The Summer Deal by Aleka Nakis Page A

family, Demo had a brother, a sister and both parents. He was a mountain of strength within his family and radiated love to those in it.
    You can’t ever give him the family he wants. Don’t think of taking any chances with him, no matter how tempting he is to you.
    “Sammy, you ready?” Demo’s voice sounded behind the locked door.
    “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
    She quickly pulled her hair over the shirt collar and tucked the cycling top into the jeans. Opening the door, she spread out her hands indicating her outfit. “Why do I need to wear jeans? It must be ninety-five degrees out there.”
    “Patience, my dear, is a virtue, and I promise, very worth the time.”
    Sammy tugged at the collar growing very tight around her neck. His playful tone, laced with slow and sweet seduction, affected her physically. She was probably beet-red and made a perfect strawberry impersonation.
    Placing his hand on her back, he guided her toward the door. “You’ll have your answer in under an hour.”
    Suddenly his arm wrapped around her waist and held her up. She’d come into full body contact with a massive BMW motorcycle parked exactly outside the door. In the middle of the sidewalk.
    “How ridiculous is this?” she exclaimed.
    Chuckling, Demo pulled her around to the back of the shiny bike and placed a new red helmet on her head. “ This is Athens, and what patience looks like to a Lakis man.”
    “You left this bike in the middle of the sidewalk? Aren’t you worried about a ticket? Or even worse, someone killing themselves over it?”
    “Not really,” he said. Snapping the strap under her chin into place, Demo pointed down the connecting storefronts and laughed as a young couple dismounted less than two meters in front of a café. “It’s a part of life here.”
    “Why aren’t we taking the car?”
    “Because we want to enjoy the ride to its fullest.” He put on his own helmet and swung a long leg over the motorcycle. Scooting forward, he nodded for her to get on.
    Rising to her toes, she grabbed a hold on his broad shoulders and climbed up. Sitting behind him, his tight jean clad rear tucked neatly against her thighs, did nothing to convince her not to think of her boss in a sexual or romantic way.
    Oh well, she was here. She may as well go for the ride. She squeezed her thighs a bit and tapped his shoulder to let him know she was ready. As the powerful BMW lurched forward, she found her tentative hold on his shoulders was insufficient, and wrapped her hands around his middle, settling securely against him for the trip.
    Silliness and immaturity. That was what was happening. She’d been misreading his simple friendly overtures. She’d never been able to read men correctly. Considering her father had walked out of her life at eight, and with no uncles and absent grandparents, there was no normal man to compare the opposite sex to.
    Mistakes filled twenty-seven years, and one of them was her ability to characterize the men in her life. Signs of Brad’s unstable mental state had always been there, but she hadn’t recognize them. She’d been naïve and believed his obsession was a sign of love.
    Damage done, he’d left her romantically timid and beaten. Sammy hid behind a strong professional façade. She preferred the woman she was today, but she wanted to add another aspect to her life: carefree romance and fun.
    It's doable; now I have the experience and knowledge not to lose my heart.
    Sighing at the thought, she wondered if she was strong enough to truly abandon her inhibitions and come out in one piece. Especially with the man whose body she was pressed up against so intimately. She loosened her hold and tried to straighten against the force of wind.
    Half an hour later, she acknowledged Demo had been correct. Riding south along the rugged coastal road on a motorcycle definitely pleased the senses more than being cooped up in a car.
    The feel of the arid Greek air against her face was invigorating, and the