl at that reminder of other men’s interest but it was close. Each time he thought about it he wanted to punch something, preferably the men’s faces that had dared to intrude on Helen’s time and what he considered his own. “But you said they were being nice to you so they could get better access to me. What’s my motive? I certainly don’t need better access to myself. Perhaps I’m being honest.”
Helen watched his face, wondering why he was teasing her so much. But she didn’t see any amusement in his features. Deciding to be straightforward with him, she said, “I don’t understand.”
Dimitri sighed heavily, wishing he could just pull her into his arms and kiss her so she’d get it. Slowly, he reminded himself. “I know you don’t. But over the next few weeks, I’ll make sure you start.”
She couldn’t answer him since the luxurious car pulled to a stop. She looked out her window and sure enough, they were at the pier. But it wasn’t the pier where all the other yachts were docked. No, Dimitri’s yacht was too large for those. It was small compared to the large ships surrounding them but since they were cargo freighters and his a personal vessel, his still looked enormous. It seemed like a very luxurious cruise ship to her untutored eyes. From what the articles said about it, the vessel basically was exactly that, a private cruise ship with just about every conceivable luxury possible including a weight room, cinema, large dancing area, more bedrooms than a large house and palatial dining as well as other entertainment areas. She saw that there was even a helipad on top of one end and a crystal clear pool with decking.
They were greeted by the captain himself as well as a ship mate who literally ran down the gangway to retrieve their bags. Dimitri excused the captain in order to show Helen to her stateroom.
Opening the door, Helen gasped in awe at the beauty surrounding her. The stateroom itself was almost as large as her entire house. The king sized bed was covered in white satin and the carpeting was thick and soft. There was a sitting area and a bar, filled with drinks and a refrigerator. “Will this be okay?” he asked.
Shaking her head and turning to face him, she was startled to find that he was so close. She had to step back in order to remember what she had been about to say. Clearing her head of all the silly, romantic thoughts his nearness induced, she said instead, “Mr. Theopolis, are you sure you want me in this stateroom? Shouldn’t this be for one of your guests?”
“You’re going to feel silly calling me ‘Mr. Theopolis’ on board. Just accept that it is more appropriate for you to now call me Dimitri and stop worrying about any kind of significance with using my first name.” He looked around the stateroom and nodded his head, “As for you staying in this suite, you are one of my guests so yes, I do want you in this stateroom. Make yourself at home. And since I suspect that these bags,” he said referring to the large, black bags being set inside her door, “are