Page 10 of Between Desire and Denial
I dropped a hand down between us and tried to unbuckle his slacks. “So what?”
He grabbed my wrist. “So you’ve got to wait.”
“I don’t want to,” I whined. Alcohol made me bold, and I wasn’t about to hide my feelings. This night was for me, not anyone else. I started hiking up my dress, but it was then that the elevator came to a halt with a ding and the door slid open.
“Fuck,” he swore as he moved fast to block the view of me from the couple who boarded. He rearranged my dress and wiped at the red lipstick that must have been all around my face. “I should have swiped my HEAT watch,” he said quietly, like an apology. I knew those watches were a part of the patented technology he and his brothers had built that was a signature of their empire—exclusive hotels and restaurants for the rich and famous around the world with impeccable security.
Then, he grabbed my hand, threaded his fingers through mine, and moved to my side. When the man who’d boarded the elevator glanced over his shoulder and saw Dimitri, his eyes brightened. “Oh my God, Dimitri Hardy?”
Dimitri nodded but didn’t respond.
The man kept blabbering on. “My wife and I absolutely love these resorts. I just have to tell you, what you and your brothers are doing is phenomenal. Businesses are flourishing because of your investments and expertise. I’ve been a member of the HEAT organization since Carl Milton owned it, and there’s beensuch a shift. Don’t you agree, Ms.…?” He waited for me to answer.
That’s when Dimitri’s jaw clenched, and he positioned all of his body in front of me immediately. “Discretion within the HEAT empire is always advised, Mr. Kudrow.” The elevator dinged and the doors opened on the floor that held a restaurant. “Looks like this is your floor. Have a good night.”
The couple didn’t say anything else as they hurried off the elevator, and this time, as the doors closed, Dimitri swiped his watch.
It reminded me how influential Dimitri Hardy and the whole empire was.
When the elevator finally delivered us to Dimitri’s floor, I found myself stewing about it.
“Why are you glaring at the door, Olive?” Dimitri asked as he swiped that watch again and held the door open for me. “Change your mind?”
It was a good question. Did I want to spend one night with a billionaire that was probably an entitled asshole? He’d kissed me like he was devouring my soul on the elevator, but I knew he wouldn’t provide much more than good sex. “It’s not you.” I shook my head and walked in. “Just what your company reminds me of.”
“Which is?”
“That I was privileged, and my parents—especially my father—always wanted to stay in resorts like this.”
“Ah. Yes, you’ve talked to me before about that community you grew up in too.” He nodded and undid his cuff links. Then he unbuttoned his suit jacket, slipped it off, and hung it on the table’s chair. “The exclusivity and luxury that community was built on is—"
“Ridiculous.” I cut him off. The community was almost as well-known as living in the zip code 90210 in Beverly Hills.“Paradise Grove is as exclusive as any HEAT property.” I rolled my eyes. “Big houses, big celebrities, and big egos. Little, itty, bitty hearts. And that’s why I left.”
Normally Dimitri didn’t ask personal questions, but he seemed a bit more interested in this part of my life. “Your father a member of HEAT?”
“I wouldn’t know.” I shrugged. “I don’t talk to him much since…” I took a breath. “After my mom passed away, he remarried quickly. I’m sure you’ve heard the story of the big actor turned movie director, Bill Monroe, and Georgette Fenti marrying only—"
“Only two months after Mariah Monroe passed? Yeah.” He nodded solemnly but kept watching me intently, like he was trying to see every expression I had. “You have a brother too?”
“Yep. Knox is younger. He’s close with them since he’s still living at home and all.” I bit my bottom lip and glanced around the penthouse. The luxurious leather sofa and the floor-to-ceiling windows with a big chandelier hanging over the coffee table was a classic HEAT statement. “I don’t go home to Paradise Grove much now.”
I heard the hum of sympathy vibrate through him. I turned around to see him slide his hands into his pockets. He frowned at me before he asked, “Were you close with your mother?”
I turned to stare out at the city below. The night lights twinkled in the distance, and I found myself sighing at the beauty of it all. The world could look like such a peaceful place in the blanket of the night sky and stars. Yet, there was pain and darkness swirling all around down there. “She was my best friend.”
“I’m sorry, Olive.” His voice was closer and softer now, and I could almost trick myself into believing he cared about me, like we were really good friends.
My heart twisted, and I shook off the pain, my curls dancing back and forth before I looked over my shoulder to face him. “Don’t be. I’m not here for your sympathy anyway. So… are you going to offer me a drink?”
“You need one?” He stood there, all impeccably styled, not one of his dark locks out of place in that penthouse suite he likely owned. He was tall and always commanded attention when he walked into a room, but he never asked for it or sought it out. That quiet confidence ignited the attraction and chemistry I’d had with him in the elevator again.
“No.” I licked my lips as I appreciated how his shirt hugged his muscular frame and broad shoulders. His tie had been loosened but the deep forest green of it brought out how striking his eyes were as they raked over my body. “I think I just might need you, Dimitri Hardy.”
“Should I tell you again that you don’t really want to sleep with me?”
If he backed out of this now, I’d die of embarrassment tomorrow. I probably already would, but I followed through as best I could now. “You could, but that’s only if you want me to sleep with someone else tonight.”
His eyes darkened then, and his brow dropped as he commanded, “Take your dress off, but the heels stay on.”
